SanDisk Sansa e280 (8GB)
Manufacturer: SanDisk Part number: SDMX4-8192-A70
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- Bottom Line:
- The SanDisk Sansa e200 series offers a boatload of features for a reasonable price, in a package that is much nicer than that of past SanDisk models. For those looking for a high-capacity, compact, skip-free MP3/WMA player, start with the e200 series.
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CNET editors' review
SanDisk Sansa e280 (8GB) price range: $59.99 - $69.99
- Reviewed by: James Kim
- Edited by: Jasmine France
- Reviewed on: 03/10/2006
- Released on: 01/06/2006
The good: The SanDisk Sansa e200 series combines copious features such as subscription compatibility, an FM tuner/recorder, voice recording, and photo and video playback into a compact and durable device. We like the tactile navigation wheel, as well as the well-designed software interface. The user-removable battery and the Micro SD slot are nice touches, and the device has decent sound quality, processor performance, and battery life. Finally, the Sansa e200 series has a maximum base capacity of 8GB, and it offers a competitive price in the high-stakes world of high-capacity flash players.
The bad: No AC adapter in package; the buttons surrounding the SanDisk Sansa e200's scrollwheel can be difficult to press; the mechanical scrollwheel can tire out some thumbs; photos and video must go through conversion with bundled software; the expansion slot can be used with music only, not photos or other media or data; and recordings are made only in WAV. The scrollwheel is not as easy to use as the iPod Click Wheel. Low levels of system noise can heard through headphones at low or zero volume.
The bottom line: The SanDisk Sansa e200 series offers a boatload of features for a reasonable price, in a package that is much nicer than that of past SanDisk models. For those looking for a high-capacity, compact, skip-free MP3/WMA player, start with the e200 series.
Editors' note: 10/10/06 CNET has adjusted the score of the Sansa e200 series from 8.3 to 8.0 in light of the arrival of the Sansa e200R Rhapsody, which scores slightly higher (8.3) than the e200.
Editors' note: This review has been updated to reflect the addition of the 8GB version of the e200, the lower prices of each model, and the latest firmware update.
Memory goliath SanDisk continues its assault on the flash-based MP3 player market with the CES launch of the flagship Sansa e200 series, along with the budget-class Sansa c100 series. The SanDisk Sansa e200 series represents a departure from previous Sansa players, thanks to a higher-quality form factor and a bushel of cutting-edge features such as photo and video support, music-subscription compatibility, a user-removable battery, a MicroSD expansion slot, and a tactile Click Wheel-type controller system.
The e200 comes in 6GB ($220), 4GB ($180) and 2GB ($140) varieties, as well as the new 8GB version ($250), the last of which is known currently as the highest-capacity flash-based player in the world. Prices have shifted downward, as well, with all previous models reduced $40 to $50. While the e200 still doesn't match the iPod Nano in design flair and simplicity, it is definitely a premium choice when it comes to a compact flash-based MP3 player, with more features and a better price point than its main competitor. Currently, the 4GB iPod Nano costs as much as the 8GB Sansa e280. The e200 does have a few negative points, but its primary hurdle will be convincing consumers that the 8GB version, just $50 less than bulkier 30GB players like the iPod and Zen Vision:M, is still a good value. The sturdy and sharp-looking SanDisk Sansa e200 measures 3.5 by 1.7 by 0.5 inches, weighs 2.6 ounces, and has a maximum capacity of 8GB (about 2,000 songs), currently the highest capacity for a flash player. Stick a 2GB Micro SD card (about $100) in the expansion slot and you have a maximum of 10GB. All four capacities look and feel the same. Although it's almost twice as thick and heavy as a Nano, the e200 is still compact and it boasts a liquid-metal backside that will not scratch; likewise, the black plastic on the front does not scratch nearly as easily as the Nano's. In terms of raw size and sleekness, the Nano still reigns supreme.
The SanDisk Sansa e200's 1.8-inch screen is oriented in portrait mode, and gives the user lots of real estate for navigation. It is much bigger than the Nano's 1.5-inch screen. Videos are viewed holding the e200 in landscape orientation. Although the screen is bright and colorful, it has a maximum resolution of only 220x176 and 65,000 colors, though SanDisk says it's possible that a future version could go up to 260,000 colors. Thus, photos, videos, and album art won't dazzle. However, the color interface, coupled with the well-designed menu system, gives the player a premium feel.
Below the screen is SanDisk's version of the Click Wheel, only this one is mechanical rather than touch sensitive. The thin, circular dial (smaller than the Nano's smooth Click Wheel) with raised bumps and grooves gives the wheel a tactile quality that makes navigating the e200 precise if not a pleasure. Rather than a smooth motion, there is a bit of resistance that gives the right amount of feedback. Zeroing in on items is no problem, and browsing through huge lists is a breeze, especially given that the e200's lists can be navigated backward--that is, unlike with the iPod, you can go from A to Z without having to zoom through the entire library. Still, the dial is no match for the smooth iPod Click Wheel particularly because it is easier on the thumb joint. The e200 may even give your thumb a callous.
