To: William F. Wager, Jr. who wrote (57627 ) 10/6/2006 3:09:34 PM From: inaflash Read Replies (1) | Respond to 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. Real says it plans to change this behavior to ask users first whether they want such a refresh.
