SanDisk Sansa e270 6 GB MP3 Player with SD Expansion Slot (Black) by SanDisk
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Digital camera reviews of SanDisk Sansa e270 6 GB MP3 Player with SD Expansion Slot (Black)
Digital camera Review: Adequate, but don't actually use that whole 6GB.
Summary: 2 Stars
This product has all the basics: MP3, video, voice recording and FM radio. Its interface and sound quality are good, and its build quality seems solid.
However, if you actually *use* anywhere near the amount of storage the unit gives you, it will bog down to unusability. I filled the 6GB of storage, and used a 2GB MicroSD card as well. Every time I turn the unit on, it takes 40 seconds to get past the SanDisk splash screen, and a full 3 minutes to "rebuild the database" - every single time. Not only that, trying to change tracks tends to take 15 seconds or more to respond when you press the "track forward" button. According to what I have read from multiple sources, this is a firmware issue that SanDisk has failed to resolve. This is absolutely unacceptable in a unit designed to be an iPod competitor.
Also, I was led to believe that this unit accepted MicroSDHC cards up to 8GB, but this is false - it will only accept standard MicroSD cards up to 2GB. Had I known this, I might not have bought this unit at all. I will be trying the Rockbox firmware on it to see if it remedies any of my difficulties, but as-shipped this unit's performance is unacceptable.
/edit: I have installed Rockbox on this unit, and am far happier with its performance. While Rockbox has a few flaws in terms of ease of use and features, it boots and performs far faster and offers far more features than the default Sansa firmware. It also enables MicroSDHC cards to be used, up to 8GB. If you are going to purchase one of these units, I strongly suggest using Rockbox - it bumps up my opinion of the product from 2 stars to 3.5.
Digital camera Review: Almost Perfect (E270, 6 Gig)
Summary: 5 Stars
This player replaces my first MP3 player, and it's a step up in design and build quality. The color graphics and picture/video support are cool but I mainly use it to listen to music I rip off CDs in my collection.
The player's sound quality is good. I typically encode MP3s at 192 kbps, and unless I'm in the gym, I listen to music with Shure E3C headphones. I can hear noise from the unit occasionally--mostly at the beginning and end of a track. You can also hear noise sometimes if you're navigating around menus while music is playing.
I haven't had any problems loading music onto the player, and I've easily updated the firmware twice since buying it. The USB 2.0 interface is great--music transfers very quickly.
I'm anxious for accessories to become available. I guess companies are waiting for an installed user base before they begin selling them. A case with a belt clip would be appreciated!
Digital camera Review: Almost there, SanDisk....almost
Summary: 4 Stars
My e270 has been a mixture of the enjoyable and the frustrating...with a few changes this little gadget could be simply outstanding. Instead, the Sansa e200 series falls short of what it should be, but remains a good value for those with the technical savvy and patience to put up with it.
For crying out loud, SanDisk, when are you going to support folders, or creating play lists on the fly? The e200 will organize your music for you, IF your tags are in order. You can create a "go list" list on the fly, but that's it. Your music (MP3, WMA or WAV only) can be browsed by artist, song title, album, genre and a "go list". There is another category, "my top rated", but if you rate your songs with the Sansa, it'll freeze... how much simpler life with the Sansa would be if there was support for folders or multiple play list creation.
The list of EQ settings that the player ships with are also limiting...there is a custom EQ with the latest firmware, but it isn't as robust as the EQ choices on my older e140, and some users report that it's buggy. So far, I haven't had that problem. The sound is good, with good earphones. The earphones the e200 comes with have been relegated to under the pillow use by me...the ones I got with the old e140 were much better, and the Koss KSC75 clip-on's better yet.
Video? Yep, but the MOV QuickTime format is as bloated as a beached whale. The bundled media converter will chop your video in to 10 minute chunks with iffy sound and in widescreen format. All this can be changed (except the MOV format) with some file editing, but why should a user have to dig through the anythingbutIpod forums to find this out? What could have been an outstanding feature with MP4 support is merely a novelty.
Voice recording? Yes, in WAV format. You can record FM on the fly, (when is a Sansa player going to have AM support, anyway?) and there are photos with a slideshow function via the media converter.
Left out of the package as of the 01.02.15A firmware- An alarm function and a sleep timer.
The Sansa is fine with me from a control standpoint. The voice record button is placed where you can hit it by accident, the scroll wheel should be progressive, and the buttons around the wheel are hard to find with my fat fingers, but for something this size it's all livable. Battery life is as advertised, but you are a slave to your USB port unless you buy an aftermarket adapter. Don't lose the cable, its Sansa only.
I enjoy my e270; the six gigs of storage, plus the expansion possible via micro SD are plenty for my use. A lot of the niggling problems I've encountered have been solved with the use of a good MP3 tag editor (MediaMonkey is great for this) and some searching through Sansa forums.
Digital camera Review: Amazing product! Been using for about 2 years
Summary: 5 Stars
I am absolutely shocked at the bad reviews for this product. I have had this and use it constantly for about 2 years. When I first got this, one of my kids accidentally cracked the screen, I called Sandisk customer support and they sent me a new one, which I received in 3 days. Then I had a problem with it and called customer support again, I had to update the firmware, which they talked me through. THEN my player was sitting in water for a couple of hours, the back of it was soaked. It STILL WORKED!, and is still working as well as when I received it. Yesterday I had the same problem with the firmware, which I called customer support for again, and they walked me through it. If your player just stops working call 1-866-SANDISK, they are wonderful. I love the way the sansa works, it is very easy to use. I just ordered the sansa view 16 GB mp3 player and I am going to give my son the Sansa e270. You can get it for about $170 which is a great price for 16 GB. I can't wait! There is a vehicle charger available for the Sansa e270. It is $29.95. Just search for it on Amazon. Amazing product, I have had absolutely no unresolvable problems with it or with customer support! 5 stars for sure. Love it! 2 years and still going strong. I feel like it will work forever! GREAT product!Digital camera Review: An undiscovered territory
Summary: 4 Stars
What is this you may ask? good question. San Disk never advertised their MP3 players so you have to go on Amazon or to a media store to find out what all the buzz is about. This item may not be as sleak as the "Nano" but it is a lot of fun. It will take about an hour to 15 mins. to figure out how to click and drag the music files but it is worth it. Spoiler: to click and drag if you have Windows: Go into "My Documents" and you will see a seperate file called "e270" when you click into that file you will see two folders: Data and Media. If you want to download the music go to "media". However you have to copy and paste the music from your "My Music" folder which can be a pain in the touchas for people who are on the go. BTW: delete the other music that is in the folder. It is just stuff that San Disk put in to promote underground artists.
Other than that, the rest is a piece of cake. The button is a lot easier than their 1 gig mp3 player joystick. The radio is not bad but it could be better.
It is one of the hottest items for this summer.