IT Blog Today

It is as good as I had hoped. Here are a few observations:
1. The User Manual (download from [...]) says clearly about the battery and charging (p.9) that it will NOT play while connected to the PC. It WILL play when charging from the wall or car, but not the PC. Must be related to the data synch. Too bad, but no big deal as long as you don't have false expectations.
2. The Sansa USB 30-pin cable has all 30 pins present (though perhaps not active). My 3rd party Fuze cable from Amazon is of course 30 pin, but occupies only 6 of the positions. This is OK, as the cable is still fully functional for data synch AND charging. I have verified this, having been afraid that the cable was incompatible and might need to be return.
3. The Sansa USB 30-pin cable from the manufacturer's site:
[...]
says the cable is compatible for all Sansa products (implies Fuze, E series, C series, etc.). Keep this in mind when you shop for 3rd party chargers and accessories.
4. I use Windows Media Player 11. The Fuze synchs nicely with it. Transfer files via Media Player rather than Window Explorer. You can save playlists in Media Player and transfer (i.e. synch) to Fuze with minimum actions. e.g. a playlist from Media Player, rated 5-Star in its rating system, transfers in a single dragging operation rather than hunting and pecking through the Windows Explorer folders. And Fuze uses the same 5-Star rating system.
5 It has date and time which I wasn't expecting. I stopped wearing a watch 10 yrs ago.
Walt

Seriously. I've had it for 15 months. A couple months ago I stepped on it drunk, somehow, and smashed the wheel into the device. I could still turn the wheel but not really, like barely. And then yesterday I left it in my pocket and sent it through the wash. I was like, Oh man, that s(cks. It didn't work, of course. I set it on a fan and came back a few hours later. Still doesn't work. I plug it into the computer; turns right back on (even with foggy windshield). It works perfectly now, the wheel works as good as new, inexplicably. Honestly I cannot remember the last time I was so impressed with the durability and staying-power of...really anything, since the 8-bit Nintendo game system (just blow, jiggle it in the Nintendo, and push "Power" and it works).

OK, I bought 3 iPods before this, they all crapped out within the 6-month to 1-year time-frame (conveniently when the warranty was not valid, except when I bought the 15-gig when they first came out, that apple discontinued, that went out, that I mailed back to them per the "terms" of the agreement (they paid the shipping), that they said there was no refund for (See: discontinued) and had the audicity to offer to "fix" my iPod for 20 less than the original list (5 months later)). No. Apple=terrible customer service. This was not the first nor last time.

Enter the fuze. I bought it on the cheap (it's since dropped 40, still far and away cheaper than iPod). The only bad part is it doesn't sync to iTunes, which I have an account with an indie-music website that syncs fine. I am forcefully avoiding iTunes, I don't like the seeming monopoly iPod has over the industry, in my personal experience they know they have a good thing and abuse the consumer. 3 iPods, ironically, I've had about the same amount of time as my 15-month fuze.

I'll admit, I'm rough around the edges. I get boozed and other forms of happy and drop/kick/fall asleep on/wash/etc. and this is still going. You have no idea how happy I was when I plugged it in and it worked. I was amazed. Maybe I just lucked out and finally got my karma but this was so good, I'll never, NEVER, buy another apple mp3, I'll forever buy fuze b/c literally I'm that impressed, I'm 27 and may buy another half-dozen before I kick, but forget apple, they're pretensiouns and vainglorious anyway. I assume microsoft operates this, I don't even know, I'm not tech-savvy, but I took the time to write this review, something I don't do much anymore, b/c I'm so pleased. It's rare nowadays; as for the player, I don't know, its an mp3 player, read the other reviews, but this is one of the best purchases I've ever made.

Its been so long people probably don't even buy this model anymore but this is recommended, read other reviews but I def recommend...

I began the search for the most versatile MP3 video player I could find at a descent price. Yes, my search included the ipod as well. When all was said and done, I choose the Sansa Fuze due to the amount of features, and they happen to come at a better price than the Ipod.

I wanted the ability to expand, in the event I fill my fuze, I can use the micro sd slot. The micro sd cards are relatively cheap and seem to be expanding is size all the time. I bought the 8 GB fuze and can expand as needed.

FM radio is a great feature. You may have all the music you want, but sometimes it is nice to listen to the news or hear new music. And just in case you hear something you like, it can be recorded and played back on your fuze.

The navigation is straight forward and things load very fast. The battery life is great at about 24 hours when listening to music. I have not watched many movies at this point so I can't give an estimate for viewing time.

Sansa releases updates that are easy to obtain when they make improvements to the firmware. I suspect some of the reviews I read before I bought my fuze regarding slow load time were fixed with firmware updates.

If are looking for a feature packed MP3 player at a great price check out the fuze.