The Sansa View is back.

[Step666]

Originally designed as an ill-fated flash-based PMP, Sandisk have recycled the product name 'View', this time attaching it to the successor to the e200 line of players.


So, ladies and gentlemen, please say hello to the new, improved, Sansa View:

What we have here is a thinner DAP available in a larger capacity with a bigger, higher-resolution screen than the e200s.
It's down to about 8.8mm according to the blurb, from the e200's 13mm or so thickness, it will be released in 8 and 16GB versions and the screen has been upped from 1.8" to 2.4", with the resolution being pushed to QVGA (that's 320x240).

Another change you may have gleaned from the photo is that the MicroSD slot is still there but has been updated to allow for MicroSDHC support, which means it will be compatible with memory cards up to 8GB in size.

The voice recording, video playback and FM tuner all remain as well - though the dedicated recording button has been dropped.
The video support has been expanded so that MPEG4, WMV and h.264 are all playable now and audio support is a fairly standard mp3, wma and wav combination.

The control system has changed, switching to a form of clickable wheel, which should echo the similar, well-though-of controls of the Sansa Connect.
And battery life has improved as well, rated at 30 hours for audio playback and 6 for video.


However, the real, stand-out piece of new regarding these player is the price.
The 8GB model will be $150 and the 16GB one $200 - that's the same price point that the likes of Apple and Creative are aiming for with DAPs that only have half that capacity.
Apparently, you'll be able to buy 'em from early next month...


[Via Engadget]

[BBD]

Those are crazy prices! I love where this company is heading. If they keep this up (along with the quality, natchie), I'll be content replacing my flash-based DAPs with Sansas......

[Step666]

Think about it BBD - a 16GB Sansa View with an 8GB MicroSDHC card, that would actually be a proper replacement for your H320.

[BBD]

I did think about that, in fact.... And BB sells Sansa.... Hmmmmmm........

[Step666]

And just when you were about to start drinking Kool-Aid too...

[BBD]

Oh, I still very well might.... 80GB + lossless + metal case + millions of new BFFs....

Even so, the Sansa is still a serious competitor. That new wheel looks like a major improvement from a fit-n-finish POV.... But one of the major advantages (for me) of a Sansa is/was the easily replaceable battery. I don't think this has that feature.... Could be wrong...it's happened....

[Step666]

Originally Posted by BBD

Oh, I still very well might.... 80GB + lossless + metal case + millions of new BFFs....

Of course, it's just Apple Lossless though, isn't it?
One more piece of proprietary, closed-off thinking from our lovely fruit-flavoured DAP overlords.

Originally Posted by BBD

Even so, the Sansa is still a serious competitor. That new wheel looks like a major improvement from a fit-n-finish POV....

The Engadget article reckons it looks like the one from the Connect, which is very nice to use by all accounts.

Originally Posted by BBD

But one of the major advantages (for me) of a Sansa is/was the easily replaceable battery. I don't think this has that feature.... Could be wrong...it's happened....

Unfortunately, it doesn't look like it - link.
That said, it can't be too big an issue for you is you're eyeing up a 'Pod, can it?

[BBD]

Well, the battery "issue" makes that comparison a wash instead of a check on the Sansa's side. And lossless + gapless is lossless + gapless, whether proprietary or no.

However, there is the thought RB won't even be able to be ported to the new new 'pods because (cr)Apple designed them to lock out such things. We'll see....

EDIT: This does absolutely OWN the new Nano, which I think we should now refer to as the iPod Fatso.... Or, the iFatso.... What a f'ugly POS that thingy is.......

[saints]

The Original one looked way better (pic attached), but this one is cheap yeah
The playtimes have improved dramatically, nice to see
And micro sd nooo, Original had sd

[Step666]

Originally Posted by saints

The Original one looked way better (pic attached), but this one is cheap yeah

It depends what you want from the player though - the original design was only 'good' if you wanted a PMP.
This design is 'good' is you just want a DAP.

[devyanks90]

according to Dapreview, the Sansa View will have gapless support.

[Step666]

Now now, that's cruel - don't confuse the poor lad
At this rate he'll never be able to pick a new DAP

[BBD]

Originally Posted by Step666

Now now, that's cruel - don't confuse the poor lad
At this rate he'll never be able to pick a new DAP

...again.... Geez, the spiritual genuflecting I put myself thru when I've chosen each one.....

