Jen, yes, the players are free.  Sounds like he has a basic 
player.  I have an advanced model that more features for navigation 
and bookmarking.

earlier, Jenifer Gilley, wrote:
>wonder if this is free?
>Jenifer Gilley
>email
>[log in to unmask]
>MSN: *no email please!*
>[log in to unmask]
>----- Original Message ----- From: "Phil Scovell" <[log in to unmask]>
>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 8:58 PM
>Subject: Fw: the nls e-book reader
>
>
>>I thought some of you might like to hear this.
>>
>>Phil.
>>
>>
>>
>>----- Original Message ----- From: ".dan." <[log in to unmask]>
>>To: <[log in to unmask]>
>>Sent: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 2:42 PM
>>Subject: the nls e-book reader
>>
>>
>>>I recieved one yesterday and books to read today.  I will describe 
>>>it and then some comments aboutwhat I like and don't like.
>>>
>>>It has the same overall proportions as the 4 track player but 
>>>about 1/3 the size.  Many things are a hold over from the tape 
>>>machine.  It has a pull out handle in the front and the line cord 
>>>fits into a nook at the back.  A slot roughly in the same place as 
>>>where tapes are inserted recieves the cartridge  holding the 
>>>memory chip.  Along the front edg are the fast reverse, play, and 
>>>fast forward buttons in that order.  Near the fast reverse is a 
>>>power on and off button.  At other locations are volume, tone and 
>>>speed up and down buttons.  There is a headphone jack on the same 
>>>side as the tape machine but only the 1/8 small format with no other jacks.
>>>
>>>With no book inserted one can turn power on and a recorded male 
>>>voice announces power status, if it is plugged iin and the current 
>>>amount in hours of battery life remaining; which was 18 hours out of the box.
>>>
>>>It also says that by hitting any of the other buttons its function 
>>>and operation will be spoken.  Holding down the play button for 2 
>>>seconds has a detailed user guide, the kind that used to come on a tape.
>>>
>>>The book chip cartridge is about the size of apack of playing 
>>>cards but 1/3 the thickness.  It comes in a plastic mailer the 
>>>same shape as a tape mailer and otherwise works like one, but 
>>>about 1/4 as thick.  The cartridge has a finger hole at one end 
>>>and it can only be inserted one way, braille is on the top.  It 
>>>starts reading as soon as it is inserted. Other then that I will 
>>>leave it to the internal recording for operating instructions.
>>>
>>>I like that a great deal of thought went into its design.  This 
>>>includes it carrying over familiar shapes and functions from the 
>>>tape machine. Using it for the first time is easy and intuitive in 
>>>no small part because of it. It operates very smoothly and some 
>>>effort went into tweeking the soundquality from the speaker.  Like 
>>>a cd and a tape compared for music, the digital recording 
>>>contributes to this sound quality.
>>>
>>>Unlike the tape machine the very annoying power supply hum that 
>>>appeared to be very loud at night and came easily through 
>>>earphones is gone.  It is absolute dead silent in operation.
>>>
>>>As with the tape machine, it is needlessly large and heavy it 
>>>seems to me. Iyt is the size of a hard cover book and at least a 
>>>couple of pounds as a guess.  In these days when a digital player 
>>>is held in a shirt pocket this seems unwieldy to carry and begs 
>>>for leaving it when going out; having it on a bus for reading 
>>>would be a chore.  In practical terms it is portable in name 
>>>only.  Having controls anyone can use was no doubt part of this 
>>>but all could have been put on a much smaller and less heavy 
>>>machine without changing button size.  Using a wall wwart for 
>>>recharging and non-battery use would have greatly reduce size and weight.
>>>
>>>On balance a good job that will increasebook reading pleasure greatly.
>>>
>>>
>>>                                XB
>>>                                 IC|XC
>>
>>John