SanDisk unveils 8GB, expandable Sansa e280

SanDisk is making its latest push against Apple's venerable iPod nano, and unlike the sour grapes iDon't campaign, this one has definite potential to knock a few precious percentage points off of Cupertino's still-overwhelming market share. Besides officially unveiling the 8GB Sansa e280 that we'd seen coming for awhile, the Milipitas-based company also announced price drops on the entire e200 lineup of players, bringing the 6GB e270 down to $220, the 4GB e260 to $180, and the 2GB e250 to just $140. As with other members of the Sansa family, the e280 also includes a microSD slot for jacking total memory up 10GB -- meaning that even if Apple can get an 8GB nano out the door by the holiday season, SanDisk will still hold the title of "most capacious flash-based DAP." The other value-added features that have helped SanDisk quickly acquire its number two position in the marketplace are also still present: you're getting video playback capability (using a proprietary converter, granted), an FM tuner with "on-the-fly" recording, a user-replaceable 20-hour lithium ion battery, embedded voice recorder, and support for MP3, WMA, and PlaysForSure tracks. All this functionality will set you back just $250, so unless you've already got thousands of FairPlay songs sitting on your hard drive (and don't feel like stripping the DRM), the Sansa e280 looks like an awfully strong contender from where we're standing.

[Jonathan Allen @ Aug 21st 2006 9:22AM]

we had the 4 gig version at the retail establishment I worked at. We tried putting 2 on demo, but neither worked and one of the employees bought 1 and returned it since it didn't work either. 3 out of 3 shipped to the store is no good.

[Jaxim @ Aug 21st 2006 9:25AM]

I personally think that the reason these "iPod killers" don't get any traction even though on paper they outperform the iPod in many aspects, is because iPod has that cool touch sensitive scroll wheel. If these killers were able to (legally) copy Apple in this regard, we would potentially see these killers actually doing some killing.

[pp @ Aug 21st 2006 9:32AM]

I'm pretty happy with my e250. The menu get a little wonky sometimes, hopefully a new firmware will come out sooner or later. The batteries are closer to 15 hours in my experience, but that's at max volume (on speakers) so it's probably longer in normal use. Scratch resistance wise it's pretty great, I've had mine for around 2 months and it dosen't even look as bad as all those 'week old' nano pics that were around during the whole scratching debacle. The liquid metal stuf the back is made out of is awesome, not a scratch on it.

[akijikan @ Aug 21st 2006 9:38AM]

Jaxim -

People do not buy the ipod for the touch wheel.

People buy the iPod because the joneses got one and they see it on tv all the time.

The problem with iPod killers is that they can't stand up to Apple's marketing combined with their market share.

The best hope for a iPod killer will be zune simply because it'll have Mircosoft behind and Microsoft knows how to break into a market and grab some share (ie Xbox) with some marketing.

[Sam K @ Aug 21st 2006 9:39AM]

The reason the iPod is the number one MP3 is because the majority of the public are like sheep. They hear that it's the "best MP3 player", that it's "cool" or that it's the trendy thing to have and they all get it. If you do a little research, you'll find out that there are MP3 players out there that give you more for the money.

I have a 4gb SanDisk Sansa M260 and I got it almost 9 months ago for $145 from Circuit City (no rebates). It includes a built in FM tuner and an armband case. To get the equivalent features in an iPod Nano, I would have had to spend over double that, $250 for a 4gb iPod Nano plus accessories to get the FM tuner and armband case. Ok, I don't have the color screen on my M260 like the iPod Nano so I can't look at pictures but IT'S AN MP3 PLAYER! I don't need to look at pictures on it.

[Tom W @ Aug 21st 2006 9:45AM]

Hey Jonathan, try charging the battery first!

Just kidding. Posts like yours make me wonder if Apple is trying to ruin the reputation of good products by pretending to be "joe consumer" on the blogs.

All I have to say about the 8 gig SanDisk is ROCK ME BABY!

[Ultim8fury @ Aug 21st 2006 9:48AM]

@Sam K

Personally I bought my first iPod for use in my car. At the time there were no quality adapters ( not FM or tape based ) for car audio integration with other brands of audio players. Apple may not have the most tech filled devices out there but they do have the backing of 3rd party manufacturers whose accessories make the iPod more useful to everyone.

It's also worth noting that a lot of people don't care about FM tuners and armband cases. What fits your needs doesn't always fit everyone elses.

Don't generalise the iPod owning public as sheep just because you think you're being a rebel by not buying an iPod.

