Sansa e260 Mp3 Player

My JVC camcorder uses the scandisc micro card the same as this player uses. Could I play what I record from my camera onto the disc by just plugging it in the sansa or does it have to get converted?

Very useful review, Dave. two questions, though: the sync/charge port on the bottom of the unit -- is it like an Ipod port, so that it can output audio and video to an RCA dongle to hook up to a TV and an external sound system?
Also, will an Ipod charger/FM transmitter work with that port? Like the 4030Road from GPSCheap?

my sandisk mp3 player plays video but idont know how to download it because it didnt bcome with soft ware for it its the 4 giga bite one can some help me please

my email is davydpayne@yahoo.com

Re: April 23 post. Sansa file upload and download withou the software. I haven't found a way to remove the song directly from your computer - but you can use the BestBuy service through rapsidy to get the stuff off. Only way I have found. The software that came with it wasn't worth much.

I want to know how to delete or take off a song and/or video.
Please E-mail me back at jessica_w_10@hotmail.com

so i bought the sansa e260 its the 4g one, i got it very cheap from future shop as a display model on clearence the only problem is no software to load on my computer to let me use the damn thing can anyone help me with a link or something thank you

For the mac users who use iTunes, I worked my ass off for the last few days and finally wrote a sweet ass script to sync the Sansa e series players with iTunes.

Feel free to check it out at:

http://www.ridesforall.com/archit/sansaitunes/index.html

have fun!! :)

Sansa may have more features, but not compatible with my Mac. Since I have the Mac, and I like my new Sansa e200 I received from my husband for Christmas, is there a way to make them compatible?

I just got my e260 yesterdya, and I'm having some troubles. When I rip my dvd's and convert them using the conversion program that came with the player, it doesnt brake it up into 10 minute segments. Instead it breaks it up into random leangth segments, and only the first segement of a movie works correctly. All the rest are either jumpy, or just complelty freeze up :-o

Help!

I have had to use both PC and MAC for both corporate and humanitarian aid IT. Both have their good and bad points.

As far as an MP3 player, my first player was an iRiver and I now thave the Sansa (which I like). I have also had the original iPod but never the nano.

I think ALILLO's commments are true but it goes both ways. When it comes to "sour grapes," you need not look any further then all the recent Mac ads. You know, the one with the two guys... PC is always stupid and can't do anything, can't funtion is totally useless but MAC can do everything.

Macworld reported that the Mac share in the market jumped from 2005's 4.4% to 4.8% in 2006. That's right only 4.8%. That number does speak for itself.

I'm tired of the war both ways. I wish my sansa would work with iTunes and I wish my iPod would work with WMA (I have a lot of music from walmart in WMA format).

I love my sansa and can't comment on the nano because I don't want to buy it and then have to buy a lot of my music all over again.

Wow!! This player looks 100% fantastic!! I'm buying it tomorrow here (in Australia) Can't wait... same price as 4gb ipod nano but with video and radio + the bigger display!! 10 out of 10 :D :D :D

iPAQ fanatic sorry not yet.

Have you noticed how Apple users sound just like religious fanatics? Always so parnoid the world is out to get them. Every comparison taken as a personal attack. I think the ipods are great. They have encouraged competition by their success and I hope they continue to bring new features to the market. No product will ever be perfect. Each new generation bringing good and bad. We chose the direction the product develops through our purchases. The Sansa e260 though not perfect is a step in the right direction.

Is there something with all the features of this Sansa but in a larger format, 30-60gb?

To alillo,

"Well... again, hate to bust your bubble... but...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93548

Please research and back up your arguments with facts before posting as I did."

That sure is a short list of outdated and obsolete players. Way to go Apple!

"But that aside, let's get back to the Sansa, which is clearly aimed at topping the iPod Nano. If they wish to rid the world of iPod use, they could have, at the very least, make their player Mac compatible, which it isn't (oops! iPod:1, Sansa: 0)."

Sandisk realized that the demographic for Mac users willing to go to PC just to use a
DAP is insignificant; people who have been hardwired to love Mac have nightmares about anything anti-Apple, case in point, you. Besides, Sandisk knows that you can’t go for the whole enchilada on your first REAL attempt to make a quality DAP. Sandisk will KO Apple next time for sure (or maybe on the third try)!

