Sharp's MP-B300: where thin and ugly meet

This 8.9-millimeter thin Sharp-made eyesore goes by the name MP-B300. It ekes-out up to 1GB of on-board memory with the possibility for more via miniSD expansion. Yeah, the included FM-transmitter is kinda cool, allowing the player to pump tunes over your car's stereo system without any irritating accessories, and it does playback MP3 and PlaysForSure WMA in addition to boasting the ability to record directly off the integrated FM tuner. Still, at roughly the same price as that thinner, not-to-be-named player with color screen, well, we just gotta wonder why Sharp, why?

[Via Akihabara News]

[Chris Robinson @ May 29th 2006 9:51AM]

I'm no fan of the iPod, but Jesus freaking Christ!

[me @ May 29th 2006 10:11AM]

Honoustly, why ask why?

It looks ok, not great, but ok.
It has more features than the Apple offering.
Why needs the name of the song in color anyway?

Isn't it a real alternative?
I would say it is.

[Anonymous User @ May 29th 2006 10:13AM]

Yup, I would much rather have user-upgradeable memory than a pointless color screen that will be harder to read in bright sunlight than a mono screen.

As usual, Apple puts form over function.

[Ryan @ May 29th 2006 10:17AM]

You ask why because there may be a few geeks like us that would buy it, well not me but some others. But most people if they see this thing the same price as the nano would never think about a purchase. So you ask why would they design something that would never appeal to a mass market. This thing is freaking hedious. I actually would be a little embarrased if someone saw me using it. If it was a lot cheaper that would be one thing. But if anyone is going to compete they have to put in more features, and make a device that isn't so ugly.

[strider_mt2k @ May 29th 2006 10:17AM]

I think if you slide those little squares around it makes a picture or something...

The feature set is great, but the styling leaves a little to be desired.
Maybe it's the ugly player that can?

[Ryan @ May 29th 2006 10:18AM]

By the way, have you guys ever used a nano. It sells so well because it functions wonderfully. Looking at these buttons I can't imagine how this thing could be comfortable.

[Nukes and Candy @ May 29th 2006 10:41AM]

I say, this has to be the most Quasimodo looking device I’ve seen in my time alive. And those buttons… PEEEEEYYUUUU!

Although you must know, physical beauty is not all important, sometimes we must look inward and see what’s inside, just ask the fat chick!

[Moordryd @ May 29th 2006 11:01AM]

"...where thin and ugly meet"

Wouldn't that be a crack-whore?

[Joey @ May 29th 2006 11:18AM]

I would just go for the Sandisk Sansa e200 series... pretty much universally excellent reviews with the same features... in a much nicer package and up to 6GB of flash memory.

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2006/03/sandisk-sansa-e200-series-review.php

[becki @ May 29th 2006 11:35AM]

Call it the iSore!

[DS @ May 29th 2006 11:52AM]

These guys have a *LONG* way to go before they catch up to Apple design wise. Nice try, but like every other POS out there, I think I'll pass....


-DS

[Eugene @ May 29th 2006 12:40PM]

I like it. And I would probably buy it if it had 4 GB of memory. It's not the ugliest player ever, anyway...

[James @ May 29th 2006 1:15PM]

"9. Call it the iSore!"

LOL. Priceless.

[dave95 @ May 29th 2006 2:04PM]

Forget that not-to-be-named player from that not-to-be-named company who just opened a not-to-be-named store on 5th Ave. I think they where more inspired by the equally beautiful Creative Zen SLEEK ;-), (ohh the pain!)

[Aram @ May 29th 2006 2:26PM]

This looks like something you could have found at Radio Shack in 1985.

[Scott @ May 29th 2006 6:27PM]

Holy crap. That is ugly. It looks like a tv remote or something. It makes me angry.

[Andrew de Ridder @ May 29th 2006 7:23PM]

@ #3

"As usual, Apple puts form over function."

Apple didn't do anything!

[Anomie @ May 29th 2006 7:53PM]

I think the worst part is that the buttons are tinged green. Like, puke green. And unlike the iPod's idiot proof interface (you guys knocking it know you're just jealous!) the button positioning makes no inutitive sense.

ps: iSore=hilarious!

