SanDisk Sansa e280 8GB MP3 Player - Black

Music to my ears!

Posted Dec 24, 2006 - My husband gave me this little beauty as an early Christmas present, and he's still laughing at the huge grin that was on my face. This is a great alternative to the iPod, especially if you're into a track "rental" subscription like Yahoo! Music. (I had to update the firmware before it was recognized by YMJ as a subscription compatible device, though) The player is tiny, about the size of a small stack of credit cards, and it holds a ton of music. The music sounds great on my Etymotic ER-4P headphones, although it's a tiny bit too loud with these headphones on the lowest volume setting. It's not a problem on the headphones that come in the box. It also does video, pictures, FM radio, and voice-recording, but I haven't played with these features much yet. The controls are fairly intuitive and the raised scroll wheel has grooves, making it easy to use. Unfortunately, this wheel can sometimes get in the way of the buttons which are right next to the wheel. I'm sure I'll get used to it though. The one thing I was a bit disappointed with is the fact that the only way to charge it is via the USB cable that comes with it, so you have to be near a computer to charge it. Looks like I'll be buying an after-market wall charger for it. All in all, I'm VERY happy with it, and I actually snuck out to buy one for my hubby for Christmas because he was so jealous of mine. :)

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Ipod alternative

Posted Jan 27, 2007 - This is a little thicker than the Ipod Nano, but some people prefer it as they feel the Ipod is too thin. I was using a Lexar mp3 player so it actually seems big in comparison. With the Lexar I was able to keep it in my backpack with an extra AAA battery and never have to connect it to my computer. With the Sansa you need to charge it through the USB cable unless you get an adaptor. Get a silicone skin for this, which will help in two ways (1) reduce scratches and (2) help with button presses.

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SanDisk Sansa E280

Posted Jan 3, 2007 - I was looking for an Ipod alternative, and I found the sansa e280 is a good candidate since I already have the 1 GB MP3 player sansa also. This one is not as light as IPOD nano, but it is lighter than expcted. Easy to use and navigate through the different menus. Also, with the software that come with it, it is easy to convert different media files to it.

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good sound quality, good value, but a few quirks/bugs

Posted Dec 7, 2006 - I upgraded from a Sansa e140 and am very satisfied with this player. In terms of sound quality, there's no comparison between the two. I was using Etymotic 6i earbuds with both, not the earbuds shipped with either player, so the sound quality difference is definitely attributable to the player. While the e140 was certainly satisfactory, the e280 sounds very good with well encoded mp3s: a nice, open sound with no noticeable holes in terms of frequency response. Because the Etymotic earbuds are a little lean, I have the custom EQ set to increase the lowest bass just a little. In contrast I used to have my e140 set to significantly boost not only the lowest bass but also the upper bass range and it still always sounded a bit constricted. I mainly use my player for mp3s so I cannot say much about the other features. I did use the radio a couple of times and found the reception to be surprisingly adequate -- as good as the tuner built into my expensive preamplifier that's connected to an amplified antenna. Still, given that there's almost nothing worth listening to on FM anyway, I don't think I'll use the radio feature very often. I also tried the video conversion utility provided by Sandisk to copy a very short, non-copyprotected dvd to my player. Perhaps with more experience I would get better results, but I have to say that I was not particularly impressed. The conversion took WAY too long, the player needs to be connected to the PC while the conversion is taking place (ie, you cannot convert a movie and then later load it on your Sansa, enjoying your Sansa while your computer labors to convert the video), and while the picture was decent looking I had a number of "hiccups" during playback. The other bug I've noticed with my player is that a few tracks will not play back properly. What happens is that a song will begin normally and then at some point the left channel will cut out for 10-20 seconds before the left channel fades back in. I know that the problem is not earbud or file related so it's something wrong with the Sansa. It also isn't just a problem with a bad spot on the internal flash memory as it has also occurred with songs loaded on an external microSD card I've added to the player. I have yet to contact Sandisk about this because it's only occurred on 3 songs (out of the 1,000 or so I've loaded so far), but I intend to follow up to see if this is a known issue that will be addressed in a firmware update or whether I have a defective player that needs some sort of repair. I read a recent review in a audio/video magazine about the e280 that indicated some other flaws that I've certainly not encountered. Most importantly this device is NOT limited to USB 1.1 transfer speeds, contrary to that reviewer's speculation based on his experience with his player and PC. Files transfer in a matter a seconds. It is also possible to highlight a bunch of files and transfer them all at once; one does not need to sit by the computer to click "ok" over and over as files transfer. Something was either wrong with that reviewer's Sansa or his PC.

