Tech Review: The Sansa SlotRadio
New tech for the non-tech
2009-07-06
By EbonyJet.com Staff

Since the launch of the iPod, rival music players have had a tough time breaking Apple’s relative lock on the market. It doesn’t help that “iPod” has become the “Band-Aid” of devices, nearly synonymous with the concept.

Now Sandisk, Apple’s closest competitor in the category, has decided to go another route and tread new ground with something that might not be an iPod killer, but has the potential to capture what might be an even larger market. That particular something is SlotRadio, a tiny 2” x 2” music player with a basic proposition – pre-programmed playlists no downloads, no subscriptions, no computers, basic functionality. Just buy it, play it and go.

About one-third the size of an iPod, the SlotRadio doesn’t store music in memory but is driven by a chip (“SlotCard”) that holds up to 1,000 full-length songs. Rather than download more songs, you buy more thousand-song chips either online or at a retail store in the same way you might purchase a single CD. So not only is the technology different, SlotRadio requires a different habit in music-buying.

The SlotRadio is also priced in a way to compete, with only a minimal investment for entry. The device retails at $99.99, which includes a 1000-song mix of programmed hits from the Billboard charts across several genres including country, contemporary (pop), hip hop/R&b, chill and workout. More programmed slot cards are available for an additional $39.99 a piece. In contrast, downloading a thousand single songs from iTunes after purchasing a $299 unprogrammed iPod will cost you, well, another $1000. $1300 vs. $100 – at least the math is on point.

But whose is the market? One clear sign of the target SlotRadio is aiming for is that the player’s launch retail partner is Radio Shack, and the SlotRadio.org website prominently cites an endorsement from Good Housekeeping, neither brand known for cutting edge technology. That means that SlotRadio is probably not the first choice of a hardcore music fan who puts together a playlist for every mood. Nor is it the ideal device for a gadget wizard who enjoys the control of an iPod.

That cuts me and whole bunch of people out, but it opens the door to a huge audience of people like my wife, who want the latest technology but find the syncing, downloading, click wheels and playlists intimidating. That’s the same wide-open niche for digital frames and netbooks. Sandisk might hate me for saying this, but this is, essentially the perfect player for your Mom. Or your yoga or jogging obsessed girlfriend.

For anyone used to an iPod, SlotRadio has a couple of frustrating drawbacks. Why they call it “radio” is evident in the player’s  functionality. Specifically, you can switch from genre to genre as you would switch from station to station, but you can only skip from one song to the next one in line. You cannot skip back if you mistakenly miss a song, nor can you make a choice of any song on demand. And at least in the package I got for testing, there was no full listing of the songs either searchable on the device or contained in the package. I want to know what I’m getting. But then again, I’m not the market.

On the other hand, sound quality is much better than it needs to be for the price. You can also make the SlotRadio “real” radio by flipping a switch that turns it into an FM receiver. The screen interface is basic but has fun graphics and a built-in clip keeps you from being sold once again on a list of accessories to carry the thing. The music selection is interesting, if not inspired, featuring proven hits from the Billboard charts - some new, some classic (the hip hop/R&B playlist has current songs by T-Pain and Ne-Yo as well as old school jams by Slick Rick). Not a place to discover new music unless you’ve been missing out on the last 20 years of Top 40 radio. However, the slots are compatible with MicroSD cards. You can place a blank chip in the device and drag and drop tunes from your computer onto the SlotRadio. Now you’re talking.

While Radio Shack is the launch partner, the SlotRadio might rollout even faster if it hooked up with airlines and airport bookstores. The 13 hours of battery life make it practical for lengthy flights, and as a cheap, pre-programmed player, it’s a better last-minute purchase than that book you’ll never actually read on the plane.

Rating: 4 out of 5. “Very good.”

Tech Ratings:
5. Superior!
4. Very Good - Great
3. Good
2. Not bad, but look around
1. Save your dough