Flash based mp3 players that aren't apple.

[Savij]

I like the nano (and like the mini even more), but it is overpriced. Don't get me wrong, they're probably great and all, but what other small mp3 players are out there. What would you recommend for general use and working out that doesn't have the same "I'm overpaying to be like everyone else" vibe. What else can I get that's small and convenient yet affordable at the same time?

 

[jonessoda]

Go with Creative. That's my advice for any MP3 player, go with Creative. They've got years of sound-engineering experience and it shows.

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: jonessoda
Don't Go with Creative. That's my advice for any MP3 player, Don't go with Creative. They've got years of suing the competition out of business and it shows.

Fixed for truth.

SanDisk seems to make some nice inexpensive players with the Sansa line.

 

[0roo0roo]

the nano isn't really overpriced much considering what you get, no nonsense audio player with good software and controls creative flash dont impress. you look at he competition, the ones that are close to nano in capacity just tend to have things wrong with them while still costing about the same.

 

[RossMAN]

http://www.sandisk.com/Products/ProductInfo.aspx?ID=1204

$27 at your local Radio Shack after rebates.

 

[loup garou]

The new sandisk sansas that look like nanos have been getting great reviews. Plus you can add storage with Transflash/MicroSD cards.

http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Catalog...isk_Sansa_e200_Series_MP3_Players.aspx

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
http://www.sandisk.com/Products/ProductInfo.aspx?ID=1204

$27 at your local Radio Shack after rebates.

Thanks!

 

[0roo0roo]

oh the e series? be careful, i looked at them but there seem to be bugs, look at the user reviews on cnet and stuff. bunch had to be sent back apparently. they aren't really like nanos, a bit bigger.

 

[tm37]

We have the RCA lycra's good cheap and the batteries last about 6hours!

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: RossMAN
http://www.sandisk.com/Products/ProductInfo.aspx?ID=1204

$27 at your local Radio Shack after rebates.

hah down to 27. that thing was just hideous though, giant, ugly plasticy..looked like no name junk

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: RossMAN
http://www.sandisk.com/Products/ProductInfo.aspx?ID=1204

$27 at your local Radio Shack after rebates.

hah down to 27. that thing was just hideous though, giant, ugly plasticy..looked like no name junk

I don't care how it looks. I want functional and everything else is filler.

 

[0roo0roo]

well functional for small flash devices depends on the software. the easier it is to swap songs or just fill it with random songs(shuffle), the less of a chore it is to use. thats where apple excells. that and size, you can't beat nano size/functionality. the compettitors have to add "filler" as said with fm tuners and "video" playback that requires transcoding to bloated quicktime and other bs.

 

[RossMAN]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: RossMAN
http://www.sandisk.com/Products/ProductInfo.aspx?ID=1204

$27 at your local Radio Shack after rebates.

hah down to 27. that thing was just hideous though, giant, ugly plasticy..looked like no name junk

As an MP3 player it's great but the FM radio reception sucked. So I returned mine and bought a Creative Zen Nano Plus which is smaller, stylish and the FM tuner doesn't suck.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit

Originally posted by: jonessoda
Don't Go with Creative. That's my advice for any MP3 player, Don't go with Creative. They've got years of suing the competition out of business and it shows.

Fixed for truth.

SanDisk seems to make some nice inexpensive players with the Sansa line.

Whether they sue the competition out of business or not is irrelevant to some people (like me). Do they make a good product or not?

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: RossMAN

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: RossMAN
http://www.sandisk.com/Products/ProductInfo.aspx?ID=1204

$27 at your local Radio Shack after rebates.

hah down to 27. that thing was just hideous though, giant, ugly plasticy..looked like no name junk

As an MP3 player it's great but the FM radio reception sucked. So I returned mine and bought a Creative Zen Nano Plus which is smaller, stylish and the FM tuner doesn't suck.

well i wouldn't even give it high marks as an mp3 player. its hideous and gigantic. thats fine and all if it were normally cheaper..way cheaper but it wasn't. it cost the same as the creative zen nano plus line,which are maybe half the size if that and with the same features

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
well functional for small flash devices depends on the software. the easier it is to swap songs or just fill it with random songs(shuffle), the less of a chore it is to use. thats where apple excells. that and size, you can't beat nano size/functionality. the compettitors have to add "filler" as said with fm tuners and "video" playback that requires transcoding to bloated quicktime and other bs.

