Are you really satisfied with your sansa?

[priell3]

Update -

I posted my reply to this thread over a year ago and I've now owned my E250 for 17 months and it is still going strong. I've since purchased a Sansa Fuze as my primary player and now use the E250 in my Jeep plugged into the Aux In port of the radio.

The E250 is running the latest firmware. I don't think I'll try RockBox - if it ain't broke, I'm not going to mess with it (for now ).

[CrowdAds]

[JeniSkunk]

I've owned my v1 e250 for 2 months now.
Overall I'd give it 7.5/10 - 8/10.
It is the third media player i've owned. Previous ones are: 64Mb Nokia 5510. 256Mb Creative Labs MuVo TXFM 256.

Pros:
It's easy to use on any of my systems that have the appropriate USB support.
User replaceable battery. This is one reason I really dislike the current crop of personal digital media players.
Works well even with my full size Sony headphones.
Well laid out controls.
Can run Rockbox

Cons:
The screen is very susceptible to viewing angle colour shifts when I'm trying to watch videos on it.
No actual Stop button. To stop music/radio, I have to go to the main menu, go into photo album, view a pic, and while viewing the pic press the centre button twice.
That it has to refresh database on EVERY powerup.
Still no official support for SDHC capacity MicroSD, despite the physical hardware having been confirmed to support SDHC.
Excessively bright, fixed brightness scroll wheel.
Inability to access any of the player's functions whilst it's hooked up to the computer.


Annoyances (not actual problems but rather things that could have been done better):
No dust/static cap for the data socket at the bottom of the player.
No dust cap for the MicroSD slot.
No clock whilst listening to music/radio.
Off-centre lanyard hole. It should have been on the centre-line of the player.

Jenifur Charne

[sansaguy]

if you installed Rockbox it would eliminate some of your cons namely the microSDHC support and the database refresh. I have an e250 as well and with Rockbox it makes the player that much better.

For me PAUSE=STOP

I don't know what you mean when you say that you can't access any of the players controls while having it plugged into your computer in the OF?. When mine is plugged into computer's usb I can do anything...listening to music, photos, listen to radio..?. What mode are you in... MSC or MTP..?.

[beteks]

I like my sansa, i was excited when i bought it, i couldn't stop scrolling the wheel because it lights up lol.

The only gripes i have with it is that the micro sd only takes 2gbs unless i use rockbox. rockbox has good sound but i really don't like the UI, it's not friendly as the OF, plus it has too many features that i don't use. I also like the gapless playback, it's good for my mixtapes.

the video quality is okay for Youtube videos and small videos but not for movies, the quality looks and sounds cheesy.

I kinda wish the headphone jack was at the bottom, i just prefer it that way.

also the screen is vunerable to scratches.

[ketsuki]

To be honest, I wanted to buy the Clip and the first place.

then my mom got me this.

but im gonna buy a clip soon anyway, so im giving this mp3 to my sister.

[beteks]

i would say the E200 is better for the features but if you are buying the Clip for it's small size then that's understandable.

[JeniSkunk]

Originally Posted by sansaguy

if you installed Rockbox it would eliminate some of your cons namely the microSDHC support and the database refresh. I have an e250 as well and with Rockbox it makes the player that much better.

For me PAUSE=STOP

I don't know what you mean when you say that you can't access any of the players controls while having it plugged into your computer in the OF?. When mine is plugged into computer's usb I can do anything...listening to music, photos, listen to radio..?. What mode are you in... MSC or MTP..?.

I installed Rockbox on my e250 shortly after making my post.
What I was getting at in my initial post in this thread was that via Rockbox, it's been clear for quite some time that the e200 v1 series hardware DOES support SDHC capacity cards. What is galling is that despite this being public knowledge, SanDisk are STILL to release an OF to enable SDHC support.
The database refresh hassle being fixed by Rockbox was a welcome surprise I'd not known of.

I'm old-school in how I regard certain things. To me, Pause is not the same as Stop.
Pause means temporarily halt playback, do not disengage playback mechanisms.
Stop means terminate playback, disengage playback mechanisms.

I have a v1 e250, pacific region firmware 01.02.24P.
Connecting the e250 in MSC mode to my WinXP computer, without a MicroSD card installed, the player shows up as a removable drive; only shows the 'Connected' screen; and ignores all buttons pressed on the unit.
Connecting the e250 in MSC mode to my WinXP computer, with a MicroSD card installed, the player and MicroSD card do not show up on my computer as a removable drives. I can access all the controls in OF though.

Jenifur Charne

[sansaguy]

Connecting the e250 in MSC mode to my WinXP computer, without a MicroSD card installed, the player shows up as a removable drive; only shows the 'Connected' screen; and ignores all buttons pressed on the unit.
Connecting the e250 in MSC mode to my WinXP computer, with a MicroSD card installed, the player and MicroSD card do not show up on my computer as a removable drives. I can access all the controls in OF though.

Jeni you should see 2 drive icons show up in WinXP regardless if the memory card is in or not...in MSC mode. One for the players internal drive and one for the microsd card slot with applicable drive letters. If you don't see this check that your version of WinXP is updated to at least service pack 2...(now SP3).

[JeniSkunk]

Originally Posted by sansaguy

Jeni you should see 2 drive icons show up in WinXP regardless if the memory card is in or not...in MSC mode. One for the players internal drive and one for the microsd card slot with applicable drive letters. If you don't see this check that your version of WinXP is updated to at least service pack 2...(now SP3).

