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For the last week I’ve had the fortune of giving a test run to the Sansa slotRadio player. I already have a music player, in the form of my iPhone, but this was a completely different animal. Instead of downloading or ripping music and then adding it to your player one track at a time, the slotRadio player takes microSD cards preloaded with 1000 songs each, divided into preset playlists. Honestly, the setup was a little confusing for me because I like having control over my playlists, even if it does require a lot of time. Fortunately, though, there is a solution to that problem for me. More on that later.
The slotRadio player comes with a Billboard 1000 card, which contains, as you might expect, 1000 songs handpicked by Billboard. Playlists on the card include “Rock”, “Country”, “R&B/HipHop”, “Contemporary”, “Alternative”, “Workout”, and “Chillout”. Other cards are more concentrated; the current selection includes Rock, Country, Hip Hop/R&B, Oldies, slotRadio Mix, 80s & 90s, and DailyMix, with promises for more coming soon, including one called Health & Fitness.
One of the main benefits of buying preloaded cards is that all the work is done for you; you don’t have to manually load all of your music onto the player. The other big benefit is that you don’t have to pay for each individual song, so when you break it down by cost per song you’re really saving money. Generally on iTunes you’ll pay 99¢ per song. With the slotRadio cards you pay (currently) $39.99 per card, which makes the price per song about 4¢. Pretty good, right? Of course, the main objection is that you’re not hand-picking which 1000 songs go on each list, so there may be some music on the card that you never would have paid for on your own.
If you’re much more interested in creating your own playlists from songs you know you like, the slotRadio player does give you an option. You can hook up the slotRadio to your computer, with a blank microSD card in the player, and load it up with your own music. Problem solved! So you really get the best of both worlds with this player: much less expensive (per song) preloaded cards that you don’t have to mess with, and the option of loading your own music however you want.
In addition to playing music from microSD cards, the slotRadio player is also an FM radio player. You can pick up your local FM stations for those times when you’d rather just listen to the radio.
As for the hardware, the slotRadio is pretty compact — 2 x 2 x 0.42 inches (the perfect size for slipping into your pocket). It comes with ear buds, which sound pretty good compared to my iPhone ear buds. It also comes with a protective silicone case, a jewel case, a USB cable, AC adapter (to charge it), and a quick start guide.
If you’re starting to drool reading about this player, the good news is that you have a chance to win one! We have two slotRadio players to give away! Just leave a comment telling us what you think of the concept behind the slotRadio player, and you’ll be entered to win. The contest ends June 26.
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June 12th, 2009 at 10:12 am
sansa sounds great
June 12th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Very nice…neat gadget!
June 12th, 2009 at 10:27 am
I think the idea is fabulous because there are older people, such as myself, who have no idea how to download songs onto an mp3 player so this would be perfect. Thanks.
June 12th, 2009 at 11:29 am
I am soooo not tech-savyy, but my kids are. This Sansa is made for people like me. Maybe they should rename it the Boomer Sansa!
June 12th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
I think the concept is great. I can hear what I like without interruptions!
June 12th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
I love the idea of this Sansa SlotRadio. I’m not too good with electronics and gadgets and need the simplest possible. This SlotRadio sounds like it is perfect for me. I also love the selection of music that is available. Thanks so much for offering this giveaway.
June 12th, 2009 at 4:01 pm
looks great
June 12th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
This would be great for my mom. She has alzheimers and loves music! This is perfect for her!
Thanks so much!
June 12th, 2009 at 8:10 pm
I would love to listen to some Diana Krall wherever I go!
June 12th, 2009 at 8:53 pm
I love that it doesn’t have some difficult download process.
June 12th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
I like the cost of the music
June 12th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
I would love to win this!
austma7@aol.com
June 13th, 2009 at 7:42 am
It sounds perfect to me – just listen to preloaded, or add your own.
June 13th, 2009 at 8:07 am
Ipods can be complicated sometimes but with the slot cards it couldn’t be any easier to use.
June 13th, 2009 at 10:00 am
I love the idea of a card that is pre-loaded. I spend way too much on itunes. Also, it sounds like just as itunes is charging more for the top 10s, sansa is charging less. Great giveaway!
June 13th, 2009 at 10:24 am
i want to win this
June 13th, 2009 at 10:57 am
I really like that you can have preloaded music and not have to do it yourself. I have a Phillips and I never load new music on it because it is such a hassle.
June 13th, 2009 at 11:57 am
grat idea sounds great
June 13th, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Sounds good, I like quick and easy stuff.
June 13th, 2009 at 1:47 pm
great product for the technically challenged
June 13th, 2009 at 4:46 pm
I love that it comes with comes with a Billboard 1000 card.
June 13th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
I am not sure I understand but I am teachable
June 13th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
I think the Sansa is a great idea. I have yet been able to figure out how to download songs. It would be nice to just have a little memory card with songs already on it.
June 14th, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I love that you don’t have to buy the songs to put on it. That can run into some money. The memory cards are such a great idea. Thanks for the chance.
