Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
312 of 325 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautiful upgrade for an Archos 605 fan, October 1, 2008
I purchased this as an upgrade to my beloved Archos 605 160GB. I actually purchased this directly from archos because I had trouble getting it through Amazon.
First impressions: beautiful sleek design, love the rubbery backside and the enlarged screen! I find that the touch screen user interface is quite improved over the 605, the buttons all flash when you press them so that is a nice confirmation that you hit it. Also, play buttons and such seem to be bigger than before, easier to hit. Although the glossy, shiny look is pretty to look at, it also shows fingerprints (much like the Touch). Not a big deal to me, I'm used to wiping off my glossy surfaces regularly.
So lets get into the nitty gritty, starting with the things I love about the new Archos 5. Just one caveat, I am using this primarily as a replacement media player for the Archos 605 so I won't speak much to internet browsing issues. I will use as a basis of comparison my collection of MP3 players (ok I'm an addict so sue me!) which includes iPod Touch 2nd Gen 32GB, Creative Zen WiFi 16GB, iPod Classic 160GB, Archos 605 160GB, Archos 604 30GB, iRiver Clix2 8GB.
*) 250GB: gotta love all that storage space, especially since the new Apple Classic tops out at 120GB now it seems Archos is in a class all to itself.
*) Big beautiful glossy color screen, definitely an improvement over 605.
*) Easily connected to my Wifi, browser is now free instead of costing extra like before. Upgrade to firmware was accomplished easily.
*) Easy synchronization of my entire music library and playlists using Media Monkey in Windows Media Mode (605 had problems here, so glad Archos fixed this!)
*) Beautiful full featured DVR dock available (apple doesn't even make one as far as I can tell!)
*) Esthetically the most appealing player I've seen yet from Archos.
*) Nice context menus on most pages (tap upper right corner) that make it easy to get around.
*) Love the ability to switch between hard drive mode and Windows Media Mode (something I do quite frequently). Also nice to be able to put a password on folders with sensitive or Adult content.
*) Ability to play all kinds of audio/video files, although you do have to pay up to $40 for additional plugin firmware in order to play apple and cinema formats.
*) On screen touch qwerty keyboard is really nice, easy to use -- I found it much easier to type accurately than the Touch/iPhone onscreen keyboard.
*) Browser supports flash controls, woohoo, welcome to the 21st century fercrissakes!
*) That 250GB of data is readily available to the PC as a hard drive so I can use it for backups or whatever else I want to do with it. (unlike the Creative Zen for example).
*) Convenient built-in speaker can be used in a pinch: everybody seems to have one of these now but as far as I can tell Archos did it first on the 605!
*) Now Playing music screen is easier to use, volume, and play buttons are easier to use now and it displays the name of the next and previous songs: a feature that I don't see on any of my other MP3 players.
*) Nice dedicated volume and power buttons, the volume buttons are definitely easier to find and use than the 605.
And now, my suggestions to Archos for how they could improve on what I think is a cutting edge beautiful product. Please understand, I'm a nitpicking software engineer so I give 5 stars even though I can find room for improvement!
*) I miss the dedicated hold/tv-out button which has been removed. Not a big deal since can still be done through the context menu.
*) Some of the text menus just look a little strange and seem to take a too much space on the screen. For example, I have to scroll down to get to the "Playlists"... at the very least "Playlists" should be on the first page as its the one I use the most. Really it seems like too many button presses are required to dig down and play a playlist, I wish "playlists" was available from a top level menu because I use it more than anything else...
When all is said and done, I honestly believe that there is no comparable product with a big beautiful high resolution screen like this and a huge hard drive. This is it!
Now if you are happy with a smaller screen and less storage, the iPod Touch is arguably a better product: my solution? Buy one of each!
Update 12-31-2008: As of New Years Eve I am still quite happily using my Archos 5 as an entertainment center. It seems Archos heard me and they have made the album art a little bigger in firmware release 1.2.05!
Update 1-24-2009: Firmware update 1.3.05 works great! Had to use my Touch for a few days and very happy to have my Archos back on the speakers, I do believe the sound is better through the same speakers.
