Click ME!!!!
My POV, netbooks are REALLY usable. They are not a laptop/desktop replacement, they are more of like a companion and I believe this is why it's selling so well. Yeah, people have their Iphones, Palm Pre's, Blackberries, etc. but do you really want to surf the internet and even write emails on those little things?!?!
Trust me, once you have a netbook, any viewpoint you might have WILL change (speaking from experience!).
See you later guys!
Monday, August 31, 2009
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Couple of pics and professional reviews...
I was looking into writing a review for the Toshiba NB205 but after looking at a couple of reviews on the net I was basically going to reach the same conclusions, so instead of posting the whole thing, I'll just post some links and my overview and of course, some pics...
NotebookReview.com take on the NB205
LaptopMag.com take on the NB205
Some pics...
NotebookReview.com take on the NB205
LaptopMag.com take on the NB205
Some pics...
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Toshiba Mini arrived at my doorstep yesterday...
and it sure it's pretty! (at least prettier than the Acer to my eyes -- only negative on looks it's a big bezel where the integrated webcam is...).
I'll upload a couple of pictures and my take on it soon.
Check.
P.S. Writing this from it's beautiful island-style keyboard.. :-p
I'll upload a couple of pictures and my take on it soon.
Check.
P.S. Writing this from it's beautiful island-style keyboard.. :-p
Thursday, August 13, 2009
After the Archos I guess the next step...
is an UMPC!!!!
Uhhhhh... a MID?!?!!!
Naaaaahhhh I'm a talking about a netbook son! :-p
So I went to the local Walmart and picked up an Acer Aspire One D250-1326 (white) just to test it out because... well ... I'm a dork!
Specification:
Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition (SP3 version)
Intel® Atom™ Processor N270 (512KB L2 cache, 1.60GHz, 533MHz FSB)
1GB DDR2 533 SDRAM
160GB hard drive
Multi-in-one card reader
10.1" WSVGA (1024 x 600) TFT display Acer® CrystalBrite Technology
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
802.11b/g WLAN, 10/100 LAN
Webcam
Seashell white chassis
Three-cell battery
One-year limited warranty
So first things first, most of the netbooks out there HAVE THE SAME SPECIFICATIONS, so there's nothing new there... BUT, what really messes this unit up is the 3 cell battery! With a 3 cell battery, is not worth it having a netbook as it brings only 3 hours max. of usage! But we'll get to that...
What's included?
It's a pretty organized package and it consists of:
- Netbook
- AC Adapter
- Battery (3-cell)
- Instructions
And that's pretty much it!
Is it really small!?
It is definitely portable!
When I first picked it up I thought I was going to break the thing! ;-)
But no, it is small but sturdy. It doesn't feel cheap. The unit weighs less than 3 pounds and measures 10.2" (258.5mm) W x 7.2" (184.0mm) D x 1.0” (25.4) H. So I was happy seeing it in action. I took some shots against my Archos 7 and against a normal size laptop.
So... as seen by the pictures, yep, it is that small.
Performance:
If you are used to a desktop or a good laptop then you will miss them dearly! lol These netbooks are dogs compared to desktops/laptops. They are made frankly for internet browsing and non-CPU intensive stuff... maybe some Office work, listening to music and SD videos. I tested this machine opening some Powerpoint presentations, Word Documents, etc. I had saved and it performed really well. Internet browsing was a pleasure, installed Firefox and had like 7 tabs opened and performance was not suffering. Played some mp3 files I had while browsing, and again, all was good. For movies though, the Divx files I tested were Ok... I tried playing an MKV I had lying around my external hard drive (Pacquiao vs Hatton ;-)) and well... let's just say.. STICK WITH DIVX VIDEOS! ;-)
The keyboard and pad was not that bad but again, if you are used to normal size keyboards, you will struggle for a few hours... but after a bit I was writing stuff up as normal (writing this from there) and flowing.
