SanDisk quietly entered the digital audio scene last winter with their affordable “Digital Audio Player” line. Two more dirt cheap, feature-filled products later (the Sansa e100 and m200 series) and SanDisk sits in second place behind Apple in the DAP market. Joining the newly released Sansa c100 players are the e200’s, SanDisk’s first serious entry into the “high-end” DAP market, and at the time of the review the highest capacity flash player on the market (6 GB).
The Sansa e260 (4 GB) is the subject of the following review. The e250 and e270 (2 & 6 GB respectively) are identical aside from capacity.
Specifications
* 2/4/6 GB of flash memory
* 1.8” color TFT color screen (220 x 176 pixels)
* MP3, WMA, and WMA-DRM support
* Photo and video playback (using Sansa Media Converter)
* 7 Equalizer presets
* 20 hour battery life with user-replaceable lithium battery
* MicroSD expansion slot
* FM radio and recording
* Voice recording
* USB 2.0 for data transfer with proprietary cable
* Usable on a variety of operating systems as MSC or MTP device
Review by CNET
Memory goliath SanDisk continues its assault on the flash-based MP3 player market with the
CES launch of the flagship Sansa e200 series, along with the budget-class Sansa c100 series. The SanDisk Sansa e200 series represents a departure from previous Sansa players, thanks to a higher-quality form factor and a bushel of cutting-edge features such as photo and video support, music-subscription compatibility, a user-removable battery, a MicroSD expansion slot, and a tactile Click Wheel-type controller system. The e200 comes in 4GB ($230) and 2GB ($180) varieties, as well as the flagship 6GB version ($280), the last of which is known currently as the highest-capacity flash-based player in the world. While the e200 still doesn’t match the iPod Nano in design flair and simplicity, it is definitely a premium choice when it comes to a compact flash-based MP3 player, with more features and a better price point than its main competitor. The e200 does have a few negative points, but its biggest hurdle will be convincing consumers that the 6GB version, just $20 less than bulkier 30GB players like the iPod and Zen Vision:M, is still a good value.
Review by engadget.com
A couple of years ago this would have sounded crazy, but SanDisk, which is probably best known for flash drives and memory cards, just put out one of the best MP3 players on the market. Yeah, I know, I’m just as surprised as you are, but after spending a few weeks with the new 4GB Sansa e260, part of SanDisk’s new Sansa e200 series, I’m going to be sorry to send this one back. The e260 isn’t without its faults, but if you’re looking for a solid alternative to the iPod, and haven’t been so fired up by the latest models from Creative, Samsung, et al. (or are still in mourning for Rio), then you should do yourself a favor and check this one out. Or at least keep reading the rest of this review.
Review by TrustedReviews
I was asked a question in the forums towards earlier this month about when the next generation of iPods would appear. It is a question every tech journo on the planet would like to know, but the simple answer is it better be soon because the opposition has suddenly jumped ahead.
Interestingly, the ‘opposition’ in question comes from an unlikely source. SanDisk is a company more traditionally associated with flash memory (it has manufacturing rights over every standard), but recently it has drummed up attention with its extensive advertising and eye catching ‘un-iPod’ campaign. If you’re going to slag off the Feline Obsessed White Fetish however you better have something pretty special up your sleeve and thankfully it does.
The new Sansa e200 series is a direct bitch slap to the iPod nano. It comes in three sizes: 2GB – e250; 4GB – e260 and 6GB – e270 and to say it borrows extensively from the uber-popular little player’s styling would probably be like saying Oasis found some musical inspiration from the Beatles. Unlike the mono-browed Mancunians however, the e260 that I have been testing for the last two weeks is far more than a pale imitation. In fact, it batters its illustrious competitor in nearly ever area.
Review by LetsGoDigital
SanDisk Sansa e260 MP3 player : SanDisk introduced its top-of-the-line SanDisk Sansa e260 MP3 player with a large color screen and 4GB of storage capacity that makes it ideal for listening to music or viewing photos and personal videos. The SanDisk e260 MP3 player was unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, U.S.A. “Music is an incredibly important part of the digital lifestyle, where the emphasis is on accessibility of music, styling and ruggedness on the go,” said Eric Bone, director of audio/video product marketing at SanDisk. “This new player has a rich set of features, a high-strength industrial design and a friendly price tag that we believe will appeal to anyone who appreciates music on the go.”
Review by PCMAG
The SanDisk Sansa e260 is a seriously sexy MP3 player that represents a very strong effort on SanDisk’s part to compete in the premium market against Apple’s iPod nano. The e260 is a 4GB flash-based player (also available in 2GB and industry-first 6GB configurations) with tons of extra features, a microSD slot, an impressively stylish design, PlaysForSure support, and a user-replaceable battery. The e200-series players are also a bit cheaper than their Apple counterparts. The Sansa’s drawbacks have to do with the controls and playlisting features, and although it is technically capable of connecting to both Macs and PCs, the cross-platform experience isn’t one I can recommend. The e260’s combination of features, style, performance, ease of use, and price make this the best non-Apple player out there. But the overall user experience—meaning navigation, cross-platform software/hardware integration, and ease of use—isn’t quite as smooth as that of its chief rival.
You may be the one to comment first. Please leave your message below.