June 15th, 2009 at 9:34 am
I like that it has so many songs on it; and such a great variety. I’d love to give it to hubby for Father’s Day.
June 15th, 2009 at 9:51 am
Thanks so much for the contest!
I love the idea of 1000 songs, maybe like this I should listen to some artists I’ve never heard before… a great chance to discover new dimensions of music!
I also think this Sansa slotRadio’s easier to use than many others… thanks again, really hope to win
June 15th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
Small and clean looking
June 15th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
i think its a really cool idea
June 16th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
Now this is neat and new. I love the fact of paying a little to get the pre-loaded cards. I can totally dig this machine. I dont even own a music machine except my ole radio up on my fridge.
June 16th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
Great idea! Thanks for the chance.
mogrill@comcast.net
June 16th, 2009 at 9:31 pm
I love that the music is already on it which makes it so much easier. I also love the size and style.
June 16th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
WOW! This sounds alot better than an ipod! I have been thinking about getting an ipod for myself (my son let’s me borrow his on occasion) but I think I will look into this instead. I would LOVE to win it though!
June 17th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
Well.. Innovative indeed. Could help people that aren’t practical with computer. I’m really curious to hear songs selected by people that are surely expert in music field, it’d make me discover many beautiful songs. Hope to see a pre-made playlist soon !
June 17th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
WOW good idea!!
i would like it ^^
June 17th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
I like that the songs are cheap,but wonder how much of card is listenable,(i HAVE A COPYRIGHT ON THE WORD i JUST MADE UP).
June 18th, 2009 at 1:30 am
It seems a good product. Good the idea of SD, and really clever the FM Radio !!!!!
June 18th, 2009 at 2:21 am
welcome back mp3 players with sd, I don’t like mp3 player with integrated memory, this way is more confortable
June 18th, 2009 at 2:40 am
I really like it. I appreciate the idea of the Micro SD Card with preloaded music…to discover new songs!
Count me in, please
Thanks!
June 18th, 2009 at 5:29 am
wow i like it so much!!
June 18th, 2009 at 5:32 am
Finally something different, i totally hate ipods..
June 18th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
I like the Fm tuner
June 18th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
I love that you don’t need computers for this, my aunt goes to chemotherapy and doesn’t use the computer enough to get her an iPod so this would make he days go by so much faster!
June 18th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
I love how easy this is. I hate struggling with ITunes and trying to get the music into a format the kids can use on their MP3 players.
June 19th, 2009 at 2:18 am
it’s small, light & cheap.
but the design is so-so.
n come on we are in 2009, the slot the memory card is out!!!
June 19th, 2009 at 6:09 am
it would be nice to win
June 19th, 2009 at 11:15 am
wow!!! i think it’s a great idea, because people can bring with them this small and very light player that also have some song load inside it, so when the player arrives is just read to be used, and people can have a chance to discover new songs and kind of music that is very important, and maybe found in this some of their favourite songs.
Very Good Idea!!!
June 19th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
It’s look good!
June 20th, 2009 at 2:33 am
I love that it doesn’t have some difficult download process.
June 20th, 2009 at 2:33 am
Finally something different, i totally hate ipods..
June 20th, 2009 at 8:23 am
It looks like an interesting player….looked a bit online and it seems like something to try.
June 20th, 2009 at 8:43 am
since i only have a cassette player in the car, connecting this “baby” to it would allow me to listen to something a bit more various than the cassette that is playing in it since december or so……..it would be AWESOME!
June 20th, 2009 at 3:22 pm
God, I think it’s created just for me… ^_^ I hate spend my time looking for the right song!
June 20th, 2009 at 6:52 pm
What a great idea!
June 21st, 2009 at 1:30 am
its soundds like a good new option for the musiic industy to generate money!
June 21st, 2009 at 9:03 am
I have heard that these are awesome. Thanks for the chance.
June 21st, 2009 at 9:34 am
fantastic idea!!!
June 21st, 2009 at 2:59 pm
Great idea. I dont’ like download music
June 21st, 2009 at 7:36 pm
I think this is brilliant. I have an Ipod but can’t figure it out without help.
June 22nd, 2009 at 1:39 am
I love the fact that I could give this to my father and he would understand how to use it – he could never use an IPod because it would confuse him. Thanks for the giveaway!
June 22nd, 2009 at 11:15 pm
I love the concept! I love a variety of music and all this techy stuff makes my brain hurt!
June 23rd, 2009 at 6:42 pm
nice prize
June 24th, 2009 at 1:48 am
That’s great, it sounds new..
June 24th, 2009 at 6:46 am
Very interesting and useful
June 24th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
I think it is a great idea, especially for older adults who have a hard time learning new technology but still want to take advantage of the ease of use of digital music.
madamerkf at aol dot com
June 24th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
I like the fact that if I want to go to the gym to work out, I don’t have to worry about loading songs, and the compact size makes it easy to handle
June 24th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
i love this great ideal love easy
June 24th, 2009 at 11:59 pm
The slotRadio player is a small, stylish, portable music device that comes bundled with a slotRadio Mix card preloaded with 1,000 songs featuring artists from the Billboard charts, and professionally arranged into a variety of genre-themed playlists!
