Hard facts
Product MP3 player
Brand Sandisk Sansa e260
Model number SDMX4-4096
Dimension 3.5 x 1.74 x 0.56 inches (WxHxD); 2.7 ounces
Memory capacity 4GB
Memory type Flash memory
External memory Micro SD card slot
Audio file format MP3, WMA, WMA-DRM10 (PlaysForSure), WAV
Still image file format JPEG, TIFF, PNG, BMP, GIF
Video format AVI, MPEG-1/MPEG-2 in MPEG, MPG, MPE/VOB (unprotected), MPEG-4 in AVI format, DAT, ASF, QuickTime MOV (QuickTime 6.5 or higher required), WMV (Windows Media Player 9 or 10.0 required)
Display 1.8-inch TFT colour LCD display
Power supply Rechargeable lithium ion battery, user replaceable (included), USB charging
Connectors Headphone jack, USB 2.0 port
Features
• FM tuner with record capability and voice
recorder;
• Convert most popular video formats
(MPEG-4, WMV, DivX) to play on device
• User-replaceable rechargeable lithium-ion
battery for up to 20 hours of life
Minimum system requirements Windows XP SP1; Windows Media Player 10+; Intel Pentium PC or equivalent; CD-ROM drive; available USB 2.0 port for hi-speed transfer.
Compared to MPIO FL350 1GB (Rs11, 200), Apple iPod nano (Rs9, 900), Creative Nomad Muvo SQ (Rs10, 250)
Price Between Rs8, 200 and Rs10, 800
(depending on location)

Although the newest Apple iPod nano is the runaway choice among critics as the best MP3 player, it suffers from unspectacular battery life and although the device is durable, it scratches easily with blemishes showing up very drastically. Which is why I was scanning the market for a device that could once and for all kill the mighty pod and eureka! I found one which is very close.

Surprisingly, the killer comes from an unlikely source. I had always thought of SanDisk as a company which produces memory rather than MP3 players and while testing the different models of their players, especially the SanDisk C250, I was not at all impressed with their offerings which only reinforced that notion. That was until I discovered the E260 model.

At the first glance, the player looks gorgeous. The back of the player is a matte-finished grey, while the front sports an attractive black glossy sheen and the protective case that comes with the device. This will certainly help to keep that glossy screen scratch-free. The back is constructed from a material called 'Liquidmetal' and Sandisk claims that this material is durable and scratch resistant. It is also used to help protect the 4GB flash-drive and the user-replaceable Lithium Ion rechargeable battery.

Booting up is an issue though and can take as long as 15 seconds. But trust me, it is worth the wait. The menu screen is brilliantly lit and crisp while the selection icons are large and straightforward. You will notice that the colours are rich and there is no shadowing. However, in direct sun it can be difficult to see the screen. Selecting icons with the scroll wheel is easy enough and the menu is quick and responsive.

SanDisk is one of the first manufacturers, if not the first, to use a PortalPlayer chip designed specifically for flash players. And so, you will find that the overall sound quality is quite good. Even when you play music through a much larger music unit, there is little loss in musical quality. The bass response is not overwhelming, but smooth and deep when it needs to be. I suggest that you upgrade to a powered headset for the best experience.

Loading music onto the e260 can be done in one of these two ways. After plugging the unit into your Windows XP based PC it should be recognised as a media playing device. If you are the 'playlist' type of person you can create a list of music within Windows Media Player 10 and then use that software to sync up your music with the player. Alternatively, you can also just drag and drop music files into the e260's music folder which is automatically arranged using the files' ID tags. The e260 can also be used as a portable file storage unit if you need to move info between computers. In the case of video and photos, just drag and drop them onto the converter and they are automatically transferred to the player. No mess, no fuss. A warning though the unit is only recognised by Windows XP or Vista.

Unlike other players, there is also the exciting feature of microSD expansion card slot. This player is actually expandable and with the rapidly increasing capacities of flash cards, doubling the e260s 4GB storage is not that difficult or expensive.

Conclusion The iPod killer is a mythical beast, and since the much touted Microsoft Zune, which has developed a reputation as an iPod killer, is not available in Pakistan yet, we can safely say that for now Apple rules the roost. The Sansa e260 has all the trappings of a good iPod player sleek looks, nice features, handy interface, great sound and video at a lower price.

Overall The audio and video quality of this player is top notch, but if you are in need of a no-brainer MP3 player, this probably isn't it. However, if you fancy yourself as tech savvy and do not mind learning some of the quirks of the player, then Sansa e260 is a great device and definitely far more economical. — U.M