Europeans now have optional FM tuner on Sansas

We're not sure how this one slipped under the radar, but earlier this month, Sansa announced that its e200 and c200 (pictured) MP3 player series would be coming to Europe with and without FM tuners. Apparently, all players that ship with an FM tuner are subject to an additional tax by the European Union, and Sansa was originally afraid that people wouldn't buy the player with a slightly raised price. Well, Sansa has come to its senses and realized that people probably would be willing to pay just 10 percent more to have the pleasure of gettin' that good ol' fashioned radio right on the same device. The new versions, with and without radio, should be on European shelves already, just in time for Chrismahanukwanzakah.

[Via Trusted Reviews]

[DJKissler @ Dec 23rd 2006 2:51AM]

I gave my girlfriend an e200 for Christmas, the radio reception sucks, but it's a good mp3 player.

[Owen V @ Dec 23rd 2006 5:38AM]

but then again, didn't ofcom say they were getting rid of the radio?

[Andrew H @ Dec 23rd 2006 4:03PM]

Owen: sure and the UK is the only market in Europe? 60 million British citizens versus the other 400 million EU citizens. And that is not including the non-EU countries in Europe.

[tekdroid @ Dec 23rd 2006 7:05PM]

i suppose they could make a firmware update with added radio if they want to avoid the tax, but it probably means missing out on Joe User's wallet, who is standing in ElectronicsMart and wants a model with radio.