Flash-based MP3 player for skiing

[El Chupacabra]

I have an iriver H120 MP3 player for travel (20 GB hard drive based unit), and have taken it skiing & biking, but am concerned about its ability to stand up to impact, vibration, etc, due to the hard drive.

So I'm looking for a cheap flash-based player. Anyone have the MobiBlu DAH-1500i?

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=3756866

It's a wally world exclusive, oddly enough. Google reveals it getting some good reviews. $129 for 1GB in a 1" square cube.

I don't want an Apple ipod shuffle or nano, just don't like the DRM involved. The MobiBlu one is drag-n-drop like my iriver.

[cj001f]

I just got a Sandisk Sansa E130
http://www.sandisk.com/retail/sansa.asp
512MB for $65 at buy.com. Has an SD card expansion slot so cheap upgrades/compatibilty with other digital devices (I use a 1GB SD card that I got for $70, so 1.5GB for $135)

[Ski to Be]

I have an Iriver flash mp3 and love it for skiing. Long battery life & never skips and great also if you hook it up to a giro stereo helmet. Unless you need more than 8 hours if tunes then flash is the way to go. Very durable

[El Chupacabra]

Bumpity...

Circuit City has the Sandisk m240 in their Sunday ad for $87, it's 1 GB, flash-based.

http://www.sandisk.com/retail/sansa-m200.asp

Quick google search reveals positive reviews, but nothing too in-depth. I might stop by and check it out.

[jimmy page]

I have the Creative MuVo TX FM 256mb model and it has worked great for me. It has an FM radio and it gets pretty good battery life from one AAA battery.

They also make 512 and 1 gig versions.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

Look around you might be able to find it for cheaper than on Newegg.

[El Chupacabra]

Bumpity...

Circuit City has the Sandisk m240 in their Sunday ad for $87, it's 1 GB, flash-based.

http://www.sandisk.com/retail/sansa-m200.asp

Quick google search reveals positive reviews, but nothing too in-depth. I might stop by and check it out.

Checked it out; it was in the plastic hang wrap, so couldn't play with it much. Kinda generic looking, screen & buttons not terribly well protected. Main "plus" for this player seems to be that it uses a single AAA battery = easily changeable power source.

I like the MobiBlu one better just based on looks though.

[bagtagley]

Checked it out; it was in the plastic hang wrap, so couldn't play with it much. Kinda generic looking, screen & buttons not terribly well protected. Main "plus" for this player seems to be that it uses a single AAA battery = easily changeable power source.

I like the MobiBlu one better just based on looks though.

Thanks for the follow up Chup. I saw this at BestBuy last night and thought the same thing you did. It's definitely not pretty, but the price is right. I'll check out the MobiBlu though for a comparo.

[El Chupacabra]

I'm leaning toward the MobiBlu one. All reviews that I could find sound good. Only drawbacks: only 8-9 hr battery life, and recharging the built-in battery requires the USB cord (no separate power cord).

http://thoroughreview.com/MobiBLU/

[frerad]

I don't want an Apple ipod shuffle or nano, just don't like the DRM involved. The MobiBlu one is drag-n-drop like my iriver.

I just use regular mp3's with my Ipod Shuffle. No DRM involved that I am aware of. Of course there is no screen, so it is hard to keep track of what songs you want to play. The random autofill funtion in Itunes is pretty cool though.

If DRM is the only reason not to go with the Ipod Shuffle, I'd at least reconsider it. I regularly get over 13 hours of use before recharging. I've heard people go as high as 16-17 hours.

[DJSapp]

I have the Creative MuVo TX FM 256mb model and it has worked great for me. It has an FM radio and it gets pretty good battery life from one AAA battery.

They also make 512 and 1 gig versions.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...&Go.x=0&Go.y=0

Look around you might be able to find it for cheaper than on Newegg.

