SanDisk Cruzer Micro MP3 Companion

• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 17 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars

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• 7 stars

  Good - But Firmware Issue Exists w/512 Micro

  by adkmike on March 28, 2005

  Pros: Small, lightweight, semi-intuitive, "good enough" sound, marries MP# players and USB disk drives

  Cons: No directions, firmware issue

  Summary: There is a compatability issue with the most recently released 512 mb Sandisk Cruzer Micro USB drives. The older 512 Micro drives (ie. SN starting with 0120) work just fine ...

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  Summary: There is a compatability issue with the most recently released 512 mb Sandisk Cruzer Micro USB drives. The older 512 Micro drives (ie. SN starting with 0120) work just fine with the MP3 Companion - I've validated this. If you have a newer 512mb Micro drive like me (SN starting with AX), the drive is incompatible with the MP3 Companion. According to Sandisk tech support, the issue was first identified during the week of March 20th, 2005. The engineering team believes it's a firmware issue on the Cruzer, and is working the issue - eta of 1 month.
  
  You'll know if you have that compatability issue because you'll see the message "Insert Cruzer Micro" scrolling across the screen even though you've already inserted it.
  
  I did get it to work with a 256MB micro. Curiously enough, I also got it to work fine with my 512MB Cruzer Mini. (I've read that this is possible, but burns batteries.)
  
  Other than that... I agree that the unit "feels" cheap, but it seems to work fine. The sound is clear, but bass is a little weak - which isn't an issue for me since I use it while skiing, cycling, roller blading... (Maybe better headphones may fix that, I don't know.) The UI is reasonably intuitive. It's definitely not iPod caliber - it's not supposed to be - but it hasn't hindered my ability to listen to music.
  
  The lack of directions was frustrating. It drove me nuts. To turn it on... Press the play button for several seconds, and wait for the power bar to finish loading. To turn off, do the same thing. Then you'll have to play with it for a bit to figure it out.
  
  I *LOVE* the fact that I can use the usb disk for other data storage/transport too.
  
  So my two cents are... If you're looking for audiophile quality, look elsewhere. However, if you're looking for something that's "good enough" to play tunes while cycling, skiing, or working out, and you don't need perfect sound replication, this little unit might work.

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  4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 5 stars

  I'd pass on it

  by Lewie82 on March 6, 2005

  Pros: If you already have the Cruzer Micro flash drive, you won't have to spend much more for an MP3 player. A few useful menu options.

  Cons: Cheaply made. Battery lid already broke on mine (very cheap). Battery doesn't seem to last quite 9 hours. When reading from drive, the drive's LED flashes, which can be annoying & battery draining.

  Summary: If you need to buy both pieces (flash drive and player), skip on it. The price may be tempting (there are often rebates), but it really is worth saving a ...

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  Summary: If you need to buy both pieces (flash drive and player), skip on it. The price may be tempting (there are often rebates), but it really is worth saving a little extra money to buy something better. The iPod Shuffle 512mb is $99, has better battery life, and plays more formats (except WMA, blech), and still doubles as a USB Flash Drive (and works on PCs and Macs with no trouble). It doesn't have an LCD, but I can't imagine missing it for very long. I also hear the iRiver is quite good.

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 6 stars

  Great for what it is, but lousy documentation

  by on February 21, 2005

  Pros: -uses the cruzer micro drive I already have -very light-weight -easy to use--once you figure it out -decent sound w/ different headphones -lots of EQ settings--both preset and custom--in the menu -upgradeable when higher capacity cruzer micro drives come

  Cons: -really very very bad documentation; the companion comes only w/ directions for installing the battery (!); for better documentation, you need to go to the Sandisk site--don't bother searching, though, 'cause their search engine didn't find any useful doc

  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 1 stars

  Sandisk should stick with drives

  by on January 12, 2005

  Pros: Works with the Sandisk micro drives, so on the off chance you own such a drive, this might be of use to you. But if you're buying them together strictly for the MP3 player 'convenience', there are others to choose from - pick one of them, you'll be glad

  Cons: The minute I took it out of its package, the disappointment began. It's small all right, but fragile beyond belief. This unit sacrifices to be lightweight and comes in flimsy instead. It scratches and scuffs when you no more than touch it and I'm terri

  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 3 stars

  Not Impressed

  by Caribooster on October 15, 2005

  Pros: Can't think of any pros for this.

  Cons: Hard to use. Instructions are very poor.

  Summary: I suggest buying something else. We're returning this one to the store. It turns itself off whenever it feels like it, and you need bionic eyes to read the ...

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  Summary: I suggest buying something else. We're returning this one to the store. It turns itself off whenever it feels like it, and you need bionic eyes to read the display panel.

