The SanDisk Sansa View...Reborn?

[Jason Dunn]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/10/the-sandisk-sansa-view-returns/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/10/the-sandisk-sansa-view-returns/</a><br /><br /></div><i>"So you might remember that earlier this year SanDisk introduced, and then somewhat abruptly cancelled, the Sansa View, a new widescreen flash-based portable media player. At the time they said they wanted to "re-scope the product" and "develop a PMP that will meet the needs of the market." Well, the result is the all-new Sansa View, a completely different device that seems more like a proper successor to SanDisk's much-loved Sansa e200 series than a follow-up to the product we played with at CES back in January. The result is a smaller player that less video-centric, but does improve on the e200 series in lots of important ways. They've upped storage to 16GB (there's also an 8GB version coming out), made it thinner (it's about 8.8mm at its thinnest), added better video codec support (it handles MPEG4, WMV, and h.264), increased the screen size and resolution (to 2.4-inches and 320 x 240 pixels, respectively)..."</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/sandisk-sansa-view-sept10.jpg" /><br /><br />Let me tell you a tale: once upon a time there was a product called the Sansa View. It was a portable media player, focused around video and photo playback - a nice big 4 inch screen, 480 x 272 resolution, support for all sorts of video codecs, and a slender size. It was supposed to come out on April 20th for $299 - and it would have been a fairly unique product, likely cherished by many. I did an <a href="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/articles.php?action=expand,11847">email Q&amp;A</a> with one of the people at SanDisk working on the product, and got even more excited about it. Then the product was delayed. Then it was cancelled. I wasn't sure what kind of an ending the story would have, but it seems the answer is clear: they completely re-did the Sansa View and came up with a very different device.<br /><br />This new Sansa View looks like a <i>great</i> audio player, but with a 2.4 inch screen at 320 x 240 resolution, it's not designed to be a video player, which I think is a shame. The SanDisk marketing materials say it's got a "wide screen display", but last time I checked 320 x 240 isn't wide screen. Who's going to challenge the iPod Touch? Who's going to deliver a thin player with a 4" wide screen, great battery life, and support for a variety of video codecs? Transcoding should never be "Plan A". SanDisk, I'm feeling a bit let down here...

[Dyvim]

Clearly this is marketed to compete with the new iPod nano not the Touch. And with a 2.4" screen and 16GB for $199 or 8GB for $149, it's a very competetive product (twice the memory of the iPod nano at each price point). I think Apple messed up by not releasing a 16 GB nano at $249 but I think they didn't want to cannabilize Touch sales (currently the only 16 GB flash memory iPod is the Touch).

I'm a little disappointed too, but I think clearly this was the right move for Sansa. They'll sell way more of these than they would have of the other. Just as Apple will sell way more iPod nanos than they will Ipod Touches.

[Jason Dunn]

I'm a little disappointed too, but I think clearly this was the right move for Sansa. They'll sell way more of these than they would have of the other. Just as Apple will sell way more iPod nanos than they will Ipod Touches.

Sure, I agree - there's a bigger market for a smaller device. But I still think SanDisk, or SOMEONE needs to step up and service the video watching market - Apple has the iPod Touch, what does SanDisk have? Nothing. Microsoft? Nothing. There's only...Archos.

[gdoerr56]

I'm quite sure this results from my living in a cave but who ACTUALLY WATCHES video on these things? Yes, the video capabilities are cool and have a high W?BIC factor, but beyond that, does anyone really use these devices regularly for video?

The iPod Touch is about the only thing I think I could actually watch for an extended period of time as it appears to have a larger enough screen. I'm not sure my arms are long enough to see these smaller screens (it's hell getting old...)

Perhaps Sansa is just making the device people use without the bells and whistles at a superior price point. Of course, I'm not marketing expert, what do I know...

[Dyvim]

who ACTUALLY WATCHES video on these things? Yes, the video capabilities are cool and have a high W?BIC factor, but beyond that, does anyone really use these devices regularly for video?

I'm not sure of the practicality of using a device with a 2-2.5" screen for video, but I regularly use my 4" 640x480 resolution PDA to watch video. It's great for airplane rides, train rides, or waiting rooms. Sure I could just listen to music instead to pass the time, but I enjoy watching movies. I even use it at home some when I don't want to wake the baby up or if the TV is otherwise occupied (yes, we're one of the few 1 TV families). Plus some of these devices support TV out and can output video at 640x480 or higher, so with a small device and a cable you could watch video on your hotel TV while traveling. Sure it's not Hi-Def, but it's not bad (320x240 on a big TV though is bad).

But clearly the market for this sort of device is smaller than the market for simple music players. Still someone (preferably multiple someones) needs to fill the niche.

[Jason Dunn]

I'm quite sure this results from my living in a cave but who ACTUALLY WATCHES video on these things?

I do. :D I don't have problems with near sightedness (or did I get that backward?) so I don't mind the smaller screens. I've used the 2.5" screen on my Zen Vision:M to watch TV shows and movies while on vacation, and it's not bad at all. It's not the ideal screen size for me, but it worked ok. 3" is much better, and 4" is just perfect.

[Felix Torres]

I'm quite sure this results from my living in a cave but who ACTUALLY WATCHES video on these things?

I use my Gigabeat's video capabilities (2.5", 320x240) mostly for internet gag videos. (Y'know, funny cat videos, silly euro commercials, Wii vs PS3 commercial--hysterical that last one)
TVs and movies?
Nah!
A laptop screen is better.
If I need smaller, I have a 3.5" vga screen and TCPMP on the Axim.