SanDisk unveiled today its newest flash-based MP3 player, the Sansa Fuze. Set to be released early next month, the player is available in 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB capacities, with prices starting at $79.99. The Fuze features an FM radio, microSD card slot, voice recorder, and 1.9-inch color screen that can play videos in landscape mode.
The Fuze is can be used with such music subscription services as Rhapsody To Go, Napster, and eMusic, and supports MP3, WAV, Audible, WMA, MPEG-4, JPEG file types. The player is compatible with the XP, Vista, Mac, and Linux OSes (the latter two under MSC mode). According to Sandisk, the device's rechargeable battery should give you up to 24 hours of audio and five hours of video playback.
Set for release in April, the Fuze will run $79.99, $99.99, and $129.99 for the 2GB, 4GB, and 8GB models, respectively. The 2GB model is available in black; 4GB in black, red, pink, or blue; and 8GB in silver.
Customers in Europe and Canada will be able to pick up the player later this spring.
Poised to take on the iPod nano, the Fuze improves on Apple's player by dropping the price and adding a microSD slot for memory and the usual slew of non-iPod features including an FM tuner and voice recorder. The Sandisk rep we spoke with also hinted that, while the MSRPs for the devices are set, the company like strike deals with retailers, so finding them for even cheaper shouldn't be an issue.
The Fuze joins Sandisk existing line of Sansa players, including the video-centric View on the Click, which offers competition for Apple's low-end Shuffle.
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March 13, 2008 4:38 PM
I challenge you to use this or ANY other portable music player with your eyes closed. The companies that design these gadgets have no consideration for users with poor visual acuity or physical dexterity. The lowly old cassette player is low tech and hoplessly outdated but is more functional and much easier to use.
March 15, 2008 1:16 PM
Hmm. Reminds me of... (this one's tough) AN iPOD. Sellout?
I own a 2GB Express and have a Kensington 2GB SD appended to that. I can't upgrade firmware for fears of losing compatibility with the SD, but the thing has SO MANY GLITCHES I'm thinking of burning the damn thing. Sansa needs some good 'ol TLC in its quality control dpt. If I do burn it or accidentally run it over, I won't buy a new one.
Owned a Rio, worked great but was *way* too fragile
Owned an iRiver, was the best, most trouble-free player I've come across.
May 7, 2008 1:21 PM
I love my Fuze. I got it from the Sansa store (www.shopsansa.com) and I haven't had any problems with it at all, and I think this MP3 player is really easy to use. No glitches here. I especially love all of the cool features that other MP3 players are missing, including the ability to play the radio and the expansion capability.
May 13, 2008 2:10 AM
I think Sansa players were improved a lot lately. I just got Sansa Fuze . I like the players for the option to boost the capacity. I have so many songs that it's just great to keep them at one place.