The dial also serves as volume control, and while we prefer dedicated buttons, there's an easy way to return to the playback screen when in need (more on this later). The dial also glows a wicked blue when activated. You select using the big button in the center of the wheel, which, in turn, is surrounded by traditional player-control buttons. The bottom of these buttons serves as a context menu; for instance, in playback mode, you can adjust playback and EQ settings or add songs to a playlist. If there is one complaint about the layout, it's that the four surrounding buttons can feel a bit cramped, and occasionally, you won't know if you actually pressed a button. The center select button can feel jiggly too.
The only other button on the face of the SanDisk Sansa e200 is the power/menu button. Pressing the button always takes you back to the main menu; another press takes you back to whatever mode you were last in. This is handy, and it keeps you from navigating backward clumsily, as one often does with an iPod. Moreover, there's no need to hold down a multifunction button a few seconds to get to the menu, a common negative found on many full-featured flash players. This button is easily accessible if you're using it with you right hand given its lower left corner location. Left handed use tends to get uncomfortable.
A record button resides on the left spine of the SanDisk Sansa e200. Pressing it instantly takes you to the voice-record function and starts the recording without further ado. This lightning-quick response transforms the device into a useful voice recorder in the real world.
The SanDisk Sansa e200's right spine features a first: a tiny Micro SD slot, which can accept today's 2GB Micro SD cards (as low as $100). The bottom of the unit features a proprietary dock connector, where you fit the USB cable and other accessories and other accessories that SanDisk sells on its Web site. Thanks to SanDisk's market push (as of June 2006, the company is second in the flash market, with 15 percent, according to NPD), third-party accessory makers may jump in and provide useful accessories. The top of the device includes a hold switch, a microphone hole, and a headphone jack.
The back of the SanDisk Sansa e200 is made of a strong, virtually unscratchable metal alloy. You'll notice four screws that can be undone so that users can actually replace the lithium-ion battery themselves--without voiding the warranty. This characteristic gives the e200 a cell-phone-like feel. SanDisk offers replacement batteries for $20--having this option available is a huge benefit.
Back to the SanDisk Sansa e200's software interface: The main menu reminds us of certain Sony products, where icon-based options such as Music, Video, Photo, FM Radio, Settings, and Voice move in a circular motion, which is a perfect design, considering the scrollwheel. The menu is airy and open, so you never feel boxed in, despite all the e200's features. At the bottom of the screen, you get a time and battery indicator. If a track is playing or you're listening to radio, and you're in the main menu or another option screen, the program will scroll across the bottom so that you always know what's going on. We only wish the display had a bit more resolution--photos, video, and even the menu text are somewhat pixelated.
The music library filters are pretty standard on the SanDisk Sansa e200, with Play All tracks up top, along with Artists, Album, Songs, Genres, My Top Rated, Recordings, and Playlists as options. On the playback screen, you get thumbnail album art, track info, and a time-elapsed meter. Pressing the select button takes you to a neat graphic-level meter, full-size album art, and the next song.
The SanDisk Sansa e200 package includes the player, earbuds (better than the typical e100- or m200-series headphones), a black slip-on case reminiscent of the iPod case, a lanyard, a proprietary USB cable, and a software CD. Unfortunately, there is no AC adapter in the package.
The SanDisk Sansa e200 includes many features that truly distinguish it from the Nano (we tested the e280 using the latest firmware version 01.01.11A, which adds, among other things, a highly requested custom EQ and a play-previous-song option). It plays MP3, WMA DRM 10 (subscription), and WAV files. Audible support may be coming soon, but that has yet to be confirmed. Also, the device includes a voice recorder, an FM tuner and recorder, and the ability to display photos (you can put top- viewed photos in a list or in a 3x4 grid of thumbnails) and play back video. Missing in action is a line-in recorder, as well as USB on-the-go capability, which is best suited for digital photo enthusiasts. We can live without these two extra features.When you're dealing with video and photos, you won't get the streamlined experience you do with the iPod and iTunes. Although Windows Media Player is the primary audio-transfer application for the SanDisk Sansa e200, you'll need to use the included SanDisk Media Converter to get photos and video to play. The utility is simple to use, and it can convert most popular video formats (MPEG-4, WMV, DivX, and so on) into the 15fps MJPEG format. Video won't look stellar, but it works well enough for casual use (as well as showing off to friends). JPEG and BMP photos also get downsized. Slide shows don't include fancy fades and wipes, but you can listen to music while viewing photos. For those interested in the growing world of online video, the process of getting video working on your device will be time-consuming. Plus there is no iTunes-like download, transfer, and play option; conversion is your only recourse. The e200 is not a portable video player and certainly isn't a video iPod. But those who are patient will benefit greatly from having this video included in such a compact MP3 player.
The SanDisk Sansa e200 is an MTP device but can be switched into UMS mode, meaning it can be used as a hard drive, which is a good thing for Mac users and those who prefer to drag and drop tracks. The only caveat here is that the expansion slot will not work when the unit is in MTP mode. Other observations: As mentioned, you can create a single on-the-go playlist with the e200. Unfortunately, voice and FM recording are made in WAV; MP3 would have been a nicer space-saving option. The FM tuner allows 12 presets, which can be autoscanned or managed manually.
