The Digital Home Video: Hands-on with the Archos 5

On today's episode, I go hands-on with the Archos 5 Internet Tablet. Check it out!

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[Charbax]

Hey, nice video review. You definitely know what you are talking about I think.

I have the Archos 5 here, and I'm not sure though why you have problems with the on-screen keyboard. I think it's at least as good as any other on-screen keyboard if not better since it's got a whole 5" screen 16:9 width for the keyboard so that the keys are larger then other on-screen keyboards, for example significantly larger then the iPhone on-screen keyboard, actually nearly twice as big. So that should obviously provide a better and faster on-screen keyboard experience. Of course only if the software is perfect on this point. I seem to be able to type pretty fast with it.

But sure, I am looking forward to the announced firmware update that will add USB keyboard support. This way, you could carry a full sized foldable pocketable USB keyboard in your other pocket. And thus take your Archos out on the table, connect the keyboard, and you've got a pocketable laptop-like keyboard and Internet media tablet experience that fits in two pockets..

Sure it'd be nice if they provide a firmware update that will add flicking with momentum type browser scrolling, just as they currently have it for flicking with momentum when scrolling through long lists of music or video files, or through long list of emails in the email client. Also for sure there must be some ways Archos together with Opera could improve further the browser using Chrome V8 Javascript virtual machine to speed up AJAX further and also to improve Flash support as much as possible.

But I do think this browser is the best there is considering it loads pages actually really pretty amazingly fast, they advertise it as 5 times faster page loading compared to the iPhone. New York Times page for example loads in less then 3 seconds. Even big pages like Engadget load pretty snappy. And especially, the browser is on a 2x larger screen with 2.5x more pixels then the iPhone. So you get to see the full width of every website, no horizonthal scrolling needed. This is much more like a laptop browsing experience. Sure, if they can add momentum browser scolling, V8 AJAX acceleration and full complete Flash support, then it will be perfect. Especially I think for the Archos 5G model with HSDPA built-in coming up.

Sure $99 is expensive for the DVR Station. But that is MSRP, usually pretty soon you can see competing resellers on http://froogle.com and http://preissuchmachine.de (for Europe) cut the price for such accessory closer towards $60, which is pretty decent I think considering it ads HDMI output, full set of pretty decent quality cables for component, svideo and composite input and output.. Also $349 is MSRP for the 60GB model, usually online resellers pretty quickly can cut prices by 25% at least which is probably going to be closer to $250.. Which I think is pretty awesome pricing for such a device.

The best pricing should come with the Archos 5G if some carriers decide to subsidize it like an Android G1 or iPhone. Already in France there is a carrier that is about to announce pricing and availability of probably a subsidized version of it and other countries and markets should follow.

Sure it's not a phone, but I think it beats the G1 and the iPhone on every other issue (except on third party applications support, though which they could add in software).

[aaysc]

You nailed it! You should have been doing the review instead of that guy. What a joke he is.

[cporpheus]

One question: can it run Android?

[cajl2083]

No Android on Archos 5.
I have also an Archos 5. I agree with Charbax !
This Archos is perhaps the best of this year !!

[aaysc]

This reviewer really sucks. I am sorry but he really does. He didn't even mention the fact that unlike all apple video products, the Archos can play a multitude of video formats. You are not forced into an I Tunes / mpeg 4 experience. Also, for an additional price you can add a plug in which will allow you to drage dvd files onto the Archos. I thought he also downplayed the dvr functions. This blows everybody away. I don't think he mentioned that there is an HD video add on as well. I didn't hear him mention that it has TV out either. This guy was more concerned with the camera being on his face the whole time. I think it was a very porrly done review done with very little thought and prep.

[donsms]

Sorry Don,the absolute worst video product review you have done.You have to show the screen when demonstrating the product to the camera since this is the only way for the viewers to see what your trying to show.Cmon Don,you can do better then this!

[Brent212]

I agree with the last guy. Show the freakin thing to us. I watched this at work with no sound because I just wanted to see something more than screenshots of the thing. No luck here.

[Joecoool]

In case you don't know Charbax is the owner of the largest Archos forum. Anything he says must be taken with a grain of salt. All you need to do is go to his forum and see the A5 is plagued with bugs, cheap build quality and awful customer service.