| | The Sansa Rhapsody isn't really new hardware. It's a variation of existing SanDisk players, and is formally called the e200R series. But this isn't just a marketing gimmick. Unlike previous players that worked with Rhapsody, which relied on Microsoft software, this uses Real's own music formats and copy-protection software and is more tightly tied to the service. The player can be switched into Microsoft mode for use with Microsoft files.
Personally, I found the preloaded music more of a hassle than a boon. It included both canned playlists and channels -- preprogrammed radio stations. They featured numerous artists and genres I didn't like, or actually hated, and I was forced to delete most of them and replace them with music I wanted to hear.
Before I could do this, however, I was amazed to find that Rhapsody wanted to keep adding its own choices to my player. The minute I plugged it into my PC, the service began downloading 73 songs of its own choosing to the Sansa, to "refresh" the choices that came on the device. Real says it plans to change this behavior to ask users first whether they want such a refresh.
An easy fix to this complaint, and they could take it a step further. Why not pre-load complete libraries of different genres:
Sansa Blues
Sansa Rock
Sansa Classical
Sansa Dance
Sansa Easy Listening
Sansa Jazz
Sansa Hip Hop
Sansa Pop
Sansa Rock
It would involve inventory management, but if one were sold out, make it easy to buy a different one and plug in and reprogram the default by overnight download.
The ability to open the box and play the music you want would be very powerful sales driver. |
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