Archos AV4100 100 GB Pocket Video Recorder

by Archos

Product Details

• Item Weight: 11.4 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0007U9KFE
• Item model number: 500698
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The ARCHOS Pocket Video Recorder AV4100 is the ultimate handheld digital video recorder that offers TV recording and a portable home entertainment center in one pocket-sized device.

The AV4100 experience starts in the living room where you can record TV shows and movies directly from a TV, VCR, or cable / satellite receiver with a convenient one-time set-up TV Cradle.

But entertainment enjoyment goes far beyond the living room. When on the go, you can watch videos and view photos on the large color LCD screen, listen to and record music, transfer photos from your digital camera and data files from your PC.

The Recording Scheduler automatically finds and digitally records the programs and movies that interest you.

Pocket DVR with convenient, one-time set-up TV Cradle Dock the AV4100 in the TV Cradle and let it record up to 400 hours of TV programs and movies directly from a TV, VCR, cable box, or satellite tuner. Once you have connected the cradle for the first time, you will not have to reconnect the cables each time you get home. Just dock the AV4100 and you are ready to record or view files on the TV. Recording Scheduler - relax while it does the work for you! While you are busy doing other things, the Recording Scheduler automatically finds and digitally records the programs and movies that interest you. The AV4100 starts recording based on the time and duration of the recording schedule you have established. More details

Program Recordings in advance with Yahoo! Calendar

For those who have a My Yahoo! account and use the calendar feature, the AV4100 can read the TV programs scheduled into your personal calendar and thus make scheduled recordings. You can sign up for an account and learn how to use the My Yahoo! TV and calendar functions at the Yahoo! Website.

Beyond the Living Room... My Life in My pocket Entertainment enjoyment goes far beyond the living room. When on the go, you can watch videos and view photos on the large color LCD screen, listen to and record music, transfer photos from memory cards, and transfer data files all with one pocket-sized device. The result is that all your personal media and data content are always in your pocket. Store & View photos Store and view thousands of JPEG photos and make a slide show for family and friends - in two clicks with no computer needed! You can download photos directly from a PC or Macintosh computer through the USB 2.0 interface. Transfer photos from digital camera You can also, instantly, transfer photos from memory cards from any digital camera to the AV4100 using the built-in CompactFlash reader. If you have an SD, MMC, SmartMedia, Memory Stick or Memory Stick Pro, just add the AV4100's 4-in-1 optional adapter to transfer images.

Store and view thousands of JPEG photos and make a slide show for family and friends.

Friendly Interface

ARCHOS launched the first portable video player in 2002, the Jukebox Multimedia. Since then, the company has gained an in-depth experience that has enabled us to develop the industry's most advanced operating system for portable video devices. It has never been easier to quickly access the function you want by clicking on the specific icon. Enjoy thumbnail views for photos and videos.

Pocket Video Playback recorded TV shows or movies on the go on the built-in color LCD. You can also display video content on a TV or video projector for at-home viewing with family and friends. The AV4100 plays MPEG-4 video in DVD quality (704x480 @ 30 f/s) with CD quality stereo sound. All your videos with you anywhere, anytime. Music Player Listen to and record 300 to 1500 hours of music - big enough to hold 25,000 songs! The AV4100 plays MP3, WMA (including protected files, with Microsoft's Windows Media Digital Rights Management), and WAV music files and is compatible with major on-line music stores. Easily organize songs with the ARCHOS ARClibrary and view by artist, genre, title and year (ID3 compatible). The AV4100 can record from any standard audio source with high-quality stereo sound. All your music with you anywhere, anytime.

The AV4100 offers playback for your favorite music and video files.

Voice Recorder

Use the internal Microphone for making voice recordings on the go or add an optional external Stereo Microphone (available for sale in our accessories catalog).

Additional Drive

The Pocket Video Recorder AV4100 is seen as an additional drive on your computer (PC or Macintosh). Store any computer file using the USB 2.0 interface, which is also USB 1.1 compatible. Once your data is stored in the AV4100, you can easily organize files while on the go thanks to the Double Browser.

Organize files while on the go - no computer needed

The Double Browser is an easy-to-use music file management system for organizing your files will on the go. This unique file management functionality allows you to delete, rename, copy, move files and even create folders directly on the AV4100 without using a computer - ideal for photographers who want to organize photo files when on a shoot.

