Archos 5 250 GB Internet Media Tablet

Archos 5 250 GB Internet Media Tablet

The Archos 5 redefines the high-end portable device with its ultra-thin design and a black stainless steel body, a high-resolution 5″ touch screen, combined with the horsepower of a laptop from the world’s first implementation of the ARM Cortex superscalar microprocessor. You can browse the Web in full width just like on your PC. No need to zoom in and out, web pages are fully displayed on the ARCHOS screen. Plus, with Adobe Flash 9 video support, you can natively browse video-sharing websites such as Dailymotion or YouTube. When you are at home and want to watch a movie or listen to music stored on your PC, just browse its hard drive wirelessly and play any file stored on it without transferring the file. Just stream it via your WiFi network and play it immediately on your ARCHOS. In less than 3 clicks, you can access nearly 1,000 Web TV channels, over 10,000 Web radio stations and 100,000 podcasts. There’s no downloading wait time. Radio and TV start streaming right away from a worldwide list of traditional and independent radio and TV stations. Registration required for Internet usage. Please check the Archos site for details. Built-in speaker, and built-in leg stand Power source – Internal Lithium Polymer battery, device charges via computer USB port System Requirement – Microsoft Windows Vista, XP, ME, 2000 or higher, MAC OS X and Linux with Mass Storage Device Support, and USB 2.0 interface Dimensions – Approx. 5 x 3 x 0.5 (127×78.8×19.4mm) Weight – 300 grams

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars archos is great!
I purchased this archos after my ipod touch was stolen. I wanted something that had internet access, had plenty of storage, and was a touch screen. after some research the archos seemed pretty cool. when I got it I was a little disappointed at the size and weight. be reminded this is a media tablet, not just an mp3 player. you cant just slip it into your pocket and go. it weighs about a pound. maybe a little more. the touch screen is great. although you have to press a little harder than the ipod touch. the screen quality is amazing! the downsides? you have to buy EVERYTHING! without purchasing the DVR station, the games that It allows on there, and some of the other plug ins, all you have basically is an ipod touch. so make sure you have extra money to purchase the DVR station ( if you want lIVE tv recorded onto your archos!, although it costs money to keep the tv on the archos) and some of the subscriptions to the things that are on your archos that you have to pay for. other than that, its a pretty cool device, and I would reccomend it to most people over an ipod!

3 Stars Everything is an add-on
I purchased this product and when I received it, it took me less than a day to realize that I had just paid nearly $300 for a big advertisement. I promptly returned the item.

The product comes with very basic capabilities out of the box. It can play non MPEG and non HD videos and MP3s. You can browse the internet but only after you register your product (why is this?). There are no flash apps or anything that come with it. Just about every menu item takes you to a video for an advertisement to buy the plug-in or attachment.

If you want it as an MP3 player, it will do that no problem. It’s just overpriced. However, if you want to enable all the features that it is advertised to have, be prepared to shell out significant amounts of money. The Cinema plug-in is $20, the HD plug-in is another $20. Attachments and docking stations vary a lot in price.

WiFi on this product is weak. It has trouble seeing and staying attached to signals. I have a 6 year old PDA which can see signals that are farther away and connect to them no problem (Archos 5 did not even see some signals which are close).

The screen is great. An 800×600 screen at this size produces great resolution. Also, it is relatively brigh and the image is visible even on a sunny day while in a shade (but not under direct sunlight). Touchscreen is responsive and accurate but can sometimes “stick”. For example, when you are scrolling through a list by dragging the list up and down, it may sometimes think you are selecting an item instead of scrolling.

Web browsing should be better for a product with the name Internet Tablet. Flash web pages don’t display properly without the flash plug-in which incidentally you have to purchase!!! Most static pages are fine.

I didn’t do very much sound testing but I suppose it sounds OK for a device this size. I have seen other brand name mp3 players which sound worse. The little speaker on the device is good enough for watching online TV which by the way is one of the few things included and you don’t have to purchase separately.

I returned the item because I thought that a device with this price range should be all inclusive and not a-la-carte like they chose to offer it. I thought I was buying a lot more than came in the package. This item has all its capabilities crippled by design so you can buy the functionality separately.

I have purchased from Archos in the past and I have been relatively satisfied by the perfomance of their products. However, Archos 5 is a big disapointment. I think they chose to be greedy and offer their product crippled and you have to buy the functionality separately. Common bait and switch. I gave 3 stars only because of the capabilites of the unit. If I was to be brutally honest this product deserves no more than 1 star for what you get out of the box.

3 Stars Okay if you’re willing to put up with certain issues
I’ve been interested in getting an Archos player for a few years and finally broke down and got the Archos 5 media tablet. It’s a great little gadget – I travel a lot and to be able to have ALL my music AND movies on one player is great.

-Yes, it holds all your music, say, your I-tunes library, but if you want to PLAY them, you have to buy the add-on.

-Really cool that you can record ANYTHING video onto it, but: First, you need to buy the docking station. Second, I have an issue with the unit overheating regularly which causes it to lock up. -You’re recording a 2 hr. movie and after 3/4 of it, the thing overheats and locks up on you. I have to put it in the refrigerator for a few minutes JUST to get it to shut off. THEN you have to let it cool down, delete and start all over again.

I would recommend waiting a few more years for Archos to WORK OUT THESE bugs before purchasing one of these units. Great idea, just not thought out. PLEASE Archos, get it together!

4 Stars Archos 5
This internet media tablet is awesome. For the same price as an ipod touch 16gig (i think) you get 160 gb plus an option to watch tv. The only reason i give it four starts is because the battery life isnt that great. Overall i would recommend this to everyone.

1 Star Doesn’t work after Digital TV Transition in the U.S. on June 12, 2009.
I am very disappointed with Archos customer support. My Archos became unusable after Digital TV Transition in the U.S. on June 12, 2009. When attempted to record TV shows from Direct TV onto my Archos. The sound became staticky. I make sure I downloaded the latest firmware and still couldn’t get it to work again. I called and email Archos customer support multiple times but their staffs are not knowledge about product. All the questions asked they have gave me incorrect answers. They are only good for taking your information if you have to file an RMA. In addition, don’t expect the TV Guide that comes with your docking DVR adapter to work. Archos customer service told me it hasn’t been working for the last 3 months because they can’t afford a new server.

This is a terrible experience; I wasted $400 for a piece of junk.

Archos 5 250 GB Internet Media Tablet

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