“the Sansa took much, much, longer to boot up than the Nano (which starts up in a fraction of a second). I guess one of the biggest points I'm trying to make here is many companies fail to realize that it's not just about making a more feature-packed player. It's a lot more than that. There are other factors like, ergonomics, ease of use, compatibility (which I've explained already), flawless hardware/software integration (no other company has topped Apple in that regard to my knowledge), interface comprehensibility (only Creative Labs has been one on one with Apple in this regard), flexibility, etc, etc.”

I don’t know about everyone, but I’d gladly trade a few seconds of my life waiting for the thing to turn on and clicking a few extra buttons each and every time I use my player for more features (video playback, bigger screen, fm tuner, and other factors such as scratch resistance and a user replaceable battery), a better price (I just bought a new e260 for $145 compared to $225 for a 4gb nano), and the satisfaction I receive when nano owners ask about my e260 and then proceed to regret buying a nano.

In closing I would like to express my opinion that you are a blind Apple fanboy that is peeved over Sandisk’s choice of advertisement. Luckily for the world, the beer drinking people of the world don’t react the same way when their favorite beer brand is personally attacked by another beer brand or else the world would be a 24/7 drunken riot.

Wow. This looks great. I really like iPods, but I dislike apple. I'm temped to ask for this for father's day.
Just for fun, is there something that has all of the same features as this but with larger drives, 30-60gb, that is not an iPod?

Look I am late getting to the table here. I have an Ipod, a Treo 650 (Palm version) and a Windows Mobile Pocket PC. I could care less about who wins this battle. The fact is we all win when these guys make the products we want.
I must admit the www.idont.com website is an interesting marketing approach. I am not sure if companies respond to direct beatings on a website but Sandisk is obviously attempting to sway people from proprietary ways through a strange peer pressure approach.
Just my opinion.

For lacene,

"First I want to point out that iTunes is compatible for BOTH MAC's and PC's, via Apple's preference. Second,now you can get your MAC with boot support for Windows XP, so to correct alillo's error, the sansa IS MAC compatible."

Fully aware of that. But using an MP3 player on a Mac "hacked" to run Windows OS doesn't constitute Mac compatibility. Mac owners do prefer Mac OS you know. That's why they own Macs in the first place, not because they look pretty. Also, you state that iTunes, by Apple's preference, made iTunes for both Mac and PC, already proving to the world that it thought about compatibility before Sandisk did. So you just proved my point even further.

"Apple, on the other hand, is a hardware company: they make computers (as well as iPods, which is for all purposes a mini computer). Their mission statement is to get as many apple computers as possible into the world's households & businesses."

Really? I didn't know Apple was first and foremost a hardware company. I guess iMovie, iDVD, iTunes, Final Cut Pro, Aperture, Soundtrack Pro, Motion, DVD Studio Pro, Logic Pro, Shake, Keynote, Remote Desktop, iWeb, Garage Band, iPhoto, and Quicktime were just a figment of my imagination. Oh yes, all the software updates for iPod released once an awhile are also software, too.

"If APPLE allowed other non-iPod DAP's to have full integration with iTunes, then OF COURSE the iPod would suffer - to argue differently would be a declaration of stupidity. If the vast majority of the world uses iTunes as their media player & music store, you honestly think the makers of the sansa & others would NOT want their player to integrate??? Please....."

Well... again, hate to bust your bubble... but...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93548

Please research and back up your arguments with facts before posting as I did.

"alillo states, "Now I'm not a blind Apple fanboy by any means", which is in direct conflict with the comments he typed just above. I have my serious doubts about his statement."

I don't know where I failed to make myself clear in that statement. I admittedly (and proudly) am a Mac user, but I researched (there's that word again) before I made any purchases. So what I said was true. Repeating myself, I will say again that I've never purchased anything in my life blindly and according to a current popular trend, or if some commercial on TV told me so or my friends have one, so should I (why do think RAZRs are so popular, because they're such great phones?).

this is for alillo, and for other posters who use the complaint that the sansa e260 - or any other MTP DAP - isn't iTunes compatible:

First off, just who do you think is responsible for prohibiting other DAP's from fully integrating with iTunes? Do you think it's the DAP makers???