How can it get any easier than UMS?

 

[CrackRabbit]

Originally posted by: Nik

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit

Originally posted by: jonessoda
Don't Go with Creative. That's my advice for any MP3 player, Don't go with Creative. They've got years of suing the competition out of business and it shows.

Fixed for truth.

SanDisk seems to make some nice inexpensive players with the Sansa line.

Whether they sue the competition out of business or not is irrelevant to some people (like me). Do they make a good product or not?

Not really, instead of innovating and truly improving their products to beat the competition they simply sue the producer of any product that might be a threat to theirs, Aureal and more recently Apple as examples.
I made the mistake of putting an Audigy card in one of my machines once, it crashed constanly for two weeks until I moved it to a certian PCI slot and even then it was never fully stable again until I got rid of it.
Creative gets :thumbsdown::thumbsdown: from me.

 

[Savij]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
well functional for small flash devices depends on the software. the easier it is to swap songs or just fill it with random songs(shuffle), the less of a chore it is to use. thats where apple excells. that and size, you can't beat nano size/functionality. the compettitors have to add "filler" as said with fm tuners and "video" playback that requires transcoding to bloated quicktime and other bs.

I'm sure it's everything I could ever dream for and more, but at 2, 3, and 5 times the price of other players, I just can't justify it when I know that I'm going to have battery issues in 1.5 to 2 years. I just don't make enough money to toss out a few hundred for looks and saving a few mouse clicks.

 

[dartworth]

I just picked up a Sandisk Sansa e250.

I just received it on Friday and I am really enjoying it. It took a little while to get use to the controls. After playing with it for a few hours, they work smooth.

THe sound quality is great and the FM is a real nice feature which I thought I wouldn't like. Now I'll never purchase another player without one.

I took a couple of pics of it along with an iPod mini and Shuffle. You can find them here.


Sansa e250 @ Amazon

Sansa e250 @ buy.com

ZDNet review

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: loup garou

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
well functional for small flash devices depends on the software. the easier it is to swap songs or just fill it with random songs(shuffle), the less of a chore it is to use. thats where apple excells. that and size, you can't beat nano size/functionality. the compettitors have to add "filler" as said with fm tuners and "video" playback that requires transcoding to bloated quicktime and other bs.

How can it get any easier than UMS?

i consider that a chore. i prefer shuffle or smart playlists

 

[loup garou]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: loup garou

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
well functional for small flash devices depends on the software. the easier it is to swap songs or just fill it with random songs(shuffle), the less of a chore it is to use. thats where apple excells. that and size, you can't beat nano size/functionality. the compettitors have to add "filler" as said with fm tuners and "video" playback that requires transcoding to bloated quicktime and other bs.

How can it get any easier than UMS?

i consider that a chore. i prefer shuffle or smart playlists

Then switch to MTP mode and use WMP11. :laugh:

 

[Scouzer]

I LOVE my YP-Z5. Probably the best NANO killer you can get easily (Cowon may be a bit better but definitely not as easy to get)

I don't need any software either. Just drag and drop files. Can use it for storage too.

When I was at Best Buy, the sales guy, HUGE, told me he could benchpress 400lb (I believe it, massive guy) and he took this little Samsung and attempted to break it in half. He was shaking trying as hard as he could. Didn't even make a noise or contort the screen. Its an all-metal build so its SOLID. No scratching crap like the Ipods get either.

Oh yeah, and it has an EQ. 39 hours claimed battery life, reviews say 35. Sounds good to me.

 

[NikPreviousAcct]

Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
Not really, instead of innovating and truly improving their products to beat the competition they simply sue the producer of any product that might be a threat to theirs, Aureal and more recently Apple as examples.
I made the mistake of putting an Audigy card in one of my machines once, it crashed constanly for two weeks until I moved it to a certian PCI slot and even then it was never fully stable again until I got rid of it.
Creative gets :thumbsdown::thumbsdown: from me.

Short of one dying on me and having to replace it and a software conflict with an MSI tv/tuner card, I've had Audigy cards since they first hit the market and haven't had trouble with computer stability at all.

I guess you just suck with computers.