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Sansa e280 is better

Posted Jan 2, 2007 - Let me first start by saying that most of the weaknesses that people find in the e280 can be worked around. They just need to do some research on the internet to find some good forums that discuss this player... I've been searching for literally YEARS for my first MP3 player. I never got into the iPod scene and never really saw a need for an MP3 player in general until I started taking public transportation. I researched and explored all my options which included iPod (video and Nano), Zune, Sandisk, iRiver, and Creative Zen series. After weighing in on the pros and cons, I ended up with the Sandisk e280. Some of the features I was looking for in an MP3 player are: small (need to be pocket-friendly), FM radio, video playback, functionality, intuitive, and price. Just from this list, iPod is taken off the list almost immediately. But one reason I was still considering an iPod is because I use their iTunes software to sort all my songs on my desktop. Because of this, the purchase of an iPod would let me use it immediately since I already spent hours creating my playlists. I would have to start all over with other players. But in the end, I couldn't justify paying nearly $250 for one. But on to the reason why I chose the Sansa... It has the perfect storage capacity I was looking for. I don't have that big of a library so 8gigs is plenty to store all my songs plus a few videos I may upload. It's small and is easy to use. Video playback is surprisingly crisp and clear. FM radio could use some clarity but I only listen to a couple stations and they come out fine. And one of the best things about this Sansa is that it's so easy to use. Once I got it, I went through all the settings and features without having to read the (online) manual. But reading up on the connection settings would be helpful. In my research, I read up on pretty much all the reviews for this player. Some gave it rave reviews, others didn't. But when I actually received my player, I found that those who gave this player extremely negative reviews must not know much about technology and/or know how to look up info on the internet. I had trouble getting this player to connect to my computer, but found that it had the old firmware. I upgraded it (took 10min) and it was working great. AND, there are sites that offer different ways to hack into the system for those who are brave enough. Once you know how, you can: - adjust video/audio quality of video clips - change icons - change background themes - change the blue dial color to red - many more One point of annoyance is that there's no way for the player to play clips that are over 10min continuously. Anything more than this are segmented into 10min interval files. But this could be a blessing in disguise because the player also doesn't have video bookmarking (returning to the point you last left off). So instead of having to view the video all over again, you can use the "10min interval" feature to just skip ahead to point closest to where you left off. I normally don't give anything 5 stars but PriceGrabber describes the highest rating as "One of the best - highly recommended." But with tons of features, and a very nice price (can be found for $150 for e280 if you look hard enough), in my opinion, this player is one of the best, if not THE best. And I HIGHLY recommend it. UPDATE: I've now had this player for about a month. In that time, I've had a chance to go more indepth with this player. First, yes, as another said, the boot time can be a drag sometimes. I found that the more files you put into the player (I have about 6gb of MP3s) the slower the boot time. To help me overlook this, I first turn on the Sansa, then I unwind/adjust my earbuds. By the time, the earbuds are in and snug, the player is pretty much good to go. Second, about the "10min max" video thing. I found that this can be worked around if you convert videos through Quicktime Pro or changing the settings on the Sandisk Media Converter. But again, without the option of video bookmarking, it's a pain in the butt to try and go back to where you left off on the last video you saw.

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Great player, HUGE flash drive

Posted Jan 3, 2007 - This is the largest flash drive MP3 player you can get. For the price of the 8GB Sansa player you could get a 4GB IPod Shuffle. You can't have a review of Mp3 players without comparing it to the IPod. It is a little shorter than the Shuffle, but it is a litte thicker. The player also plays video and has photo capability, but you must use a proprietary format for these. Sansa provides a CD that does the work for you. Quality is as good as you can get on such a tiny display. Music quality is good, with a minimal background noise heard between songs. The player is a little slow at start-up, but great the rest of the time. Menus are bright and easy to navigate. There is a menu button on the front that takes you to the main menu, as well as a button for a menu of options/functions of current selection. The rotating wheel in the center takes a little while to get used to but works fine and the buttons around the wheel can be used to navigate just as well. Overall: Great player, may not look as sleek as the Shuffle but gets close. This will do everything you need and more. You can charge through the USB cable provided just fine.