[bpc @ Aug 21st 2006 10:04AM]

The thing I think a lot of iPod haters forget about the little bundle of tunes is that it's just so darn cute. Noting that there are other music players out there that give you "more for your money," without qualifying what you're getting more of is an easy mistake to make, so I can't fault the haters too much for it, but I think Apple and other high-end brands have shown us that the nubmers aren't everything.

Can I buy a Nissan that will get nearly exactly the same performance (or better, for that matter) than a BMW, and for less money? Sure I can. Anyone can. But how many BMWs do you see on the road?

How many Starbucks coffees have you seen in people hands this morning? How many Rolexes on the wrists above those hands?

Point is, there's more to making a purchasing choice than the amount of capacity, performance, etc. that the product offers. Yes, lots of iPods are purchased because "Jimmy has one, so I should too," but why did Jimmy get one? Sheep don't flock just for the sake of flocking, or else we'd all have Insignia TVs and be drinking Sam's Choice cola. Thanks, but I'll have a Coke.

[Steve @ Aug 21st 2006 10:05AM]

"People buy the iPod because the joneses got one and they see it on tv all the time."

"The reason the iPod is the number one MP3 is because the majority of the public are like sheep."

These kinds of dismissive comments do nothing to further tha conversation and put everyone in the same "Anything but iPod" screed category that gets written off by iPod users.

I've had an intel pocket concern (my sentimental favorite to this day), an Archos Studio10, a Creative Zen Micro, and like 3 Rio Karmas. I bought (and kept) my iPod because

a) it works

b) it's simple (I would concede simplistic)

c) It holds up surprisingly well to day to day abuse (see Karma issues)

d) Before I bought it (in 2004), I ABX'd and found 128 AAC to be better (for me) than Lame APS

I'm slowly looking at mp3 based players like the Sansa, but that's simply because of the age of my current iPod. The player's served me very well, and attacking the people who use it as "sheep" discount those who came to it for legitimate reasons.

[Dave Murdock @ Aug 21st 2006 10:08AM]

I don't understand why these also-ran players don't support AAC format? I have thousands of songs in ripped AAC (non-DRM) and I would at least think about an iPod alternative if these players handled AAC. Even MS figured this out with the Xbox 360 with AAC support.

[PeteC @ Aug 21st 2006 10:20AM]

See Daves comment but replace AAC with OGG and you're pretty close to the rant i was going to go on. OGG is free for companies to add, no royalties therefore I'm thinking the small amount of extra coding time has to be worth it doesn't it even if you only get another 200 purchases the small amount of time to implement a free to use codec shouldn't be too much should it?

[Francisco Saavedra @ Aug 21st 2006 10:27AM]

if only it had ogg support... also, i´m assuming it is MTP, so no good for those of us who are linux users...

[Tom W @ Aug 21st 2006 10:37AM]

Saavedra,
The Sansa is switchable between MTP and mass storage compliant. The mass storage mode is compatable with ALL operating systems. For those not familiar with mass storage compliance, it means you can transfer music TO and FROM the player using windows explorer. No special software (such as iTunes) is required. The player can also be used in the same way as a USB thumbdrive to save and transfer ANY type of file between computers.

[sracer @ Aug 21st 2006 10:37AM]

Francisco Saavedra... poor assumption on your part. The e200 series supports both MTP and MSC modes. In MSC mode the player looks and acts like a USB memory stick/thumb drive.

[ran @ Aug 21st 2006 10:47AM]

I don't care about mp3 players anymore. I'm still waiting for that killer (and cheap) video player.

[Bob @ Aug 21st 2006 10:55AM]

BTW, it's Milpitas, not Milipitas.

[Sam K @ Aug 21st 2006 11:07AM]

@ Ultim8fury

I'm not buying a SanDisk over an iPod to be rebel. I bought a SanDisk because I felt it gave me more value for the money. I agree with your point that the SanDisk better suited my needs than an iPod. I can also see your point about having more 3rd party integration and that probably drives a lot of iPod sales. Maybe if my 2006 Infiniti M45 had an integrated iPod port, maybe I would have bought an iPod instead.

But I still think the majority of people who buy iPods got them because of the marketing and the hype and haven't really spent the time doing any research to figure out which MP3 is best for them.

I must admit that the only reason I would consider getting an iPod in the future is because of the 3rd party accessories like the Altec Lansing inMotion iM7 boom box. Too bad that doesn't have an AM/FM radio built in. It would be perfect for the beach.

