Sansa e270
Consumers report:
The largest-capacity flash-memory MP3 player yet
Samsung MP3 player
Until now, if you wanted an ultracompact MP3 player with decent capacity, the choice was limited to two 4-gigabyte (1,000-song) players--the Samsung YP-25 and Apple's iPod Nano.
Those players are no longer so distinctive. The new Sansa e270, $270, offers 50 percent more capacity--6 GB total--and adds other features those players lack. The Sansa measures 1.8x3.5x0.6 inches (HxWxD), and weighs 2.6 ounces.
The Sansa is also available in smaller capacities that track in price and storage with the other players: a $220 4-GB model and a $170 2-GB version. As with the Nano (and many other MP3 players), the Sansa can produce near-audio-CD-quality music from its headphone jack, but the supplied earbud-type headphone degrades that quality somewhat, to the merely respectable. The manufacturer claims 20 hours of continuous audio playback time on the unit's removable rechargeable battery.
Here are other ways in which the Sansa stacks up, based on our preliminary tests.
PROS
Versatility. The Sansa offers an FM radio and recording capability, extras that no iPod offers. You can record your favorite radio programs from the radio or use the unit's built-in microphone for voice recordings. It also plays video clips, which the Nano does not. However, only hard-drive-equipped iPods can play recorded videos from Apple's iTunes, the largest online source for pay-video content. So, as with all other non-Apple video players, the video capability of the Sansa is probably most useful for playing clips you create yourself.
Extra memory capability. The Sansa allows you to expand on-board capacity through a memory slot that supports SanDisk microSD™ as well as Trusted Flash™ or Gruvi™ content cards. That could allow you to carry up to 1 GB (250 songs) of additional music. (You can't view photos or videos from the card.)
Fairly large screen. The Sansa's color display measures 1.4 inches high by 1.1 inches wide--larger than that of the Nano.
Free replacement cable. As with some other MP3 players, the Sansa requires use of a proprietary cable to charge the unit using a computer's USB port. If you lose most such cables, you're obliged to pay the company for a new one. It's a welcome touch, then, that SanDisk will replace the first Sansa cable you lose or damage free of charge; you simply call the company's toll-free support line.
CONS
Compatibility quibbles. The player will not recognize photos or video clips transferred on a microSD™ card using Windows Explorer. Images and videos must be converted to a compatible format and transferred using the Sansa Media Converter application (included on the SanDisk CD-ROM). Also, the Sansa doesn't work with Mac computers.
Scant accessories. As with the Nano and some other MP3 players, the Sansa doesn't come with an AC adapter for recharging, and we couldn't find one for sale on the SanDisk Web site. That means the Sansa can be charged only from a computer with a USB port--a potential inconvenience. Nor, when we checked, did SanDisk's Web site offer replacement or spare batteries. Another minor point: The player package does not include the full printed user guide, but only the quick-start guide. However, the full user guide is available on the included CD-ROM or it can be downloaded from the manufacturer's Web site as an Adobe Acrobat PDF.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The Sansa is a very user-friendly player that boasts a larger memory (at 6 GB) than its rivals, and the expansion slot allows for still more storage. At $270, it's cheaper per gigabyte of storage than the Nano. However, Apple has been eager to lead the market in flash-memory-player capacity and capabilities, and SanDisk's edge in storage capacity may not last long. Choose the SanDisk now if you're interested in the largest-capacity flash player that's currently available and want a very small media player that also has a radio and audio recorder. Content considerations also come into play. The Sansa, like the Samsung and all other players except the iPods, won't play songs or videos bought from Apple's online iTunes library, with its vast selection and many exclusives. It will, however, accept songs from many other online stores, including those such as Rhapsody that offer subscriptions, which essentially "rent" songs by the month.
consumerreports.org |
