I need a new MP3 player

[Yes]

I need a new MP3 player to replace my old iPod, but since iPods are rather expensive I was wondering if anyone had any experience with the alternatives. I'd like it to be able to play videos and have at least 8 Gb space. So far my best bet seems to be the SanDisk Sansa Fuze (http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Item(2615)-SDMX14R-008GS-A70-SanDisk_Sansa_Fuze_MP3_Player_8GB__Silver.aspx), as it meets both my requirements and is still relatively cheap and has Linux support.

So, does anyone have any suggestions?

[Kingsley]

Hey, I have a Sansa e280. The players works just fine with Linux, but you have to use some program on Windows to get videos on it.

I'm curious about the new Sansa Fuze, so I looked it up. Besides a nicer look, I don't see any features that are much better than the e200 serious. Check out this snippet from ABI's review.

http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2008/03/sandisk-sansa-fuze-review.php


If you are looking for good video support, look elsewhere. Video playback on the Fuze is equivalent to the e200 where as it is more of a “bonus feature”. Granted it is a big improvement over the e200, but the Fuze’s low power processor requires the video format to be rather bloated. The format used is a 20FPS DivX format (http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/showthread.php?t=27460) at the 224x176 screen resolution which takes about 6MB per minute of video, so typical movies will approach 1GB each. Conversion is also the issue. It is easy with the provided software, Sansa Media Converter, but it does take time.


It's not explicitly stated, but I'm guessing the only way to get video on the Sansa Fuze is through Sansa Media Converter on Windows.

[cardinals_fan]

How about the Sansa Fuze: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=724380

I wouldn't watch videos on such a small screen anyway.

[init1]

The PSP plays MP3s and works fine in Linux. It's definitely overkill if you only need it for music though.

[jcconnor]

I've a couple of Sansa's - View for me and a c2XX for my kid - both work great with Linux in MSC mode (looks like a USB drive). It's a little wonky getting into that mode but it's drag and drop after that.

To the other poster that said you have to have a windows program to put videos on it - not true. I convert my vids with ConvertIT - http://www.sciallo.net/ConvertIT - set to portable but it performs many, many functions. Works great and then it's just drag and drop after that.

[fluteflute]

I've never owned a Sansa but if you get a 'SanDisk Sansa c200, e200 and e200R series' then you can use RockBox on it, which is similar to linux for mp3 players (except its not linux). I use it on my iRiver player.

http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/WhyRockbox

[akiratheoni]

If you're willing to branch out of a Sansa player and try something different, the Cowon D2 is the best player I've tried. It has a touchscreen and 8GB expandable with SD cards and works 100% in Windows AND Linux (it's detected as a mass storage device so it's simply drag and drop). I'm no audiophile but I've heard that the sound quality is amazing (i wouldn't really know, lol). It also supports MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, and FLAC... and more.

[grossaffe]

I've never owned a Sansa but if you get a 'SanDisk Sansa c200, e200 and e200R series' then you can use RockBox on it, which is similar to linux for mp3 players (except its not linux). I use it on my iRiver player.

http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/WhyRockbox

love rockbox. got it on my e200

just a warning, if you plan on using rockbox on a sandisk product, watch out for the "v2"s, as they have different hardware and do not have rockbox support as of yet.

[jeffus_il]

Yes, go for anything that Rockbox runs on. Try their site to see what hardware they support.
http://www.rockbox.org/
and of course, it's Open Source.

[helliewm]

Not strictly an MP3 player but I use my Nokia N800

http://www.nseries.com/products/n800/#l=products,n800ttp://

You can pick them for £130 ish on ebay. Cheaper than buying new.


Helen

[graabein]

Take a look at Cowon's iAudio and stuff.

[macogw]

Take a look at Cowon's iAudio and stuff.

Yep, my 4GB iAudio 7 was $130. I think the 8GB are around $150 or $160.

[bobbocanfly]

+1 on the Sandisk Sansa

I bought a Sansa e280 (8gb) and put Rockbox on it. Rockbox gives you Ogg Vorbis and Flac support and you can also play Doom, which impresses randoms on the bus.

[Yes]

Ok, now I'm trying to decide between the Cowon iAudio (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855228011) or the SanDisk Sansa Fuze (http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Item(2615)-SDMX14R-008GS-A70-SanDisk_Sansa_Fuze_MP3_Player_8GB__Silver.aspx). I'm leaning towards the Sansa Fuze, because as far as I can see it has everything the iAudio has, plus a bigger screen and a smaller price. What do you all think?

[grossaffe]

Ok, now I'm trying to decide between the Cowon iAudio (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855228011) or the SanDisk Sansa Fuze (http://www.sandisk.com/Products/Item(2615)-SDMX14R-008GS-A70-SanDisk_Sansa_Fuze_MP3_Player_8GB__Silver.aspx). I'm leaning towards the Sansa Fuze, because as far as I can see it has everything the iAudio has, plus a bigger screen and a smaller price. What do you all think?
Well, i love the sansa line of mp3 players, but i also love me some rockbox. It looks like rockbox is already built for the iaudio, but i don't know if they've even started on the fuze.

[Yes]

How long does it normally take for Rockbox to add support for new MP3 players? I'd rather not buy the iaudio just to have Rockbox report, only to have Sansa Fuze support be added in a few months.

