Sansa mp3 players

Norm Apter

Well, my second iPod died tonight. My first one, a 20GB model, lasted from Dec. 2004 to Sept. 2007. I purchased an 8GB Nano (the one that died tonight) as a replacement when that one stopped working, so we're talking about 3 year-life spans for each. I don't remember dropping either of them (although its possible it happened at some point) but nothing I did seemed to be immediately responsible for their downfall...they just stopped working.

I just need something for the gym and cycling and running outdoors. I'm only interested in a listening device -- no need for video or any other functions -- and something relatively cheap (in price), so that if it breaks 2 or 3 years down the road it won't feel like quite as much of a loss as an iPod. (My first one was something like $300 and the Nano, before they dropped in price, was about $180).

Just did a keyword search on Amazon and stumbled across Sansa players; never heard of these before.

The two Sansas that came up are the Clip and Fuze. It looks like the 8GB Clip is a bit cheaper ($57) than the 8GB Fuze ($70), but both appear to have expandable memory (a definate advantage over iPods).

If anybody has either the Clip or the Fuze, I'm wondering about durability. If I treat one decently, will it most likely last at least 2 or 3 years?

Jstas

I have a View. In fact, it was at Polkfest. If I demo'ed anything for anybody, that was my handy-dandy source! I got it 2 years ago 'cause i started commuting on the train. It's beat up but still going.

Disc Jockey

My daughter has a Clip that is at least three years old and is still going strong. She uses the heck out of it and she is not that gentle with it.

drselect

I have had a Clip for about four months and use it mostly when I am outside doing work around the yard. I like how small and light weight it is compared to the zune I had which wasn't that big either. Also I liked that it has a display and its not that bad to navigate through the menus. I have manged to already break the "clip" off of the player when it got hung up an some wood while it was attached to my belt. My daughter dropped it while mowing and then ran over the earbuds still attached to the clip. The earbuds were destroyed but no damage to the Clip which did not go through the lawnmower. Despite the abuse its taken I think its held up fairly well and would get another. I got mine from BB but would look at getting a reconditioned/return one from newegg to save a few$$ if I need to replace this one.

blakeh

I've had a Clip for two years now, and that thing just keeps on keepin' on. I use it for mowing the lawn. The charge lasts forever and it couldn't be easier to move music back and forth (unlike iTunes). If it were to ever break, I would buy a new one the same day.

cfrizz

I bought one of these from a member on here 3-4 years ago & it's still going strong. It get used almost daily, goes with me on trips, & to the gym. When it dies, I'm getting another one.

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Sansa-Player-MicroSD-Expansion/dp/B000ETVKHE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1286379683&sr=8-2

Norm Apter

Thanks for all of the responses. I'm going to order a Sansa Clip today. Just one other question: have any of you guys taken advantage of the expandable capacity feature?

Since this is made by Sandisk, I'm guessing that those little rectangular flash memory cards that we use for our digital cameras are the kind that can be inserted into these players(?). Is that so? For example...

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Class-Memory-SDSDB-8192-Packaging/dp/B0018BOLIC/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1286387083&sr=1-2

Jstas

Yes. My view is a 16 GB model and I have a 8GB microSD card in it for a total of 24 GB of storage. Accessing the memory card can be a little slower than internal memory but it's just as reliable and once the files are found, it's just as fast with playback.

Mine plays movies so I usually throw a full, DVD quality movie on as well as TV shows I might have missed. I loaded up with MP3's for Polkfest but I put the last episode I missed of "Boardwalk Empire" on and there is a Blu-Ray rip of "Kick ****" on there too.

Best part is, this thing is only about a 1/4" thick and 1/10th the weight of an iPod. The screen is smaller but there's no DRM BS and all the files I use on it are backed up on a hard drive on a computer. No iTunes nazism, no need to worship at the feet of The Jobs and no DRM. All my stuff is cataloged with Winamp (It really whips the llama's ****!) and I use the supplied media converter to convert movie files in to a format the reader can read.

I'm surprised more people haven't found the SanDisk products. They are what most people look for in an iPod without all the iPod crap that nobody really wants but deals with because they don't have a choice. Than and SanDisk stuff is actually AFFORDABLE! My View was $120. They are cheaper now.

Jstas

Oh and the media most of the SanDisk players use is this:

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-microSDHC-Memory-SDSDQ-016G-Packaging/dp/B001L1H0SC/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1286388535&sr=1-1



BTW folks, that's a 16 GB microSD card for $23. I might have to go buy that!

Here's a 32 GB card for $90:

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-32GB-microSDHC-Memory-Package/dp/B003WGJYCY/ref=sr_1_16?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1286388535&sr=1-16

and here's that 16 GB card with an adapter/reader:

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-MicroSDHC-Adapter-Package-MiniSDHC/dp/B002DJ2KYK/ref=sr_1_21?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1286388535&sr=1-21

Norm Apter

Jstas wrote: »

Oh and the media most of the SanDisk players use is this:

http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-microSDHC-Memory-SDSDQ-016G-Packaging/dp/B001L1H0SC/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1286388535&sr=1-1



BTW folks, that's a 16 GB microSD card for $23. I might have to go buy that!

That's so awesome. Boy, have prices on mini-storage cards come down over the last 3 years. I remember when a 1GB card cost nearly that much. I'm definately going to pick up the 16GB card you linked above, soon.

For now, I just pulled the trigger on the 8GB Sansa Clip ($57):
http://www.amazon.com/SanDisk-Sansa-Clip-Player-Black/dp/B002MAPS6W/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1286407660&sr=1-2