Comments on: Media player meets Netbook in the Archos 9PCtablet

The line between portable media devices and traditional Netbooks just got a little more blurred, thanks to this morning's announcement of the Archos 9PCtablet.

[respibob]

Wow, another thing I don't need but want anyway!

[Dalmatian28]

haha..You are right on the money with that sentence!!!! I just wander how heavy this thing is... I think I want to buy it and use is as a e-reader! This think will probably be same price or even cheaper than Amazon Kindle and still be able to do other million things that Kindle can't because it uses Windows 7. I can't believe that that I am saying this but yeah....I am buying this!!! I see this being very useful because it is so portable! I read that Apple is ******* up with something similar .... at least this guys can claim that they are first to the market! Just wish that CPU was more powerful because Window 7 is very complex OS!

[Mindstyle06]

Why not sell it with linux version too?

[externallain]

I know Windows 7 is supposed to be less of a memory hog than Vista but I have serious doubts about this device being able to run Windows 7 smoothly.

[claystorm]

I had a alpha version on Win 7 running on a really old POS system & it ran much better then Vista does on a new system.

[streamline35]

I have windows 7 running very on my msi wind, and it runs almost as well as XP (with all graphical settings cranked to max). Granted, I have 2gb of memory, but I have a system monitor gadget running all the time, and it usually uses about 500mb of memory, and the most i've ever seen it use is 800mb, so I wouldn't worry about it. My only concern would be the slower processor.

[Paodi]

Impressive little device. If they keep the price down, it can be a winner. It makes me think about all of the rumors in the past about the "over-sized iPod Touch". Any word on the battery life? 3/6 cell?

[solblack]

If it's Archos be prepared to send it back for problems.
They have the most rude costumer service.
I'm listening to my Archos now but it's a pain sometimes with it's buggy software.

[Hey-its-Brandon]

Man cool I'll buy but price got to be low

[patrickreyes]

If it had the 1.6ghz N270, on screen keyboard (ala iphone) and comes in at under $400 I would be all over it. Waiting for gen 2

[streamline35]

Of course it will have an onscreen keyboard - how else would you expect to type? But I agree about the processor - it should have the faster one to handle windows 7 (which runs pretty well on an N270)

[jedmmj11]

Its running windows, which has an "in-built" on screen keyboard. And in WIndows 7 (which it will be running) it gets a much more finger friendly version. http://tinyurl.com/win7keyboard

[forever4now]

Archos should dual-boot Android & Windows, like Acer plans with a netbook later this year. That way, if you want/need to use Windows, you can. Otherwise, Android offers you the benefits of:

- fast boot & runtime
- always on operation
- super long battery life
- touch-optimized UI
- location-based services
- cell phone calls & SMS/MMS
- multi-media playback
- access to all the other cool apps in the Android Market

A similar approach could be used for ARM-based devices, with Ubuntu being used instead of Windows (since Windows does not run on ARM).

My vote is for an Android dual-boot (virtualized?) configuration to be standard on ALL smartbooks/netbooks/tablets. Alternatively, the base model could be Android only, with Windows/Ubuntu offered as an optional upgrade.

[jedmmj11]

windows 7 is touch optimized

[pablouk1]

WiFi: PCI-E interface, 2 Antennas, Support IEEE 802.11b/g



Come on get with the 21 century think my PSP has this and it rubbish

[hlpacker]

Well, it's pretty. Archos needs to work on it's support reputation though if it wants to be a reall player. People don't like dumping a bunch of money on expenisve electronics if they feel like a manufacturing flaw is going to leave them holding the bag.

[cebwizz]

Peoples buy Apple, which is quite expensive electronics....and don't even dare tell me Apple have a nice support reputation...so Archos can't be any worst.

[TCrimson05]

.................................OK SCREW IT................I WANT ONE LOL

[acarswell]

Needs a solid state drive option. No moving parts on this beast.

[Renegade Knight]

It needs to have an HDMI out. TV in would be nice. If you could use it as a portable DVR that would add a lot of use to it.

[streamline35]

It doesn't have the processing power to smoothly play videos at the resolution you would get with HDMI. Though granted, I wouldn't be opposed to some sort of video output.

[koviea]

Bluetooth is essential on these devices, as it allows you to wirelessly tether to your 3G/4G cell phone to connect to the internet and (usually) not have to pay extra each month (so long as you don't use too much bandwidth). Fast enough to browse seamlessly and even stream video.

These devices are going to come out in droves from all directions, and will be huge. You can think of them as a much larger Touch or PMP, a slate netbook, an eReader or Kindle with hi-res color and a real OS, a photo frame or portable TV with a built-in computer, etc.

This will finally be the convergence device that's been hyped for years.

[gmoneyinco]

Anybody considering purchasing a product from Archos should spend some time reading the forums at archosfans.com. Particularly Archos 5 forums.

[khicon]

This is the perfect solution, as a student, I've been waiting for: An affordable slate tablet that will replace my pen and paper in class. No one needs an expensive ultra low voltage processor from Intel to take notes and browse the internet. I am anxiously waiting for reviews and a release from Archos before the following school year.

[Anjin3515]

but...will it be pressure sensitive?