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• 6 stars

  great concept --- so-so implementation

  by e724979 on June 27, 2005

  Pros: low price; uses thumb drive you may already have; drag and drop from windows

  Cons: ZERO documentation; cheapish construction; confounding errors

  Summary: I was searching the web for an inexpensive mp3 player and I stumbled upon the Cruzer Micro MP3 Companion. I saw the price and checked it out.
  
  I was lucky
  
  ...

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  Summary: I was searching the web for an inexpensive mp3 player and I stumbled upon the Cruzer Micro MP3 Companion. I saw the price and checked it out.
  
  I was lucky enough to have received a free Micro Cruzer 256Mb flash drive as store promotion a month ago, so I figured I'd go ahead and get the Companion and save a few dollars.
  
  Plus:
  -I don't like to spend a lot of money on toys so the low cost sold me. My wife bought me an IPod for Christmas, but I returned it because I didn't think I'd get $350 of value from it. It was overkill for my needs. I don't feel the need to walk around with my entire CD library on my hip. I just want the ability to play some tunes if I'm bored at work or if I'm working in the yard, etc.
  -Can easily use the flash drive for data if I have to. Flexibility is always good.
  -Can drag and drop songs from my PC without using additional software. I just like to keep things simple and I appreciate not having to use somebody's software to move the songs onto the player.
  
  Con:
  -Lack of documentation. This is pretty inexcusable, I think. They show you how to put in a battery, but provide no instructions for operating the player! The only way I knew how to turn the thing on was somebody else's review instructing that you need to hold the play button for four seconds to turn it on and off. I've figured out FF/Next and REW/Prev, but other folks have mentioned EQ settings that I haven't managed to find.
  -Construction: The battery door will become disconnected if you are not careful. I think you will still be able to use it if that happens, at least I hope so. The belt clip must be pulled off to access the battery door, which is a little annoying. I don't think the clip is sturdy enough to hold onto your belt or waistband if you are jogging/exercising. A lanyard attachment might have been helpful. (You can use the lanyard on the flash drive, but that seems like inviting trouble to me.) I have not experienced a lot of scratching like one reviewer mentioned, but I grabbed an old backup tape case and put the Companion in that before I throw it in my computer bag. This also helps keeping the earbuds from getting tangled, which they seem to have a proclivity to do. (BTW, as one reviewer points out, the left earbud is on a shorter wire than the right. I've had other earbuds with the same design before, so I don't consider that as a detraction.)
  -I got an "FAT Error" the other day and I assumed my flash drive got damaged. So I double checked it on my PC and a co-worker's and it checked out ok. It turns out that this error is displayed some times when when the battery runs low. Quirky error messages don't give me a warm, fuzzy feeling.
  
  Other impressions:
  -The battery life seems fine to me. I just picked up some rechargeable NiMH batteries, so that should prevent having to buy lots of disposable batteries.
  -The sound seems quite satisfactory to me. (And I haven't found the EQ settings even!)
  -Would have liked FM and more features, but I can't complain since I bought the cheapest model available.
  
  My advise is if you want to keep costs down, especially if you have a Micro Cruzer flash drive already, then this is a pretty safe purchase.

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• 9 stars

  Simply awesome. Take that ipod shuffle!

  by liquid_celica on June 4, 2005

  Pros: LCD screen, multiple shuffle function, flash compatible, super light, durable, small

  Cons: price, battery life.

  Summary: This thing is great. The music is clear and with better headphones, it will sound even better. Though the price is a bit high, $50 at CompUSA, it's much ...

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  Summary: This thing is great. The music is clear and with better headphones, it will sound even better. Though the price is a bit high, $50 at CompUSA, it's much better cheaper than an Ipod Shuffle. The Shuffle doesn't even have an LCD screen. This does. It also has a toggle button to scroll through your song list and a volume button to increase the volume up to 40. It has a backlight, trash, equalizer, and function modes. With a good deal on flash drives these days, its a great buy.

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• 4 stars

  Cheaply made. Locks up. Prone to breakage

  by barkerrd on April 29, 2005

  Pros: Inexpensive. Light weight.

  Cons: Poorly designed. Battery compartment door very difficult to open and close

  Summary: The Sandisk flash drive is great. The companion is awful. It locks up necessitating removal of the battery. This will inevitably lead to breakage of the flimsy battery compartment door ...

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  Summary: The Sandisk flash drive is great. The companion is awful. It locks up necessitating removal of the battery. This will inevitably lead to breakage of the flimsy battery compartment door mechanism. There are firmware issues. Documentation is limited to battery installation. Buy an decent MP3 player instead.

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• 3 stars

  Alright for the price

  by on February 20, 2005

  Pros: works easily with the sandisk cruzer micro. Sound quality is alright.

  Cons: Locks up from time to time, especially when the battery gets below half charge.

• 7 stars

  This is cheap and cool.

  by on February 17, 2005

  Pros: It works...If you drop it or lose it your only out about $90 all told. Nice sound

  Cons: Quirky controls. Locks up a little. Feels a little cheap

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