First I want to point out that iTunes is compatible for BOTH MAC's and PC's, via Apple's preference. Second,now you can get your MAC with boot support for Windows XP, so to correct alillo's error, the sansa IS MAC compatible. Plus, you can alternate your sansa as either MTP or UMS, so even if you do not have the boot camp, it's still compatible (altho the UMS feature is a little shaky, IMO).

Now, to the point: why would you think that any non-iPod DAP maker would want their DAP to be non-iTunes compatible??

Microsoft is a software company: it's who they are, it's what they do. Their entire mission statement in order to survive & prosper is to get all of their software (windows) on all the computers out there, one way or the other.

Apple, on the other hand, is a hardware company: they make computers (as well as iPods, which is for all purposes a mini computer). Their mission statement is to get as many apple computers as possible into the world's households & businesses.

If APPLE allowed other non-iPod DAP's to have full integration with iTunes, then OF COURSE the iPod would suffer - to argue differently would be a declaration of stupidity. If the vast majority of the world uses iTunes as their media player & music store, you honestly think the makers of the sansa & others would NOT want their player to integrate??? Please.....

alillo states, "Now I'm not a blind Apple fanboy by any means", which is in direct conflict with the comments he typed just above. I have my serious doubts about his statement.

One thing that should be noted, that wasn't in the above review, is that video playback on the sansa is reduced to 10-minute segments, due to video processor issues. This means that while music videos, cartoons, & the various video shorts that are less than 10 minutes will playback in full. Videos longer than 10 minutes will be segmented into 10 minute chapters. The converter software will configure them accordingly so that they will playback in order, & you can watch a full length movie from start to finish, but there will be breaks in between the segments, like there are with the breaks between the music tracks - kinda like commercial breaks. If you do not mind that, tho, the video playback is fine.

I have just bought one and love it, BUT have found a few things that Sandisk needs to FIX to really compete with iPOD high end base.

1. Need better power filtering, if you use very good ear-buds/headsets like:
Ultimate Ears 5i , Etymotic ER6i or Sennheiser PX100, you can hear the switching power supply as a lot of noise, and it get louder when the volume dial is lit or you play a movie, thus kill this player as a audio phonic delight. (BTW if you enjoy music reproduction detail from high to base scale try a Sennheiser PX100 headset, you will not regret the $50 bucks spent PROMISE! and for the in-the ear high end the 5i will make you hear things you never knew were there including iPods amp white noise, the ER6i are the best for noise isolation up to 32db, perfect for that plane flight with the screaming kid next to you!!)

2. jog-dial has two conventions; item choice it is CCW for down and music list is CW for down, keeps getting me messed up.



Some detail for others:

1. To answer Dave Q, supports AVI MSvid1,MPEG-1;2;4,DVD *.VOB,QuickTime MOV, and WMV; all get converted to 15 FPS QT MOV files via converter software by ArcSoft.

2. Photo direct is JPEG and BMP, but TIFF, GIF PNG supported via provided software.

3. Any of the power adaptors used for iPod can be used to power/charge e260 via it's cable, so would suggest to have two cables, and for FM modulator the best one is IMHO is the DLO TransPod FM Transmitter, provides power and AUX input, and if you have iPod works with it too.

4. YES it is Plays for Sure Device, website is currently being updated to include, I use mine with Napster.

5. I LOVE the display brightness control, a real plus for battery life.

6. Video play back is very nice, and even ripped DVDs played nice ("Any DVD" needed for protected DVD rips).

SanDisk get 8 out of 10 from me and I would recommend it to others.
Phil

I see no Apple hating here. If you normally read this site you would know I own a MacBook Pro and Mac Mini. Did you read my review on the MBP?

I never understand the "Apple Hating". The iPod wasn't the 1st MP3 player. It became #1 by being beter than the rest. When someone makes a far better unit with ease of use(since people are basically lazy) then people will buy that MP3 player. Until then, as another post pointed out... Let your player do the talking.

http://guimelo.blogspot.com/2006/05/ipods-vs-world.html

Before reading on I just want to make it clear that I'm NOT trying to defend the iPod here, though it may sound that way. I'm only trying to point out this player's (and company's) shortcomings when attacking such a huge enemy, the iPod.

