I needed an MP3 player, didn’t want to buy an expensive iPod and someone recommended I look at the SanDisk Sansa Fuze. I’m glad I did.

I bought it in January 2010 for £53 (at time of writing, they’re only £35 from Amazon) and have been nothing but pleased with it ever since.

It. Just. Works. The list of great things about it are:

• It plays just about any audio file you wish to copy onto it (MP3, WMA, secure WMA, Ogg Vorbis, and FLAC).
• It sounds great and the battery lasts for ages.
• It plays just about any MPEG4 format movie file.
• Has expandable memory with a microSDHC memory card slot.
• FM radio (not used that much to be honest).
• Voice recorder (not used that much either).
• Has EQ settings, including allowing custom settings.
• Photo/image viewer (small screen, so of limited use – use your phone instead).
• Metal back and sides (apparently made of LiquidMetal) with a piano-gloss plastic front.
• Has a good solid weighty feel to it without being heavy.
• It appears as two drives when connected to the PC (internal/external memory) so no iTunes needed.
• It supports Audible books (used these – they’re great).

Rather than bore you with a full review, read the excellent AnythingButIpod.com review which will give you all you need to know.

Want an MP3 player that will last but don’t want to pay a premium price, then this will be money well spent. A simple (not included) jack-to-jack cable lets me plug into separate speakers if I want to.

Enough said. Here’s a photo of the unit with its blue ring of wonder: