I have loaded an audible book onto my mp3 but cannot listen to it, as when Iclick on chapter one, a message comes up: "please activate this device." How do I do that?:

"Audible" books are copy protected to prevent unauthorized copying or sharing.
Download the Audible Manager software from http://www.audible.com/sw
When you load that software and sign on to your Audible.com account, you will be able to sync the information into the Sansa player that will authorize the audiobook to play on the Sansa.

what is the book you have downloaded?

I think this has nothing to do with the philips mp3 player and more to do with the audible website.
~~ Activate Each installation of AudibleManager will need to be registered with Audible.com in order for our audio books to play through the software. If the audio is going to be transferred to a device or burned to CDs, each device and CD burner must be activated as well. A total of 3 AudibleManager installations are able to be registered to 1 account at 1 time. Each installation of Audible Manager may have up to 3 devices/CD burners activated at 1 time. ~~ have u done this?
from http://download.audible.com/audiblemanager/AM5_User_Guide.pdf

Audible books are protected, you can copy them into device, but you can't play them (...subscription...appearing ). You must use audible manager to sync audible books.
You should delete audible books that make pop up a message " synchronize to....", otherwise, your device always pops up the message when it meet the audible books.

contact audible.com and request assistance on activating or re-activating the device. (usually it's just right click on the player from audible manager and select deactivate/activate). -simple.

hi katie.
before you load your audio books onto you device try renaming each chapter to get them in order. your device should order them like your hard drive will

If you are a newbie, and you primarily want the mp3 player for audiobooks, then go ahead and take this player back to the store - I'll tell you why:
The deal between Audible and Philips fell through before the latest series of GoGear's was released. Therefore, even though the player has an Audible folder, it will not properly play Audible audiobook files. Sad, but true.

Your post reminds me that I need to write a Consumer Watch article on mp3 players that claim to play audiobooks - 90% of them will not easily allow you to play audiobooks - you will have to jump through hoops.

If you still want to try, here is what you want to do:
1. Delete any audiobooks off the GoGear, but make sure that you have a copy of the audibooks on your computer itself.
2. Open Windows Media Player. Find your audiobook files in your library. If they don't show up, then you will have to move your mouse over the Library tab - a small black arrow should appear underneath the word "Library" - click the black arrow and select "Add to Library". Click "Add" and find the folder in which your Audible files are stored. It may take several minutes, but Windows Media Player will add these files to Windows Media Player.
3. Right-click an Audiobook file starting with Chapter 1 of whatever book, and select "Advanced Tag Editor". One-by-one, manually assign an a track number to each audiobook chapter - Track 1 for Chapter 1, Track 2 for Chpater 2, etc.
4. Now, re-add the audiobook files to your GoGear.
5. You might additionally have to go into the Settings menu of your GoGear, and turn Shuffle mode off - your user's manual can show you how to do this.

Sound like a lot of work? You betcherbottom dollar it's a lot of work. This particular mp3 player is not the best for audiobooks.

-Tha Mp3 Doctor

The link to the operating manual (which includes the Audiobook instructions) is here:
http://www.sandisk.com/sansa/assets/English/products/Clip/Clip_userguide_en.pdf

What I would do is drag and drop the Audible files from the folder that Audible creates to store your audiobooks to the Audible folder of the Sansa Clip, instead of using the Audible Manager.

-Tha Mp3 Doctor

This player will only recognize Audible audiobook files

There is not a fix for the pause/resume issue - it is a major problem for just about every mp3 player that claims audiobook compatibility

Here are some help files:
Audible
1) Adding audible books to your MP3 player using Audible Manager (Windows XP)
Windows - http://mp3support.sandisk.com/audible/xp-audible-add-book.wmv
2) Adding books from an online library to your computer using Audible Manager (Windows XP)
Windows - http://mp3support.sandisk.com/audible/xp-audible-add-books-from-online-library.wmv
3) Adding your MP3 player as a mobile device in Audible Manager (Windows XP)
Windows - http://mp3support.sandisk.com/audible/xp-audible-add-mobile-device.wmv
4) Deleting an audible book in your MP3 player using Audible Manager (Windows XP)
Windows - http://mp3support.sandisk.com/audible/xp-audible-delete-book.wmv
5) Deleting a book from your library using Audible Manager (Windows XP)
Windows - http://mp3support.sandisk.com/audible/xp-audible-delete-book-library.wmv
6) Purchasing an audible book from Audible.com (Windows XP)
Windows - http://mp3support.sandisk.com/audible/xp-audible-purchase-book.wmv

