SAVE $74.69 - SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB Video MP3 Player (Black) $69.99

great look, questionable durability Since we already have 6 Sansa MP3 players (3 about 5 years old) and never had a problem with them, I was more than willing to put them on the top of the list for a small device that also supports video. The 8 GB Sansa Fuze has a great look and solid feel. It was recognized by both my Windows Vista and XP based computers. The software that reports the battery charge level was inaccurate, just like on my E280 and my Sansa Clips, but a firmware upgrade seemed to improve its reporting. Loading with music as simple. I use the basic drag and drop from Windows, while my son uses I-tunes, and both approaches work fine. The user interface is consistent with our Sansa Clips, so it is easy to understand, and audio playback was on par with the sansa clip. FM radio is a nice option and works fine. The scroll wheel is easy to use and provides a decent feel. On the negative side: The provided documentation was totally deficient. If were were not familiar with the device I think it would have been difficult to use some of the features. Some of the URL links listed in the documentation were not even valid. Finding the media converter software required a couple of web searches. The media converter software is yet another story. It would reject standard video formats such as the VOB from DVD (prior version of media converter supported it). I had to download freeware conversion programs to come up with a format that media converter would accept. Even then I was not able to convert videos of any length using this software. It would hang at a point in the process. Web searches identified commercial products that should allow you to convert DVD type video to the Fuze. I ended up using a freeware package and did dramatic compression of the original video and then running that through Sansa Media Converter to get video converted and loaded. However, the Fuze would periodically hang when playing the video. Video quality is what you would expect for a high compressed video on a low pixel count 1.9" sceen. The major issue that I have with the Fuze is the durability of the display. Our Fuze was just over 1 month old, kept in a protective Sansa rubber cover, and looked absolutly brand new. It fell from a desk to a carpeted floor, and the display was internally damaged. The exterior still looked perfect (not a scratch or scuff), but the majority of the display has a large blank 'ink spot' and another portion has scambled pixels. I contacted SanDisk and was informed that they do not offer repair and can not replace the device because it fell. So this device may not be suitable for a portable environment with the potential of impact/drop. The overall low rating was based on the documentation, Media converter, and durability question. Rating: 2 (D. Oscarson, 2010-02-06) Product reviewed: SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB Video MP3 Player (Black)

Extraordinary value in a very versatile, tiny unit. The Sansa Fuze is one heck of a device. I purchased the 4GB unit several months ago and have been totally satisfied with it. The 4GB unit has now replaced an XM receiver. With a 16GB card, you can load several thousand tunes, set it on shuffle and listen for days without a repeat (in theory, at least). Given the opportunity to snatch up an 8GB unit on sale, I didn't hesitate: I bought it. (I really wish they had a 16GB unit.) The Sansa Fuze handles video, has an FM radio, can be used as a voice recorder, audio book player, photo viewer and, of course, is a very competent MP3 player. In a pinch, you can also use it to store data. The unit is extremely compact and very light (2.2 x 1.5 x 0.6 inches and 2.1 ounces according to Amazon). Manufacturing quality is high. The audio out the 3.5mm jack is surprisingly full and even more surprisingly loud. The 1.9" is a wonder. Much to my delight, I just watched a movie on it and didn't find the small screen to be a handicap, which frankly astonished me. As supplied, the unit charges with the provided USB cable. Needless to say, external chargers are available as are composite video cables, auto chargers and a host of cases. The battery is not user replaceable. Sansa says you'll get 24 hours of audio and 5 hours of video. I haven't tested the unit to those extremes. One negative feature is that you cannot use the unit for audio or video playback when it is connected via the USB cable, so plan on charging it at night or whenever you're not planning on using the unit. The Fuze accepts microSDHC cards which means you can expand its capacity by 4GB or more. I have successfully tested it with 16 GB microSDHC cards. Sansa does a good job of resolving issues with the firmware. They also provide an easy-to-use converter for photos and video, though anyone familiar with the DivX and JPG formats can roll their own. Overall, this is a very nice little unit. The Fuze is really great as a low profile entertainment center. Very cool gadget. I suspect I will be purchasing at least one more to replace an XM unit in the car. Jerry Rating: 5 (Jerry Saperstein, 2010-02-05) Product reviewed: SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB Video MP3 Player (Black)

Decent for the price I wanted a basic mp3 player, I have a iTouch and dont want the extra features (apps) that it has. This is pretty basic and runs smoothly. Yet mine did lock up, froze, shut off at random times. I looked up the issue, and was told to update my firmware on the device, I did... and it fixed the problem. I have 0.7 and the current is 2.23 I believe. I found the interface to be decent. Yet when it comes to using rhapsody to utilize the device, its slow. Actually too slow in my opinion and thats why I took off 1 star. Rating: 4 (James Neal, 2010-02-04) Product reviewed: SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB Video MP3 Player (Black)

Great for listening to podcasts There are two very useful features for listening to podcasts on this device. The resume feature which will ask if you want to resume play where you left off and the speed feature so you can speed up the audio. I am completely satisfied with this product except for the ear buds. There are too big for me and I'm an average size woman. Rating: 4 (Catherine Rinaldo, 2010-02-03) Product reviewed: SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB Video MP3 Player (Black)

Excellent Product!!! This is my third MP3 in a long line of others from Sansa. This one far and away cleans up all the other sticking points and frustrations I experienced with of the older Sansa devices. The controls are much more solid than the earlier models. And I strongly recommend bypassing the the e-series and the 2GB clip and go to the head of the class with the the Fuze. Yes it's bigger and bulky somewhagt but all that music coupled with a Rhapsody subscription makes you in charge of your own radio station. Especially if you're genre-specific like me and there are no area radio stations that play your syle of music. Get a decent FM Transmitter with it and you're good to go! This is a real, value product for the money. Finally: one thing to help the music quality be sure to select in the Rhapsody the elevated bytes count for the music download. It makes the music so much better (Seal never sounded so good!) and with 8GB of memory the extra byte count per song is not that big of a hit if you stay up with your device updating!! Buy this! Rating: 5 (M. Henry, 2010-02-03) Product reviewed: SanDisk Sansa Fuze 8 GB Video MP3 Player (Black)