Update 3-14-2009: Updated to firmware 1.5.08. Due to previous upgrade, the upgrade process is MUCH easier now because it doesn't try to rebuild its library from scratch (this takes hours when you have a lot of files like I do). I'm also enjoying the "parental control" password which allows me to protect my data from unauthorized access. Still a happy customer :)
Update 5-22-2009: Still very happy with my 5. Firmware version 1.6.53 now offers support for their GPS package and High Def. I tried the GPS package before and it was ok, my favorite thing about it was the windshield mount which really comes in handy on a long drive. The GPS itself is decent considering it doesn't cost much, but can't compare to Garmin. Still, how many MP3 players even offer a GPS option?
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
469 of 502 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Avoid at all costs..., June 10, 2009
First of all, I'd just like to provide some context. I first discovered Archos back in summer '08 when my Elgato EyeHome died. For those of you who aren't aware of this product, it was basically a device that could be used to watch computer files (avi, mp4, etc.) on an old school, standard-definition television. When my EyeHome went kaput I was very disappointed to discover that the product had been discontinued. The search for a similar product finally led me to the Archos TV. At this point I've had the Archos TV for more than a year now. It's a fantastic product and, at least so far, has worked flawlessly - I couldn't be happier with it. In fact, it was because of this good experience that I decided to invest in the Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet. I think it's important to give this backstory because some of the more enthusiastic Archos fans on here and on certain internet forums seem to think that any criticism of their favorite company means that you're nothing less than a drooling Apple fanboy - blinded to reality and incapable of giving a competing product a fair chance or accurate assessment.
So, to continue, late last year I was in a situation that will probably be familiar to all of you. I was interested in buying a portable media player. Would it be an iPod Touch or... something else? Ultimately, I opted for the Archos 5 based on two main factors:
1) Greater storage capacity - 250 GB as compared to the maximum 32 GB on an iPod Touch
2) File flexibility - the Archos 5 can play just about anything, whereas the iPod Touch is restricted to the mp4 file format. This was an important consideration for me, since I already had a small library of avi files that I wanted to enjoy without having to convert to a different format.
I read some bad reviews right here on Amazon and elsewhere, but, because of my good experience with the Archos TV, I still decided to invest in the Archos 5. HUGE mistake.
To be fair, the Archos 5 worked just fine for the first few months. The problems seemed to begin after I installed the latest version of the firmware - 1.6.53. Basically, the unit seized up and became nothing more than an expensive paperweight. Pressing the power button would initiate the startup process, but, rather than going to the main menu, the introductory "Archos - Entertainment Your Way" screen would simply flash on an endless loop until all the battery power was drained.
Now, I'm extremely capable when it comes to tech. I'm the guy that friends and family call to help with stuff like installing an additional internal hard drive, deciding between plasma or LCD, setting up their Blackberry to get email from home... you get the idea. The Archos 5 is equipped with some rudimentary built-in problem solving tricks. I tried these as the instruction manual advised - but nothing worked.
At that point I went to Archos Customer Service - this, folks, is where things go really haywire. In a word, Archos' customer service is appalling. If you don't want to take my word for it, just read some of the other comments on here and take a look elsewhere on the net. Their sheer incompetence is legendary.
My experience with them is hardly typical, but I'll summarize here -
Step One - Contact customer service. Explain problem. Obtain an RMA (Return to Manufacturer Authorization.)
Step Two - Send unit in for repairs.
Step Three - Wait expectantly.
Step Four - Receive unit back from the RMA warehouse.
Step Five - Unpack unit and test. Discover that nothing has been fixed. Repeat process beginning with Step One...
My last round with Archos Customer Service ended when I received my unit back from the warehouse and found that they had simply given me another unit altogether. I knew this was the case because the new unit was mysteriously missing the sticker on the bottom that included the serial number. I'd also fitted the original unit with a Lexerd Screen Protector - something that was conspicuously absent from the new model.
