SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB MP3 Player (Silver)Reviews: SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB MP3 Player (Silver)
Binding: Electronics Brand: SanDisk Color: Silver Display Size: 1.9 inches EAN: 0619659049652 Item Dimensions: Label: SanDisk Manufacturer: SanDisk Model: SDMX14R-008GS-A57 MPN: SDMX14R-008GS-A57 Publisher: SanDisk Studio: SanDisk Warranty: 1 year warranty Features:
Rating:  - Good Once You Get To Know itIt took me a while to like the Sansa Fuze because it took me a while to figure out that it won't play mp3 files ripped at a bit rate of more than 256kbps. So it wouldn't play a whole lot of my music because I used a higher bit rate. If you have this problem of its not playing tracks you load, check your bit rate and adjust. Problem solved. With no help from the manual. And you'll have to re-rip and re-load. In Windows Media you can change your bit rate by clicking on "rip." Once I had that straight, I've found it a good player for the money and the capacity. Rating: - A Nice iPod nano AlternativeI'm a Mac person. Most of my computing is done on a MacBook, and I have owned almost every iPod since the 2nd generation of the device, so for my review to declare the Sansa Fuze 8GB media device a "Nice Alternative" for the iPod nano (which I consider probably the best player available), that means something. Physically, the Fuze is about the same size as the previous "fat" nano, though it's a wee bit thicker. While you do gain a little size, you also gain a moving, mechanical selection wheel (not a touch-wheel) and a back side that is slightly rubberized, so it isn't as slippery or prone to scratching. You also gain three features not available on iPods: Memory expansion by way of a mini SD port on the side, FM tuner for those times when you may need to tune into the airwaves, and a built in microphone with recording function for taking voice memos or recording whatever sounds you may desire to keep. When used in OS X, I will admit that the Sansa is-- Shall we say, crippled? Yes, that's probably the best word. It's not much more than a drag-n-drop mp3 player in OS X. There are some scripts out there for iTunes that automate the process of moving a playlist to the Fuze, but really, OS X is not the ideal place to use the Sansa Fuze, because you have so many limitations! You can't get video into it in this mode (at least, I've found nobody who has had success in doing so), and you won't get your iTunes album art to show up on the Sansa when you deposit it from your OS X partition into the Fuze. However, one of the handy things about a Mac is that it can run Windows, and in that world the Sansa is as full-featured as possible! If you use Windows Media Player 11, you get album art, you get playlists, and you also get compression. Yes. Compression. Much like the iPod shuffle, the Sansa Fuze (and WMP 11) will convert your music into a smaller bitrate before transferring to the player. I have it set for 192kbps (the highest WMP will allow with the Fuze) and in this mode I manage to get well over 1000 songs on the built-in 8GB memory, and that still leaves me room for over a gigabyte of video, photos, or music. Yes, the conversion process makes the sync slower than an iPod would be, but the trade-off for more content on the device is worth it. This leads me to one of my pet peeves with this device: The Sansa Media Converter. No, you can't just drop videos into the Sansa Fuze. You need to use the Sansa Media Converter, and it's a dumb, buggy program. It's chintzy and cheap. I absolutely hate it because it does everything as if it's a throwback to the early 90s technology. Yes, it handles many codecs, but it's slow, clunky, and converts to a specific format that the Sansa requires to play videos properly. This should not be necessary. If Sandisk has any sort of brainpower in their PMP division, they'll write some firmware upgrades that allow users to just pop in videos in their raw format, instead of needing to go through the filter of the SMC every time. That being said, the SMC *does* get the job done, and I have to be fair: The iPod has very specific codec requirements, too, and iTunes is a LOT slower at converting files than the SMC is. It's just that iTunes is a lot more stable, while the SMC has a habit of locking up when it's done converting. It also gives very little in the way of options. You want it to be high quality, low quality, or something else? Tough. You get two choices: "converted" or "not converted". The radio works just as it should. I never really use it (that's why I have a PMP) but it's nice to know it's there if I ever want news, weather, or something different. The voice recorder is also fine. Nothing special, but a nice add-on. The menu display is rather dull, but then, I'm not gazing at the menu all day. It does the job, and at least allows you to change its color scheme a bit. The iPod doesn't even do that. The music sounds very good, even after the conversion. Of course, my entire iTunes library had to be ported over to my Boot Camp partition, and it is in MP3 format instead of AAC (I made this switch once I realized that no other devices- PSP, PS3, or other audio players- would use AAC). For me, the switch to Windows being my media center for my PMP was fairly easy. I still maintain an iTunes library in OS X, but I just make sure to drag over all my music whenever I get new stuff, and I avoid DRM'd music like the plague. No, this won't play your iTunes purchased music, but it will play Audible formats, so that's kind of cool. It also supports subscription-based services like Rhapsody if that's your cup of tea (not mine. I like to OWN my music.) All in all, its a good media player with more features than an iPod, but less versatility than one. Considering the price is at least 25% less than the 8GB iPod nano (and often closer to 50% less when on sale) this is an excellent purchase if you're a Windows user, don't have a lot of protected music, or don't mind switching to Windows Media Player for your management needs. If you're a Mac user, you'll probably have to weigh the limitations and heavy preference for Windows Media Player on the Sansa in your purchase decision. If you're up to the change, it's just as capable as an iPod (even moreso in some ways), but it is of course not going to be as polished an experience as the familiar iPod interface and connection with iTunes. PMPs have come a long way. My first one was a 32MB device that could hold very few songs, and had no display whatsoever. Apple revolutionize the industry with the iPod, but SanDisk has done an admirable job of borrowing the iPod's innovations and making them work in different ways-- Some better, some worse, but all comparable to the original and for a lower price. If what you want is value, then you'll be happy with the Fuze. Rating:  - Would be a great mp3 player but...Having had the Sansa e130 I was really looking forward to this mp3 player. Unfortunately it has 2 problems, one of them sufficient to return it to the store. First, minor inconvenience, it uses a proprietary cord, instead of a standard usb cord, so...its now one more cord to carry and if something happens to it...you pay. Second, major problem, this player will NOT be even seen by your computer unless you have Windows Media Player in it (10 or higher to get some MTP somethin or other. It will not act like a flashdrive. Along with this, of course, is the fact you now cannot also port it into your car stereo or anything else (read "not compatible" by Sansa tech) (makes you wonder if they made some deal with Microsoft). Frankly I'm not paying $75-100 plus dollars for this. Its too bad because this would have been a great mp3 player... Rating:  - Great Value with lots of perksI love my new Sansa Fuze for several reasons. The price was very reasonable, lots less than the big name competitors. It is an 8GB unit and that can be doubled by added in up to an 8GB memory card. It has an FM Radio and has preset station functions. It is small and good looking. Lastly, it works great. I recommend this to anyone looking for performance, adaptability and value. Rating: - Great buy!!Bought as an early Christmas present for my adult children. They love the features and the ease of use. Only complaint from my daughter is the style of headset which will not stay in her ears. Had to buy a different style that fit down in her ears. SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB MP3 Player (Silver) ReviewsMore reviews:Buy SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB MP3 Player (Silver) Sale Reviews Deals
SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB MP3 Player (Silver)
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