recommended player with SD slot (Sansa Fuze v1 replacement)

[nomis3613]

Hi, for a few years now I've been running Rockbox on a Sansa Fuze v1. I've been really happy with this combo. Unfortunately, the screen started playing up and, of course, it didn't survive my disassembly! Another Fuze v1 would be great, but they've been discontinued for a while (and prices second hand are a bit crazy considering the condition is a gamble). I tried the Fuze+, but found the touch panel very frustrating (even in rockbox). What I'm hoping for is:
- SDHC slot. or micro SDHC.
- physical buttons for volume, pause and skip that you can feel. ie don't need to take it out of your pocket just to skip a track)
- screen big enough to show album art
- quick navigation through a long list of albums. Something like a scroll wheel, rather than clicking a button and waiting for it to start scrolling
- happy to go second hand

Any suggestions please?

Thanks,
Simon

[expos1994]

I also had a Fuze v1... mine actually started getting really wonky. It seemed like a software problem... but I just gave up on it. It seemed to have a mind of its own.

Prior to the Fuze I went through a few E200's. They have a smaller screen, but they have a scroll wheel, take an SD card, and everything else you asked for. I am currently using my old E280. It has a messed up scroll wheel.. which is frustrating.

I think I'm going to buy another E200 with a working wheel. They seem to be the most sturdy of the Sansas.

Unless there is another player I don't know about...

[nomis3613]

Thanks. Yeah, I had a couple of E200s before the Fuze. Can't remember why, but I think I preferred the Fuze.

[Roboturner913]

Been there, my kid threw my old Fuze in the toilet and ruined it. Looked forever for something I liked as well. Had Clip+, Clip Zip, E200, C200, Fuze+ with varying degrees of satisfaction.

The E200 is an option. In some ways I like it better than the Fuze. It is definitely built sturdier and I prefer the vertically-oriented screen. And IMO the screen is better/clearer. But the up/down/left/right keys are hard to push, the battery is short-lived and changing tracks can sometimes take 5-6 seconds after you push the button.

My advice is to check Craigslist and look for another Fuze. I had some good luck, found a Fuze on Craigslist from a person who lived right down the street and wanted $20. And it works perfectly and looks decent. Sometimes people don't know what they have.

Another thing  is ebay, if you search for Sansa and sort by "newly listed" sometimes you will see a Fuze there on a Buy It Now price. I've seen several in that matter in the $25 range.

Don't forget to check pawn shops too.

[nomis3613]

Thanks for the tips. Yep, am scouring Ebay etc for a Fuze. The ones I've seen are quite expensive for a used mp3 player, most are at least double what I recently paid for a Fuze+. The buttons on said Fuze+ are giving me the irrits, so guess I'll be coughing up for "the original and the best" sometime soon!

I was hoping there'd be an old iPod out there that'd suit my purposes, but it seems the Sansa's are a unique combo of compact size, click wheel, colour screen and microSD?

[Roboturner913]

Yeah, the prices on them are crazy for a reason. There's not anything better when it comes to the overall package. Still if you're watchful you can score one for $50 or less, seen plenty of them go in that price range.