I am running WinXP Professional SP2.

The WinXP not seeing my e250 when it has a MicroSD card installed before connecting it to the computer is behaviour I saw on my unit before putting Rockbox on it. So it's not new behaivour to me.
And I've read of the way that some users only partially connect the data cable to their e200 series, to allow it to charge, and also to be able to use it as a media player whilst charging. I always fully connect the data cable to my unit to avoid the risk of damaging the pins on the cable and on the unit itself.

When I connect the player to my computer, without a MicroSD card installed before connecting it to the computer, the unit does show up as 2 drives. The player itself as a removable drive, and an empty removable drive for the MicroSD slot.
When my player is connected to the computer this way, the player displays the 'Connected' screen whilst it charges, and totally ignores any buttons being pressed on it.

Jenifur Charne

[sansaguy]

When I connect the player to my computer, without a MicroSD card installed before connecting it to the computer, the unit does show up as 2 drives. The player itself as a removable drive, and an empty removable drive for the MicroSD slot.
When my player is connected to the computer this way, the player displays the 'Connected' screen whilst it charges, and totally ignores any buttons being pressed on it.

your player is working normally then Jeni...unfortunately not the solution you were looking for...sorry.

[JeniSkunk]

Originally Posted by sansaguy

your player is working normally then Jeni...unfortunately not the solution you were looking for...sorry.

No problems, Sansaguy.
It's why I mentioned the controls issue as a con in my initial post in this thread. I'd done the research on the issue when I got my e250, so I knew already, what the expected behaviour was supposed to be.
The real fix would have been for Sansa to have done a FLASH update, which gave the user a choice as to what mode the player is in when it's hooked up via its cable. Connected charging only, Connected + data transfer (current standard), Connected + media playback (as can be done via some of the docking hardware).

Overall though, I don't see myself needing to replace my e200 any time soon. It's simply too good a player in comparison to the other players readily available here in Australia. And with its user replaceable battery, the e200 has a potential life far longer than any of the current players which have hardwired batteries.

Jenifur Charne

[drkgeek]

When I first got mine, I was all hyped up! I was like, "this mp3 player is gonna be awesome!!" But when I actually got to using it I was kinda bummed. I mean the original firmware is so lame... So I looked up how to hack it and found rockbox! Now its the best god dammed MP3 player ever. (in my opinion)

[beteks]

hacking is a beautiful thing

[Oracle989]

I'm an iPod convert after I got my second one stolen, so I picked up an e260 on a friend's recommendation, and I have but two regrets. I can't use the music I bought over iTunes back when I still thought that was a good idea, and I took it camping with me and the faceplate is scratched to death. As both of these are of my own doing, I have no issues with the player.

[Zomby Woof]

Frankly, its the first and only Mp3 player I've owned so far, its the e250. I've had it about 1-1/2 yrs now. I'm happy with it. No problems at all. Only trouble I had was sometimes I had problems with the tracks not being on the player but the playlist was there, not the fault of the player. I had trouble with the micro SD card. But all I had to do was reformat it and that fixed it. I somehow wound up with directories I couldn't delete. Everything showed up fine on the Playlister software, but when I reformated the card, that fixed it.

[babya]

Yes, I love my e260:
-easy to replace the battery
-nice control system
-use it with Sony earphones insteasd of Sandisk stock earbuds (which I got rid of)

[WoodyWoodPecker]

I love mine so much esp after putting RockBox on it I bought more! E280

[Greed]

I <3 my Sansa soo much! I have had my Sansa 3 years now it's a e200 the first version I believe. I remember the first day I got it :P Oct 29, 2006! I remember when I first started using it I'll admit I wasn't used to it because it was my first mp3 I've ever owned and held in my own hands with MY music in it ^^. After awhile I did get a little bored of it :-\ and Googled up some stuff and came across Rockbox :0. I had No clue what it was..I downloaded it and followed the instructions on how to install it..but did a bad job >.> soo...I went to Youtube lol...I found some video and it led me to here Anythingbutipod . I did everything the video told me to do :P and got Rockbox to work. I also Painted the back of my Sansa cause I got bored of the look on the back, I painted it white. Now I'm hopping on doing the chrome polish thing I found on here! This site is full of great Idea's! I'm glad I found this site! Thxs you guys!!

Anyways yes I am satisfied with my Sansa <3

[advcomp2019]

Yea, Rockbox makes the e200 series a whole new player. Rockbox will not get boring since it is being worked on every day, and you do not know when there is an updated till there is an update.

[beteks]

Originally Posted by Greed

I <3 my Sansa soo much! I have had my Sansa 3 years now it's a e200 the first version I believe. I remember the first day I got it :P Oct 29, 2006! I remember when I first started using it I'll admit I wasn't used to it because it was my first mp3 I've ever owned and held in my own hands with MY music in it ^^. After awhile I did get a little bored of it :-\ and Googled up some stuff and came across Rockbox :0. I had No clue what it was..I downloaded it and followed the instructions on how to install it..but did a bad job >.> soo...I went to Youtube lol...I found some video and it led me to here Anythingbutipod . I did everything the video told me to do :P and got Rockbox to work. I also Painted the back of my Sansa cause I got bored of the look on the back, I painted it white. Now I'm hopping on doing the chrome polish thing I found on here! This site is full of great Idea's! I'm glad I found this site! Thxs you guys!!

Anyways yes I am satisfied with my Sansa <3

great to hear that