I had the same problem and was able to resolve it using the procedure (listed below) from Audible technical support.  It's wordy, but the long and short of it is that you need to activate the Nuvi on a PC machine, then you can use it on the Mac.  To transfer files, open iTunes audiobook window, then drag your books of choice from that window to the Nuvi icon on the desktop.  I had no problems using this procedure.

Thank you for contacting Audible.com. On its behalf, I would like to apologize for any inconvenience and I am most committed to satisfying and resolving your inquiry to the fullest of my abilities.

As per your email I understand that you wish to use your Garmin GPS with Audible on your Mac.

Unfortunately, the Garmin is not supported on a Mac with Audible audiobooks unless it is first activated on a Windows PC. If you have access to a Windows PC please follow the requested steps below to activate it on a PC first. Once successfully activated you will be able to use your Mac to transfer your audiobooks onto it.

If you have access to a Windows PC to activate your Garmin GPS through the Audible Manager software please do the following to get started.

Make sure Audible Manager is installed in your PC, otherwise please go to: Audible Software page ( www.audible.com/software ) and download the version for Download for Windows 2000, XP, or Vista. Select Run or Save. During this installation process, a message: "If you already own an Audible Ready mobile device, please select it from the choices below", will prompt, please select Garmin GPS Devices from the list.

If Audible Manager is already installed on your PC: Launch Audible Manager, click on Devices > Add new device. You will be asked to connect to the Internet. Click Yes to connect. From the list of devices, select the Garmin GPS Devices, and click ok.

Once installed successfully now please follow the requested steps to activate your Garmin Nuvi using the Audible Manager software. 

Ensure that the device is connected to the PC and Internal Memory is selected to activate the Main Memory of your GPS. Please note you may transfer your audiobooks onto the SD card as well if you have one. 

Right-click the Garmin plugin in the bottom left corner of Audible Manager ( below Mobile Devices ) and choose activate. 

After entering your username and password, click ok. 

Once your Garmin has been successfully activated using a Windows PC you may now use your Mac to transfer your Audible audiobooks to your Gramin. 

Before you can transfer your audiobooks on to your Garmin device please follow the requested steps below to download your audiobooks.

Please log into your Audible Account, Click on My Library on the top of the page next to Home, Once you are in your online library towards your right hand side, you will find a tab called "Download It". This will start your download action from our server to your computer. 

This will download the selection onto your desktop and open iTunes. If the file downloads to your desktop, double click or drag the file into the iTunes library. 

Connect your Garmin device to computer. 

Drag the book from iTunes onto the Garmin device.

Playing Audible Files on Garmin Nüvi

From the Main Menu after powering on the Nüvi, select Travel Kit > Audible Book Player.
You can locate the title in the Audible Book Player by clicking on the Browse button. You can search all titles, or by Genre, Author, or Narrator. Select the category you would like to search by, and select the title. Press the Play button to begin enjoying your Audible selection.

Title: Garmin Nüvi Installation
URL: http://audible.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/audible.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=3239&p_created=1144186251

Unfortunately, at this time we do not have any information regarding the Garmin GPS being supported on a Mac in the future. However, I will be glad to forward your email address to upper management so you are notified once the Garmin GPS is supported on a Mac.

As always, I hope I have met all your needs and requests, as it has been a pleasure assisting you today. If I could be of any further assistance, or answer any further questions, please let me know and I'll be happy to do so. 

I appreciate and value your business as an Audible customer.

Here at Audible, we truly value and appreciate your business; if you need further assistance, please respond to this email or if you wish, please provide me with a contact number and the best available time to reach you.

For additional questions, how to contact us and hours of operation, please visit us at: www.audible.com/contactus

Sincerely,
Hakime R.
Audible Customer Support