SanDisk Sansa Express (2GB)
As shown: $79.99
See manufacturer site for availability
CNET Editors' Review
CNET Editors' Rating
- Reviewed by: Jasmine France
- Reviewed on:
- Updated on:
The good: The SanDisk Sansa Express features a handy plug-and-play design; it's inexpensive; it offers several desirable extras such as an FM tuner, support for protected WMAs, and a microSD expansion slot.
The bad: The screen of the Sansa Express is tiny and it's capable of displaying only two colors, so there's no album art or photo support.
The bottom line: The SanDisk Sansa Express is a solid choice for those who need an ultraconvenient MP3 player with a decent smattering of features.
Ever since Apple abandoned the design feature with the release of the second-generation iPod Shuffle, MP3 players with built-in USB seem to have gone out of fashion. It's a bit of a shame, as this type of device is quite handy for some users. So it's nice to see SanDisk reintroducing the feature with the Sansa Express, a compact flash player with an array of desirable features.
The Sansa Express is a simple USB stick of an MP3 player, shaped like a small pack of gum with a cap covering the USB plug ... Expand full review
Ever since Apple abandoned the design feature with the release of the second-generation iPod Shuffle, MP3 players with built-in USB seem to have gone out of fashion. It's a bit of a shame, as this type of device is quite handy for some users. So it's nice to see SanDisk reintroducing the feature with the Sansa Express, a compact flash player with an array of desirable features.
The Sansa Express is a simple USB stick of an MP3 player, shaped like a small pack of gum with a cap covering the USB plug at one end. The back of the player is standard brushed silver--nothing too exciting there--but the front is decked out in a shiny, mirror-like inlay, reflective enough for lipstick touch-ups. A small, dual-color OLED screen sits front and center and displays crisp orange and blue font on a black background. To the right of the display is a square control pad like that of the Sansa c250, with a center "select" key surrounded by track shuttle buttons, a Play/Pause key, and a contextual menu button. Dedicated volume controls sit on the bottom edge of the player, while the top edge houses a hold switch and a Power/main menu key. On the left side, you get a standard 3.5mm headphone jack, a built-in mic for voice recording, and a microSD card expansion slot for adding more memory.
Hide ReviewSince 2003, Jasmine France has worked at CNET covering everything from scanners to keyboards to GPS devices to MP3 players. She currently cohosts the Crave podcast and spends the majority of her time testing headphones, music software, and mobile apps.
User Reviews
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Most recent user reviews
Showing 2 of 2 reviews
"Excellent little player" By rf6
Pros: Size, simplicity, price, useable display, expansion slot
Cons: Cannot get it to recognize larger media cards
Summary: I've been using the Express for 6 months now without a glitch. This is a very straight-forward, easy to use player.
I discarded the stock headphones and use it with Etymotic ER-4s, and the sound is quite good - not quite as clear as my 2g iPod Nano or ... Expand full review
"Great for a casual music listener who wants some extra features to boot." By kevinandre91
Pros: MicroSD slot for expansion and built-in USB
Cons: Battery life fades after time and software is glitchy.
Summary: I've had a few low end mp3 players and one high-end iPod. I can't say much for this product on the good side besides the fact that the inclusion of a MicroSD slot was genius and useful. My one complaint among the few is that the software is ... Expand full review
Specifications
See full specsQuick Specs
- Device type: Digital player / radio
- Tuner bands: FM
- Sound output mode: Stereo
