SanDisk Sansa Fuze 4 GB Video MP3 Player (Black) by SanDisk
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List Price: Our Price: $62.95 You Save: $17.04 (21%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $29.95 (click here) Category: Network Media Player See more digital camera details and other models |
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Digital camera reviews of SanDisk Sansa Fuze 4 GB Video MP3 Player (Black)
Digital camera Review: An awesome find - great interface, great performance
Summary: 5 Stars
This little baby is a great catch! Lots of functionality - and expandable! - for a great price.
iPod has 75% of the market, so there's lots of stuff made for it...and you pay for that convenience. This sweet little machine matches the functionality, but at half the price. It's very easy to use, with a smooth scroll wheel and nice 'clicking' feel. Everything happens on the wheel, so the interface is super simple in spite of the functionality.
It feels great in your hand - smaller than a credit card, but substantial enough to hold and use. Others have mentioned the rubberized back, which prevents sliding. I also got a silicone case to protect it and further prevent sliding in my car. If you haven't discovered the joy of MP3 connectivity in your car, you should also check out a direct connection (if your car stereo has an aux-in jack), a tape deck converter cable, or an FM transmitter.
I really like that I am able to select music via playlist, genre, artist, album, folder, recently added, specific songs, or ratings on the Fuze. The interface to access all of these is very simple. It also has a 'go list,' which is a playlist you can create on-the-fly on the device itself. It also plays podcasts and audiobooks.
Additional sweet features: you can rate songs directly on the unit, as well as delete them from there. There is a graphic equalizer with a number of presets. It displays date and time and has a sleep timer in case you want to fall asleep to music. It automatically scans for FM stations and creates presets for them. You can set up slide shows with background music. You can bookmark videos and audio books, too.
I haven't used the photo, video, or FM radio, so can't comment on those. I tested the voice recording functionality and it seemed pretty straightforward, although I haven't really used it yet. You can also record the radio on the unit.
One thing to understand is that the real power of your media library is in the library software you use on your computer. This is where you'll manage all the tags (author, title, album, genre, etc.) that the player will use to organize your files, as well as create playlists and subscribe to podcasts. Windows Media Player was a little handicapped for me, and after some research I determined that Media Monkey would be the most complete solution for my needs. It does have its drawbacks, though -- especially that it doesn't recognize my wife's and my Fuzes as different devices, so my only option for autosync is to put the same playlists on both of them, or sync manually. But that's Media Monkey's problem, not Sansa's. My point is just that the player is dependent upon your library software to really deliver the value. Plan to invest your time on the software, not the player.
Sansa's Fuze does have drawbacks of its own. I would prefer that it use mini-USB for the PC connection, rather than the proprietary connector. The power switch on the side is hard to get at if you have a case on the player. It doesn't come with a wall charger or car charger. (However, those can be had very cheaply online. You'll also probably want to buy a carrying case for it.) I worry about the wheel wearing out after lots of use. My dad bought my mom one, and the wheel already feels a bit loose because he thought you had to push it down while turning it. :) That's about all the negatives I've found in it. Overall it is a very solid unit, and a steal of a deal at this price!
Digital camera Review: Another Customer Jumping OFF the Apple Bandwagon
Summary: 5 Stars
I got the Sansa Fuze a few days ago and loved it. I had an iPod since 2004, and was skeptical at first about getting a non-Apple MP3 player. I am glad I made the jump.
Strengths:
1. Small, compact, but loaded with features.
2. Great sound quality.
3. Good earphones, better than the one I got when I got the iPod. I don't need to buy another one.
4. The FM radio is great! I can save and scroll through the stations very easily.
5. I especially love the microphone feature. I was about to buy a separate digital microphone, as I want to record spontaneous thoughts as I backpack abroad. When I found out the MP3 comes with it, I decided to give this a try. The microphone works beautifully. I have been taking voice lessons and my voice coach encouraged me to record myself often so that I am familiar with my voice. With this tool, I can record and hear myself instantaneously.
6. Nice velvet black pouch - it's a small thing, but I can carry around the MP3 immediately without having to go and buy a cover.
7. Bright screen.
8. Competitive price.
Weaknesses:
1. It's not a sleek looking at the iPod nano. The wheel is more plastic-like and doesn't sink in seamlessly into the player. It took some time to get used to this wheel, but after a while, I did get used to it and hardly noticed the difference with my old iPod.
2. It was a pain converting my iTunes music into a format I can add to MediaPlayer. I searched the Internet for directions and found some. Depending on the DRMs you have on your music, the process can take time. Fortunately, I don't plan to transfer all my songs into the Fuze (I have over 10,000). So I focus on converting the playlists that I like. I think I will have to recreate my playlist on Media Player, so that will also take more time.
3. I haven't checked the video and photo feature, so cannot comment at this time.
4. I miss the clicking sound when I turned the wheel, as in the iPod. Wheel turning is silent, unless I'm missing the instruction on turning it on. Having the clicking sound would be nice.
Overall, it will be unlikely that I will buy expensive iPods, when competing MP3 players offer similar products, with heavier features and lower prices.
Digital camera Review: Another vote for a great little media player!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have had Sansa View and E260 as well as an iPod Classic 80gb. While the iPod is great for its capacity, the Fuze has quickly become my favorite media player. It is tiny but solid and the screen is crystal clear. My primary use has been listening to audiobooks and radio, but it does a great job with music and video as well.Digital camera Review: Apple ipod doesn't meet the expectattions for so far away !
Summary: 5 Stars
It is cheap, great desing, operative system very nice, fast !
I replace my Nano for this one ! It is superior!
Digital camera Review: Apple who?
Summary: 5 Stars
I'll keep this short: this device has everything the 4g Nano offers and more for 1/2 the price!!! Break free from your Granny Smith Overlords!!!