A fistful of features and supercompetitive pricing are hallmarks of SanDisk products. While many may argue that SanDisk's build and sound quality have been traditionally on the value end of the spectrum, the SanDisk Sansa e200 is no slacker when it comes to performance. The physical build is obviously nicer than that of the m200 or e100 series, but beyond that, the unit's sound quality has improved as well, though picky listeners will notice some system noise.SanDisk is one of the first manufacturers, if not the first, to use a PortalPlayer chip designed specifically for flash players. The Nano and the iPod Video use a PortalPlayer chip as well, but those are optimized for hard drive-based players. Audio sounds bright, and the unit gets loud, driving our Grado SR80 well beyond normal listening levels. SanDisk has added a custom five-band EQ to the mix, so now there are 11 on-the-fly EQ options, including Full Bass, Full Treble, and the typical set of genre-based settings. The EQs aren't that spectacular but certainly better than the iPod's wimpy EQs. The e200 may not sound as beautiful as a Cowon or a Sony player, but it comes close. SanDisk has addressed an earlier issue wherein we detected clicks during volume changes and general system processing; electrical interference is much less detectable with the latest version. The only misgiving we have is still a slight but noticeable hum when the system is processing (for picky ears at low volumes). FM radio comes in loud and clear, and recording quality is decent. The device also works reasonably well with subscription applications such as Rhapsody and actual subscription playback. Unfortunately, the device cannot pipe video out to a TV.
For quality of video and photos, we're not as impressed, though currently, there aren't many flash players with big-screen multimedia capabilities, save for the iRiver U10. As mentioned, the screen is bright, and video looks reasonable--even at 15fps--but the viewing angle from the left side is not great. In addition, most photos end up cropped (with black borders) due to the screen ratio. Still, the screen is bigger than the Nano's 1.5-inch display, plus photos and videos look decent if not supersharp. Overall, processor performance is excellent, with the e200 seldom pausing and freezing up only once in our testing.
The SanDisk Sansa e200 has an audio-battery rating of 20 hours. This is an excellent number, far exceeding the 12 hours of the iPod Nano. Our test unit drained in 22.5 hours--definitely good stuff.
Look out, iPod Nano and other high-end flash players--SanDisk, which can be aggressive with its prices, thanks to its advantageous place in the memory business, is coming out with some attractive WMA weapons. The new pricing scheme truly sticks it to Apple and other competitors, who offer only half the capacity at the same price. Though we know that capacity is only part of the overall picture, SanDisk deserves praise for being aggressive on both price and feature points.
User reviews
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Much better with the latest firmware update
by itdefender on August 29, 2006
Pros: Per GB price, screen, features
Cons: Buttons ARE hard to press, proprietary plug
Summary: I had the E270 player for 3 months, and sold it for this.
I am much happier since the last firmware upgrade to this system. The original audio settings seemed ...Summary: I had the E270 player for 3 months, and sold it for this.
I am much happier since the last firmware upgrade to this system. The original audio settings seemed to have been designed for a dog or a human with preternaturally good hearing, but the addition of a 5-band EQ, full base and full treble have been great.
This is a gorgeous machine, and while it shows fingerprints quite easily, it does resist scratching, and the 1.8" screen is very sharp and clear, and is still very readable in strong light. I like the FM radio, which has reception on-par with the cowans and i-rivers of the world. The only things that are a little annoying are the fact that recording is only in WAV, and you have to pray you don't lose the proprietary USB plug.
On the newer player, little bothersomes that I had on the e270 like popping between tracks and random screen blackouts have seemingly gone away.
Though not necessary, the micro-sd slot did win me cool points with my friends. I consider the fact that you can only put music on it a mere quibble - it is primarily an mp3 player, after all.
Before the firmware upgrade, I would have rated this a solid 7. Now that my major issues have been resolved, I think this could be - dare I say it - the I-pod hurter (I doubt the I-pod gets killed by anyone).23 out of 23 users found this user opinion helpful.
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After a year I give a 9/10, or even up it to a 10/10. It’s great!
by catrielb on October 14, 2007
Pros: Large storage capacity, very easy to use
Cons: No charger, few accessories
Summary: I’ve had the Sansa e280 since the end of September 2006. Unlike so many other users, mine worked out of the box, no problems, surprises, melt-downs, frustrations, or disappointments. ...
Summary: I’ve had the Sansa e280 since the end of September 2006. Unlike so many other users, mine worked out of the box, no problems, surprises, melt-downs, frustrations, or disappointments. I was ready for all that, but everything worked fine – and still does. I guess it’s just the luck of the draw. From reading other reviews it becomes obvious that quality control has been a sore point in the whole e200 series, as has been the firmware. SanDisk rushed this product to market before it was ready. However, having said all this – I love my e280. I use it every day for hours at a time, almost entirely for listening to music – classical music. I have roughly 130 full CD’s on this unit; I can select whichever one I want, as well as whatever track I want. All the tracks are in order, the albums are listed in alphabetical order, and spinning the wheel makes it extremely easy – and fast – to find and select the desired music. The colour screen is bright and well-defined, very easy to see. The 5-band equalizer makes the music sound the way I want it to – just right! There is a choice of two loudness levels in the settings section; I have mine on “high” and I have all the volume I need, and then some. I do not use the ear plugs supplied – I haven’t even tried them; I use a Koss KSC 55 behind-the-head phones for superior sound, especially bass. I keep the e280 in my front shirt pocket, and there are no scratches or broken screen. The 4 buttons situated around the wheel are small, but my extra-large fingers have no trouble depressing them – these same large fingers are always hitting two keys on the computer keyboard at the same time.