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Solid Player

Posted Jan 12, 2007 - Overall, this is a solid player and a very good alternative to the iPod. The 8GB version is more than enough for purposes of the average audiophile, but the extra space and MicroSD expansion is nice for those who like to use their MP3 players as portable hard drives. The wheel is easier to use than the iPod, and the screen size is excellent. A drawback is that there are much fewer accessories out there for this device. So far, no major problems.

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Great Mp3 Player for the Money

Posted Jan 7, 2007 - After researching the new Mp3 players to replace my old one (I had an old Sandisk 512 Mb player which served me adequately), I narrowed my choice to the Sandisk Sansa e280 and the Apple Ipod Nano. I ultimately decided on the Sandisk, which was less expensive and included an FM radio ( a requirement for me), video playback, and a MicroSD memory slot to add more memory. So far I've been very satisfied with my choice. First of all, it's a beautiful device - shiny black front and a composite metal back which so far has stood up very well to scratches and fingerprints (I soon purchased a silicone skin and armband, however, to have extra protection. There are many aftermarket accessories available and more arriving all the time). I'm also happy that the Sansa plays Mp3's and WMA files - I've never been happy with Apple's proprietary file format. Copying files to the device could not be easier. It has two USB modes to copy files - one to sync automatically with Windows Media Player, the other to simply copy files and folders directly through Windows Explorer. After trying both options, I personally found it easier to copy the files and folders I wanted through Windows, although some might find it easier to sync with Media Player. One thing I noticed - in order for the album cover picture to appear with the song on the screen, you must make sure to copy the Folder.jpg or Album Art.jpg file with the folder of music files (if this is important to you). This picture is created in Media Player when you rip a CD or by importing song information through Media Player. Once I used the device for a day or so, I found it very easy to navigate to different files and settings. It's almost as intuitive as an Ipod. The scroll wheel works the same way as the Ipod, although it's a mechanical wheel instead of a touch wheel. It remains to be seen if it will eventually wear out from use. Sound is great - typical of the Mp3 players on the market today. I'd recommend aftermarket earphones, however. Although I have not copied a movie to the Sansa yet, I have converted some photos using the Sansa conversion software that came with the device. It's very easy to use. Photos appear small (obviously, given the small screen), but viewable. The video which came with the device (a Star Wars type video) was very clear and was watchable, although this is obviously not designed to view an entire movie on it. FM radio performance was OK, but not spectacular. I think my old Sandisk player had better reception, although it's not that bad. Strong stations were no problem. I quickly found a very inexpensive 1 Gb MicroSD card to use with the Sansa. It only appears when using the Windows Explorer USB mode to copy files. It came up as another drive on the system - no problem at all copying files to it. In shuffle mode, the files on the card are mixed in with the files on the main drive with no differentiation. So far I have found only one minor annoyance - as more files are added, the boot time for the device increases as it catalogs all the files every time it starts. It takes about 10-15 seconds to start. I've learned to make sure to turn it on a short time before actual use to make sure it's completed booting. All in all, I would definitely recommend the Sansa to anyone looking for a good sounding Mp3 player with a boatload of features for a great price.

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sansa e280 rocks

Posted Nov 24, 2006 - this mp3 player is an awesome player for its price. the worst thing about it is the slow boot-up time (takes about 10-15 seconds). it would be cool if the keys glowed when you were pressing stuff like they do on the creative zen vision and micro, but it's not needed for usefulness; it's pretty obvious which button does what. the proprietary usb cable limits it a little bit, but sandisk has had a few other companies sign on with them to make accessories like the ipods have, so it's all good.