[grossaffe]

How long does it normally take for Rockbox to add support for new MP3 players? I'd rather not buy the iaudio just to have Rockbox report, only to have Sansa Fuze support be added in a few months.

it'll take a quite awhile if it ever even happens. they have many different platforms their working on getting a port for, and i don't think the fuze is one of them. they're still working on getting the sansa v2s working.

[nick09]

it'll take a quite awhile if it ever even happens. they have many different platforms their working on getting a port for, and i don't think the fuze is one of them. they're still working on getting the sansa v2s working.

They are still making them.

See here:
http://www.rockbox.org/tracker/task/8843

[Yes]

Actually it seems that the iaudio7 hasn't been ported yet. So now I'm thinking about the Sansa e280 - it's supported by Rockbox and has everything I need, so it seems good. This (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855125017) isn't a V2, right?

e: Or since it seems the Fuze port will shortly follow the V2 port, should I just get the Fuze and wait a few months for the port?

[andrewabc]

e: Or since it seems the Fuze port will shortly follow the V2 port, should I just get the Fuze and wait a few months for the port?

I have a sansa view. It works good, my first mp3 player.
Sansa view has been out since september 2007, but still not rockbox compatible.

When purchasing a sansa product wait for it to go on sale. I got my 8gb sansa view for $100, when the manufacturer price was $150 (and some retailers were selling it for more).

EDIT:
Doesn't look supported yet
http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/SansaView

[grossaffe]

Actually it seems that the iaudio7 hasn't been ported yet. So now I'm thinking about the Sansa e280 - it's supported by Rockbox and has everything I need, so it seems good. This (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855125017) isn't a V2, right?

e: Or since it seems the Fuze port will shortly follow the V2 port, should I just get the Fuze and wait a few months for the port?

its difficult to tell if that's a v2. but I think the price tag on that is a little high for an e280. i would look elsewhere for a better deal. check www.woot.com often, as they have sansa players from time to time. I would check to make sure they are v1s, however, if rockbox is what you are truly after. just a warning about rockbox on sandisk products, is that it does not get as good a battery life as the original firmware. you can always dual-boot, so its not like you have to choose one to keep, though.

and from what i see, it looks like they haven't even begun on collecting data for the fuze. it looks like they're working on the view, though.

[Pethegreat]

If you're willing to branch out of a Sansa player and try something different, the Cowon D2 is the best player I've tried. It has a touchscreen and 8GB expandable with SD cards and works 100% in Windows AND Linux (it's detected as a mass storage device so it's simply drag and drop). I'm no audiophile but I've heard that the sound quality is amazing (i wouldn't really know, lol). It also supports MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, and FLAC... and more.
I second that. The headphone amp in it is amazing. It is worth the $135 I paid for mine off of ebay. Add in a 4gb card for $20, so the total comes to about $160 for a touch screen player that works out of the box with linux and play ogg and flac.

[macogw]

Actually it seems that the iaudio7 hasn't been ported yet. So now I'm thinking about the Sansa e280 - it's supported by Rockbox and has everything I need, so it seems good. This (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855125017) isn't a V2, right?

e: Or since it seems the Fuze port will shortly follow the V2 port, should I just get the Fuze and wait a few months for the port?
iAudios support Ogg out of the box, which is the only use for Rockbox...so, why do you need Rockbox? They're advertised as Ogg and Linux compatible, so IMO, voting with your wallet means buying the one made by a company who strives to work for our community, not against it.

[grossaffe]

iAudios support Ogg out of the box, which is the only use for Rockbox...so, why do you need Rockbox? They're advertised as Ogg and Linux compatible, so IMO, voting with your wallet means buying the one made by a company who strives to work for our community, not against it.

Rockbox has plenty of uses. fully customizable While Playing Screen, Games (tons of games), video playback (for those MP3 players that don't already have it built into their official firmware), Open Source (that's a big deal around here, isn't it?), other miscellaneous applications (the calculator is a big help when i forget my own; it does trig functions)... Rockbox is the greatest thing to hit the MP3 player market since the concept of competition.

edit: oh, and i forgot to mention; I was looking at the various sansa players they were currently working on rockbox port for and looked at the information on them. Apparently the Sansa Connect was built on a Linux Kernel. Just thought it was interesting.

[SyL]

I've got a Archos Gmini 20Go since almost 2 years and i'm totaly satisfy.
The only negative point Archos does not support OGG ...

[3rdalbum]

The Sony Walkmans are excellent MP3 players, but you need Blacklight in order to load them with video. Also, I believe you still have to manually mount them in Hardy - it's a bug in Ubuntu Hardy.

The sound quality, especially the lack of distortion even with the bass turned right up, is brilliant. There's no Rockbox port and no Ogg/Flac support. But it's a good, solid player with good sound, good battery life, and great build quality.

[pedro_orange]

To the OP:
Let us know what you decide to get and how it goes.
I'm currently in the market for a decent mp3 player that I can use to listen to my music (mostly in ogg format) - currently moving towards iAudio (Since I don't care about videos)

However, another thing I'd like to be able to do is to listen to it in my car. I have a CD changer in the back and I right can't be bothered to open the boot, and change my CDs. So I'm ideally looking for a player that does something similar to that thing you put in an iPod that broadcasts it as a Radio Station only attainable in your car.
(The tape things are rubbish and can break your tape drive I heard?)

Altho it's not a deal breaker, cause I don't mind listening to Terry Wogan on the way to work :)

[Yes]

I've decided on the Sansa Fuze. Rockbox seems cool but it doesn't seem like I would use many of it's features.

I should get it in a few days, I'll try to remember to post back with my thoughts.