Now, the Sansa is pretty slick looking and potentially a nice player. However let me begin by saying that their sad marketing strategy is childish and flawed (countless articles have already stated this). Here's their anti-iPod website:

http://www.idont.com/

The site is, to say the least, just another example of sour grapes and is grossly insulting to all consumers. They imply that everyone is incapable of making intelligent purchasing decisions, even further insulting our intelligence by making us believe that SanDisk should make purchasing decisions for us by saying "mine is better, period!". We see this kind of childish banter all the time in today's companies. Fine, if yours is better, then prove it. Be the overpaid marketing genius that you are and convince me to buy your product in a professional, civil, and intelligent tone. Otherwise you're just making unintelligible noise and are liken to a caveman clobbering your enemies in the head with a huge wooden club.

But that aside, let's get back to the Sansa, which is clearly aimed at topping the iPod Nano. If they wish to rid the world of iPod use, they could have, at the very least, make their player Mac compatible, which it isn't (oops! iPod:1, Sansa: 0). They also want people to give up their iPods and loyalty to the iTunes Music Store (the "iTatorship", as they childishly call it). Okay, suppose we do trade our iPods in favor of a decent player that isn't compatible with iTunes, or the hundreds of songs many iPod users have already legally downloaded from iTunes, are you going to replace our downloads with free ones from either Napster or Rhapsody? And since your player isn't compatible with the iTunes software, you got something better for us? ONLY then will you get our attention... but I didn't think so. One other thing I've noticed when viewing the side by side video of the Nano and the Sansa, I've noticed the Sansa took much, much, longer to boot up than the Nano (which starts up in a fraction of a second). I guess one of the biggest points I'm trying to make here is many companies fail to realize that it's not just about making a more feature-packed player. It's a lot more than that. There are other factors like, ergonomics, ease of use, compatibility (which I've explained already), flawless hardware/software integration (no other company has topped Apple in that regard to my knowledge), interface comprehensibility (only Creative Labs has been one on one with Apple in this regard), flexibility, etc, etc.

Now I'm not a blind Apple fanboy by any means and I never, EVER make purchasing decisions based on popular trends. I'd be more than willing to give up my iPod in favor of something better, but I haven't seen a viable alternative yet. After trying an enormous variety of MP3 players on the market, I found why so many people fall in love with their iPods. They are still tough players to beat. Its perfect integration with iTunes (still the best and easiest to use music management software on the planet... at least for Mac users), features, ease of use, and slick good looks makes the iPod a far better player than the competition. If this is an "iTatorship", then lock me up, whip me with barbed wire, and give me a much heavier ball and chain!

Are there any accessory kits that allow transfer from other media such as CF? I'm looking for a portable media player that can pull double duty as a photo storage device while travelling. Thanks for any info.

It's a nice device, I like it, but for me the size is very important, nano is half sized.
And well, no one can say now the iPod is expensive, it is just like other similar devices.

I think the video review is a million times better than reading.

I hear ya! Why is everyone so set on Apple??? Heck I have the Sansa 270 and my Rhapsody service works like a dream! Nice review and thanks!

WOW Dave I was going to buy a Nano and I never knew the Sansa packed such a punch. I must say I am going to get one now after watching this review. Keep up the great video reviews.

1) Right now there are 8 pre-selected genre E-Q settings under "Settings."

2) You can already create playlists on the fly.

3) If you choose a specific song to play and hit the "next" button, it goes to the next song alpha-numerically. Not the folder and not necessarily within the same album. Songs are alphabetized in the song mode.

4) Motion JPEG -- you need to use the Sansa conversion software that comes with the device and that, in turn, supports more than a half-dozen video formats.

5) The Sansa is already a Plays for Sure compliant device.


6) Prices: manufacturers suggested retail prices (MSRP) are $179.99 for the 2GB, $229.99 for the 4GB and $279.99 for the 6 GB.

7) Most FM modulators off the shelf will work.

8) Replaceable battery :)

Dave,

Nice review. It looks like a nice little player.

I have some questions:
1. EQ settings? What type? How many bands?
2. Ability to create playlists on the fly on the device (ie. On the go playlists on the iPod)?
3. If I choose a specific song to play from the song list, if I hit the next button..what happens?
4. Format of video?
5. Plays for Sure device?
6. Price?
7. Car accessories?