Digital Trends

SanDisk Sansa TakeTV 4GB December 11th, 2007 | by Jason Tomczak

Playback Quality

With most digital video devices, playback quality hinges on the bit rate and quality of the original source, as well as the bit rate of the output video file. High quality content converted to "Home Theater" DivX looked awesome on our 42" LG widescreen TV. Pixilation was minimal, colors were as good as or better than standard TV, and there were no instances of video skipping or stuttering. Content downloaded from SanDisk's Fanfare service varied - more popular, main-stream shows were very clean and smooth, whereas B-list content was embarrassingly pixilated and splotchy. Home-converted video will probably trump Fanfare downloaded content, at least for a while. 

Wireless or Streaming?

Nope. These are not the intended uses for the tiny TakeTV. TakeTV is meant to be a sneaker net device, which means you walk it from your computer to your TV. While some people may complain that the TakeTV doesn't have wireless built in like the Apple TV, others will realize that this is part of the elegant simplicity of the TakeTV.

MP3s or Photos?

Sorry. This version of the TakeTV is for video only - no MP3s and no JPG images. Even though a call to SanDisk's tech support center resulted in an affirmation that MP3s should work (based on the MPEG codec family), the empirical evidence says 'no'. Perhaps a future revision of the TakeTV device will include JPG stills and MP3/WMA audio. For now, just recite the name of the product to remember that it's intended for TV - video.

Mac or PC?

On the product packaging and even in some press release materials, Windows XP and Vista are mentioned as system requirements. The TakeTV will work with ANY operating system because it's just a flash drive. It works just as well on the MacBook Pro as it does on any PC. The only caveat - the Fanfare program only works on XP or Vista. And yes, it'll work fine through Parallels or Boot Camp.

Fanfare?

SanDisk set up a new service called "Fanfare". It's like a video-on-demand service that allows you to go online (using the included software for Windows XP and Vista) and download DRM-protected content to play on your TV via the TakeTV device. It's in beta stages right now, but it has plenty of decent content from CBS, Showtime, Smithsonian, Weather Channel, etc. As time rolls on (and if the service survives) content options will expand dramatically.

Fanfare Screenshot

The program installer is about 7.4MB. The setup process takes about 3 minutes and requires Adobe Flash player on your system. (The installer performs a compatibility check and will advise you of any necessary items.) Once the software is installed, you'll be prompted to register for the Fanfare service. You'll be asked for your DOB, name and email address.

Once logged in to Fanfare, browsing content is easy - scroll up or down through the different network channels. Click the + symbol to download content directly to the TakeTV flash drive. Fanfare content isn't all free. For example, a recent episode of CSI Miami (43 minutes, 552MB) has a standard price of $1.99 USD, but was marked as "Free Limited Time Only". Frankly, $1.99 for a single episode of a TV show seems crazy but it's the going price, even on iTunes. Some short films were on the Fanfare site for $4.99 and the rest of the content was either free or temporarily free (probably due to beta status). Files downloaded from the Fanfare service are DRM protected and have a files extension of ".smbv".

The online "Fanfare" service is completely optional. Use it for existing content, all of which looks great and play beautifully. You can also hook yourself up with a DivX conversion program and all your home videos can be converted for use on the TakeTV. DivX Pro costs about $20 and works well.

Conclusion

SanDisk's Sansa TakeTV is a fun little device for taking video content off the computer and putting it on TV. Its size and weight makes it amazingly simple to transport from one TV set to another. If you have more than one TV at home, or if you want to take the TakeTV to a friend's house, it's a matter of seconds to disconnect and reconnect the device.

There's no complex wireless connection to set up. It's plug & play and almost 100% dummy proof. It's a basic "sneaker net" version of the Apple TV, which makes the TakeTV absolutely perfect for people who want a simple, easy to figure out, easy to use, no hassle device that can still deliver great looking video.

The Sansa TakeTV will probably not appeal to videophiles who demand full HD for all their content, however this device is not intended for that audience - yet.

The TakeTV would make an awesome (and affordable) Christmas present for the geek or TV addict in your life. It's a gift that would keep on giving.


Pros:

• Super easy to set up & use
• Excellent quality video
• Tiny, unobtrusive and sleek design
• Plays DivX, Xvid and MPEG-4-based video
• Hardware works on standard & widescreen TVs
• Use hardware with Mac, PC, Linux, etc.
• Easy to move between TVs
• Awesome for business presentations or mobile displays
• Plays DRM and non-DRM content

Cons:

• Fanfare software is XP/Vista only
• Does not do HD content
• No photos or MP3s yet