The FM radio works very well, too. Since the reception depends on the length of the antenna, which is the headphone cord, the longer the cord, the better the reception. I can receive stations 60 or 70 miles away, and the presets make it very easy to get from one station to the other. I listen to the FM radio a lot, and having it for me is a big plus in this unit.
The photo option also works well; you have to use the included Sansa Media Converter, which was relatively painless. Of course, looking at photos on a 2X2 screen is not the optimum way of viewing them, but again the screen is very clear and all the colours are there. I have about 20 photos stored in the e280, and I show them to friends – a slide show presentation is possible, where each photo is displayed for about ten seconds before the next one is shown automatically.
Videos do not interest me; the one that comes pre-loaded (with sound) is very clear and easy to watch, but again on a 2X2 screen it’s not a maximum effect!
You can record either voice or off the FM radio; quality is not very good, and uses up a lot of memory space. I stay away from recording, but it’s a nice addition, especially the voice recording.
There is an expansion slot for a micro (not mini) SD card, currently available in 1 and 2 GB sizes. This card shows up as a separate drive on “My Computer”, and can be loaded either via a USB card reader or via the e280 when hooked up to the computer.
There are two USB settings on this unit; I keep mine on the Mass Storage Device and simply drag and drop folders into the appropriate icon in “My Computer” – not only is it very easy, this unit is the fastest USB 2 I have ever seen – where it takes 3 minutes to transfer an 80MB file via an SD card reader, the same file will take only 20 seconds when the e280 itself is hooked up via its USB cable. In mass storage mode the e280 and the micro SD each appears as a separate drive in “My Computer”.
Out of the box this unit comes with the e280, ear plugs, a cloth carrying case, a USB cable, a CD for software (such as Sansa Media Converter) and information on the Sansa music download programme. One source of irritation is the lack of a recharger – the e280 has a rechargeable lithium-ion battery that is recharged through the USB cable. Most computer USB ports are not powered when the computer is turned off; unless you keep your computer on 24/7, charging becomes a problem. I went to Radio Shack and bought an AC USB charger for $20, which works very well. I also bought a 12-volt USB charger for use in the car. I’ve already bought a replacement battery kit even though I don’t anticipate needing it for quite a while – but be prepared! I’ve opened the back of the unit via four little screws – it will take less than a minute to replace the battery.
The whole e-series utilizes a proprietary 30-connector plug to connect to a USB port, and currently no replacement or additional cables are available. They are said to be coming, but as with many SanDisk items, the announcement precedes the actuality by many many months. This all means that you have only one connecting cable to work with – don’t loose it!
All the controls are very easy to use, and the unit as a whole is a delight to have. It has become my con
After 6 months Update: I still love it!
After six months of using the e280 every day for hours on end, I still feel the same way about this as before -- it's a great piece of technology, and I'm very lucky to own it. I've now gone to a 2GB micro SD card, and so have about 170 CD's on the e280 -- I have lots of choices in listening. There is one very unfortunate problem that I've encountered -- because of the 2GB card the unit takes about 5 minutes to "warm up" after turning it on; this is to catalogue the contents of the micro SD. Rather than wait, I figured out a trick to get around this -- I NEVER turn it off! When I get home, I put the player on "hold" and plug it into the AC USB charger I bought at Radio Shack, so when I go out with it again it's still on and all ready to use. Also, after six months daily use, no scratches, no problems, no broken screens. It's a good thing.
After a Year Update: It’s been a whole year with my Sansa e280 – let’s see how it’s held up and performed. To begin with, there are no scratches back or front, the screen is still in one piece, even though I use it about 4 hours every day – without any protective case! Everything still works 100%, and I’m still very happy with it – this is a great piece of electronics. The battery still hasn’t died – nor does it show any evidence of being weak. The unit is very user-friendly – and the best (and easiest) feature is the selector wheel. As written in my reviews above, this has an 8 gig flash memory, plus a 2 gig micro SD – and all 10 gigs are filled, with only 4 Mb unused. There is a total of 2114 files (songs).