And to those people who got offended by my sheep comment - I'm not referring to the people on posting on Engadget.com because you probably don't fall into that category. You're reading this site to learn about new gadgets and I would expect most of you to get an MP3 player or any other device because it has features you need or want. Most of the American public is not that informed about technology, consumer electronics, etc. All you need to do is watch a salesman in an electronics store chain such as Circuit City or Best Buy to know that. They take advantage of the fact that people don't know anything about the stuff that they sell. I still stand by my comment that most people who bought iPods bought them because it's popular and the "cool" device to own. They probably don't even know too much about the alternatives like the SanDisk.

[dave95 @ Aug 21st 2006 11:09AM]

For the iPod haters.

Put the Nano and the Sansa side by side and ask random people on the street, which one they would like to take home. Nano will come out on top. Hate to break it to you but most choose base on looks first, hence the popularity of the iPods, Moto RAZR, etc. The Sansa feels cheap in my hand compared to the Nano, which is insanely slim and looks "cool". But that's a moot point if the iPod did not work as advertised. That little thing works well and keeps most satisfied enough to be repeat buyers.

[hiredgoons @ Aug 21st 2006 11:09AM]

Decided to try out a Sansa e250, wasn't impressed. It read tag information incorrectly on random songs (say 11 songs on a ripped CD would show correctly and 1 or 2 would not), there was a fairly loud pop noise whenever it transtioned from one song to the next (both on shuffle and normal play), and the startup time (when it would refresh the database) was longer than I'm used to with my ipod.

I'm not bashing Sandisk or anything, but aside from the "pop" noise, which may have been a malfunction unique to that unit, there were still two inconveniences that I do not experience with an ipod. If I have to go in and massage my mp3 tags so that songs will show up where they're supposed to (under the appropriate album/artist), then I don't care if it has an FM receiver and voice recorder.

[Bitshitter @ Aug 21st 2006 11:11AM]

the thing that blows my mind is the $250 for this puppy! That's twice the flash capacity than the 4GB iPod Nano, at the same price! Of course, I assume (??) that Apple will drop the nano's price when (ever) the next generation nano comes out, but then are we guaranteed that Sandisk won't drop their prices for the Sansa's again in the future (Sandisk is well known for continually lowering the prices of their flash memory cards, thumb drives, and yes, Sansa's after market release)?? And with the optional 2GB microSD now available, the Sansa will have 10GB of flash storage, most likely at a lower cost than the Nano's next (assumed) 8GB Nano....

At anythingbutipod's Sandisk forums, they are playing around right now with a leaked "beta" version of a firmware upgrade that resolves a number of the existing UI bugs. There's also word that a final, official FW upgrade is soon due that will add user EQ, improved OTG playlisting and ID3 tagging, and louder volume. In the leaked photos of the e280, posted here in the past, the firmware listed wasn't an existing version...will the e280 have this new FW mentioned at ABi??

[Bitshitter @ Aug 21st 2006 11:14AM]

@ hiredgoons: I also forgot to mention (because I've yet to experience this with my e260, but I know many others have) the unofficial, "beta" FW already out at ABi has been confirmed by about half a dozen members there to eliminate the popping between tracks, or during change of track, on the Sansa....you might want to give it a try....

[kludgist @ Aug 21st 2006 11:36AM]

Needless to say, it's ambigously written- the microSD bumps the 8gig unit to 10gig, not by 10gig- 2gig is the biggest microSD available right now.

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Aug 21st 2006 11:54AM]

As owner of Sansa e260 (4GB) I can compare it to iPod.

Cons:
- No internationalization support (iow no Unicode).

- No support for any decent audio file format (MPEG4? Vorbis? FLAC?).

- Video support sucks. MJPEG + 8bit/11KHz PCM isn't really how video must be in 3rd millennium.

- Bundled accessories suck. Headphones - very poor quality. Neck strap has very thick metal part in it: very good one - if you happen to want to scratch screen of that thing.

- Bugs with ID3 tags v. Windows Media Player. I do not have single file where WMP have recognized ID3 tag. MTP uploading with WinAmp works more or less well. Copying files over USB as on flash drive: Sansa has bugs with (re)reading tags of files.

- No solitaire ;)

Pros:
- Cheaper.
- Solid design. That thing is twice heavier and thicker than iPod.
- Extension micorSD slot. It never hurts to have one.

On average I found it to be pretty usable. Software in general suck very much. But it might be my overly high quality requirements standards.

