Sandisk Sansa [LWN.net]

Sandisk Sansa

Posted Mar 13, 2008 1:52 UTC (Thu) by ncm (subscriber, #165)
Parent article: Some topics related to MP3 players

I love my Sansa e250 running Rockbox, and no one looks at it funny.  Really, it's a very
pleasing device in every way.  I bought it specifically to run Rockbox on, since the port was
ready while it was still in stores. Unfortunately the one on the shelves now, the e250v2,
isn't supported yet.  However, that and several other Sansa models are being worked on,
because they're well designed and popular gadgets. It shouldn't be long before you can buy a
Rockbox target in stores again.  One is enough, if it's a good one.

Something they don't warn about on the web site is that the default UI theme is practically
unusable, particularly if you're over 35; you should plan to choose and install a "skin"
immediately.  In practice, that just means copying a few extra files to the player, no big
deal.

A final warning: "party mode" sounds like fun, but ... well, it's easy to switch off again.

(Log in to post comments)

Sandisk Sansa

Posted Mar 13, 2008 11:06 UTC (Thu) by nix (subscriber, #2304) [Link]

The default UI theme changed last month, of course: are you referring to the new one
(CabbieV2) or the old? I don't think much of CabbieV2 either, but the new grey gradient-shaded
backdrop for the menu screens looks awesome (I've had iPod users on the train asking me how
they could make their iPods look so cool).

(I don't much like the default theme either, and spent five minutes hacking up a
mostly-textual detail-packed WPS, and five minutes with the GIMP turning out a blue-to-red
gradient-shaded backdrop...)


btw, the power-consumption problems on PP devices (which I think includes your Sansa as well
as the iPod) are now largely solved. :)

Sandisk Sansa

Posted Mar 13, 2008 18:24 UTC (Thu) by ncm (subscriber, #165) [Link]

Oops, I should have checked again.  When last I checked, the default font size was still too
small to make out even with my reading glasses on.

I did notice that the battery didn't last as long as it should.  Time to upgrade!