SanDisk Sansa e250 2 GB MP3 Player with microSD Expansion Slot (Black)
by SanDisk
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List Price: Our Price: $72.99 You Save: $127.00 (64%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $32.00 (click here) Category: Network Media Player See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of SanDisk Sansa e250 2 GB MP3 Player with microSD Expansion Slot (Black)
Customer Review: Ease of Use
Summary: 5 Stars
After countless moments spent on the Internet, researching and price-comparing mp3 players, I decided to buy the SanDisk Sansa e250 2 GB MP3 Player with microSD Expansion Slot. The mp3 player had a few features that helped me make the decision to buy it.
First of all, the player can download from various sources. This was a great advantage because some mp3 players do not have that option (i.e. Apple's Ipod and Microsoft's Zune). I don't want to be limited in where I can purchase my music. I use Rhapsody and my own music CDs, but I have the option of getting music downloads from amazon.com and Yahoo! Music.
Another feature is the expansion slot, which will allow me to put more than 2 gbs of music in the player should I need or want to do that. That feature also allowed me to buy an mp3 player at a reasonable price rather than spend more money on a 4 or 8 gb player.
Furthermore, the Sansa e250 mp3 player was very easy to use - right out of the box. Sometimes, I can be totally inept at using certain electronic devices, and, naturally, I was hesitant to buy an mp3 player simply because I thought I wouldn't be able to tackle the usability of it. I didn't need to consult the manual when I removed the mp3 player from the box (I did, however, read the manual later, but not because it was necessary). I turned it on and played with all the buttons, options, and features. Then, I charged it. [If you haven't bought the wall charger yet, I highly recommend it because it is well worth the cost. I bought the travel charger and auto charger in a bundle, for it was less expensive than buying each one separately.]
When I plugged the Sansa e250 mp3 player into the docking station, I was able to put music into it without difficulty. Everything is explained, especially in Rhapsody. Simply drag and drop the songs into the e250 player that is listed in the left-hand column of the Rhapsody screen. Currently, I'm importing a Tracy Chapman CD (Where You Live) into Rhapsody, and, later, I will put the music into the player.
During a recent power outage, I plugged my Sansa e250 mp3 player into a portable speaker system and listened to my music for the 3-hour stretch of time that the electricity was out. The battery lasts quite a long time.
You can stop window-shopping and price-comparing now. This is the mp3 player for you. You can even put videos and photos on it (haven't tried that yet, though).
Customer Review: give your media player a boost
Summary: 5 Stars
I got the e250 factory refurbished for $30 (from another site in Nov2007) and it is everything I thought it would be. I have used this player before and liked it, but I didn't want to pay $100+ retail price for it because of the following CONS:
* Does not support many media formats
* Requires proprietary conversion software (SanDisk Media Converter) to get any videos or photos (and some music) to work on the player.
* The blue scroll wheel is bright and gets annoying quickly
* The position of the wheel and buttons is not comfortable/ergonomic. This is a general problem with ALL similar players on the market. Try turning your player upside down in your hand -- isn't it much easier to use the wheel and buttons now? It is for me.
* There were no accessories at all for this player when it came out. The situation is better now, but with so many products it is hard to choose and buy them online (just look at the forums here).
So why did I buy it? Because 1) I came across the refurb sale (mentioned above) which had good reviews and comments regarding 2) an open source software called Rockbox as alternative to the built-in software. If you are not technically challenged, I highly recommend you install Rockbox (dot org) because of the following PROS:
* Supports many media formats (mpeg, jpeg, 15 sound codecs)
* Does not require any format conversion (unless you want to resize your video to the screen size or aspect ratio)
* Lets you turn off the blue light behind the scroll wheel (or configure how long it takes to turn off automatically)
* Turn the screen upside down, so holding the player can be more comfortable
* Comes with many additional applications and games (you can now play Doom on your Sansa!)
* Highly customizable (supports much more than the original software, including themes, multiple presets and configurations, etc)
* Open source (with frequent updates and enhancements)
So far I only found one (documented and hopefully soon-to-be-fixed) problem -- it doesn't support MSC mode. You have to restart the player into the original software (by holding LEFT button when starting up) for transferring files.
To summarize -- the player is good and the software can be upgraded to good. Highly recommended.