[Terc @ May 29th 2006 10:08PM]

I would call this an "80's retro" mp3 player and pray for a few poor saps to buy the ugly beast.

[IcerC @ May 29th 2006 10:40PM]

I think is looks great.
better pics here:
http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/sharp-mp-b200-mp3-player

[Andrew de Ridder @ May 30th 2006 1:31AM]

@ # 22

I think that the red tinted one looks revolting, I am not a fan of that blue one either.

[aptmunich @ May 30th 2006 6:19AM]

@ #16 "If you want style, try Sony."

Yeah, that Walkman Bean was a real beauty...
And don't forget the "organic blob" players!

[Terry Wilson @ May 30th 2006 6:44AM]

As this thing includes an FM transmitter, it can't be legally sold in the UK, probably the same for quite a few other countries too.

[Joe @ May 30th 2006 7:10AM]

It's the Pontiace Aztec of MP3 players.

[tttstarr @ May 30th 2006 7:25AM]

I think it is great looking and very practical, looks like a winner to me!

[Napolean Dynamite @ May 30th 2006 7:59AM]

You pretty much have the worst taste ever.

"16. It's no uglier then the iPod. And at least this thing has decent features. Can't say the same thing for the iSuck.

If you want style, try Sony."

[hacker not cracker @ May 30th 2006 8:57AM]

I actually would not mind having one of those!

[Chris Norman @ May 30th 2006 9:23AM]

I think you misspelt 'Fugly' in the headline.

This is the sort of abomination that results from trying to merge an MP3 player with a phone.

Wait - there's no phone? Why then the "uglier than an N-Gage without even really trying" keypad layout? Is every other MP3 player input configuration patented by someone else?

[Fred Sanford @ May 30th 2006 11:47AM]

Seriously, this is no worse than the Prism DuroSport

http://www.PrismDurosport.com

[bonchbonch @ May 30th 2006 1:23PM]

The Apple-haters of Engadget are hilarious.

Apple INTEGRATES form and function, as the two are vitally important. As usual, tech-heads go solely by a spec sheet (does it play Ogg, OMG!!1) instead of the device itself and how pleasant it is to use. You just can't beat the clickwheel and probably never will. Nobody will care if this has an FM transmitter if the screen is ugly as hell (people love the nano's color screen and its ability to display album art and personal photos) and the interface looks like a 1970s calculator. I don't understand the obsessive need of tech-heads to bash aesthetics and beauty in a technical device. I can only assume it's because they're, for the most part, totally uncreative and don't appreciate products that are actually designed for humans to interact with on a daily basis. No wonder the competition is languishing.

Hell, even the name is ridiculous. "MP-B300?" I love when companies use the engineering name as the selling name. Very Sony-esque and confusing for customers.

[banjo @ May 30th 2006 1:55PM]

It's...it's...Beautiful! ;)

[Silver @ May 30th 2006 2:42PM]

May every ranting iHater go buy one of these Sharps. Please. And wear them on your belt, in full view, so we can easily identify (and mock) you.

"Hey everyone, look at me, I'm not an iPod sheep! And my utter lack of taste or rational thought is compensated by my brave individuality!"

P.S. DS, your copy/paste of your identical comment on all these stories is getting tired...does it take too many brain cells to add something new to a discussion?

[robbie @ May 30th 2006 3:30PM]

This is designed for Old people. I know my mom would like the bigg buttons then tring to red the small text on the Ipod screen.

[Neil @ Jul 9th 2006 2:26AM]

There is nothing hideous about this Sharp MP3 player - it's not beautiful, but it's pretty decent looking (especially here http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/sharp-mp-b200-mp3-player ) Seems like a lot of you guys have been brainwashed into thinking that ipods are stylish. They are not! And all those tacky all-white ipod accessories...PUKE! Also, the Ipod does not have great audio performance OR reliability - just mass-market follow-the-crowd appeal. And before anyone questions my judgement I'm an award-winning designer and electronics engineer...so don't even go there!