SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB MP3 Player (Silver)

This is the second Sansa MP3 player that I have gotten. I owned a previous model for about two years and liked it, so I decided to upgrade to a newer model.

The Fuze is very similiar in software format to the older model Sansa. It's thinner like an IPOD. This one has a little bit of a design flaw, more irritating than anything. The places where you plug in the power cord and the headphones are both on the bottom, which makes it hard to unplug the power cord without having to unplug the earphones because you can't quit get a grip on the power cord without unplugging the ear phones. On my previous Sansa MP3 player, the earphones port was on the top of the device, so you didn't run into this problem.

I also was not exceptionally happy with the battery life. After full charging, I don't think I get nearly as much life on a battery charge as my earlier pre-Fuze Sansa. But its still several hours worth of listening time, so you just have to charge it a bit more frequently.

The rotating wheel takes a bit of getting use to, as there is not much grip on the wheel, as there was in the earlier model Sansa. But that's not really a knock on the Fuze, as most MP3 players have gone to this kind of feel on the rotating wheel.

Other than that its very functional. FM radio comes in clear. Video from what I can tell is clear, although I have not used that feature much. I do like the computer interface through Rhapsody, which is new. It's easier to write and upload stuff to the Fuze than the earlier, more cumbersome software.

For about 20 dollars, you can add a memory card, which will double the memory all the way to 16 GB (or more, I suppose, if you get a bigger card). So, basically for under 100 dollars I got a 16 gig MP3 player, which is really about the best deal around.

Considering price and functionality, I'd give it 4 stars out of 5. It is not uber-sleek but it is solid.

Player is amazing! It does everything I wanted and more. Extremely easy to use! I purchased this because it allows you to add music from your computer without having to pay a subscription! Thus, you can rip your own CDs and place them on your Fuze! PERFECT!

I received this as a gift from my wife, and have been quite pleased with the use I have gotten out of it. It's pretty easy to download data off of a computer. When you plug it in, you can access your Sansa files using Windows Explorer. I use Windows Media Player to create and move my own playlists over, and have dragged individual mp3 files using Explorer. The Sansa installation CD throws the "Sansa Media Center" on your desktop, but I dont even bother with it.
The radio works as good as can be expected-I pick up my favorite local stations easily, even in places my cell phone doesnt work. The battery seems to last longer if you keep the display as dim as possible; its still easy to read on that setting.
I picked up the DLO brand "Action Jacket" for the Fuze. Its kind of a pain accessing the power switch through the opening in the foam, but the arm band is sturdy, and you can plug in headphones easily.
Drawbacks? The directions are useless-better to grab a beverage and just start playing with it. And because its not an "i-Something," its harder to find accessories.
But then again, why carry the same thing as everyone else?

so far so good! the radio is a little off for the station I like to listen to but other than that its great! I would purchase it again!

I got this for my birthday in november and now in january, its still working! There were some reveiws that said it broke after a few days, but I think that if you got a iPod, sell it and buy this! I is better than the iPod, I love this MP3 player!!!!!!!!!