About five months ago I began to notice that on some tracks the right or left channel would drop out, from a few seconds to almost half a track. It became worse and worse, until about 30% of my files were corrupted. At first I suspected the internal amplifier, but after listening only to the FM for a few days with no loss of right or left channel, I began to suspect that perhaps I’d had a few MP3 files recorded bad from my CD’s. But I checked my MP3 files still on my computer hard drive, and they were OK. Also, the corrupted part always occurred at exactly the same place, down to the second. So it HAD to be the files contained in the Sansa. Oh oh! I was about to phone their tech support when I had a suspicion – which the more I thought about it, the more it seemed likely – although I would never have guessed in a thousand years that this could happen: Once when my Sansa was connected to my computer, I was defragging and saw the Sansa listed as a drive – so why not defragment both the internal memory and the micro SD – I had deleted lots of files and replaced them with others – surely there was reason to defrag. So I did – a few times over the next few months. That was my problem! The defrag process had left “blank spots” in minute places in the files – probably in the process of moving them. I only solved it by re-formatting both the internal 8 gig memory and also the 2 gig micro SD card. Of course, everything was wiped clean – it took me most of a day to re-load all my files (still on my computer hard drive) – but now I have absolutely no corrupted files, no dropped channels, especially in those that were corrupted.
So – DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT defrag your Sansa!
CONCLUSION: After a year I still give a 9/10, or even up it to a 10/10. It’s great!8 out of 8 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good Player but CNET failed to mention a few things.
by xanderk84 on April 27, 2007
Pros: Removable Battery! 2 clicks of a button and you are back to the now playing menu- great feature. Best flash mp3 player out there. Better than sandisk Connect because of the removable battery.
Cons: ID3 tags cannot be edited after tracks are added to device. When you select an artist, like any other mp3 player you see list of albums, but at top there is no option to VIEW all tracks!
Summary: IF ANY CNET EDITOR SEES THIS PLEASE READ IT! Why is is that in CNET reviews, so many of the features that consumers want in mp3 players are not mentioned. ...
Summary: IF ANY CNET EDITOR SEES THIS PLEASE READ IT! Why is is that in CNET reviews, so many of the features that consumers want in mp3 players are not mentioned. Almost everyone I know wants removable batteries. And do you know how much of a drag it is that on the sandisk sansa e200 series, instead of an option to view all tracks instead of browse by artist, there is a PLAY ALL option which is completely useless! All it does is play the first track. So stupid! It is infuriating. I really wish I could be a member of a focus group for sandisk or creative or even CNET because there are so many basic things that are missing in todays mp3 players. On the go play lists cant be named also.
9 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Best Flash MP3 Player for the Price
by jfowler27 on December 19, 2006
Pros: Price; Good Storage Capacity; FM Tuner; User-Replacable Battery; Great Screen; Tactile Navigation Wheel; Durable; Great Battery Life; Expandable Storage
Cons: Small Buttons; Weak Video Support; Proprietary USB; No Stock AC Adapter
Summary: After about a year of looking for a good flash-based MP3 player I finally settled on the Sansa e280. I am not a big fan of Apple and their iPod, ...
Summary: After about a year of looking for a good flash-based MP3 player I finally settled on the Sansa e280. I am not a big fan of Apple and their iPod, but I almost got the Nano a while back. Luckily, I didn't, because this product is better in a number of ways.
First off, the price of the e280 at retail is the same as the 8GB Nano, but unlike the Nano its isn't nearly as static. Over the Internet I was able to find the e280 for 70 bucks less than the 8GB Nano. That is a great price for all the features this thing has.
Along with the ability to play music, you can view photos, listen to FM radio, and even watch videos. The video playback is fine for small clips, but I wouldn't want to watch a full length feature on the small screen. But the screen is very nice for everything else. At 1.8", this screen is crisp and brings a nice overall presentation to the player. The FM tuner is a really nice feature and it comes in perfectly for all the local stations I normally listen too. I do wish it had an AM tuner for some local sportscasts, but I am still impressed with the FM tuner.
If you do choose to put video onto your Sansa, it will have to be converted into an inefficient format using the software that comes packaged. Pictures also have to be converted using the same software.
When transferring songs you will have two options. You can either transfer them using a media player to sync the player, such as Windows Media Player 10. You can also set it to act like a standard storage device, which will allow you to drag and drop music files into the player manually. I prefer using WMP 10, but each to their own. It took me about 30 minutes or so to fill the whole player up the first time I used it, but in smaller volumes it takes little time to transfer files.
Other people have stated having trouble with the playlists, but I have had not problems so far. I have a few playlists that I've created in WMP and I just drag and drop them into the 'Sync' column and when I sync the player it transfers both the actual playlist and the music in it. You cannot create custom playlists within the player itself, which I can see could be an annoyance.
I really enjoy the tactile navigation wheel of the e280 and the buttons are fairly easy to use. I do have small hands and I can see how many people with larger hands might have trouble pressing the buttons or using the wheel smoothly. I don't see how someone's thumb could become tired using the wheel unless they have arthritis. It seems somewhat easy to move and once I got used to it I had no trouble navigating very smoothly (much easier than on iPod's in my opinion).
The Sansa is quite durable and has good battery life. The back is a matte metal and can be removed via four screws to replace the rechargeable battery, if necessary. The front is made of fairly durable plastic and is supposedly scratch resistant. I haven't tried testing out how scratch resistant it is, but you should be able to put it in your jean pockets without the protective case and not scratch it. Some people I've talk to never use the protective case and put it in their pockets with their keys and it still has not scratched. The plastic front attracts fingerprints fairly well, similar to that of a PSP. Using a tissue or some other soft cloth you should be able to have no problem cleaning it if it gets too grimy. The metal backing actually seems to show fingerprints easier, but still looks good at most angles even when its full of fingerprints.
