4 gig clip brightness question

It is practically unusable outside. I would not recommend getting the 4gb model at this time, at least until they have worked out this issue.
If you still want to get it, it is available directly from Sandisk - http://go.shopsansa.com/Customers/sansa/sansaPlayers\_html/clip.html
Don’t forget to use coupon code FORUM210 when ordering to get a 10% discount.

The 2gb clip is still highly recommended. If you could live with 2gb, then it is an excellent choice.

Ishturkish, is that based on your experience with a 4gb?

It appears that this defect is the norm for the 4 gig player.  I have returned mine back to sandisk and they are supposed to be sending me a new unit.  Upon various phone calls to sansa support (both from the sandisk line and the sansa shop line), I received mixed messages.

Some of the “level 2” techs believed that my unit was defective and that the brightness across all clip sizes should be the same due to the same internal hardware.  Another tech I spoke to said that the clear coat on the screen “may” be causing the 4 gig model to be less bright than the 1 and 2 gig models.  My gut is that as many users have shown the same problem, all of the 4 gig models will have the dimness problem (but we will see when they send me the new 4 gig model). 

As is, the 4 gig model is usable indoors (although I would still like more brightness).  Outside, regardless of light level, you will not be able to read the screen whatsoever.  This was also a problem with the 1 and 2 gig models being somewhat difficult to read outside, but the 4 gig model is impossible to read outside except at night. 

I wouldn’t recommend the 4 gig model until they fix this issue.  You don’t think it will be a problem, but at some point you will want to switch songs or playlists outside and it won’t be possible.  That being said, it is entirely possible someone will find an ingenius hack which will solve the problem (while voiding the warranty).

It appears less likely that sansa will release the 4 gig model in other colors soon (ie in the next few weeks) as there is a large time gap between when manufacturing lines are changed and when stores receive new products.

Somewhat of a bummer, but I would stick with the 2 gig model for now.  I hope this helps. 
Mike

Thank you for posting your experience with the 4gb–hard to tell visual things such as this in photos, and difficult where the manfs. sell on-line and not at local stores (thus far the case with the 4gb).

I absolutely love the brightness of my 2GB- I have very bad eyes, but because of the brightness, I can see the screen at night even without my coke-bottles!

Thanks for posting the info, OP- I was seriously considering getting a 4GB (Not that I really need it…but just 'cause I love my 2GB so much)…but I will definitely wait now and see whether this issue can be resolved.

SandisK: PLEASE make a 4GB in a candy-apple kelly green! (without fancy screen coating)…I’ll buy one so fast! (Personally, I’m not crazy about the silver)

Miikerman,

Yes. I own both the 2gb and 4gb clips. While I love the form factor, sound quality, and features, the inability to use the 4gb model outside during the day is a real problem.
Other users have reported the same issue, which looks like a problem with the reflective coating. It both significantly dims the display, and increases glare.

ishturkish wrote:

Miikerman,

Yes. I own both the 2gb and 4gb clips. While I love the form factor, sound quality, and features, the inability to use the 4gb model outside during the day is a real problem.
Other users have reported the same issue, which looks like a problem with the reflective coating. It both significantly dims the display, and increases glare.

I’d be willing to bet that the piece of plastic covering the entire front of the 4GB is tinted- as I don’t see how they could achieve the seemless “one piece” look without that being so- So I’d assume that that is the problem. Don’t know why SanDisk can’t acknowledge that simple fact.

Anyone willing to hack a 4 gig apart and see if you can remove the reflective coating?

Newbie here to the forum. Received two 4GB clips today. Unfortunately, I have to echo the complaints about the inablity to navigate the screen when outside in daylight. I’m dissapointed that the expensive design Engineers at Sandisk could overlook such a basic feature/need, in a player designed to be gym/workout friendly. I own several different players and wanted this one for working out, and the Rhapsody DNA, but because of this screen issue, it is lacking.

Maybe with enough feedback from 4GB customers, Sandisk will address the issue. If this feature is important to you, I unfortunately would also advise you defer a purchase until it is corrected.

On a positive note, the sound quality is very good and the form factor is cool. The reflective screen is easily subject to smudges and fingerprints.

Cllipman wrote:


ishturkish wrote:

Miikerman,

Yes. I own both the 2gb and 4gb clips. While I love the form factor, sound quality, and features, the inability to use the 4gb model outside during the day is a real problem.
Other users have reported the same issue, which looks like a problem with the reflective coating. It both significantly dims the display, and increases glare.


I’d be willing to bet that the piece of plastic covering the entire front of the 4GB is tinted- as I don’t see how they could achieve the seemless “one piece” look without that being so- So I’d assume that that is the problem. Don’t know why SanDisk can’t acknowledge that simple fact.

According to mkoplow, tech support did acknowlege it when he called them.

mkoplow wrote:
It appears that this defect is the norm for the 4 gig player.  I have returned mine back to sandisk and they are supposed to be sending me a new unit.  Upon various phone calls to sansa support (both from the sandisk line and the sansa shop line), I received mixed messages.

