Comments on: RealNetworks loads up SanDisk media players

Starting with Sansa e200 gadgets, Real counts on consumers wanting to take "music library" from one device to another.

[Seaspray0]

More viable than Zune

I see this as much more viable than Zune as a competitor to ipod as Sandisk already has the MP3 players in place and the Rhapsody service is already in operation. Pricewise, the sandisk players are less expensive than ipods for the same amount of memory. Should this become a serious competitor, it may force Apple to open up the itunes DRM to other players. Microsoft is way too late entering this market, doesn't have the hardware or service in the pipeline yet, and doesn't have the expertise in this arena. It seems microsoft coded the DRM first in the WMV format and is trying to build the world around it.... Not exactly a good plan. Where as, sandisk already builds the memory used in the device (most expensive component) so they will be able to build the players cheaper, and combining their player with Rhaphsody generates momentum... a much better plan.

[craban]

Getting closer...

It sounds good, but I'm sorry, I simply do not want to pay someone every month for radio, I don't care if I get to choose the tunes or what.

Here is what I, a silly consumer want, (insofar as music is concerned): I want to have a library of music that I can play anywhere in my house, car, or portable device, without worrying about losing it all, (say if my hard-drive crashes and I hadn't made a backup), or suddenly being told by some snooty company that I'm not allowed to do something with the music I paid for and I don't want to pay a recurring monthly charge for it!

I want a portable device that can hold several thousand tunes, play them for hours on end, and doesn't give me any lip when I want to play something else on it!

The iPod is not the answer. It's close, but it ain't it, (propritary formats are a pain). The Zune thing sounds a little better, but it's still being a pain about things...

And subscription services are a step in the wrong direction as far as I'm concerned. I want to own the music like I own a book, and not be told that I can't read in the kitchen because the publisher wants me to read in the living room!

[BengalTigger]

exactly!

I totally agree. Portablility without all the licensure hassle. They just haven't figured it out that when people make a purchase, they expect ownership (i.e. rights to use without restriction).

Anyone else think the industry is backing themselves into a corner? They think technology will eventually allow them extensive control over who can plan, on what device, and when. But, they aren't considering that, in that scenario, people will just stop buying it.

Who wants to download a song that you can only play on a single device. I want to be able to play it on any device I own for as long as I choose to keep it without recurring fees.

[plee9]

sansa kicks nano's axx

this really is a tight device that can play music, video, and radio. something that nano should have been able to do. slick look and solid interface.

[BengalTigger]

First, Delete Real, Second...

I bought three Sansa players last Christmas. We love them. I can honestly say if Real would have been loaded on them, I would probably have avoided them like the plague. I think Sansa is making a poor business decision linking up with them.
Step 1 Open your new player
Step 2 Delete Real
Step 3 Enjoy your new player

[Seaspray0]

No software involved, certificate based

I had the Rhapsody offer when I bought my player. There is no software involved on the MP3 player. To play the music from Rhapsody requires you to hold a file on your player called a "certificate" which you get from rhapsody. The certificate is time stamped which means you must renew it when it expires. The ability to play files from Rhapsody has been available for awhile. As I don't download music (I have my collection of CD's) there was nothing further I needed to do.