Need help choosing an Mp3 player: Creative Zen Nano or Sandisk Sansa M240??

[voicebug]

Hi, guys.

I need help deciding which of these two mp3 players would be best for me. This would be my first mp3 player purchase. The Zen Nano is on sale for $50 at Circuit City this week, and the Sandisk is $50 as well at Best Buy. I don't want to spend more than this on an mp3 player.

I definitely want the better quality of the two. My main concerns are durability (as I plan to carry this around in my pants pocket) and reliability.

For the most part, I won't be listening to music. I'm going to use this thing to expand my mind and listen to spoken word material 95% of the time------like language learning, downloads of 'Coast To Coast AM,' nonfiction audiobooks, etc. Also, I don't plan on using any kind of mp3 download service. I just want to drag and drop mp3s that I already have on my computer, or stored on CD-R.

I read a couple Amazon reviews on the Zen Nano stating that Dell computers wouldn't recognize it. Could this be true? Or is it a matter of downloading a driver? This would concern me if choosing this model since my computer is a Dell 8200 purchased in 2002.

Thanks for any comments and help!!

[LowRideDuh]

voicebug ,

Here's a link for Screamin' Deal on Sansa E260


http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A0629340&cs=19&c=us&l=en

[voicebug]

voicebug ,

Here's a link for Screamin' Deal on Sansa E260


http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?sku=A0629340&cs=19&c=us&l=en


Thanks for the link--------looks like a great deal, but for my purposes, I really don't need that much memory. Plus I'm not too crazy about the rechargeable battery. I like the idea of being able to replace a AAA battery if I'm somewhere where I can't recharge the thing. :agree:

[LowRideDuh]

voicebug ,

Here's another link to site that has alot of good info on Non-Ipod
Mp3 players. I hope this helps. When I bought MP3 players for my children
this year, I went with the Sansa E200. I bought them each a docking station
that has an audio output jack, this way , they listen to their music thru their stereos most of the time.
As a raw beginner in the MP3 format , I like the Sansa's. If You need any links to sites that can help You get started encoding MP3's ,let me know.

Stephen

site link http://www.anythingbutipod.com/forum/

[CraigVC]

I am enjoying my Sansa e260. I read in a PCWorld shootout that they didn't like the Sansa (compared to Creative Zen) due to what they considered bad sound quality, but I am not that bothered by it - it's MP3s for cripes sake! They sound like crap no matter what you do! ;) (Plus, I wouldn't consider PCWorld the definitive source for testing sound quality. . . .)

I use mine for bus rides to and from work, and it's just fine. I listen to spoken word Internet radio downloads and 256kbps MP3s that I rip myself from my own CDs.

Craig(VC).

[OldCoder]

I haven't heard a SANSA, but I use a ZEN NANO PLUS.

I find if I use a high bit rate on MP3, it sounds pretty good. It will never be mistaken for my "big rig", but for drowning out the noise in cubicles, it is wonderful. The headphones that come with it are immediately disposable, but it does drive a pair of AT headphones I keep at the office very well, and is easy on batteries. Also pretty easy to use once you get the hang of it.

Good luck!

[voicebug]

Thanks for the comments, guys.

I think I'm leaning towards the Zen Nano. It seems like it might be the better of the two. I just hope I don't have any problems using it with my Dell 8200.

[Dave D]

I purchased an m240 on clearance a few weeks. All was well until I tried to do a firmware upgrade via Sansa's website. The player froze up. I googled and found this was an epidemic! Just returned it for a refund.

My old Sansa e130 has worked flawlessly.