[Ihar `Philips` Filipau @ Aug 21st 2006 12:03PM]

> OGG is free for companies to add

PlaysForSure - in usual for M$ style - is exclusive. PlaysForSure player allowed only to support MP3 and WMA audio file formats. That what Philips support told me as why Philips wouldn't support more audio formats.

P.S. Seems that only Sony got good deal with M$: they claim PlaysForSure AND MPEG4/AAC support. Haven't tried Sony in a while, though, and have no wish.

[max @ Aug 21st 2006 12:08PM]

one of my dad's friends was over last night. I had my mobiBLU cube sitting on the table with earbuds plugged into it. his question: "Is that an ipod?"

Now I'm pretty sure (but not positive) that he meant "mp3 player". But just another example of how "ipod" and "mp3 player" are synonymous to the average un-tech-savy joe.

what this has to do with this thread -- I can't remember. But something I think.

[sputnik @ Aug 21st 2006 1:22PM]

AAC won't work on other music players because APPLE refuses to license AAC to other Music Stores or player manufacturers.

Trust me everybody would want to support AAC if they could...as it would draw Ipod Users to other Music Stores or allow them to try other players. But Apple has locked this down.

WMA while a Microsoft proprietary format is freely licensed to anyone that wants to. Thus you have a good half dozen decent Music stores to choose from and many ...many music players from many manufacturers that all work with WMA and Plays for Sure.

Microsofts method allows consumer choice.
Apples method does not. Once you buy in...your locked in.

[tristanfey @ Aug 21st 2006 1:32PM]

RE: max
one of my dad's friends was over last night. I had my mobiBLU cube sitting on the table with earbuds plugged into it. his question: 'Is that an ipod?'

Now I'm pretty sure (but not positive) that he meant 'mp3 player'. But just another example of how 'ipod' and 'mp3 player' are synonymous to the average un-tech-savy joe."

This actually brings up a good point that should scare the heck out of Apple. To retain a trademarked name, you have to show the general public recognizes the brand is different from the product.

If the Trademark Office decides this is not the case, then the trademark is revoked and anyone can use the name. This happened to such previously trademarked names as aspirin, escalator, cellophane, thermos, corn flakes, raisin bran and linoleum to name a few. Those names can be used by any company in connection with their product.

Can you imagine the nightmare that Apple would have to deal with if they lost the trademark and every other company could call their DAP an ipod? People would actually have to ask about features of the player.

[Dispraiser @ Aug 21st 2006 1:36PM]

For all you ipod lovers! It plays video too!

I got a sansa and have yet to see a simpler MP3 player setup. I think just dragging and dropping the files is the easiest system there is! It didn't misread any of my tags (I use Musicmatch, also, and copied over my top rated songs) and even brought over cover art, genres, etc. I got the 4GB version, which was only 180 bucks at the time.

My brother has an iPod, and as the local tech support person of my family, I get shafted whenever anything goes wrong and he needs it fixed. What an impossible system! We had to reinstall windows on his computer, and it was damned near impossible to take the songs that he legally owned and bought through the iTunes service and copy them away from the computer long enough to reinstall then put them back! Even the apple store wasn't able to help us. With my sansa, all I'd have to do is drag and drop! That's a simple system.

I don't like the wheel, but I was never a fan of the wheel on the iPod either. Oh, and it's got radio, for whoever gives a damn about that any more, and it can do photos.

I didn't think the 120 dollar premium for an aging, crippled player was worth the iPod name, so I went with a Sansa and don't regret it at all.

[dave95 @ Aug 21st 2006 1:36PM]

Apple does not own AAC, so they can not lock it down. What they have locked down is the DRM (Fairplay) layer on top of their songs.

From WiKIpedia:
It was developed with the cooperation and contributions of companies mainly including Dolby, Fraunhofer (FhG), AT&T, Sony and Nokia, and was officially declared an international standard by the Moving Pictures Experts Group in April of 1997. It was written into specification as Part 7 of the MPEG-2 standard, and again into Part 3 of the MPEG-4 standard. As such, AAC can be referred to as MPEG-2 Part 7 and MPEG-4 Part 3 depending on its implementation, but is most often referred to as MPEG-4 AAC, or AAC for short.

AAC was designed as an improved-performance codec relative to MP3 (which was specified in MPEG-1 and MPEG-2) by the ISO/IEC in 11172-3 and 13818-3.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Audio_Coding

[sputnik @ Aug 21st 2006 1:39PM]

http://daniel.haxx.se/rockbox-sandisk-connection.html

I can't wait till these guys at RockBox create an alternate firmware for this puppy to truly make it shine.