This netbook recognized my network quite quickly. Inserted the password and I was downloading new antivirus software from the comfort of my bed! :-p Speeds were good transfering files also.
Basically what I'm getting at, this little unit is very usable! I haven't used it out but I have a feeling I will!... though... NOT THIS NETBOOK
The only thing that got to me was the 3 cell battery! If I'm going to have a netbook, I want one that will at least last half a day and not 2 or 3 hours. So, the best thing about Walmart, you can return the merch and ask for a refund! ;-)
I will look into getting the Toshiba Mini NB205-310. It looks good, keyboard is even bigger and their 6-cell battery lasts up to 8 hours!!!!!!! Now that is nice!
Anyway, that's all.
Just a quick overview for this netbook in particular.
Should I get a netbook?
Well, it depends on what you really want/need.
If you have a network at home and like to do things from different rooms whether it is working, browsing, etc. while you are in bed, taking a crap or whatever, then this is a really good SUPPLEMENT to any system you might have. It should do well outside too.
But remember... as a SUPPLEMENT to an existing system this is a-ok. As a main system... DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!!! Better spend a few more bucks and get a good all-around laptop. But for small work tasks, internet browsing, music and SD movies, these 10 inchers do their job!!!!!
Any comments, feel free to post!
Bye.
Uhhhhh... a MID?!?!!!
Naaaaahhhh I'm a talking about a netbook son! :-p
So I went to the local Walmart and picked up an Acer Aspire One D250-1326 (white) just to test it out because... well ... I'm a dork!
Specification:
Genuine Windows® XP Home Edition (SP3 version)
Intel® Atom™ Processor N270 (512KB L2 cache, 1.60GHz, 533MHz FSB)
1GB DDR2 533 SDRAM
160GB hard drive
Multi-in-one card reader
10.1" WSVGA (1024 x 600) TFT display Acer® CrystalBrite Technology
Intel® Graphics Media Accelerator 950
802.11b/g WLAN, 10/100 LAN
Webcam
Seashell white chassis
Three-cell battery
One-year limited warranty
So first things first, most of the netbooks out there HAVE THE SAME SPECIFICATIONS, so there's nothing new there... BUT, what really messes this unit up is the 3 cell battery! With a 3 cell battery, is not worth it having a netbook as it brings only 3 hours max. of usage! But we'll get to that...
What's included?
It's a pretty organized package and it consists of:
- Netbook
- AC Adapter
- Battery (3-cell)
- Instructions
And that's pretty much it!
Is it really small!?
It is definitely portable!
When I first picked it up I thought I was going to break the thing! ;-)
But no, it is small but sturdy. It doesn't feel cheap. The unit weighs less than 3 pounds and measures 10.2" (258.5mm) W x 7.2" (184.0mm) D x 1.0” (25.4) H. So I was happy seeing it in action. I took some shots against my Archos 7 and against a normal size laptop.
So... as seen by the pictures, yep, it is that small.
Performance:
If you are used to a desktop or a good laptop then you will miss them dearly! lol These netbooks are dogs compared to desktops/laptops. They are made frankly for internet browsing and non-CPU intensive stuff... maybe some Office work, listening to music and SD videos. I tested this machine opening some Powerpoint presentations, Word Documents, etc. I had saved and it performed really well. Internet browsing was a pleasure, installed Firefox and had like 7 tabs opened and performance was not suffering. Played some mp3 files I had while browsing, and again, all was good. For movies though, the Divx files I tested were Ok... I tried playing an MKV I had lying around my external hard drive (Pacquiao vs Hatton ;-)) and well... let's just say.. STICK WITH DIVX VIDEOS! ;-)
The keyboard and pad was not that bad but again, if you are used to normal size keyboards, you will struggle for a few hours... but after a bit I was writing stuff up as normal (writing this from there) and flowing.
This netbook recognized my network quite quickly. Inserted the password and I was downloading new antivirus software from the comfort of my bed! :-p Speeds were good transfering files also.