Some other nice features are the expandable storage, voice and radio recording. The Sansa e280 can be expanded using microSD cards, currently up to 2GB. Unless there is a physical limitation (which there shouldn't be) it should be able to accept even larger sizes in the future. Here's hoping for cheap 8GB microSD card in a couple years
The voice and radio recording are nice add-ons, but not nearly perfected. They only record in WAV format and are not high in quality. It still works well for simple voice recordings and to get a snippet of that song on the radio you don't know the name of.
There is no AC adapter that comes in the package, so you'll have to use the proprietary USB cable to charge the player. This can be quite annoying if your computer doesn't give power to the USB ports while not on. Luckily, I have a Xbox 360 which charges it, while off, overnight.
Overall, I think the Sansa e280 is a very good deal and considerably better than the iPod Nano. There are a few things that could be fixed in the next iteration, but it seems the e280 is the best flash-based MP3 player on the market currently. I would definitely head over to your local electronics store and try any of the e200 series players out for yourself before making a definite decision.4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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The users rating (at this time) doesn't do justice
by MAK1981 on December 23, 2006
Pros: Large screen, compact and sturdy feel, large cardinal buttons, slick neon blue backlight, etc.
Cons: VERY slight hissing, and only if you're listening for it and aren't listening to music!
Summary: This Sansa is such a great alternative to the iPod, and there's a reason it's picked up 15% of market share thus far. Sandisk can offer their products ...
Summary: This Sansa is such a great alternative to the iPod, and there's a reason it's picked up 15% of market share thus far. Sandisk can offer their products cheaper than Apple because they produce their own memory. I paid $165 for this product, which is almost $100 less than the 8GB iPod Nano. Sound quality is great, and the added feature of being able to add MicroSD cards to increase memory in the future is a big plus. The casing is very scratch resistent (not as much smudge-resistent, though!).
I'm rating this a 10 to bypass some of the bias of the horrible ratings other people rated it. You CAN buy an extra USB adapter if you manage to lose the one they give you. You can also buy an AC adapter to plug it into the wall, but the USB power charger they give you is perfectly fine.
You can also change batteries if the included batteries fails after the 1 year warranty for any reason. That gives this player that much more life than others.
The battery itself lasts about a full 24-hours with constant use and practically indefinitely when turned off.
The entire player is thicker and a little heavier than the iPod, so it's a preference on if that really matters or not. For me, carrying it in my pocket makes it inconsequential. You can cycle through the songs from A-Z or Z-A, unlike the Nano, another nice feature.
There is a short lag between picking songs, but it's nothing like how critics make it out to be. It's similar to changing the channel on TV and waiting that brief pause when the sounds comes on. Nothing intolerable at all.
Don't buy this for photos and movies, though! The screen is only about 65,000 colors and not that great a resolution. It shows album art and song titles perfectly fine, but this is a music player, not a DVD player. Please keep that in mind.
Also nice is that not all the accessories are proprietary like the iPods, so you can buy the 3.5mm audio adapter to use on your stereo at home if you want, or (practically) any FM transmitter. Accessories are more difficult to find at stores, but go to amazon.com and you'll find more than you'd ever need, with free shipping and (most cases) no tax. So accessory shopping isn't a problem.
Again, all in all, it's a great player. Put this up there with the Zen V's and iPod Nano's of the industry. I'm so happy I bought it!4 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good Integration with Rhapsody
by warshauer on January 1, 2007
Pros: Works with music "rented" from Rhapsody
Cons: No important ones
Summary: I bought this 8GB flash player primarily because it is designed to work easily with the Rhapsody service. At Rhapsody you pay a monthly fee ($15 for music that's ...
Summary: I bought this 8GB flash player primarily because it is designed to work easily with the Rhapsody service. At Rhapsody you pay a monthly fee ($15 for music that's portable; $10 for music that is not) to "rent" music. The player works well with Rhapsody. I've loaded about 150 CDs worth of music onto it from Rhapsody and it works fine and sounds good. It also holds MP3s as well as photos and videos, which look fine on its small, but bright color screen. I have not had the computer freeze-up problems reported by others and I think the sound quality is fine. The build of the device is nice and the scrollweel works well. Highly recommended, especially to you Rhapsody users!
Updated
It's been several months since my initial review and I continue to be very happy with the Sansa. The ability to load it up with 150 different CDs anytime I want to via Rhapsody is a great benefit and it is small, solid and loud and so great to use for workouts.
I had one problem and Sansa telephone support (free and almost no wait to speak to a human) sorted me right out! The problem was likely my fault and folks should be sure to click on "disconnect device" before unplugging it from your computer.
To put files from your computer onto the device (i.e. not rhapsody music) WMP works VERY well. Quick and intuitive.
