SanDisk is a top producer of portable storage devices, and now it is using its expertise in flash memory to build media players that offer excellent performance and features. For customers willing to look past the iPod, the current SanDisk models demand strong consideration.

SanDisk's Sansa M200 Series MP3 players are a perfect example of what the company offers. The flash-memory-based models are available in sizes ranging from 512 MB to 4 GB, with reasonable prices between $59.99 and $199.99. The M200 series can play MP3, WMA, and Audible files, with support for music purchased from Napster, Rhapsody, Yahoo Music, and other online services that compete with Apple's iTunes.

These players include FM radios, built-in microphones for voice recording, indigo blue backlit displays, and carrying cases. The players are powered by a single AAA battery that can last up to 19 hours.

We recently started using the 2-GB M250 model with content from Rhapsody's subscription service , and have been more than satisfied.

Look and Feel

The first thing you'll notice when you open the package is that the M250 is thicker than it appears in advertising. The back side of the player is rounded to accommodate the battery, and the player is almost 1-inch thick along the midpoint.

Even so, you're likely to be struck by its small size. At first touch, the combination of the less-than-robust plastic housing and ultralight weight -- only 1.3 ounces, including the battery -- might make you wonder if you got your money's worth, at least until you start listening.

The controls are particularly well designed. The navigation and forward/reverse/play/pause buttons on the front of the player are large, and each is separated by a raised border, making it easy to hit the right button by feel. A hold switch is located on the left side of the player, and the power and volume buttons are on the right side.

Features

The SanDisk M200 models have all the features you would expect from a midrange MP3 player: FM radio with 20 presets; voice recording; five-band equalizer with four preset options; ID tag support; a "favorites" playlist than can include up to 30 songs; and the ability to sort tunes by genre, title, artist, and album. SanDisk estimates battery life at 19 hours, and we found that estimate to be only slightly optimistic. (continued...)

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