Archos PMA400 30GB Advanced Portable Video Player

[Suhit Gupta]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pvp4u.com/archives/2005/01/archos_pma400_3.html' target='_blank'>http://www.pvp4u.com/archives/2005/01/archos_pma400_3.html</a><br /><br /></div><i>"Archos announced the new Archos PMA400 at the CES 2005. Archos offers the PMA400 for pre-order on their site for a whopping 799.99 Euros. The new player ships on January 31st. Archos describes the PMA400 with: 'The Pocket Media Assistant PMA400 is the the first Linux®-based 30GB HDD device allowing you to record directly from TV, listen to music, browse the Internet and stay connected, for entertainment or productivity anytime, anywhere. A new generation of ARCHOS smart portable devices, the PMA400 combines full audio and video capabilities, WiFi connectivity and a personal information manager in one slim, pocket-sized device.'"</i><br /><br /><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/archos_pma400.jpg" /><br /><br />Cool device, but I suspect that the price tag for it will make most people go searching for something else.

[Phoenix]

I really like this product Archos is releasing. Very nice. There are a few things I'd like to see added, though.

I'd like to see:

- An internal OTA TV tuner
- An integrated FM tuner
- Integrated SDIO and CF II slots
- 60GB HDD
- Firewire
- RAW support (at least Canon and Nikon versions)
- Support for more video formats (WMV, QT, MOV, MPEG 1/2, DiVx, Xvid)

With these additions, it would be as close to perfect as it could get, IMO.

Very nice product, though, even as is. 8)

[djh]

I think this has potential to be a great product. I've been thinking of getting the Epson P-2000, but I also carry my Sharp Zaurus around and this looks as though it has potential to replace both of them.

I do have a couple of concerns though:

1. This device uses Qtopia the same as the Zaurus. I wonder if Zaurus apps will run on it, would be great if they would (or someone can recomplile them to run).

2. The handwriting recognition that is included in Qtopia is not very good. On the Zaurus it's not a big deal because of the keyboard. Hopefully the PMA400 will have something a bit better - Caligrapher would be nice.