Still HIGHLY recommended3 out of 3 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Nice while it worked
by jeffs47 on November 20, 2006
Pros: Small, Light, Fast Transfer, Great Music quality
Cons: Lags when changing tracks, No way to queue next song, locks up
Summary: The unit was more or less what I expected out of the box. I was able to fill up the 8gb flash much faster than my 5gb Zen Micro even ...
Summary: The unit was more or less what I expected out of the box. I was able to fill up the 8gb flash much faster than my 5gb Zen Micro even thought about going. The system played music well, but that's where the fun ended. There is a noticeable pause when moving to the next track. It's at least 2-3 seconds before any action is responded to, whether it's changing the volume, etc.
Speaking of volume, it resets to the middle of the range when the unit is turned on. This is irritating as heck when you try to use it in the car.
There is no way to enqueue the next song you want to hear unless you great a "to go" playlist. Creating one isn't very user friendly either. Each song you want to add has to be played in order to be added.
Worst of all, I was using the unit on a two day trip when it suddenly displayed "Bad Track" in red. Now it's possible I may have had a bad MP3 file on there, but that's no excuse for the player to lockup. I had to hard reset it by holding the power button for 15 seconds. When it came back up, every song was saying bad track and then the player would lockup again. Rinse, repeat. I called SanDisk support who suggested I re-format and re-load my music again. That was it. I decided to exchange it for an Ipod Nano.3 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Handsome but noisy, needs better noise reduction.
by Waam on September 2, 2006
Pros: Very pretty! Big screen for compact size.
Cons: Music quality is not there. Thats very bad.
Summary: I got this, and was very very excited, and tried to live through the noise and small fuzz noise at low end, but alas I can't.
I don't ...Summary: I got this, and was very very excited, and tried to live through the noise and small fuzz noise at low end, but alas I can't.
I don't know about you, but cnet shoud have caught on that, the 8.3 score is very high for a unit with as bad sound quality as this. They want an iPod killer right now. Folks, this is not it, but this unit form has a lot of potential. It's not the earphones which I have tried many. I have already returned mine (less than 3 days). Sticking with my old Sandisk 2GB.5 out of 9 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Very disappointing...
by amichalopo on August 31, 2007
Pros: Great battery life, Durable, Small size, Large capacity for a flash based player
Cons: Scroll wheel feels awful, buttons around scroll wheel are awkward to use, screen has horrible viewing angle, menus are unintuitive, sound quality is muddy, electrical noise can be heard
Summary: This player was a huge disappointment for me. I bought it based on its great reviews by Cnet and other places. Sure it has great battery life and looks pretty ...
Summary: This player was a huge disappointment for me. I bought it based on its great reviews by Cnet and other places. Sure it has great battery life and looks pretty sharp, but other than that I find this thing awful. The scroll wheel has a hard time turning around smoothly. It feels like there is a gear of some kind attached to it that prevents free spinning of the wheel. Trying to turn the wheel with just your thumb when one-handing the player is very frustrating because it feels sticky. The scroll wheel is also a ring of plastic that is taller that the buttons around it, which are flush with the player's face. This makes using the forward/back play/pause and menu buttons a chore since you pretty much have to use your fingernail to get the accuracy needed to press the buttons cause the scroll wheel is in the way when you try using your fingertips.
The screen looks great in pictures but it really isn't. The thing I hated most about the screen is that it seems to have a horrid viewing angle. I say this cause when you are looking at the screen straight on, while holding the player upright, one of your eyes will see the colors a little more washed out than the other. When you move the player from side to side, you notice that it's the screens viewing angle that causes this.
Sound quality also left much to be desired. I have a pair of Shure e2c earbuds that I have used with many players and this one sounds the worst. The sound is muddy and seems to have too much bass. Playing with the EQ didn't do much to help either. Also, the volume level of the player resets to the "middle" if you shut it off. When there is no song playing, or the player is about to start playing a song, you can hear faint electrical static/buzzing through the headphones. Seems like there is some interference in the internal circuitry of the player.
The menu system I found to be unintuitive. The forward and back buttons around the scroll wheel sometime function as navigation of menus and sometimes to control the song you are listening to. If during a song you go to check out your list of music but want to skip forward in the song you are currently listening to, you have to backtrack all the way through all the menus to the screen that shows the progress bar of the song to skip forward as the forward and back buttons function as navigation in the menus.
I sold my player after just 3 months of owning it. What a disappointment.2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
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Good player - if only it wasn't so frustrating to get working properly
by teesek on January 29, 2007
Pros: Sounds good, easy to use, and decent picture quality, great customer service
Cons: not always recognized, causes computer to freeze, and randomly disconnects during transfer
Summary: I was really expecting a lot from this device I suppose. i heard this was a rival to ipod and not wanting to join the band wagon decided to purchase ...
Summary: I was really expecting a lot from this device I suppose. i heard this was a rival to ipod and not wanting to join the band wagon decided to purchase this. I had a M230 and loved it and figured this would set up and work just a easily. I have had this MP3 player for 3 days and so far have had nothing but trouble. My computer had a hard time recognizing it at first, after that got resolved it continues to cause my personal computer and 2 different friends' computers to freeze. Then, I finally got my computer to not freeze, but when transferring files on the Media player the Sansa would randomly disconnect during sync and I had to continually go back and either add songs in 10 song incriments or allow it to freeze a little and then quit transferring. One good thing through all this is that San Disk's customer support has been fabulous and because of this I will continue to try to get it to work properly. Now that I have my library and a few pictures on my player it sounds good, is easy to use, and better picture quality then I expected, but I wanted to inform other potential users that I have had a very difficult time getting it set up and working properly.