Basically what I'm getting at, this little unit is very usable! I haven't used it out but I have a feeling I will!... though... NOT THIS NETBOOK
The only thing that got to me was the 3 cell battery! If I'm going to have a netbook, I want one that will at least last half a day and not 2 or 3 hours. So, the best thing about Walmart, you can return the merch and ask for a refund! ;-)
I will look into getting the Toshiba Mini NB205-310. It looks good, keyboard is even bigger and their 6-cell battery lasts up to 8 hours!!!!!!! Now that is nice!
Anyway, that's all.
Just a quick overview for this netbook in particular.
Should I get a netbook?
Well, it depends on what you really want/need.
If you have a network at home and like to do things from different rooms whether it is working, browsing, etc. while you are in bed, taking a crap or whatever, then this is a really good SUPPLEMENT to any system you might have. It should do well outside too.
But remember... as a SUPPLEMENT to an existing system this is a-ok. As a main system... DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT!!!!! Better spend a few more bucks and get a good all-around laptop. But for small work tasks, internet browsing, music and SD movies, these 10 inchers do their job!!!!!
Any comments, feel free to post!
Bye.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Archos 7 Review...
Hello guys and gals.
So finally, after a few weeks of major use of the so called "Internet Media Tablet", the Archos 7, I can say without question that this is indeed definitely the PMP to have! We will get into the pros and cons in a bit but let me talk to you about my experiences.
Do you need the Archos 7?
The Archos 7 is the 6th generation of PMP players from Archos and definitely one-ups the previous iterations. The design is bolder and beautiful (both the Archos 5 and 7) than their previous counterparts the Archos 605 and 705, battery life has been improved, the internet browser plug-in is now free once you register your player and internet navigation is faster. Now if you are questioning, why the heck did you buy the Archos 7? Well, that's easy! I'm already the proud owner of an Archos 605 WiFi 30GB unit and I believe it is indeed one of the finest, if not the finest, portable media player out there. Yes it is kind of bulky and not so pretty but it does its job and it does it well! Since I'm a movie buff, I wanted a player with a bigger screen but most important, those "measly" 30GB from the 605 were already coming to an end... I needed something with more capacity and that's where the Archos 7 came in! So the answer to this first question, do you need the Archos 7, it will really depend on what PMP you have right now and your needs! If you use your PMPs for music as the main use, then you can get the 5 or another lighter and smaller player. If you are into movies, then you will know my answer! ;-)
The box contains the following:
1) USB Transfer cable (Proprietary!)
2) Cheapo In-ear Headphones (Plastic and uncomfortable!)
3) Charger (with multiple plugs for the different regions of the world!)
4) Plastic thingie for the Docking Station if you decide to buy one
5) Cleaning Cloth
6) Quick Start Guide, promotional stuff and Legal and Safety Notice documentation
Is it really that big?
Ohhhh yes it is! lol
Is not only big, it's heavy as hell! ;-)
The dimension for this is, according to their web page, Approx. 190 x 110 x 16 mm ; 7.48" x 4.33" x 0.629". The weight is Approx. 640 gr.; 23oz.. definitely greater than my trusty 605. But maybe some pics will give you a better indication of what am talking about... and just forget those numbers above! hehehehe
(and yes, that's a Swiffer in the corner! -- which I don't use often! hehehehe)
Internet Media Tablet?
Archos is selling the Archos 5 and 7 as Internet Media Tablets and well, they are kind of stretching it for a bit. Why? When your browser doesn't even include a FULL version of Flash (they have Flash Lite), you cannot reaaaaally call your unit an Internet Media Tablet so I will refer to them as PMPs with great WIFI capabilities! :-p Internet access via WiFi has definitely improved over the previous version (at least it is way faster than my 605!). The touchscreen is definitely more responsive and thanks to the big screen, the software keyboard is more convenient and responds quite well to either your thumbs or nails! The unit also found my Media Server quite fast and I was listening to the music in my PC in seconds! I don't have any complaints regarding the Wifi use on this thing (great to use while in the crapper and you want to see your email! hehehehe)... Speaking of E-mail, they include an application where you can configure the email directly from there (provided you have the POP settings).