What’s not to love?
June 25th, 2009 at 7:13 am
This is so cool, I have never heard of it but it just sounds like something we could really enjoy!
June 25th, 2009 at 9:12 am
never heard of this thing before but it sounds great, esp to host such a nice prize too!!!
June 25th, 2009 at 10:19 am
slotRadio player, This sounds easy nough even for me to master!
June 25th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
So easy to use, I love it. The preloaded cards are a great idea.
June 25th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
That sounds amazing!! Very cool!
June 25th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
I’d love to get this for hubby – he’s had two but gave them to others he felt needed it more.
June 25th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
This is like a high fidelity FM radio tuned to a top 40 radio station over a particular time period. I can imagine listening to the top songs from now in 20 years – a nifty idea.
June 25th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
This sounds really cool! I love the compact part of it. The only part I don’t like is that you can’t pick the songs that go on it.
June 25th, 2009 at 7:26 pm
I think of the concept behind the slotRadio player is not only very neat, but economical too! $.04 per song is insane!
June 25th, 2009 at 7:35 pm
At first I was skeptical about the player, mostly because I too like to have control over the content and playlists on my music player, but learning that you can load your own music onto the player alleviated my concerns, and I do like the idea of pre-loaded cards to get some variety and discover new songs and artists you might not normally listen to (especially since the cards are so economical). So, you totally sold me with your review, and I’d love the chance to win one to try out – thanks a lot!
gkaufmanss@yahoo.com
June 25th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
I like the concept because I think it could work for me. I would probably be able to stop my satellite radio service.
June 26th, 2009 at 1:33 am
I love the concept behind the slotRadio player because it’s economical, tiny and has so many songs – I’d never get tired of it!
June 26th, 2009 at 1:44 am
I love the concept. No more fuss ripping and downloading
June 26th, 2009 at 6:16 am
I love the preloaded cards because it would take me forever to make my own list. No more borrowing my kids stuff, I will have my own, for once!
June 26th, 2009 at 8:40 am
I’ve been waiting for something like this for a long time! Finally people who don’t have access to the internet or computers can easily listen to a wide selection of music on the go!
June 26th, 2009 at 11:17 am
I like this idea as it saves time from having to find songs I like and to load them.
June 26th, 2009 at 11:29 am
I love the whole 4 cents a song dealio- c’mon you can’t beat that. Plus, the time it saves.
June 26th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
I have been dying to have a Sansa slotRadio player ever since I first heard about them! I think they are fantastic because you can choose the genre of music you want and when you open it for the first time you are ready to start listening to your favorite kind of music because the preloaded card is already in there! It saves so much time and effort, at least initially, and what’s great is if in the future you decide you want to add some of your own favorite music you can always have the versatility to do that too! I think these are genius! Thanks so much for the chance to enter.
joannaonthelake@gmail.com
June 26th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Boy, would I love to win this! I am sick and tired of struggling with ITunes. And now I see that they’re in Mp4 format instead of MP3, so it’s probably going to be another learning curve for me – sigh!
June 26th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
I think it’s a great idea! I have dial-up so I sure don’t want to download music and have connection get interrupted,
Thanks for the giveaway!
June 26th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
I think the slot radio concept is a real relief to those of us who grasp technology slowly. It sounds perfect.
June 26th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
I love the removable memory option.
June 26th, 2009 at 6:08 pm
this sounds really awesome instead of dea ling with downloads and all that jazz. i need something simple
June 26th, 2009 at 9:03 pm
Sounds user-friendly, which I NEED! Thanks!
June 26th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
I love the concept behind this radio. I love the option of creating my own playlist.
June 26th, 2009 at 10:38 pm
Wow! You mean there is something out there I can use and not be frustarted figuring it out? I’m in love!
June 26th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
I think the concept in genius because I hate downloading music!
June 26th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
This sounds like a simple, and great idea. I would like to check it out more!
June 26th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
I like choosing my own music but it takes me forever to decide on what I want to load. This sounds like it would be a great alternative and who knows, I might just find something new to listen to.
June 26th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
I kind of like the idea of preloaded cards. I know what artists I like and it would make things easier. vidomich(at)yahoo(dot)com
June 26th, 2009 at 11:39 pm
it’s great that there are so many songs and no downloading needed
June 26th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
The Sansa slotRadio sounds Awesome! I have heard of it but your review really gave me the information I was looking for! I really like that you can “make your own” also. I could really use this while walking! Thank you for the giveaway! lanemarinab@aol.com
June 26th, 2009 at 11:47 pm
I think its an awesome product, and Ive been wanting one. Thanks
June 26th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
This Sansa is made for people like me – not too schooled on the downloading! Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this giveaway!
June 27th, 2009 at 12:42 am
Good idea. It sounds so much easier.
June 27th, 2009 at 1:51 am
The slotRadio player sounds very interesting. Thanks for the great contest!
June 29th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Congratulations to our winners: mikoto127 and MCJunkie!
Let us know how you like the slotRadio players!