SanDisk Sansa m250 2 GB MP3 Player (Black)

I have abused this player like crazy. I used it while working in a machine shop, dropped it in the snow, and pretty much anything I can throw at it. I like the fact I can use AAA batteries, so I just buy the rechargable alkalines and it will run for about 2-3 days per battery.

My 2 complaints are the battery cover -- the tab broke easily -- but the whole player has a sleeve, so I've been able to work with it. Also, it doesn't always organize the music how you want it -- it indexes it by the order it is put on the player. Once you figure out its system, it is also workable.

For this price -- I don't mind using and abusing it -- and yet it stil holds up!

I gave it 3 stars because it is a good quality product, but it is not quite what I wanted and expected. This is my first mp3 player. I wanted one with an FM tuner to use at the gym to listen to the TV broadcasts while I'm on the treadmill. I have had it for a couple months now. The biggest annoyance is that there is no shuffle feature. I can put hundreds of songs on it, but every time I turn it on it starts from the beginning of the list. So if you like listening to the same dozen songs over and over or you want to take the time to reload it for every use, then this is for you. If I could jump through the tracks quickly it wouldn't be so bad, but even that is slow-going, and very annoying when you're in the middle of something. Also, it uses a single AAA battery, and it goes through one after just a few hours. I smartly bought rechargeable batteries to use in this player. If you don't, plan on spending lots of money on batteries.

I'll put up with this thing for a little while, but I'll eventially spend the extra $20 and get a 1 GB iPod nano.

I didn't know if I'd use an MP3 player much when I bought this device and I didn't want to spend too much. I've now owned it for over a year and I cannot live without it. I use it for listening to audio books, news and podcasts. I used to read about 12 - 15 books a year, but now -- because I can take this on walks, listen to it while I'm driving and traveling and doing errands -- I "read" about 50 books a year and have a more active lifestyle. It is easy to download books from Audible, or using the Playfor Sure technology I can download books from my local library. I chose this device over the more expensive iPod and other MP3 devices both for the Play for Sure feature (which means free books from my local library) but also because it uses a single AAA battery so I don't have to lug another charging device when I travel or try to remember to charge it before I go somewhere. I just have to carry a very small extra battery.

It has excellent quality and features for downloading and listening to books including the ability to flip through chapters, easily rewind or fast forward or hook up to speakers when I want to free myself from the earbuds.

I don't worry about damaging it or losing it becaue it's so inexpensive to replace. I don't worry about it getting stolen either. I have dropped it, banged it, gotten it wet, accidentally smeared lotions and cosmetics on it and I just throw it in my purse whereever I go. It's scratched and worn, but it still works like a charm. If I did lose it or break it, I'd probably get one just like it as a replacement because it works so well and 2 megs is plenty to carry 5 or 6 books, a few newscasts and podcasts, even some music.

There are two features I'd like to see on this device and I'd pay extra for them. 1) Bookmark feature so you can save a place (or preferrably multiple places) in a story electronically, and: 2) Sleep timer so the device goes off in a preset time - say 10 - 15 minutes. Given the reliability of this device, I'm confident those features will be available on this device or a similar one by the time I need a replacement.

This unit has worked woderfully well. I got may wife a 2GB SansaClip and she loves it, but said she like the lrger screen in this play. The clip is a bit handier. I also like that this unit has replaceable battery AAA size. I'm using a rechargabe. It is easy to operate even for clutses like me.

I got this player after my Creative Nano Plus got stolen. I need a player which allows me to pop in battery. Those players with built-in battery do not appeal to me, as many a times these battery flat out when you are outdoors.

There are reviews to say that there are noises in the music. This is not true, as music in 128 kb bitrate sounds good to my ears without noises as some people claim.

This player cannot play directly from folders but can playback by categories such as artistes, genre, album, year etc. I am using Windows Media to manage the songs in the player, did not install any software. Making playlist is cumbersome, unlike the Creative Mediasource which is easier.

On the whole, I recommend this player for its low cost and decent sound quality comparable with Creative Nano Plus. I am listening music in custom mode with all settings set at neutral (zero) with a pair of Crossroads Bijou 3, happy with the music so far.
This type of player will soon go extinct as players nowadays come with built-in battery. Grab it now or never.