SanDisk Sansa slotMusic MP3 Player Review


Accessories and Shells

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Just as you’d expect with just about every other consumer electronic device on the market, the Sansa slotMusic MP3 player has no shortage of accessories to accompany it. Sifting through the catalog, you’ll find a range of items that can be used to expand on your slotMusic experience.

Yes, there is no display on the player and you don’t get a choice of colors, but you can buy replacement “shells” that can be swapped in for the shell that came with your player. They come in a variety of styles and colors, so you do have a bit of an opportunity to share your sense of personal fashion. The player itself, I found, isn’t the sleekest thing in the world, so this may be a suitable option to jazz it up some.

Since you’ll be buying a bunch of (unmarked) microSD cards, you’ll want to keep that collection organized too. Each card comes with a small plastic shell with album art and each of these can be placed inside the available slotMusic wallet.

Conclusion

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I tried to approach the SanDisk Sansa slotMusic MP3 player with the right set of expectations. I knew that I wasn’t going to get anywhere near what I’d be getting with an Apple iPod touch. I knew that it was meant to represent a transitional device for people who are apprehensive about “real” MP3 players. Even so, I still left the experience feeling disappointed.

While I appreciate the use of a standard microSD memory card for the storage of music, the shortcomings are too great for anyone who has ever used any other MP3 player. There is no display, so you really have no idea how far along you are, what song is currently playing, or even the relative volume level without physically checking for yourself.

The controls and playback options are similarly limited, not giving you the option to navigate folders, establish playlists, or even shuffle the music. I’m no fan of the iPod shuffle, but that Cupertino product is looking so much more attractive than this decidedly cheaper alternative.

The Sansa slotMusic may be nice for technophobic moms and dads, but that’s about it. Anyone with a reasonable level of computer and technological knowledge will want more than what this player can offer.

The Good

  • Ridiculously easy to use
  • Very affordable MP3 player option
  • Preloaded microSD cards offer good value
  • Easy memory card expansion

The Bad

  • Very limited control options
  • No display to view current song
  • Feels quite heavy with battery installed
  • Not nearly robust enough for even novices

The Verdict: 6.0/10

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