Product Description

You've heard the saying, "The world is your oyster". With Archos AV4100, the world is your very own living room. With the AV4100, you can record and watch videos on the large color LCD screen, listen to your favorite music, and view your entire digital photo album all on one device. The AV4100 experience starts in the living room where you can record television shows and movies directly from a TV, VCR, cable set-top box or satellite receiver with a convenient TV Cradle. At the same time, the AV4100 takes personal entertainment enjoyment far beyond the living room, where consumers can watch videos and view photos on a large color LCD screen, listen to and record music, and transfer photos from a digital camera and data files from a PC or Macintosh. Its huge 100GB capacity makes this portable handheld jukebox, an amazing and powerful digital-media-device for all seasons - Music - Video - Photos. It's a pearl. Store and view up to one million JPEG photos Play MP3 - WMA (including protected files) and WAV music files Listen to and record off the radio (with optional FM Radio & Remote Control) Download and store files from a PC Display - 3.8' TFT LCD depending on model and availability, (QVGA) 320x240 pixels, 262 000 colors and TV output Interfaces - USB 2.0 high-speed, compatible USB 1.1, PC & Macintosh / Built-in CompactFlash Type I slot to accept CompactFlash memory cards (optional 4 in 1 CF adapter for SD, SM, MMC, MS and MS Pro - not included) Video playback - MPEG-4 SP with MP3 or ADPCM stereo sound, near DVD quality up to 704x480 @ 30 f/s, AVI file format Video recording - MPEG-4 SP with ADPCM stereo sound Unit Dimensions - 4.9 x 3.1 x 1 / Weight 11.29 oz Includes Rechargeable Battery, Remote Control with 2 AA batteries, Protective case, USB 2.0 cable, Stereo headphone, Manual, AC adapter and charger

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything I had expected it to be..., April 9, 2005

By 

Dani Z. (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Archos AV4100 100 GB Pocket Video Recorder (Electronics)

I have had my Archos AV4100 (100 GB version) for about a week now, and I must say, it is wonderful! Before purchasing it, I read many many reviews both on Amazon and on the WWW. Some of the reviews were really good and others reported problems such as frequent freezing, bad sound quality, etc, etc. However, I must say, I am very pleased with my purchase; and believe me, I put a lot of thought into it (5 monthes of thinking to be exact). It is a rather large investment, but I must say, it is worth it. And here is why:

- The setup was a no brainer. You plug it into your computer with the USB and the computer will automatically detect your new hardware and install all the needed software and drivers (since they're all in the ARCHOS device).

- The TV/VCR/DVD recording setup and usage is really simple. However, if your DVD is copyright protected, you'll only be able to play it back on the LCD (it won't play on your TV or on your computer).

- The sound quality is fine. The speaker can become really squeaky and coarse if you put it up really loud, but in general, the sound is not bad at all.

- I haven't really used the photo-viewing ability, but so far, with the sample pictures that comes with the device, the photoviewer works fine.

- The music player is really cool. The interface is exceptional and if you play on shuffle, it'll display what the next song in queue is. The only disappointment that I have with the music player is the playlist. It was a little confusing at first to set up a playlist and even after I made one, it didn't show up when I wanted it to. But after a little playing around, I figured everything out.

- Lastly, I did have a freezing problem the 2nd day I had the device, but the manual (you can find it online) explained how to troubleshoot the problem, and after updating the OS (all new firmware can be downloaded through the Archos website for free), I didn't have that problem again.

Thus, the Archos AV4100 is a great device and I definitely recommend it to anyone; it is well worth the price. Plus, I would get the 100GB version, because 20GB is just not enough when you're talking about videos that take up about 4GB each, and I wouldn't get the 80GB one because apparently it has some more flaws than it should. Also, is you want this for entertainment purposes, the 100GB model is the one for you.

The Archos PMA430 (the palm pilot-ish/video/mp3/picture player/viewer thing) is a great innovation but it is really slow and there are still a lot of bugs with the software and stuff. I was gonna buy the PMA430, but after seeing the video on this site (http://www.archosfans.com), I realized that the palm functions of the PMA430 weren't that great at all. So if you really really want a palm pilot and an PMP/PVP all in one device, wait a while and see what else comes onto the market later on in the year. But if you want a stellar PVP NOW, Archos AV4100 is the one for you.