Also, they have included a "WebTV and Web Radio" application but I'm not really into that kind of thing though. It works, but.. meeehhhhh I guess Iif I buy a PMP I will load it with the music and movies I want to watch with the quality I expect so I don't have much use for this app.
How is it as a music player?
First I have to say that the best improvement over the 605 or even the Archos 5 is the battery life!!!! Rated by the company as 39 hours running time, I could get 31 hours easily just listening to music (no videos, no internet or wifi use, headphones at almost Max and LCD brightness at Medium!). Music reproduction is comparable to the 605 and the Equalizer settings are extremely similar, if not the same, to the 605. The Archos 7 provides support for stereo MP3 decoding @ 30-320 Kbits/s CBR & VBR. It also supports WMA, Protected WMA, WMA pro 5.1 and WAV (PCM/ADPCM). Finally it can read FLAC and OGG Vorbis (via FIRMWARE UPDATE!) and AC3 stereo audio and 5.1 sound files (via SPDIF output of DVR Station -- which I did not buy since I have the 605 for that now... more of that in a bit!) Archos has plug-ins to support more formats (AAC3 and AAC+)
There's one bug though... if the album art is embedded on the MP3, the sound usually skips at the start of the track... It's a bit annoying but I can live with that.
How is this big thing as a Movie Player?
One word: AWESOME
I have to say though, the screen COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER!
For a 7-incher, it sports the same resolution as the Archos 5 (800 x 480) and it is NOT a glossy screen (such as the 5 -- but Archos is also making matte screens for the 5). I don't mind it at all because it looks GREAT! Battery life for Video Playback is rated at an astonishing 10 hours... for me it lasted 6 hours with Max Volume using headphones and Medium brightness (they probably tested with Low brightness). What formats does it supports?
MPEG-42 (ASP@L5 AVI, up to DVD resolution)
WMV (MP@ML, up to DVD resolution) including WMV protected files
M-JPEG (Motion JPEG Video) in QVGA resolution
Flash videos
With optional plug-in:
HD support: MPEG-4 (ASP 720p) & WMV HD (MP 720p)
H.264 up to DVD resolution with AAC
MPEG-2 MP@ML up to 10 Mbps (up to DVD resolution) and AC3 stereo sound (5.1)
So all of my Divx and Xvid, Digital Copy files, etc. are playable and they look great. HD content plays great but be aware, there's a SIZE restriction, so those MKVs you download you'll probably have to convert them (I did convert them to WMV HD and it looks A-OK!!!!) Also, I have experienced crashes while watching videos and it's sporadic... (it's as if the Hard Disk unmounts itself and you have to power-off and power-on the unit! :-( )
Anything else?!?
Well, as everyone that follows the PMP scene should know, Archos likes, no scratch that, LOVES to milk their units! They SELL what should come with these expensive units for free. For music and videos you would need to buy some plug-ins in order to play everything if you don't want to convert stuff. If you would like to record shows from the TV, then you will need to buy the 6th generation DVR Station (yes guys/gals, the old one doesn't work!), etc. In order to output to my TV, I had to buy the Mini Dock (it's on the First picture here!) and it works Ok!
Also, the Archos units supports some Widgets and Games... it's Ok but this is not really an iPod Touch killer here!
Should I go for this? Or just get a netbook?
This is an INTERESTING QUESTION!
With a netbook you can do most of what you can with the Archos 7 but a bit better (i.e. Full Internet access, real keyboard, etc.) Also, there are CHEAPER netbooks out there and they also play music, videos, etc. So... what's my take? If you plan to do a bit of work in the internet (i.e. a lot of typing involved) and don't mind carrying a bigger unit (most of the netbooks sport a 10 inch display) then you can spend your $350 or $400 on a netbook... I'm thinking of buying one just for the heck of it... but BE AWARE, Battery life will be lower unless you get one with a 6-cell battery... and that would probably defeat the portability of the netbook but again, the Archos 7 is NOT that portable anyway... ;-)
So in the end it will be your choice.
