Why audio downloads?
This is the audio distribution system of the future. You can choose from 11,000 audiobook titles from iTunes, 23,000 titles from Audible.com, and a dozen really great books (with more to come) from Good Old Boat magazine.
This process is efficient for us and effective for you. We don't have to invest large sums in the production and inventory of CDs, so we pass that savings on to you.
Try it with a free test file — see how easy it is
You can go through the entire procedure here at no cost or risk. You download a file for free and listen to it on your computer.
Satisfaction guaranteed
If you are not successful in getting your download, you may try again until you get it. If you are not satisfied with the downloaded material for any reason, we will simply refund your money. Try it, we think you will like it. If you don't, you will get a refund.
Podcast Newsletter
We are podcasting our newsletters in addition to providing them on our website in HTML and in print. The current issue can be downloaded at www.AudioSeaStories.net
How it all works
Downloading audiobooks is easy. The key is the MP3 file format. To make all this magic happen, you will need iTunes or an alternative software on your Windows or Mac. You can download iTunes at no charge if you don't already have it on your computer. Go to www.apple.com/itunes/download/.
The process
Audiobook download webpage
The download process starts on an order page on the Good Old Boat website. First you will determine if you want to download a file or prefer to wind up with an MP3 CD which we will make and mail to you. Once you've made that choice, there will a standard credit card transaction. At the end of the credit card transaction, if you have selected a downloadable file, your computer will begin downloading the file.
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Mac and PC 
The download will take 10 to 30 minutes on broadband connections and longer on dial-up connections. If you have a slow connection, start your download at the end of the day and check it in the morning. The download will put a compressed file on your computer. Your browser software will determine where downloads go on your computer. The desktop is a handy place for it.
Unzip the files using an unzipping software on a PC or Stuffit on a Mac and drag the unzipped file into your iTunes library. At this point you can play the files right on your computer if you want. Most people will want an audiobook to be more portable and will want to play it on something besides a computer. There are several options for doing this.
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MP3 CD
You can burn an MP3 CD using iTunes and your CD burner if your CD drive can write CDs. This is a good idea for backing up your audiobook files. The CD can be played by any portable CD player which is capable of playing MP3 files. MP3 players are purposely designed to play MP3 files and cost a little more than CD players that cannot play MP3 files. The MP3 CD player can be connected to earphones or played through the tape deck or FM tuner of a home stereo or car radio using a cassette adapter or FM transmitter.
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iPod
You can transfer your audio download to an iPod or other portable MP3 player. Use iTunes to transfer your audiobook to one of these devices. Like the MP3 CD player, the iPod can play through earphones, a cassette adapter, or an FM transmitter.
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Headset, cassette adapter, FM transmitter 
There are headset jacks in computers, MP3 CD players, iPods, and other portable MP3 players. Use this jack to connect your iPod to a cassette adapter or FM transmitter. The cassette adapter is inserted in the tape player of your car radio and will play the audio content on your iPod through the radio. The FM transmitter sends out a weak signal on the standard FM radio frequencies to which you tune your car radio.
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Home stereo or car radio 
You can connect any of these players to your home stereo with special cords if your stereo has auxillary connectors in the back. You may even be lucky enough to have a car radio that plays MP3 CDs or has an iPod connection. Regarding the CDs, however, remember that some machines will play CDs but were not set up to play MP3 CDs.