Oh and the PSP is a mere TOY compared to the AV4100. Don't even try to put these two devices on the same spectrum! The PSP only comes with a 32MB internal memory, which means you can't put anything on it and to view movies on it, you have to buy those little disks that the player reads, which is costly and such a hassle to carry around if you're travelling. The Archos is so much better. That is unless you're a serious gamer.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent product!, March 1, 2005

By 

Terence (Washington DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Archos AV4100 100 GB Pocket Video Recorder (Electronics)

I agree! Fast USB, video support for AVI's (I've already ripped several of my as yet unwatched DVDs to it for watching on the subway), records my favorite shows (Medium, American Idol, Stargate SG-1/Atlantis, Battlestar Galactica) directly to hard drive for later viewing, great video quality, great picture support (jpg, gif, etc.), wonderful full sound for movies and MP3s (not tinny or tiny like my other MP3 player), 100G allows to be used as a portable hard drive for my work files. Screen brightness is great. Was also worried about the quality probs I read about earlier but no such problem now it appears. I've ordered an additional power supply for the office, special standup carrying case, and remote/FM recorder. Definitely highly recommended -- it's my new travelling companion! (BTW, just picked up sony noise cancelling headphones for that theater feel on the noisy trains.) Terence

27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars my pride and joy, August 25, 2005

By 

A. Winter - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Archos AV4100 100 GB Pocket Video Recorder (Electronics)

For many years I've been oogling at various different mp3 players but I never had the nerve to buy one, until I found the Archos AV4100... I had been dealing with CD's for all of high school and I finally gave up and asked for this for my graduation. The Archos is everything I wanted in an mp3 player and more.

I'm a big anime fan and I wanted to have something that could play my anime fansubs anywhere...in addition to my entire music collection. And the archos has the biggest harddrive of any player out there so I knew i didn't have to worry about filling up the hard drive and having to erase stuff from it all the time.

Also, I like to beable to watch my anime on TV but a lot of the shows I watch do not come on american television.. The ARCHOS has a nice feature that allows you to play the video on the archos, on the television screen. most of my anime files are around 100 to 200 mb... not DVD quality by a long shot but when my dad walked into the room and saw my anime playing on the TV, he was very very very surprised to see that it was in fact, coming from the archos...The quality was amazing, and looked even better than when I played it on my computer. No quality whatsoever was lost by expanding the picture to a 36 inch television.

I was worried, before it came, that the screen would be too small to read the subtitles or that the resolution wouldn't be good enough, but neither of those turned out to be a problem. Not only are the subtitles just the perfect size to read, but the resolution is AMAZING for such a small device.

I was also worried, that it would be pretty big and klunky, for having a 100 gig drive and a 3 and a half inch screen and whatnot but the size and weight don't bother me at all. Sure, the ipod looks sleek and is very light, but the ipod screen is NOTHING compared to the archos. Whenever I take it out for someone that hasn't seen it before, they are always amazed... "WHAT is THAT?! That's AWESOME" is the general reaction. The Archos also comes with a carrying case that, if it doesn't fit into your pocket, can be slipped onto your belt and it feels very secure.

Pros:
-HUGE hard drive
-GREAT screen resolution
-customizable interface (you can change the color scheme and background)
-so many features (music, video, recording)
-allows you to make play lists on the go. no need to pre fabricate play lists
-not too heavy or big, for what you get
-allows you to play your downloaded videos on the tv, without having to burn them onto VCDs or DVDs, without losing quality
-good battery life, for its size and functions (5 hours for video/10-12 for music)
-ultra bright screen, customizable setup (LCD brightness, power options, sound equalizer, bass boost)
-built in speaker for when you just happened to forget your headphones (not very loud, but it does the job when you just want to play video or a song for someone)

Cons:
-delicate - when I first recieved my archos, it worked fine but after two days of having it (and a mild bit of abuse) the off button stopped working. I'm not sure if it was because of me, or because it was just defunctional, but its a bit bothersome when you can't turn your mp3 player off. so I sent it in as defective and got a new one. The new one has worked beautifully and I have no complaints.
-screen is delicate too - my first archos had a broken pixel. Just one though, so it was not a big enough problem to return it, but horribly irritating. luckily enough the thing broke anyway so I just got a new one that had a perfect screen
-freezes sometimes - again, the first one i got froze several times and gave me problems when I updated the firmware... but the second one hasn't frozen at all and hasn't given me any problems.

I'm starting to think that it was not the design of the product but just that particular one (the first one i got) that was problematic, since I have had not a single problem with my second one. so don't let my cons discourage you

this is really an excellent product if you're looking for something for all the reasons that i did, and you don't want to follow the ipod trend.

funny story for all you ipod lovers, as well: I have a friend that never let go of her ipod for more than a minute. She would be in the car with her boyfriend and listen to her ipod. She came on vacation with me and had her ipod in her pocket at every second... and then I showed her my archos and we watched some video on it and she went out and bought one. so that goes out to all of you ipod freaks that swore loyalty to Apple: there is a better mp3 player out there and I've got it.