I'm a music junkie. I have an
MP3 player and a
cell phone that can play MP3s, yet I wanted a tiny MP3 player that I could use while working, hiking or walking.
When my wife and I walk around around neighborhood, we use these very small and lightweight MP3 players. I would recommend buying the optional armband/case. This enables me to keep the player on my arm and off my waist with a shorter cable.
I considered buying the Apple Nano but it's more money, did not have a built in FM tuner, does not play video and had a shorter battery life per charge. I also considered buying the Microsoft Zune. At $249, the 30 gig Zune is much larger than my Sansa. Then I thought that for a few dollars more, I'd get 30 gigs of space. Considering I already have a bulky 20 gig MP3 player, I really was looking for a tiny player. Besides, if 8 gigs ever becomes too small, I can always add a 2 gig micro SD card for about $60-$70 in stores and about $30-$35 on eBay. Speaking of storage cards, the Sansa is made by a company that became a household name through the making of several storage solutions - SanDisk.
What I Love:
I love its compact size - it's smaller than a business card.
The sound quality is great.
I love that the Sansa will automatically import my iTunes library into the Rhapsody library. It will also import manually, so all of my Windows Media Player music gets sent over as well.
I love that I can buy up to a 2 gig micro SD card to store even more music. NOTE: Apparently, you can't store pictures and video on the card, but having 10 gigs of storage is a nice round number.
I love that the Sansa has a built-in FM tuner.
It's also a voice recorder. Great in a pinch for notes or to record phone conversations.
It has a slide button on top to lock all the buttons from accidental contact.
I love that the battery life is up to 20 hours between charges.
What I'm on the Fence About:
The user interface takes getting used to. While it may resemble the iPod's wheel, the navigation process takes a while to become routine. The volume dial is a bit bothersome.
Rhapsody is the software that stores and organizes your music library - much like iTunes or Windows Media Player. However, Best Buy includes a free 3 month service to their downloading site - much like any other downloading site. My free trial period is not expired, and they will ask me to subscribe for $14.99 a month. I will decline that offer, but I hope it has no real effect on my Sansa's or Rhapsody's efficiency.
There's no manual included in the box. They include a quick start guide, but if you need more in-depth information (including trouble shooting) you'll need to go to the SanDisk website. Once there, you can download the .pdf file and print out a manual. I can understand why this trend has become the norm. MP3 players are aimed at the younger crowd and they usually can't be bothered with manuals. They're bulky and add weight to shipping. I suggest everyone who buys a product like this, to go to the company's website then download and print a copy of the manual. There's a lot more info in it.
What I Do NOT Like:
The included headphones or earbuds are lousy. I recommend buying the
Philips 9500 or 9501 earbuds.
There's no wall or car charger included. It gets its charge from USB connected to your PC.
It did freeze up on me once. To reset it, I had to press and hold the menu button for 15 seconds.
Accessories:
While there are many available, I recommend two.
The arm band case. The case alone has a clip if you wish to clip it to a belt or waistband or to the elastic arm band. The case has a matching plastic window that protects the LCD screen. Alternatively, you can use the same clear film used to protect the LCDs of phones and PDAs. Incidentally, the case comes with a free 35-song download card from some obscure site.
The power kit also from Best Buy for about $30. This enables me to charge my Sansa in the car and adds a much needed wall charger.
I purchased the Sansa at Best Buy for $169 for the 8 gig model. Oddly enough, the 6 gig model was priced at $199. I love this tiny MP3 player. It serves my need for less bulk while walking or working. When stacked up against the iPod Nano, the Sansa wins for being smaller and lighter, the FM radio, cheaper sticker price and being able to handle pictures and video.
UPDATE: I was just at Costco and they sell the Sansa 280 for $179 less a $40 instant rebate. So at $139, this is an even better buy.