[dave95 @ Aug 21st 2006 1:43PM]

Also what am I locked into, the #1 player and #1 music store? Am I missing something here, especially when the majority of my music on my iPod is from CDs, friends CDs, etc etc. Sorry not many people with an iPod feel like they are in prison, forced to use iPods. So for it's been a great experience (4 years) and will most likely buy another.

[Warchild @ Aug 21st 2006 1:47PM]

Sputnik - Apple does not own AAC - Dolby does, I believe. What Apple owns is the method of DRM and that only applies if you buy music via iTunes Music Store.
As to the bizzare comment trying to make MicroSoft appear altruistic . . .freedom of choice??? MS??

[T @ Aug 21st 2006 1:59PM]

"I can't wait till these guys at RockBox create an alternate firmware for this puppy to truly make it shine."

Agreed. A Rockbox'd Sansa with truly be a Nano killer for the more technically inclined (especially at those prices). Once you've had gapless, you never go back!

[jojo @ Aug 21st 2006 1:59PM]

I got a first generation of ipod long before this so called ipod killers came along..long before these "smart sheep shouting dudes" plug an earphone to what is now known as mp3 player

[deslock @ Aug 21st 2006 2:21PM]

Posted at 9:38AM on Aug 21st 2006 by akijikan
>
> Jaxim -
>
>
> People do not buy the ipod for the touch wheel.
>
> People buy the iPod because the joneses got one
> and they see it on tv all the time.

I've had a dozen dedicated MP3 players since the original PMP300 (from iRiver, Sandisk, Apple, Rio, etc) and I've owned many Pocket PCs and Palm PDAs capable of media playback. I was also a BETA tester for RIO for both software and hardware. The Rio Karma was easily the most feature-rich player I owned (gapless playback, Flac/Ogg support, endless shuffle modes, LAN, integrated webserver, etc).

So after using so many advanced models, what have I settled on? The lowly iPod nano, mainly because of its scroll-wheel interface that you dismiss.

The iPod wheel is one of the most elegant consumer electronics interfaces ever created. It allows simple, intuitive, ergonomic, and fast one-handed operation and navigation (even through lists of hundreds of songs). That combined with the nano's superb size and form factor (my Rio Karma's thickness made it really uncomfortable in a pocket), excellent price for a flash player (at least when it was introduced), easy and effective cross-platform management and playback, and overall responsiveness (there is no FFWD-RWD/navigation lag like you get with some hdd units) makes it an impressive little device.

[Matt @ Aug 21st 2006 3:21PM]

As a side note:

I own a Cowon iAudio X5, it has Plays For Sure Support, and it plays nearly every codec around, inlcuding FLAC and OGG. Microsoft in no way limits the codec playback functionality as part of its PFS licencing.

[astutefool @ Aug 21st 2006 4:20PM]

Thank you Dave95 and Warchild. My jaw nearly dropped when I read sputnik's ridiculous comments! I'm glad we've got that straight. It's amazing the lengths people go to to distort the truth because of an automatic revulsion at anything they consider "mainstream". SHAME ON YOU! As people have stated a number of companies joined up to introduce this format.

In fact, most recent Motorola phones and many other manufacturer's mobile phones support AAC, as does the PSP, as do the latest Sony walkmans.

[Metapy @ Aug 21st 2006 7:22PM]

DO NOT LOSE THE PROVIDED CHARGE SYNC CABLE!!!

I have lost the charge/sync cable while I was on vacation as you have to use the cable to sync or charge the device no other options and the device has been a paperweight for over half the time I have had the player. I have contacted SanDisk about acquiring a replacement cable as they are the ONLY source for a replacement at the moment. SanDisk has NO IDEA when they will get replacement cables and I have been waiting for about 6 weeks. So if you care at all about actually being able to use your MP3 player rather than simply look at for lack of a charger/sync cable I'd look to a device with either a standard USB/miniUSB cable or one from a manufacture who can actually provide support after the sale.

This will be my last SanDisk MP3 player, I can't stand the fact that I have a paperweight as they cannot provide a $1 replacement cable in less than 2 months... BUYER BEWARE!

[Tongue @ Oct 26th 2006 6:02AM]

Replacement cable...

