SanDisk, how did we miss that you didn’t suck before?

http://www.engadget.com/2006/09/01/sandisk-intros-sansa-c200-player/

Ok, look at this player. It’s freaking pretty. Seriously, I haven’t used this player, and the navi is a potential tweak-producer, but you have to fall in love with this player as soon as you see it.

When did SanDisk become a player? They had a really good thing going while offering some of the cheapest players out there, but amazingly they’re drawing out the standard for cheap players. No longer must we simply accept what they give us, cheapies have a choice now!

Review of the past few weeks

I haven’t written for a while due to school, netflix, tivo, and reptile conventions.  However, this does not mean that I have been neglecting my blogs.  I’ve kept up, of a fashion, but just haven’t quite felt as if anything that interesting has happened to require a post.

Okay, okay, the new ipod nano, I got it.

To recap the last few weeks:

Apple’s going to kick ass no matter what.
There’s a new nano, I hate it less, but at least no one can sue due to the lack of shinyness.  The only exception: 8GB in a few mm?  Props.
Sandisk is going to own like whoa at second place.
Creative is going to fall, although I don’t see how they could get any worse at this point.
Samsung…well…you still suck.
Dell and HP are whores, but we knew this long ago.
The PS3 will be expensive, but what isn’t?
Grandmothers across the country will be confused as to their grandchildrens’ requests to urinate for Christmas.
OMG of the thousands they’ve sold your laptop is defective?  Ya, welcome to technology, get over it.
If you own a laptop, you might want to donate some sperm because your laptop will most likely fry your manhood.
Speaking of which, of all the reports of blowing up batteries, how come everyone’s lucked out and not received fried genitalia?
If myspace was a bar, you’d….well, insert something vulgar about molasses.
Facebook is becoming big brother, again, we knew this long ago.
OMG people can readz your infoz onlinez!!!  Excuse me, but may I slap you upside the head for not understanding that which is reality?  Get over it.
Zune dropped like a bomb because it sucked, not that Apple somehow has the hand of death up its ass.  It sucked.  Get over it.

More updates soon, I promise!

Apple: kiss your ass goodbye cause SanDisk’s got ya

http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/afx/2006/08/21/afx2961842.html

An 8gb player for $250? No, this isn’t even part of their cheap-ass M series, this is a full out E series with video/radio/recording/etc.  Meanwhile, where the hell is Creative in this?  A year ago they were gung-ho to take Apple down and SanDisk was just the player you got because you couldn’t afford anything else.  Creative hasn’t really moved anything new, but SanDisk has really started to put the heat on by actually making players decent enough that not even I can sell the ipod over them.

Apple, my friend, if you ignore this you will lose this battle. I’m glad to see this competition finally start to take off. Your move Apple.

Best electronics case ever

In packing for a quick trip to chicago, I needed something to protect my nice new headphones, camera, and cheapo mp3 player (if my pack is going to get ganked on the train they sure as hell aren’t getting my 5G 60GB iPod thank you very much).  I glanced around my desk area and found an empty package for the powerblock that I got for my aunt’s ipod.  It seemed the perfect study box for throwing stuff into.  I’ve seen headphones go bad when left to their own devices inside a backpack, and I’ve seen keys reach in to cameras and destroy them.

the iDont proletariat

I wrote about the new Sansas the other day, and how I don't want to throw them across the room like their bretheren.  If I were in the market for a lower-midrange DAP I would seriously be looking at them.  Now, I'm not one of proletariat, but not hard core bourgeoise.  I have an iPod because that's what fit me best.  I have a Macintosh -i, and iPods just work better on Macs.  Besides, I hate to admit it but I am an iTunes fan, even though I would be the first person to point out that it's by no means perfect.  For what I need out of it, it works just fine.  I'm more of a Bobo when it comes to brand choice.

If you call it scandisk you get stabbed.

The other day at work I had a woman try to correct me when I corrected her on her pronunciation of ‘Sandisk’.  Do you see a ‘c’?  Anyone?  Bueller? 

Exactly.  Call it ScanDisk and you die.

Sandisk really needs to make up their mind. High end, cheap end, bla bla bla.  For the parents that look at their children begging for iPods and go “Hell no,” Sandisk has been there to get them “at least” a player.  Certainly not the worst players, but for those with more flexible budgets, they are something to be ignored.

It’s hard sometimes when shopping for a product to understand why there is a price difference, and if that variance is worth the $20, $50, or $100 extra.  In the case of mp3 players, on the shelf it’s somewhat difficult to widdle down the reasons.  In use, however, one can tell the diff.  For some it’s worth the money, but for others they just don’t care.  There is no best mp3 player for all, but for every person there is a best one.  For some, the cheap Sansas work just fine.

These new Sansas are a little different than their brothers.  Instead of fighting against the lower end Shuffles, they are fighting against the Nanos–and doing a darn good job of it.  The screen is bigger, has the radio, and pretty much everything lacking in the Nanos (and all the other ipods).

Apple, start listening to what people want, you’re starting to move into the Sony area where form rules all.  You removed firewire, we can deal, but you are not adding features that people are begging for.  Listen to your customers when they are debating between iPods and the competition:  that is where you need to go next.