Audible, or cheaper alternatives? How do they work?

[sunflowerblue]

Can I have a technophobes guide please.
I'm on a mission to generally simplify life (Marie Kondo I guess, but my own take on it).

I've started walking lots for exercise, and planning to start running again soon, and I've just started reading again after a bit of a break (just read the thread on 'going off' fiction, this was absolutely me! But all of a sudden I'm back in love with books). So I want to combine the 2, a 3 hour walk in the middle of nowhere with my favourite book being read to me sounds like bliss!

Would anyone mind explaining it to me please? I've stuck with music cds in the car and house up til now, and I'm ready to join the 21st century, but a bit lost and overwhelmed!
How does Audible work? How do I go from signing up to something on my laptop to walking with a story being told in my ears? Are there cheaper alternatives?

I need an idiot's guide

What great timing. I'm interested in Audible myself after borrowing an audiobook from the library and surprising myself with how much I enjoyed it.

Do you think it would work with my sony walkman MP3 player?

Ah, just followed outnumbered's link and no, doesn't seem like it's a compatible device.

I love Audible and I am a tech numpty who doesn't understand iCloud or iTunes and stuff like that but I can do Audible.

Sign up to Audible on your laptop, then get the audible app on your phone and use the same log in as for you account on the laptop, and when you buy a book it will download automatically to your phone.

If you want to play the same book if you're in the house on your laptop, open the Audible
Website and go into your library- it will remember where you are between the two devices.

Audible support are fantastic (and very patient)

I listened to Mists of Avalon - fantastic -
All 50 hours of it

So far I've been listening to it at home on my phone. I really would like to get a compatible mp3 player though. Do I need to go with apple?

I'm listening at 0.9 (thanks to the poster who said they were listening at 1.5! I wouldn't have known you could change it otherwise). So will take me more than 50 hours to get through too! It's making housework so much more enjoyable though.

You don't need an apple mp3. The audible app works android. I listen on my phone now, but used to have a Samsung mp3 which it worked on.

Just use your phone. If you're worried about your battery then you can get an adequate portable backup phone charger that will fit in jeans pockets for a tenner or a really good one for less than twenty quid.

What is the difference between audible and downloading audio book from iTunes? Is audible cheaper?

I don't think you can return books on iTunes. Sometimes I just can't get into a book, or I find the narrator irritating so will return it to Audible. The credit or money goes back on immediately. I am sure there are limits but I have never been stopped from returning.

I Listen to books on you tube its easy and free :)