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000HNJAX8/dealtime-ce-feed-20/ref=nosim

[Larry @ Aug 21st 2006 7:34PM]

10 days old news, these guys need to keep up with the news. The original story 10 days ago at SanDisk launches 'Sansa e200' Mp3 Players , link: http://blog.americasnewstoday.com/2006/08/11/sandisk-launches-sansa-e200-mp3-players.aspx

[astutefool @ Aug 21st 2006 7:42PM]

Why don't you go and read the post PROPERLY and then compare it with the story in your link! I suggest that you revise your statement about 10 days old news, okay?

[Zo @ Aug 21st 2006 8:54PM]

It also does not hurt Apple iPod sales that every major auto manufacture has iPod integration. I know of at least 3 people who went out and purchased an iPod just because their new car has iPod capability.

What some of these other DAP players need instead of an FM tuner is a way to tune themselves onto the car radio without any extra gear to buy so that can be used in the car.

[Russ99 @ Aug 22nd 2006 2:27PM]

Sputnik -

You're forgetting that while Apple releases iTunes software for the PC, so that those users can play AAC format files on their computers, Microsoft's ongoing plan is to prevent anyone who doesn't have some kind of Microsoft-based operating system the possibility of playing any of their protected files at all, both Audio & Video.

Sure Apple's AAC/DRM protectionist stance stinks, but at least you have the option of using their software on a PC, while my Mac can't play ANY of the Windows Media files.

Who's playing fair?!?

[Alex @ Aug 23rd 2006 5:27AM]

Interestingly, I can't find this, or any Sandisk DAP, anywhere in Japan. You can find iPods, as well as players from iriver, Creative, Toshiba, and Sony at most electronics stores here, but definitely no Sandisk.

[PD @ Aug 31st 2006 4:32PM]

I used to be a devoted iPod adherant because I believed to be a good product. I had a 40 gig 4th Gen iPod and from day one I had problems with it such as the firewire not working with it so when I had to upgrade the firmware I couldn't flash the bios with the a/c adapter because I needed the firewire. So, sent it back to apple and got a replacement. The hard drive spun up and promptly died. Sent it back to apple and got a replacement. It worked for a year and then when I tried uploading songs the device wouldn't show up as a connected. I tried using the apple tools to wipe the drive to start over but it gave an error saying that it couldn't mount the drive. Called apple and say they wouldn't replace it or fix the drive for me unless I paid $250 which was the cost of a brand new ipod. Poor hardware and poor service turned me off and I went looking for an alternative.

[Pim @ Sep 19th 2006 11:05AM]

In Holland the Ipod 8GB is in the shops,the San 8GB, spoken of but not in sight. Shopowners claim no knowledge os San dropping prices fot other mp3 players.

[Korwyn @ Oct 5th 2006 2:37AM]

The minute Sandisk adds ogg support I'm buying four. One for me, wife, and kids. Seriously. The lack of ogg support is the only thing that keeps me from buying them. I've re-ripped almost all my CD's into ogg and I'm not re-ripping 45 Gigs of music again. Ticks me off. My brother has an older one (last year) and loves it.

[Marieo @ Oct 12th 2006 1:32PM]

Ghee! You look like italian soccer fans! You make remember the good ole times of my childhood in wich everybody and his brother had an uncle who was smarter, harder etc. etc. than mine!
Consumer products are just toys. Watches, jewelery, electronics: sometimes you buy a dream (of your own...) sometimes a nightmare. All is related to your Karma.

[JR @ Nov 1st 2006 7:44PM]

Download the latest firmware!
I am very happy with my E280. Major advantages over the iPod Nano?
1. Video. I loaded the full two hour movie Sideways and it played smoothly and clearly.
2. FM radio with the built in ability to record on the fly.
3. Graphic Equalizer..presets as well as a custom setting.
4. User replaceable battery costing only $19.99 from Sandisk.
5. User expandable memory.
6. I paid $179 for the 8 Gig version at J&R, also available on Amazon at that price.

[Ross @ Dec 14th 2006 5:14PM]

I looked long and hard at the Sansa e280, but ended up buying the 5.5 generation 80 GB IPOD. The main reason was that many of my friends have already ripped all their CDs to m4a (AAC) format, and none of the other "mp3" players I could find would play m4a files so...IPOD it was for me. I mean, like everyone knows that AAC is far better soundwise than the old mp3 format, so I just don't understand why the player industry hasn't adopted it better. I sometimes wonder if many of the players being sold by Apple are replacement players, bought by folks who already have ripped their libraries to m4a and don't want to do it all over again in another format?