SanDisk Sansa slotMusic Player

(3 out of 5)

MSRP: $19.99

This value-price music player provides a different take on mobile music.

In an effort to lure mobile music listeners uncomfortable or unfamiliar with downloading music off the Internet, and to resuscitate sales of whole albums, SanDisk has introduced a new portable music player and revived an older method of music buying. At $19.99, its new Sansa slotMusic Player is one of the least expensive digital music players out there—and may be the simplest to operate. However, it lacks one key feature: onboard storage. Instead, users will need to buy slotMusic Cards, 1GB microSD Cards preloaded with a full albums that cost around $15. The idea is that, like cassette tapes and CDs, consumers prefer both physical media and the immediate gratification of the plug-and-play albums, instead of having to download their tunes to a computer first. However, in a world where all music is on the Internet, the slotMusic Player and cards may only make sense for a small niche of consumers. Design The 2.8 x 1.4 x 1.4-inch slotMusic Player is no bigger than a pack of Trident gum and, at a little more than 2 ounces, it felt almost nonexistent when we wore it in a pocket at the gym. The player’s design echoes its simple purpose. The rounded white (also available in black and with artist-branded faceplates) device has a few basic buttons: Play/Pause, Forward, Back, and a volume toggle. A 3.5mm headphone jack is on the right side and a microSD Card slot is on the left of the device. Missing from the device is a hold button; to our dismay the player turned on a number of times while in our bag.

Read Full Review @ LaptopMag.com by Joanna Stern