Or just buy BOTH! :-p
(Following pictures are from a Samsung NC-10 and Toshiba Mini 205)
Other Alternatives?
For video?!?
Forget about it!
Not Apple, Creative, Cowon, etc. have a unit as great as the Archos 7, PERIOD!!!
For music,
you could do a lot better (Cowon S9, Walkman X-Series, etc.)
For the complete package, well, the iPod Touch.
(note that all of the SDD units will lack a lot of disk space!)
Cowon S9 Reviews
Cowon S9 Review 1
TestFreaks site
Conclusion, Pros and Cons
All in all, I love the Archos even though I spend a few bucks for:
The Mini Dock
A JavoEdge Case
Plug-ins (via E-Bay of course it's WAY CHEAPER!)
etc.
There's a few annoyances such as the mentioned MP3 and album art issue, freezes while playing videos, etc. but I can live with those. Hopefully this unit will last me a ton and keep me entertained for a while.
Pros:
1) Best capacity (Hard disk space - 160GB or 320GB) for the money out there out of any competing player
2) Good screen (although it's a matte screen, not glossy and the res. could have been better!)
3) Great Battery life for music and video (I got 32 hours of music and 6:12 of video at medium back-light and full volume using headphones)
4) Battery is REMOVABLE!
5) Fast Internet Browsing
6) Touch support has been updated from previous players (very responsive!)
7) Soft-keyboard is great (mostly due to the big screen!)
8) Supports Flash (note: The OS includes Flash Lite and not a full flash version, hence some internet sites such as HULU are not viewable!)
Cons:
1) Random freezes when playing videos (I thought it was a specific codec combination but it seems to just happen randomly)
2) These units are billed as INTERNET MEDIA TABLETS and yet they don't offer FULL Flash support? Wow!
3) The need of PLUG-INS to unlock the FULL capability of the unit!
4) If album art are embedded on MP3s, the beginning of the tracks skip for a bit.
5) Total lack of support from Archos! (i.e. THEY ARE NOT PLANNING ON RELEASING MORE FIRMWARE UPDATES FOR THE ARCHOS 5 and ARCHOS 7!!!!)
6) The casing is a fingerprint magnet (bought a case just to avoid this! ;-)
Any suggestions, comments or questions, write it up! :-p
Thanks.
Have a great weekend!
So finally, after a few weeks of major use of the so called "Internet Media Tablet", the Archos 7, I can say without question that this is indeed definitely the PMP to have! We will get into the pros and cons in a bit but let me talk to you about my experiences.
Do you need the Archos 7?
The Archos 7 is the 6th generation of PMP players from Archos and definitely one-ups the previous iterations. The design is bolder and beautiful (both the Archos 5 and 7) than their previous counterparts the Archos 605 and 705, battery life has been improved, the internet browser plug-in is now free once you register your player and internet navigation is faster. Now if you are questioning, why the heck did you buy the Archos 7? Well, that's easy! I'm already the proud owner of an Archos 605 WiFi 30GB unit and I believe it is indeed one of the finest, if not the finest, portable media player out there. Yes it is kind of bulky and not so pretty but it does its job and it does it well! Since I'm a movie buff, I wanted a player with a bigger screen but most important, those "measly" 30GB from the 605 were already coming to an end... I needed something with more capacity and that's where the Archos 7 came in! So the answer to this first question, do you need the Archos 7, it will really depend on what PMP you have right now and your needs! If you use your PMPs for music as the main use, then you can get the 5 or another lighter and smaller player. If you are into movies, then you will know my answer! ;-)
The box contains the following:
1) USB Transfer cable (Proprietary!)
2) Cheapo In-ear Headphones (Plastic and uncomfortable!)
