Jason Dunn
02-18-2008, 01:00 AM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.gearbits.com/archives/2008/02/archos_605_wifi.html' target='_blank'>http://www.gearbits.com/archives/20...s_605_wifi.html</a><br /><br /></div><em>"The 605 WiFi, a fifth-generation portable media player from the French electronics firm Archos, is an impressive device. It boasts a vivid, high-res 4.3" touchscreen, 802.11g Wi-Fi (more on that later), and the ability to handle a reasonably broad array of media formats (although the larger, more expensive Cowon A3 handles far more). Plus, the 605 WiFi is available with hard drives of 30, 80, and 160 gigabytes or with 4GB of flash storage (the flash model also sports an SDHC slot for unlimited expansion). This review focuses on the 4GB flash version, which can be had for under $200 online and at a few brick-and-mortar electronics retailers. After using the 605 WiFi for about two weeks now, I've come to appreciate it quite a bit. It's certainly not perfect, but it offers good value and some of its attributes that seem like weaknesses at first blush actually turn out to be strengths."</em><br /><br /><img alt="" src="http://images.thoughtsmedia.com/resizer/thumbs/size/500/dht/auto/1203277770.usr1.jpg" /><br /><br />This review covers the basics of the flash memory-based Archos 605, which can be had from Amazon for a <a target="_blank" href="http://astore.amazon.com/digitalmediathoughts-20/detail/B000S5UY1M/105-4193955-2995625">very reasonable $189 USD</a> [affiliate]. I'm always on the hunt for great video playback devices (I'm love watching movies when I travel), but I haven't had any serious hands-on time with he Archos products. For $189, I just might have to pick one of these up.