SanDisk Drops a Flash Bomb

[American Patriot]

SanDisk Drops a Flash Bomb


With the new 8GB e280, SanDisk has pulled way ahead of Apple in the flash memory game.


Mike Kobrin - PC Magazine



Aug. 21
This morning, SanDisk announced something that should make lots of holiday shoppers happy: an 8GB version of the SanDisk Sansa e200 series—officially called the e280. The kicker is that it will cost only $249 (list), which is the same price as the current 4GB iPod nano. SanDisk has also announced that it will drop prices of other models in the e200 series; the 2GB e250 will cost $139.99, the 4GB e260 wil cost $179.99, and the 6GB e270 will cost $219.99. You can expect the e280 to begin shipping in mid-September. Ahh, it's good to make your own flash memory.


SanDisk also released a 2GB microSD card a couple of weeks ago, which is currently only available at Verizon Wireless stores, since it's intended for use with devices like the new LG Chocolate phone. The card itself costs $99, so for a total of $348 (list), you can have a 10GB flash player consisting of an e280 with a 2GB microSD card.


The ball is now in Apple's court to give the iPod nano a capacity bump, but despite recent rumors of this happening in the next month or so, Apple is keeping characteristically mum about it. But I certainly wouldn't be surprised if Apple releases an 8GB nano this fall and drops pricing on its other models. Of course, many MP3 player enthusiasts continue to knock the iPod nano for its lack of features like an FM tuner, voice recording, and video support, all of which are included in the SanDisk Sansa e200 series.
So for a short time (unless Apple makes a quick announcement before mid-September), you'll be able to get a player that's got twice the memory—not to mention expandable storage—and tons more features than the 4GB iPod nano at the same price. No wonder SanDisk keeps gaining significant market share in the flash-based MP3 player space.

[American Patriot]

I have one of the non-drive type, flash devices. It's pretty cool. It's only a 512Meg device, and can hold around 100 songs at a time, but works nicely.

Bought two of them for about 45 bucks each.

[Brian Baldwin]

an 8GB flash drive that can be mass produced well beyond the mainstream computer market could make way for a new way doing home media. Movies on memory chips of this size could be a realism in the next 5 to 10 years. The DVD and CD may become like the 8 track soon.