3) Charger (with multiple plugs for the different regions of the world!)
4) Plastic thingie for the Docking Station if you decide to buy one
5) Cleaning Cloth
6) Quick Start Guide, promotional stuff and Legal and Safety Notice documentation
Is it really that big?
Ohhhh yes it is! lol
Is not only big, it's heavy as hell! ;-)
The dimension for this is, according to their web page, Approx. 190 x 110 x 16 mm ; 7.48" x 4.33" x 0.629". The weight is Approx. 640 gr.; 23oz.. definitely greater than my trusty 605. But maybe some pics will give you a better indication of what am talking about... and just forget those numbers above! hehehehe
(and yes, that's a Swiffer in the corner! -- which I don't use often! hehehehe)
Internet Media Tablet?
Archos is selling the Archos 5 and 7 as Internet Media Tablets and well, they are kind of stretching it for a bit. Why? When your browser doesn't even include a FULL version of Flash (they have Flash Lite), you cannot reaaaaally call your unit an Internet Media Tablet so I will refer to them as PMPs with great WIFI capabilities! :-p Internet access via WiFi has definitely improved over the previous version (at least it is way faster than my 605!). The touchscreen is definitely more responsive and thanks to the big screen, the software keyboard is more convenient and responds quite well to either your thumbs or nails! The unit also found my Media Server quite fast and I was listening to the music in my PC in seconds! I don't have any complaints regarding the Wifi use on this thing (great to use while in the crapper and you want to see your email! hehehehe)... Speaking of E-mail, they include an application where you can configure the email directly from there (provided you have the POP settings).
Also, they have included a "WebTV and Web Radio" application but I'm not really into that kind of thing though. It works, but.. meeehhhhh I guess Iif I buy a PMP I will load it with the music and movies I want to watch with the quality I expect so I don't have much use for this app.
How is it as a music player?
First I have to say that the best improvement over the 605 or even the Archos 5 is the battery life!!!! Rated by the company as 39 hours running time, I could get 31 hours easily just listening to music (no videos, no internet or wifi use, headphones at almost Max and LCD brightness at Medium!). Music reproduction is comparable to the 605 and the Equalizer settings are extremely similar, if not the same, to the 605. The Archos 7 provides support for stereo MP3 decoding @ 30-320 Kbits/s CBR & VBR. It also supports WMA, Protected WMA, WMA pro 5.1 and WAV (PCM/ADPCM). Finally it can read FLAC and OGG Vorbis (via FIRMWARE UPDATE!) and AC3 stereo audio and 5.1 sound files (via SPDIF output of DVR Station -- which I did not buy since I have the 605 for that now... more of that in a bit!) Archos has plug-ins to support more formats (AAC3 and AAC+)
There's one bug though... if the album art is embedded on the MP3, the sound usually skips at the start of the track... It's a bit annoying but I can live with that.
How is this big thing as a Movie Player?
One word: AWESOME
I have to say though, the screen COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER!
For a 7-incher, it sports the same resolution as the Archos 5 (800 x 480) and it is NOT a glossy screen (such as the 5 -- but Archos is also making matte screens for the 5). I don't mind it at all because it looks GREAT! Battery life for Video Playback is rated at an astonishing 10 hours... for me it lasted 6 hours with Max Volume using headphones and Medium brightness (they probably tested with Low brightness). What formats does it supports?
MPEG-42 (ASP@L5 AVI, up to DVD resolution)
WMV (MP@ML, up to DVD resolution) including WMV protected files
M-JPEG (Motion JPEG Video) in QVGA resolution
Flash videos
With optional plug-in:
HD support: MPEG-4 (ASP 720p) & WMV HD (MP 720p)
H.264 up to DVD resolution with AAC
MPEG-2 MP@ML up to 10 Mbps (up to DVD resolution) and AC3 stereo sound (5.1)
So all of my Divx and Xvid, Digital Copy files, etc. are playable and they look great. HD content plays great but be aware, there's a SIZE restriction, so those MKVs you download you'll probably have to convert them (I did convert them to WMV HD and it looks A-OK!!!!) Also, I have experienced crashes while watching videos and it's sporadic... (it's as if the Hard Disk unmounts itself and you have to power-off and power-on the unit! :-( )
Anything else?!?