Mind you, replacing my unit with another model of the exact same type isn't necessarily a bad thing - it might have worked out just fine. The only problem was, this replacement model has a damaged power button, and, on the rare occasions that I can turn the thing on, it has the exact same problem as my old unit - stuck in the "Entertainment Your Way" startup loop. When I called customer service to discuss these issues, they claimed that the unit was fine when it left the warehouse (big consolation, huh?) and that the broken power button was probably caused by someone at UPS unpacking the device and "messing around with it." Say what?
Now, to be fair, we all know that our electronic gizmos aren't perfect. The Archos 5 certainly isn't the first device I've had problems with and it won't be the last. The big problem is that Archos simply doesn't have the infrastructure to deal with issues like this when they occur. Just for comparison, I had some problems with my Mac G5 when I first got it - but a quick trip to the Apple Store for a tune-up solved everything. Archos isn't like that. The company is based in France and, by virtue of necessity, their North American customer service is outsourced to a shoddy firm here in the U.S. staffed with reps who can do little more than tell you to try pressing the reset button again and/or make pathetic excuses.
To all of those people who have a functional Archos 5 and enjoy it - terrific. I'm happy for you and I know from experience that when an Archos product does actually work, it's brilliant. BUT - God help you if you run into trouble, because you're basically screwed.
I'm writing this in the hope of convincing some of you still on the fence that you really ought to go with another product altogether. Pick whatever you like - Cowon, iPod Touch, whatever. Just don't get an Archos. Trust me on this, it's basically a crap shoot. And, at the end of the day, do you want to gamble, or do you want a product that actually works?
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
117 of 126 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Nearly Perfect Device!, October 5, 2008
The first thing anyone should know about the Archos is that as of 10/5/08, the Archos 5 Firmware is still in beta. Beta means very different things for different products, but for the Archos 5 it means that some of the features are crippled, and that the firmware is still buggy. I have been using the 5 for about 2 weeks now, and during that time the device has crashed 6 times. Keep in mind this is only relevant if you want to purchase it right now. If you choose to wait, I think Archos will have the firmware finalized in a few months.
I migrated to the Archos 5 from an iPod Touch, my main reasons for doing so being the significantly larger capacity and the larger screen. I use a mac, so it was quite jarring migrating out of the Apple universe. Some things you should know if you are coming to this device from an Apple product:
1. The Archos will not sync with iTunes. This means that music you downloaded from the iTunes music store will be incompatible with the Archos. This also means that the playlists from your iTunes library will not natively work with the Archos. For many people this will not be an issue, but I have a rather large library (7000 songs), and depend on playlists to separate my music. The Archos uses the universal .m3u playlist format, so if you want to have your iTunes playlists on the Archos, you will need to find an iTunes playlist exporter.
2. Even if your songs are not copy-protected, the Archos will not play AAC files without a $20 plugin. For some, this is a moot point, for others, it could be a deal-breaker.
For the PC users: The Archos can either function as an external hard drive (very useful), or as a Windows Media Player Drive.
Now, the device itself:
HARDWARE:
THe specs of the Archos are impressive, and best most other "IMT"s of its class. I have the 60GB version, however all models boast a 4.8" (Resistive, not capacitive) touch screen, Wi-Fi, a speaker, and a pull-out stand. But keep in mind that the Archos uses a proprietary USB connector, and that all previous Archos accessories (for the 605, 604, etc.) will not work with the 5. The back of the unit is mirrored, and scratches incredibly easily. The front screen is susceptible to glare, but this is not very noticeable unless viewed in direct sunlight. Keep in mind that all the models use hard drive based storage. This enables a large capacity for a cheap price, however, the unit will be slower because of this. The iPod Touch uses flash memory, which is very expensive and has a low capacity, but is less likely to break. The Touch is also thinner. (You wouldn't think so, but the Archos is surprisingly pocketable) The speaker on the unit is small and tinny, but I am amazed on how many occasions I have found to use it. The 2nd gen. Touch also has a speaker, and I highly doubt it is much better than the one on the Archos. Something no one else has mentioned: The Wi-Fi antenna in the Archos is located on the right side, a place where you normally might hold the unit. It is very easy to accidentally block the Wi-Fi signal, and I have noticed that the connection can be tenuous (this might just be my network). The external volume control is very useful, but I wish the 5 also had a hold switch, as it can be annoying to have to find the "lock device" command throughout the menus. Also: on the original settings, the device will automatically power off after 5 minutes when locked (and when not in music mode). This can be very annoying if it is not changed.
