I have an earlier version of the Archos Jukebox, but it's very similar.
The positive: excellent sound quality, very convenient method of storing vast amounts of music (and books on tape), easy to sync with computer via USB, very good battery life (I get around 10 hours), easy to hook up to home stereo or car stereo (requires optional accessory), and it's been reliable -- I've had no problems in the year or so I've owned it, except a couple hangs that required it to reboot. Very good bang for the buck!
The negative: I don't think the Jukebox's OS firmware is particularly good in terms of user interface and the information it provides. It is quite primitive compared to the Ipod, which is the gold standard for these types of devices. For example, the Ipod sorts music by Artist, album, genre, user-defined playlist, etc., while the Archos just provides a DOS-like nested tree structure for filing music. This means it's much easier to find and sort the music you want to hear on the Ipod -- something you shouldn't underestimate in terms of the overall usefulness of the device. The Ipod also has a much better display that's easier to read.
Note that alternative firmware is available for some Archos Jukebox models from Rockbox. I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard it's superior to the standard Archos OS.
Conclusion: The Archos Jukebox costs much less than the Apple Ipod. It provides comparable sound quality and reliability, in my opinion, but it's not as easy to use. I highly recommend the Archos to anyone who doesn't want to pay the Apple premium.
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