Customer Review: very happy
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been looking for an MP3 player for awhile now, and after doing some research, I decided the Sansa product was what I was looking for. I loved the fact that it offered the FM radio and the voice recording (for those random thoughts you have, but need to remember) and Sansa was one of the few MP3's that has either option, yet alone both. It has a great small, sleek design that is easy to hold. I went ahead and bought a travel kit for it, and when it's in the leather holder, the buttons and wheel are a little difficult to maneuver sometimes, but I don't really consider that a hindrance to the product...I'd rather have it be protected, and it just takes me a few extra split seconds to do what I want. For the price I paid, this has been a fantastic product. It has a great sound, and is very easy to operate. The instructions on how to set up a playlist and download videos and music were extremely simple (this is my first MP3 player so I was a little worried about being able to do that). The only complaint that I really have is that it hasn't been easy to find many products that are compatible with it in the stores. Trying to find a travel kit and adaptor for it weren't easy despite going to multiple stores...I wound up having to buy both online after not being able to find what I wanted, so it was kind of a pain to have to pay shipping costs for something that wasn't very expensive and then wait a few days, but I'm happy I got the accessories. My next purchase will be a docking station and some nice speakers, but I'll hold off on those for awhile, because they really operate with any kind of speakers you may have; as long as the speakers have a 3.5mm plug, they'll work. I'm using some old computer speakers for the time being, and they work just fine. So, overall, I'm extremely pleased with the product. With the other major MP3 players out there, I really think you're paying for the "name" only and you don't get as much bang for your buck, so to speak. I bought my nephew an IPOD Nano for Christmas and to be honest, I love mine a lot more, and the IPOD cost 90 bucks more, but doesn't have anywhere near the same number of features. The only advantage I think they have is that you can find more accessories in the stores, but again, you're paying for the name.Customer Review: Forget iPod!
Summary: 5 Stars
For those of you who want a GOOD mp3 player without having to spend a fortune on iPods, I highly recommmend the Sansa Sandisk e250. This was my first mp3 player and I am highly impressed.
Item is light, compact, and easy to operate. Screen is incredibly clear. Sound is amazing. And video quality is also impressive. The e250 holds not only songs, but can record voice with clear playback, has an FM tuner and the option of recording songs from the radio station, it stores videos and photos, and accepts every major song format (except for protected files).
The battery lasts a very long time without having to be recharged (provided you don't have the screen lit 24/7). The scroller makes it easy to change between menus if you don't like the buttons instead. And if you decide later that you need more space for songs, the e250 comes with an expansion slot where you can plug in an extra memory card.
Songs synch to the device just like they do on an iPod. Using Windows Media Player, you can organize your songs according to album, genre, artist, and title. If you are absolutely new to downloading songs onto an mp3 player, you'll need to just explore and tinker with Windows Media Player. It's not hard to figure out; it just requires you to actually READ the instructions.
There aren't many accessories for the e250 yet and that is mostly due to the fact that it's a fairly new model (I hope). The only way to charge it is to plug it into the USB cable and connect it to your computer or laptop. Charging takes only approximately 30 minutes, depending on how drained the battery is. The package comes with a small velt pouch to keep the mp3 player in. It's not a heavy duty protector, but keeps your screen from getting scratched.
All in all, the e250 is a surprisingly great and fairly undiscovered mp3 player that I personally think could kick iPod's butt in a fight any day. Many of my friends have paid $200+ for iPods that constantly need repair and have only HALF the features of a Sansa e250. I paid $99 for my Sansa and have had NO problems, NO repairs, and NO complaints. It's a great mp3/video player. Enjoy. :)
Customer Review: Affordable, sleek alternative to the iPod
Summary: 5 Stars
The Sansa e250 (2gb mp3, fm player) is an excellent alternative to the wildly exaggerated Apple iPod. In my opinion, Sandisk has done a great job in creating a sturdy, attractive, user-friendly and feature-laden music player for everyone of all ages. It has a bright screen, a nice scroll wheel with an attractive blue illumination, a logical menu layout, and it sports an attractive, glossy cover.
I don't know about you, but when I look for an mp3 player, I'm not just looking for looks, I'm looking for something that will last. I've gone through many el-cheapo, generic mp3 players that I shouldn't have, until I stumbled upon the Sansa e250. It is the perfect companion to take with you to the gym (with the armband, of course) or on the road with you (be sure to get the Satechi FM transmitter which is absolutely essential, in my view).
Just because it isn't an iPod doesn't mean it's sub-par. In fact, the iPod is all hype and overpriced. The Sansa e250 is the perfect mp3 player loaded with the essentials, including a microSD expansion slot (not microsdHC).
I really have no major complaints, but nothing is created without minor imperfections. The loading time for creating a music library on the player once you have a memory card plugged in can get a little long (maybe up to 30 seconds depending on how much you've filled it). There is a firmware upgrade which seems to help with that issue, however. Also, don't expect to be playing full-length movies on this little player, as it won't handle that. It seems to be more comfortable playing smaller video files.
If you're having connectivity issues, try switching the USB mode from MSC to MTP (or vice versa). And if you're trying to transfer playlists from Windows Media Player, be sure it's in MTP mode, and just sync your playlist to the Sansa e250. It's that easy.
Pair this up with a Satechi FM transmitter made specifically for Sansa media players and you've got a media library in your car that will satiate your music cravings.