Well, as everyone that follows the PMP scene should know, Archos likes, no scratch that, LOVES to milk their units! They SELL what should come with these expensive units for free. For music and videos you would need to buy some plug-ins in order to play everything if you don't want to convert stuff. If you would like to record shows from the TV, then you will need to buy the 6th generation DVR Station (yes guys/gals, the old one doesn't work!), etc. In order to output to my TV, I had to buy the Mini Dock (it's on the First picture here!) and it works Ok!
Also, the Archos units supports some Widgets and Games... it's Ok but this is not really an iPod Touch killer here!
Should I go for this? Or just get a netbook?
This is an INTERESTING QUESTION!
With a netbook you can do most of what you can with the Archos 7 but a bit better (i.e. Full Internet access, real keyboard, etc.) Also, there are CHEAPER netbooks out there and they also play music, videos, etc. So... what's my take? If you plan to do a bit of work in the internet (i.e. a lot of typing involved) and don't mind carrying a bigger unit (most of the netbooks sport a 10 inch display) then you can spend your $350 or $400 on a netbook... I'm thinking of buying one just for the heck of it... but BE AWARE, Battery life will be lower unless you get one with a 6-cell battery... and that would probably defeat the portability of the netbook but again, the Archos 7 is NOT that portable anyway... ;-)
So in the end it will be your choice.
Or just buy BOTH! :-p
(Following pictures are from a Samsung NC-10 and Toshiba Mini 205)
Other Alternatives?
For video?!?
Forget about it!
Not Apple, Creative, Cowon, etc. have a unit as great as the Archos 7, PERIOD!!!
For music,
you could do a lot better (Cowon S9, Walkman X-Series, etc.)
For the complete package, well, the iPod Touch.
(note that all of the SDD units will lack a lot of disk space!)
Cowon S9 Reviews
Cowon S9 Review 1
TestFreaks site
Conclusion, Pros and Cons
All in all, I love the Archos even though I spend a few bucks for:
The Mini Dock
A JavoEdge Case
Plug-ins (via E-Bay of course it's WAY CHEAPER!)
etc.
There's a few annoyances such as the mentioned MP3 and album art issue, freezes while playing videos, etc. but I can live with those. Hopefully this unit will last me a ton and keep me entertained for a while.
Pros:
1) Best capacity (Hard disk space - 160GB or 320GB) for the money out there out of any competing player
2) Good screen (although it's a matte screen, not glossy and the res. could have been better!)
3) Great Battery life for music and video (I got 32 hours of music and 6:12 of video at medium back-light and full volume using headphones)
4) Battery is REMOVABLE!
5) Fast Internet Browsing
6) Touch support has been updated from previous players (very responsive!)
7) Soft-keyboard is great (mostly due to the big screen!)
8) Supports Flash (note: The OS includes Flash Lite and not a full flash version, hence some internet sites such as HULU are not viewable!)
Cons:
1) Random freezes when playing videos (I thought it was a specific codec combination but it seems to just happen randomly)
2) These units are billed as INTERNET MEDIA TABLETS and yet they don't offer FULL Flash support? Wow!
3) The need of PLUG-INS to unlock the FULL capability of the unit!
4) If album art are embedded on MP3s, the beginning of the tracks skip for a bit.
5) Total lack of support from Archos! (i.e. THEY ARE NOT PLANNING ON RELEASING MORE FIRMWARE UPDATES FOR THE ARCHOS 5 and ARCHOS 7!!!!)
6) The casing is a fingerprint magnet (bought a case just to avoid this! ;-)
Any suggestions, comments or questions, write it up! :-p
Thanks.
Have a great weekend!
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