Have the 512 version, get about 10 hours of playtime while skiing in 20 degree temps on a fresh NiMH battery. Fantastic for skiing. Great battery life, easy to use, button locking feature, random function, changable power supply, BUILT IN USB PLUG (i.e. no cord to lose) and the screen size is fine for me. It also doubles as a drag and drop flash drive for all other CPU uses. It's small enough that if placed near a softer body area your body will absorb the impact leaving the player unharmed, and a nice rectangular shaped bruse.

MuVo TXFM = The Shiznit

[bryanthebold]

Just take your iriver, ive been using mine for skiing since I got it. No real problems except it getting too cold, in which case you can just duct tape it to your chest. I am expecting mine to die pretty soon though, its taken a lot of abuse.

Check out these reviews on mp3 players. Chances are you will be able to find the important things to you and weigh out which one works best.

http://reviews.cnet.com/4521-6532_7-...tml?tag=subnav

[El Chupacabra]

Check out these reviews on mp3 players. Chances are you will be able to find the important things to you and weigh out which one works best.

http://reviews.cnet.com/4521-6532_7-...tml?tag=subnav

Thanks for the link - nice & easy way to compare them. CNet gives a good review to that Sansa m240 that's $88 right now.

[El Chupacabra]

I just got a Sandisk Sansa E130
http://www.sandisk.com/retail/sansa.asp
512MB for $65 at buy.com. Has an SD card expansion slot so cheap upgrades/compatibilty with other digital devices (I use a 1GB SD card that I got for $70, so 1.5GB for $135)

After thinking about it more, I went by Circuit City to pick up the Sandisk m240, figuring that an easily replaceable battery is more useful than a cool form factor (MobiBlu). They were out. But they had the Sandisk Sansa E140, the 1GB version of the E130, for the same price - $87 - and it's SD memory card expandable.

cj001f - how do you like the player? I haven't opened the package yet. CNet gave it a mediocre review for sound quality -- what's your take on this?

[cj001f]

Sound quality isn't bad, but I'm no audiophile. Interface is pretty basic - select artist, album, all, etc. Works well for running/biking, was cheap enough I won't worry about destroying it, like I have the past 2 mp3 players.

Biggest gripe is the POS rubber plugs for the SD slot & USB port that aren't attached. I've already lost both, and I'm sure they'll eventually start corroding/cause problems.

[El Chupacabra]

Sound quality isn't bad, but I'm no audiophile. Interface is pretty basic - select artist, album, all, etc. Works well for running/biking, was cheap enough I won't worry about destroying it, like I have the past 2 mp3 players.

Biggest gripe is the POS rubber plugs for the SD slot & USB port that aren't attached. I've already lost both, and I'm sure they'll eventually start corroding/cause problems.

Thanks - I opened up the package -- the player feels very light, kinda flimsy compared to the iriver that I have, but it's a plastic case vs. magnesium so that's to be expected. The Sandisk player came with a plastic sleeve that looks like it'll help keep those rubber plugs in place, and provide some scratch protection. Earphones don't look that comfortable, but the idea with this player was to hook it up to some Giro TuneUps anyway.

Now I need to find a cheap 1GB SD memory card.

[Jim S]

I love my iPOD shuffle; works great on both sides of the equator too.

[Rug Burns]

Goatsucker,post how you like the setup.I just purchased the tuneups kit and will also buy the sansdisc if it gets the job done.

[El Chupacabra]

Goatsucker,post how you like the setup.I just purchased the tuneups kit and will also buy the sansdisc if it gets the job done.

I plugged the Tuneups headphones into my iriver just to see what the sound quality was like. Not bad -- light on bass, but mid and treble clarity is pretty good. The real test will be while skiing, to see how they sound vs. wind noise.

I'll set up the Sandisk player this weekend to check it out. Haven't had a chance to yet.

[Sensisnow]

I just picked up the 1GB Sansa m240 at best buy for $89.99. Added a 2-year replacement plan for an extra 5 or 10 bucks so I can dish out all the abuse that I want and just have it replaced if/when I destroy it. Sound quality is decent, although I have only used it with the included earbuds so I'm sure it's better with some quality headphones. One of the things I liked about it was the large buttons which will still allow me to use most functions with gloves on.