Why should I install Rockbox on my new Sansa 270

[Jellyman]

Hi....
I have used Rockbox some years ago (on my Archos ondio), but have now bought a Sansa 270 (not the R version) and have some questions before I try to install Rocbox......

1. What is the main benefit of installing it, rather than using the original firmware?
2. Which problems will/can  occure ?
3. If I install it, is there known problems with un-installing or after un-installing ?
4. Is it possible to choose which firmware to start up (original or Rockbox) when I turn the player on ?

Regards
Jellyman

[Bagder]

1) http://www.rockbox.org/twiki/bin/view/Main/WhyRockbox answers some of it.

2) Slightly worse battery run-time, occasional software bugs/issues since Rockbox is constantly evolving. You may also find using Rockbox and participating in the community a bit addictive and it may thus cause a lack of sleep and numb finger tips when you've been tapping your keyboard too much.

3) Nope, both installing and uninstalling are very easy procedures

4) Yes, you can hold down a key to boot the original firmware instead of Rockbox should you want to

[Jellyman]

Thanks alot for the quick answeres  
I will download it and install it this afternoon, when I get home from work.

Regards
Jellyman  

[fluxam]

The reason is so as to be able to play files encoded with Ogg Vorbis and AAC (LC-AAC, not -- except for Toshiba Gigabeat, HE-AAC); with the former, file size can be at least 10% smaller for comparable quality.  And with Nero's freeware LC-AAC encoder, almost as small a file is possible -- and those will play on umodded iPods. For the former, look for OggDropXPD at rarewares.org (aotuv build) and the latter is most easily done with Stanley Huang's MediaCoder.  Older versions of the latter will work in WINE in Linux.

[Vortex]

For me, the main reason to switch to Rockbox was the ability to create and use playlists which the OF can't do at all. The only thing the OF lets you do is play your music in the way the OF tells you to.

[mschneider]

2) ...You may also find using Rockbox and participating in the community a bit addictive and it may thus cause a lack of sleep and numb finger tips when you've been tapping your keyboard too much.

I definitely agree