Other MP3 Options-Microsoft Zune, SanDisk Sansa

Apple Finds Competition for Digital Music Player

Jul 12, 2009

There's more than just Apple in the digital music player market. For consumers looking for other options, Microsoft and SanDisk offer choices worth considering.

Looking for a digital music player but not interested in an iPod? Apple’s popular line isn’t the only one available on the market. So, what else is out there to enjoy digital music on the go?

Microsoft Zune

While Apple has been consistently working to grab a bigger share of the personal computer market, Microsoft is attempting to do the same in the world of digital music players. In November 2006, Bill Gates’ company introduced Zune, hoping to take a bite of the iPod’s dominance.

Overall, Zune has five different storage capacities; visually, however, the player comes in two different models that resemble the iPod Nano and Classic. The Zune 4, Zune 8, and Zune 16 – all flash-memory based - are the trio that could be classified as Nano competitors, while Zune 80 and Zune 120 – hard-memory based – fall into the same category as the Classic.

Zune Features and Prices

Users can share their files wirelessly across multiple Zunes or even with a Windows PC. A USB cable also allows users to connect to a PC or Xbox 360. Zune is not currently compatible with Mac OS X or Linux operating systems.

The song storage capacity varies between models; however the one constant between all five is the ability to store up to 25,000 pictures.

SanDisk Sansa

Manufacturers of flash memory card products, the SanDisk name might ring a bell with some. The company has evolved to dip into the portable MP3 player market with Sansa and offers four types of its product: e200, Fuze, View and Clip.

The Sansa e200 Series is the leader of SanDisk’s line of digital audio players and gives the choice between four storage capacities at 2, 4, 6, and 8 GB. Depending on the memory the consumer opts for, he/she can enjoy anywhere from 500 to 2,000 MP3 songs or 1,000 to 4,000 in the WMA format; those equate to up to 128 and 256 hours of playback, respectively. As well, those wishing to add more memory can do so, thanks to the e200’s microSD card slot.

According to the SanDisk Web site, the prices for the e200 Series range from $161.27 to $241.91.

Available in 4 or 8 GB, Fuze includes an FM radio with 40 preset stations, a built-in voice recorder, and the ability to share photos. Users can load 1,000 (4 GB) or 2,000 (8 GB) songs and 12 to 24 hours of video.

Sansa View and Clip

The Sansa View, which resembles the iPod Nano, offers three levels of storage: 8, 16 and 32 GB. Billed by the company as the “Video MP3 Player”, it supports the popular MP3 format as well as WMA and WAV audio. It also includes 20 FM radio presets, a microphone for voice recording, as well as support for Audible audio books. The battery can last for 35 hours of music playback or seven hours of video.

Similar to the iPod Shuffle, the Clip is named as such because of the clip it comes with so that a user can conveniently take it where he/she wishes. Consumers can choose between 1, 2, and 4 GB of storage with song capacity ranging from 250 to 1,000 MP3 tunes. It also accepts WMA files and in loading those onto the player, the number of songs doubles compared to the MP3 range.

Plenty of Choices for Digital Music Players

For several years, it was all about the iPod. These days, however, the market offers consumers - and Apple - some healthy competition to choose from. Microsoft and SanDisk have produced their own digital music players to rival the current top-seller, both in features and price. At a time where consumers are looking to get the most for the dollars they spend, and with the ever-growing popularity of portable MP3 players, the choice is all up to them.

Apple iPod

The copyright of the article Other MP3 Options-Microsoft Zune, SanDisk Sansa in Mobile Audio Devices is owned by Heather Engel. Permission to republish Other MP3 Options-Microsoft Zune, SanDisk Sansa in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.