Updated
After my week of issues I was finally able to get it to work. I would still only rate this device at a six. This device works well - enough. I get the bad track issues that other people get, although my device doesn't freeze with that issue, it is still annoying because I can't listen to certain tracks until I resync. Only once have I had to reformat. I once read in a personal review that there is no reset button for when it gets a blue screen (which twice mine has got), this is true, but there is a reset function just hold the power and mic button down for 15sec (this will resolve freezing issues). Long story short like any device it has its glitches. When it works properly (most of the time) I like it alright. Good economy player now that it has gone down in price. My next Mp3 probably won't be from this line, but, I don't think I'll go ipod yet either!2 out of 2 users found this user opinion helpful.
Specifications
- Manufacturer: SanDisk
- Part number: SDMX4-8192-A70
- Description: The Sansa e200 Series MP3 players are the flagship products of SanDisks audio line. Created by the leaders in flash memory, this flash-based player provides everything you need for music, photo, and video clip playback. The very attractive, sleek design includes a 1.8 TFT color screen with advanced navigational features and an easy to use interface. You can also avoid scratches and cracks with the durable metal backing. The Sansa e200 provides superior sound playback and supports Microsoft PlaysForSure subscription music. The SanDisk Media Converter supports most image formats to enjoy photos and small personal videos.
General
- Product type Flash player
- PC interface(s) supported Hi-Speed USB
- Flash memory installed 8 GB Integrated
- Weight 2.6 oz
- Dimensions (W x D x H) 1.7 in x 3.5 in x 0.5 in
- Color Black
- Available body colors Black
- Voice recording capable Yes
- Included accessories Lanyard
- Software type SanDisk Sansa Media Converter
Carrying Case
- Case type Pouch
Digital Player / Recorder
- Supported digital audio standards MP3 ,
Protected WMA (DRM) ,
WMA - Playback modes Random play / shuffle,
All tracks repeat,
One track repeat,
Playlist - Supported bit rate 32 - 320
- ID3 tags support Yes
Built-in Display
- Audio system built-in display TFT
- Diagonal size 1.8 in
- Backlight display Yes
- Features Adjustable brightness
Audio Features
- Sound output mode Stereo
- Built-in clock Digital clock
- Additional features Built-in FM radio,
FM radio recording capability,
Upgradeable firmware CD System
- Digital audio standards supported MP3,
WMA Equalizer
- Equalizer factory presets Rock,
Classic,
Pop
Radio
- Tuner type Digital Radio tuner
- Tuner bands FM
Microphone
- Microphone type Built-in
- Microphone operation mode Mono
Headphones
- Headphones type Binaural
- Sound output mode [Sep 14, 2011 from CDS: Audio Output] Stereo
- Connectivity technology Wired
Connectivity
- Cable(s) included 1 x External,
USB cable - - Connector type 1 x Headphones Mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm,
1 x USB Battery / Power
- Battery Lithium ion Rechargeable Player batteryInternal
- Mfr estimated battery life 20 hour(s)
System Requirements
- Peripheral / Interface devices [Jul 2, 2008 from CDS: System Requirements] USB port
- Operating system Microsoft Windows XP or later
Sustainability
- CNET Labs: Battery drain test / audio playback 956.61 min
Product series
-
Manufacturer: SanDisk
Specs: 2 GB,
MP3,
Protected WMA (DRM),
WMA,
1.8 in,
1,
Player battery - Rechargeable - Lithium ion,
20 hour(s),
Flash player -
Manufacturer: SanDisk
Specs: 4 GB,
MP3,
Protected WMA (DRM),
WMA,
1.8 in,
1,
Player battery - Rechargeable - Lithium ion,
20 hour(s),
Flash player -
Manufacturer: SanDisk
Specs: 6 GB,
MP3,
Protected WMA (DRM),
WMA,
1.8 in,
1,
Player battery - Rechargeable - Lithium ion,
20 hour(s),
Flash player -
Manufacturer: SanDisk
Specs: 8 GB,
MP3,
Protected WMA (DRM),
WMA,
1.8 in,
1,
Player battery - Rechargeable - Lithium ion,
20 hour(s),
Flash player -
SanDisk Sansa e280 w/ Base Station (8GB)
Manufacturer: SanDisk
Specs: 8 GB,
MP3,
WMA,
Protected WMA (DRM),
1.8 in,
Player battery - Rechargeable - Lithium ion,
Digital player / radio
Accessories
Manufacturer info
- Manufacturer profile
- Browse SanDisk products on Shopper.com
-
- Manufacturer:SanDisk
- Address:
601 McCarthy Boulevard, Milpitas, CA 95035 - Phone: 1-866-726-3475
- Email: support@sandisk.com
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