Customer Reviews

Archos AV 700 40 GB Mobile Digital Video Recorder

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Yes, it is a fine bit of engineering, with smart feel and very fast to write and transfer, and fairly intuitive.

My intention was to have it a storage space for all my digital photos so I can drag them around and show to family and friends. Well, it is good ONLY if your digital photos are of the quality produced by a cell-phone in 2003. The problem is the screen: pixellated, cheap-looking, and while it is OK for moving pictures (esp. high-contrast ones that they have running on it in shops as a demo), any photo upwards from 50k in size will look cheapened. You can plug it into TV and the impression is better then, but who wants to do that?

If you think it will be anywhere approaching a portable DVD player or a laptop screen, forget about it.

The upside of photo-viewing is that you can zoom in again and again and the quality will not suffer on the screen, because it is the reproduction, not the actual resolution that is letting you down.

I will also use it as an MP3 player for my travels.

Battery life is poor unless you are not using that screen, which is not surprising: 7 inches will eat any battery pretty quick.

I would not recommend it for any other use apart from the intended one: viewing films.

I have used a laptop and portible dvd player to view videos and prefer my AV700 to both hands down. The unit is about the size of a paperback book. It turns on in seconds. The screen in no different from the LCD on a laptop or dvd player. For convience, it is unmatched. On a Windows computer with XP, the unit is recognized as an extra hard drive making it easy to drag and drop video and music files. During playback of a movie, you can easily "mark" where you stop and the unit can return to that point when you it turn back on. I keep about 30 movies on it at any one time and still have room to spare. The unit works seamlessly with Amazon's video download service. When transferring a file, Windows will tell you if the file is not compatible with the unit and refer you to Windows Media Player, which will convert and download files for you. All in all, using this is a "no brainer". It's easily the best gift I've received in years.

I am a flight attendant and for years I saw my international passengers using this device. I kept looking at all the stores in the US and could not find it. I bought mine the first month they were out here and LOVE it!!

I copy my DVD's from Netflix the minute I get them, send them back and then watch them at my leisure. I record all the tv shows that I miss while I am out of the country, and watch them while I am in hotels around the world.

And, who needs an IPOD? I have all my favorite songs, radio programs and podcasts all in one convient place!

I really like the simplicity of using Media Player to coordinate all my podcasts and music downloads too!

I can usually watch videos for 4-5 hours before recharging and I am impressed with the ease of the recharger. With the optional adapter plugs you can buy for the unit, you can use it anywhere in the world without having to use a converter.

It is so popular at my house, that I came online today to buy one for my husband too!

I absolutely love my Archos AV700. I used to own the Creative Portable media center, which is a huge pain compared to the archos. synching video to this player is a piece of cake and takes 1/2 the time that creative does. you can also record directly on to the device from your cable box, VCR or DVD player, which you cannot do with any of the other devices. The picture is not as good quality, but for all of the benefits, it is well worth it. The system runs like windows with folder type organization. I highly recommend this device!!

Okay, first of all let me say I am a VERY critical first class gadget whore. And this thing is amazing. The screen resolution is not amazing...but honestly, if you are watching a well encoded Divx or Xvid file you will not notice at all! The battery life is very good...just over four hours for me. Using it in hard drive mode could not be easier. If you download tv shows from the internet ....or want to copy your DVDs over....it works amazingly easily and looks great. The 7" screen is a completely different experience from anything you've seen before in portable media players. The device is not pocket sized...but it actually is surprisingly small and handy. It won't fit in your pocket...but, when in it's case, it is just slightly larger and heavier than a paper back book (though MUCH thinner). My ONLY complaint about this device is the docking device to plug it into the TV. There is no place to plug in an RF cable...so if you are on the road plugging it into a TV involves either a DVD or VCR.....or an RF modulator AND a System Switcher...which sort of defeats the purpose of it's portability. But that is a relatively small complaint considering.
I LOVE THIS THING>...for $300...it's a steal.

Macros

I download movies and mp3 to take with me when I travel. I also load my audio books onto it. To load a video (avi) you use the sync tab on your window's media player. I also use a neat program called Pocket DVD wizard which can change my video to Archos compatible and I can drag and drop them into my video file. I like the bookmark feature for my audio books.

Works as advertised, I also have the Archos 500 and the screen on the 700 is not quite as sharp. However, the 7" screen is awesome and is great for travel. I still use the 500 basically as a photo viewer and MP3 player....go Archos!

I purchased this item for myself with my Christmas bonus. My brother turned me on to Archos a while ago. He bought his wife a unit that just displays pics and plays music. While exploring their site I came across the AV700 and realized that this was the one for me!! Since it's more costly, I've waited til now to purchase - it was soooo worth the wait!! I love this thing!! I've downloaded movies, music, pics and also DVR'd TV shows & movies. I use mine mostly to watch stuff and you can easily view your downloads or DVR's on the screen. The initial set-up of the different downloads (music, pics, movies, dvr) is not the best, takes a few times of going over the directions (which are minimal at best) to get the hang of it. But once you've mastered them, it's very simple. Also, it was great that it came with all the accessories needed. My husband was so impressed with mine, that he had me go back online and order up one for him!!

Excellent device for capturing video,music,photos, etc. Records programs easily from a television, VCR, & satellight receiver. The included conversion program allows one to convert previously recorded programs for play within the AV700.

AV700 is also compatable with ULEADS Video Studio 10plus, recording program. Ulead has a batch converter, to gather programs , convert them transfer for viewing to to the AV700 (using the widows WMA format). LIke wise Nero's mpeg4 (nero digital) is not compatable with the AV700.

The AV700 is easy to use, excellent visual clarity and the external speakers are mediocre (but useful if headphones not plugged in).

Yahoo's offered TV listings work great with the AV700 for presetting video recordings automatically!

I have seen several other competitors 4" viewing screens, which in my opinion are way to small for viewing. The AV700 screen is a nice size for viewing without eye strain.

The games offered are just ok.

I recommend this device.

I had a contract with the government to doing inspection and documentation for storm drain manhole, and this device is work un-believable result for documentation.
The video is crystal clear and the engineer so glad and happy to review the video.

Jeff Kamanawae
Hilo, HI