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The SanDisk Sansa View is the update to the critically acclaimed Sansa E200 Series line of flash based media players. Falling squarely in direct competition with the iPod Nano the Sansa View offers a similar screen size, resolution and format playback. SanDisk distinguishes the Sansa View with a larger screen, more features, much higher capacity, and compatibility with more formats.

Pros & Cons

Pros:
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Great GB/$ ratio
+19agreedisagree

MicroSD/SDHC expansion slot
+16agreedisagree

Large screen size without being bulky
+13agreedisagree

Mechanical wheel's tactile feedback is satisfying
+8agreedisagree

No drivers needed - drag & drop supported
+8agreedisagree

Very light weight
+5agreedisagree

Good video format compatibility
+2agreedisagree

Using a SanDisk Audio/TV Cable, it Plays videos on external external monitors (Beamer, TV...).
+2agreedisagree

Cons:
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No DivX support
+7agreedisagree

No way to cycle quickly through long song lists.
+4agreedisagree

Unable to create/edit playlists away from PC
+3agreedisagree

Large for a flash-based media player
+3agreedisagree

No tailored accessories market, just universal stuff
-1agreedisagree

Competing products

SanDisk Sansa View is ranked 3rd.  See the top picks in MP3 Players

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More information

Looking at the View it's easy to see that it shares a lot with the iPod Nano in terms of overall look. The big circle on the front of the player is a mechanical scroll wheel reminiscent of the wheel found on first generation iPods. Sansa takes design cues from later generation iPods as well, and makes the wheel clickable for explicit music controls such as play and pause. The screen on the Sansa is the same resolution as the Nano's, 320x240, but is actually the same size as the iPod Classic's screen, 2.4 inches.

Features

  • 2.4" LCD, 320 x 240 resolution
  • Video support: MPEG4, WMV, h.264 (at 30 fps)
  • Only JPEG image support
  • MicroSDHC slot
  • FM Tuner
  • Voice recorder
  • Models: 8 GB - $149, 16 GB - $199 32 GB - $350
  • battery life: audio - 30 hours, video - 6 hours

At 32GB of flash memory the View has one of the highest storage capacities in this level of players. The amount of storage can be further increased through the player's integrated MicroSD slot. The player is compatible with Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) cards that max out at 16GB making total possible storage come in at 48GB. Photos, music and video can all be stored and played on the View with the most popular file formats supported.

For video playback MPEG4, WMV, and h.264 formats are all supported at a full 30 frames per second. While the iPod has iTunes, the View works with subscription based services such as Napster and Rhapsody. Image files are limited to JPEG. SanDisk has stated they'll update the firmware to support new formats over time. Photos and videos can be viewed with the player in the normal upright position, or in landscape mode for widescreen viewing.

Other features that set the Sansa View apart from the Nano are the FM tuner with 20 presents, and an integrated voice recorder. SanDisk is rates the battery life as offering 30 hours of continuous audio playback, and 6 hours of video.

Models and Pricing

The Sandisk Sansa View was released in mid-September 2007 and is available in threee capacities: 8 GB for $149 16 GB for $199 and 32 GB for $350 respectively

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8 comments about SanDisk Sansa View

1.  avatar Erik  Sep 13, 2007 1:40pm

This is a really appealing media player. It's got the same size screen of the Classic, but is a flash-based system like the nano. It's 16 GB version is good bang-for-the buck. Apparently, it does DivX with the included Sandisk Media Converter software. So close.
2.  avatar deathkenli  Nov 16, 2007 6:49am

MPEG4=divx
who needs MPEG4 while you can play H.264?
3.  avatar iwlso  Dec 19, 2007 1:20am

Is Sansa View just a newer, more up-to-date product from Sansa E series? Athough this View is of good value, but it doesn't come with a protective case and a lanyard as from a E260.
Does anyone know if it will be easily scratched though? From the description of a E260, it says it has a strong alloy metal rear casing providing scratch resistance, wondering if the View has that too...
4.  avatar bugmenot  Jan 14, 2008 11:27pm

MUCH better deal than a pod, along with more features, and even better costumer service. From what I know, you can replac the battery on your own for under $20 saving you big $$$ compared to the long wait and expense of a pod's battery which has even less life.
5.  avatar iwlso  Jan 15, 2008 10:09am

Hi bugmenot, I thought we just need to recharge it with the USB cable, no? How long will the original battery last?
6.  avatar rpvee  Jan 24, 2008 4:29pm

The battery cannot be replaced -- that is a feature only for the e200 series. However, this battery lasts years if the player is properly taken care of. And yes, you charge it though a USB cable, which gives you over 24 hours of music playback. :)
7.  avatar anileh  Mar 08, 2008 4:18pm

this was a great player for the price but im not too sure about its quality... theres no good software to upload songs through. i uploaded a list only to find that the player accepted only some of the songs, not all of them, even though they're in the right format. then it wouldnt take songs that came off a CD, only downloaded ones. windows media player sucks!

and my battery died rather quickly. im debating whether to take it back..
8.  avatar bugmenot  Jun 01, 2008 3:49am

The firmware is still in early beta stage and the player is unstable. Check the forums at Sandisk, there are numerous complaints in their forums:
http://forums.sandisk.com/sansa/board?board.id=view

The player is not yet ready to be sold.
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Key Features:

Capacity 8 GB
Manufacturer SanDisk
Player Features Video, FM Radio
Price $149.00
Product Line Sansa
Release Date Oct. 1, 2007

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