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Sansa e280 8GB MP3 Player

Posted Dec 5, 2006 - I would buy this any day over a ipod nano. It is slightly bigger, but as we all know, bigger is better, and this statement definitely holds true for this player. Again, it is slightly bigger, and you gain many things such as recording lectures (if your a student) or FM recording, it has movie playback thing, where you can watch movies on it, 20 hours of battery life, which is supposedly user replaceable, and the best feature of all, drag and drop music. Not many mp3 players offer than, but this one does, and it is easy. The wheel and the buttons can be annoying, but they are worth it for the added features. The buttons and wheel isn't all too bad, but I wouldn't mind having the nano wheel on this, if it did, than this would be easily the best mp3 player.

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Cheaper then Ipod

Posted Nov 5, 2006 - If you are looking for a mp3 player then it is what you are looking for, 1st cheaper then Ipod, 2nd similar function with Ipod, 3rd it has additional MicroSD you can add more memory into it.(Ipod doesn't) it is a best value for the person who are not ask more. Wish you can find a best mp3 player for you like this one : )

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SanDisk Sansa MP3 Player

Posted Dec 14, 2006 - I got this to help me learn Chinese from mp3 files on the internet. The back of the player is metal and first shows fingerprints. However, the metal eventually absorbs the fingerprints and not no longer shows them or shows color changes after the initial color change. The front is plastic and can scratch easily. I always keep the player in the velvet case to help prevent scratches. I use the unit while commuting and other free times and had no problems with the battery live. I use it about 2 hours a day. It is recharged when connected to a computer's USB port. I don't like keeping my computer on just to recharge so I purchased an inexpensive USB charger from a third party. This charger is very small and works great. The control wheel is mechanical so if feels a little funny at first. The menus structure is straight forward. Timers are used to get out of submenus when no input is given. The timers seem to be good lengths. There is even a submenu to scan thought a mp3 file as it is playing. I use this feature to skip the introduction of some of my lessons. Adding videos and pictures to the unit is strait forward using the supplied software. MP3 files are added using MS Media Player. Media Player 11 seems a little better then 10 but is not as strait forward at first. It is not too bad once you understand how Media Player adds files to MP3 player/

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solid player with a few drawbacks

Posted Jan 14, 2007 - I've now tested 5 different Sansa units, the first was the 4gb model which worked perfectly. Good sound quality, scroll wheel moved smoothly and most importantly for me the voice recordings (of my school lectures) were clear (did not have the high pitched background noise). I decided that I wanted to upgrade to the 8gb model however so I returned the 4gb. The first e280 I got had a problem with the scroll wheel...it got stuck every now and then so I exchanged for another one (I didn't test the mic on this one). The scroll wheel on the second e280 I got moved smoothly but I discovered upon returning to school that the voice recordings had the high pitched background noise. I then exchanged this unit to try again. The third e280 I got was the worst, both the scroll wheel got stuck and the recordings were bad. I tried one more time for an exchange and now on my fourth e280 I'm back with a smooth scroll wheel but the recordings are still poor quality. I am just going to assume that the 4gb model I had was a fluke in terms of the quality of voice recordings. In summary, if you are not looking to use this unit for extensive voice recording it is great and I would highly recommend it. If you are looking for a mp3 player to use for lots of recordings, I would think twice before purchasing this one. Or at least keep in mind that you may be wanting to return it.

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Nice player for a unbeatable price

Posted Dec 21, 2006 - I like this player a lot. The screen is large, and the mechanical wheel adds cool factors to it. The price for this 8Gb flash based mp3 player is unbelievable. However, there are still a lot of little glitches that can be found. For one, it will not remember the volume settings before turning off. so everytime you turn on the player, you would have to re-adjust the volume.

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The best MP3 player all around

Posted Jan 14, 2007 - The Sansa e200 line is extremely versatile, Unlike the overly popular Ipod. The e200 line is a great Mp3 player, but also runs Movies, stores Photos, has an FM Radio, and Voice Recording. You would need several different Ipods and a hand full of add-ons to get this out of apple. Also, You can add music from any source! you can even drag and drop files into it like a USB drive! Super simple. On the other hand, the buttons around the scroll wheel can be a little difficult to press.Photos and Videos have to be put into a special codex by software included with the player, not a big complaint but the software can be a little confusing. Overall, I love my e280!!!

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