Well, I got my 4GB Clip and the dim screen is unacceptable - the unit is going back. Yes, it may look sexy in the package, but once out of the box that’s where “sexy” turns to “shoddy”. The smoky screen is a big loser. I own the 2GB Clip and keep my screen brightness at about 35%. It is just fine at that brightness for me even outside. With the 4GB Clip screen set at 100% it is still not half as bright. So Sandisk wants me to waste loads of battery power just to make it half readable in cupped hands? Add to that the fact that it always seems to have fingerprints showing, no matter how many times I clean it. What a design blunder. I’m guessing the techs’ take on this, saying one unit “may be defective” when you call, is just spin.

I don’t think this fashion-over-function screen problem will be solved soon. This product shipped late and didn’t even come with the latest firmware edition installed. I needed a second unit and so just put an Amazon order in for another 2GB clip. I’ll watch this forum in the months ahead for 4GB Clip version 2.0 news…and to see how Sandisk manages their screw up.

mkoplow wrote:
Anyone willing to hack a 4 gig apart and see if you can remove the reflective coating?

That assumes the reflective coating is something that can be removed from the inside.

First rule of making things:  If it can be put on, it can be taken off (although sometimes not easily!)

mkoplow wrote:
First rule of making things:  If it can be put on, it can be taken off (although sometimes not easily!)

Yeah, I think the “not easily” is going to be the issue, here.

Message Edited by PromisedPlanet on 03-06-2008 12:39 PM

All,

Good news! Help is coming for the 4 GB brightness issue in a FIrmware upgrade.  Yes the reflective coating cut the light output.  We have a plan to boost the brightness of the OLED and conserve its life by allowing it to turn off in USB connected mode.  The firmware upgrade should be available in 3-4 weeks.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

Cheers,

Sansa Fix

sansafix wrote:
All,

Good news! Help is coming for the 4 GB brightness issue in a FIrmware upgrade.  Yes the reflective coating cut the light output.  We have a plan to boost the brightness of the OLED and conserve its life by allowing it to turn off in USB connected mode.  The firmware upgrade should be available in 3-4 weeks.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

That IS good news … especially the bit about turning off the OLED in USB connected mode … BUT …

 

How will the increased OLED brightness affect battery usage … I assume we can expect greater battery usage, which will increase the frequency of recharge cycles, which will shorten the battery’s lifespan?

Message Edited by PromisedPlanet on 03-06-2008 12:55 PM

There will be no changes to the 1 and 2 GB versions,  FYI for this.

Yes,  more OLED output will require more current, but you will be able to turn down the brightness to mitigate it if you want.

You can also set the backlight timeout to be shorter.

When you are listening to music after the OLED turns off , there is no impact to the battery life.

Hope this helps.

Message Edited by sansafix on 03-06-2008 10:21 AM

This appears to be a workaround to a fundamentally flawed problem.  Increasing the brightness of the OLED will indeed decrease the battery life of the player as it draws more current. 

“We have a plan to boost the brightness of the OLED and conserve its life by allowing it to turn off in USB connected mode.”  – This will have zero effect on the time to drain the battery when you are actually using it (ie unplugged).  This will not conserve the life of the battery (ie allowing you to listen to it longer).

“Yes,  more OLED output will require more current, but you will be able to turn down the brightness to mitigate it if you want.” – Whats the point of turning down the brightness of the LEDs to save battery life if the problem currently is that they aren’t bright enough? 

Is there currently an estimate as to if the brightness will approach the brightness of the other players and the estimated battery life of the player with the new brightness settings?

I noticed that the brightness of the 4G clip I just received yesterday appears to be the same as my 1G Sansa Express; both seem to have the same sort of reflective/mirrored screen appearance - not that it really matters to anyone but I thought I’d mention it.

mkoplow wrote:
This appears to be a workaround to a fundamentally flawed problem.  Increasing the brightness of the OLED will indeed decrease the battery life of the player as it draws more current. 

“We have a plan to boost the brightness of the OLED and conserve its life by allowing it to turn off in USB connected mode.”  – This will have zero effect on the time to drain the battery when you are actually using it (ie unplugged).  This will not conserve the life of the battery (ie allowing you to listen to it longer).

“Yes,  more OLED output will require more current, but you will be able to turn down the brightness to mitigate it if you want.” – Whats the point of turning down the brightness of the LEDs to save battery life if the problem currently is that they aren’t bright enough? 

Is there currently an estimate as to if the brightness will approach the brightness of the other players and the estimated battery life of the player with the new brightness settings?

Because not everyone has a problem with the brightness (albiet there is a difference) and wouldn’t mind turning it down to save some battery.

Personaly, I would trade some battery life for the brightness. But then again, im the kinda guy that charges his player everyday, regardless of usage. So battery life has never been an issue.

If they can stay at the 12-13 hour mark, I’m picking one of these up.

Message Edited by Enigma on 03-06-2008 01:44 PM