San Disk Sansa e200r

Product: MP3/Video/FM Radio/Photo Viewer
Capacity: 8GB Model (Expandable with Micro SD)
Cost: $199.99
Purchased At: Best Buy


I found this little gem of an MP3 player at Best Buy when I was doing extensive searching for just the right one. Believe me, when I put over 6 months into finding a product, I'm serious about it being just what I want. By comparison, I took just two months deciding on what new car to buy.


It's a compact player if there ever was one. Roughly the size of a credit card, it has a 1.8" TFT screen with over 250,000 colors. It plays video flawlessly - even going so far as to rotate the image for the best fit on the display. As for weight, it has a noticeable gravity in your hand. While not "heavy" by definition, it does feel sturdy when you hold it.


The device is pretty simple to figure out, though some of the less-technical folks out there may need a few tries to get the video conversion going. Once you figure it out, there's nothing tough about it. Fortunately, simplicity is the name of the game for this little gizmo.


Navigation & volume control are shared by a rotating wheel on the face that has a nice blue glow - similar to the Nintendo Wii's. It's perfectly responsive & it's raised just above the surrounding buttons. I've found this makes it much better for listening as you're not too likely to skip or pause by accident.


As for charging, it has an internal Lithium battery which can be replaced if needed. There's no bulky adapter or switching out to charge a 2^nd battery - you just connect the USB cable to your computer, plug in the unit & it charges up, quickly.


This one's available in 2GB, 4GB, 6GB models as well. For my money, I'd recommend the 6GB or 8GB. They're only $20 more than the 4GB & 6GB models, respectively.


Overall, it's an excellent player. The included CD installs quickly & without difficulty. The design was centered around ease of use, even for relatively new functions like video playback & radio recording. If you're in the market for a new player, the Sansa is definitely worth a listen.