I know that in the above paragraph I have criticized the Archos, but I cannot stress that the device itself is a beautiful, well made, piece of technology. Everything works very well, and most BIG problems with the device lie in the...
SOFTWARE:
The software is currently the Archos' weak point. As I said before, the firmware is still in beta, and this means that a few of the features just don't work. (A good example of this is the file sharing feature. When I select "file sharing", a notice pops up telling that the feature will be enabled in a "future release"). The parts of the software that do work function adequately, but could be better. The Music menu is a good example. Scrolling through large lists is jerky, and I find the organization of the metadata perplexing. However, the Music section works.
The Video section, on the other hand, is near perfect. Videos can be organized any way you want, and watching movies on the 4.8" screen is enjoyable. I think that the software can be summarized by working, but having quirks. You might want to wait for the firmware to become more stable.
A few more notes about the software:
1. The Add-Ons section is just ADS for the optional add-ons. Yes, ADS. This is just a minor annoyance, but please, a major company should not put ads for other products in their flagship product.
2. There is no way to directly skip tracks from other areas of the device (unlike, for example, the Touch, where you can tap the home button twice and control the music).
3. The Archos takes about 20 secs. to boot, and, when the device is "locked", the screen does not shut off for about 30 secs. (this can be changed)
4. The Opera web browser is fast and, renders pages as well as the Touch. The Mail app is not as good as Apple's, but if functions.
5. Games cost $20 for 4, but you can load your own flash apps onto the device.
6. One great addition to the Archos was internet radio and video. This is a feature I have seen in very few other devices, and the Archos implements it very well.
Lastly: Should you buy the Archos?
If you can escape the Apple universe, and don't mind the beta firmware for a few months, then buy the Archos. If is truly a great piece of hardware. if you can't stand betas, then wait a few months (the price will probably drop too).
The Archos 5 blows the Touch right out of the water, but the software could use some work. By now the iPod had become so ubiquitous that it doesn't really fit into Apple's "Think Different" philosophy, as many of its features have been matched and transcended by other devices. I don't mean to sound cliche, but if you truly want to think different, buy the Archos 5.
UPDATE: As of firmware update 1.0.87 the "file sharing" feature mentioned above has been completely removed from the settings menu. I don't know if this is because Archos has killed the feature or because they want to release it in a future release.
Also, as of 1.0.87, the Archos no longer lists its firmware as beta. However, the firmware is still buggy. The Archos firmware is definitely a work in progress, but Archos seems to be updating the device frequently, so most of the bugs will eventually be ironed out.
UPDATE 2: Windows users can sync their Archos with iTunes via "iTunes Agent". Available here: [...]. Obviously you can't sync DRM tracks, but everything else works pretty well for me.
UPDATE 3: I have had the Archos for about 1 year now, and I have to day that the real weak point of the device is the resistive touch screen. This is where Apple (also Samsung and Cowon) really got it right, and Archos has continued to get it wrong. The firmware updates have made scrolling more kinetic and less jerky, but the updates cannot fix the fact that the screen feels mushy and misses a *lot* of presses. I was actually considering getting the new "5 Internet Tablet", but after finding out Archos was again using a resistive touch screen, I will look somewhere else. If I could change the star rating, I would downgrade this to a 3 or 2.5 star product. So much works really well on the 5, but until Archos puts a capacitive touch screen on their players, I will not get another one of their products.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
Web browser: Open up your Archos device to the full power of the Internet with a full-fledged Internet browser. Surf the Web via the Opera web browser with Adobe Flash 9 video support. 
Web TV & Radio: Receive via the Internet nearly 1,000 Web TV channels and more than 10,000 Web radio stations. Select your stations by popularity, genre, country, etc. from the Archos video and audio browsers. 
TV Program Guide: Easily schedule your recordings with the TV Program guide embedded in the tablet. A couple of clicks are enough to check the scheduler, get instant information about the program selected, and schedule the recording. 
Saving...