The problem caused by my situation is I am somewaht "limited" to Best Buy offerings, good as they seem to be: the new 'pod, the Archos 605 (though that may not work because I still use my DAP almost exclusively for audio--video is still a gimmick to me), Sansa's new offering....

I hope to always have such "problems."

[Step666]

Ok, here we go - 30 hour battery life, video capabilities and gapless are all sort of 'equal' as both players have 'em.
The iPod has capacity and lossless on it's side whereas the Sansa has flash>hdd, expandable storage, size, FM tuner, voice recorder and $150 difference on it's side.

You basically need to decide whether lossless is important to you, whether you'll actually be able to tell the difference or if it's a sort of placebo effect.
After that, you need to consider whether, if you're not using Apple Lossless, you really need 80GB over 16+ and whether that's worth $150 more.


I've sort of discounted the Archos for now because, unless you decide you really want a PMP, I don't see any advantage to choosing it.

Of course, this is just my take on your dilemma and is without any hands-on experience of the two players in question.

[BBD]

Part of the problem, too, is that I don't really get the full purchase price of the h320 ($299) back; what I get is an essentially "free" replacement up to the amount of the original purchase price. So if what I choose happens to be the exact price, I get it for free; if I choose one more than the $299, I pay the difference; if I choose one less than $299, I don't get that difference. Conceivably, I could buy that $49 Stone and lose out on the rest--but I ain't goin' to BB high, so that ain't likely....

Choose the Sansa, lose about $100 credit; choose the 80gb 'pod, lose about $50....

[Step666]

Can you only get a single item in return for the credit?

You can't, say, get the Sansa and a 4GB MicroSDHC card for $90? Or maybe the Sansa and 2 Zen Stones?

[BBD]

That would make sense, but it didn't sound that way. "Exchange for a similar item" is apparently what applies. They initially said I had to trade it for another 20gb DAP until I pitched a diplomatically toned fit..and after I pointed out they don't even make a 20gb DAP carried by BB....

Lossless isn't really a big deal as transparency for me happens with 160-192 kps mp3 files, soooooo..... But the fact it's there is nice, in case I change me mind....

Also, I've had two issues w/ the Sansa: two malfunctions requiring FW updates to solve, and; the GUI is very basic and even a bit clumsy. I mean, it does the job, but lacks fluidity. Then again, I have very little experience w/ the 'pod GUI.

[Step666]

It's worth enquiring. There's a good chance they'll fold rather than go through the hassle of having you complain.
That said, some firms assume they can boss the customer around, leaving them naught but the option of taking them to court to try and get the customer service the company's website promises but the arrogant twat of a customer service monkey refuses to deliver... . . Sorry, got a little side-tracked there.
As I say, it does no harm to ask. You could even try the angle that the 16GB Sansa plus the 4GB card give you the 20GB player you're replacing

Well, if you 'decide' in the future that you do need lossless, it probably is just a placebo effect - I mean, your hearing's unlikely to get better...
Still, as you say, you can't use it if it isn't there.

As for problems, well no DAP's perfect.
My Nano has frozen, just the once, though it sorted itself a few moments later. And I know people with iPods who have worked perfectly and others who have had quite a few problems - with either player you get, you run the risk of it being temperamental.
On that note, could you use part of the remaining credit to purchase some sort of plan for the Sansa like you did your H320? It wouldn't really be a separate item, so they might be a little more lenient.

[saints]

BBD just go in there in uniform, they will give you anything you want

[XDeathLoRdz]

Look good, I like the bigger screen

[Step666]

I contacted Sandisk about the View, asking whether the 8GB figure mentioned in the press release regarding MicroSDHC cards is merely a badly-worded way of saying that that's the largest card that is currently available or whether it's a firmware limitation.

This is what I received in response:

Originally Posted by Sandisk Support

Hello Iain,

Thank you for contacting SanDisk Technical Support. It is our goal to make sure you have all the resources you need to get the most from your product through your recent inquiry into our product line.

Both of your thoughts are correct, because first it is largest capacity so far and that will also be the limit until a new firmware will be release.

Should you have any further assistance, inquiries or concerns, please do not hesitate to reply to this e-mail.

Best regards,
Christopher P.
SanDisk Technical Support

That's pretty positive in my eyes.
A 16GB player with a 32GB MicroSDHC card would be really nice...