Archos AV500

[Chris Gohlke]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://dapreview.net/comment.php?comment.news.1860' target='_blank'>http://dapreview.net/comment.php?comment.news.1860</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.digitalmediathoughts.com/images/archos.jpg" /> <br /><br />Looks like Archos has a new mobile video player coming out. Some key details of this unit include 4 inch (10.2cm) screen, 16:9 screen format, records directly from your TV, VCR, DVD player, cable box or satellite receiver, stores up to 120 hours of video, 300,000 pictures, 16,500 songs or 30Gb of data, and has USB host. Looks like it will cost about $500 and there will be other versions with drives of up to 100 GB in size.

[aro]

This device is the most ugly tech device I ever seen.
Looks like a Toshiba PPC on testosterone(or acid; your choice).

aro

[kiwi]

This device is the most ugly tech device I ever seen.
Looks like a Toshiba PPC on testosterone(or acid; your choice).

aro

ugly? hmm.. I actually like the look of it. Doesnt look too cheap or plastic looking!

[BugDude10]

Although I've never actually used one, I like what I read about Archos's portable media devices. What I wonder though is whether Archos is making too many different devices.

[jimw]

Looks okay to me. So how big is the drive in this baby?

[BuzzLightyear]

The initial device is a 30GB with other sizes on the way - 100GB apparently.

I popped down to my local Argos in the UK and had a look at this fella - in my view it looks better in the picture - the Archos 400 range of which I have had the 420 and a PMA are better looking.

The big problem I have always had with Archos is the file playing support - I have had a JBM20, AV320, GMini, AV420 and PMA and I finally gave up on waiting for wmv support (OK the 420's have it now) and most Divx would need to be run through the Archos conversion software so it would play.

I've recently moved over to a PQI mPack 80GB - its plays everything I have put on it so far - and with 80 GB theres alot on it.

[jeffd]

wow... I like it. The square edges are actually a nice change, and most of the front realestate is the screen wich is good. If this thing can play my anime avi's (divx/xvid) without needing to convert, I will be all over this.