01-10-2005, 04:00 PM
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Editor Emeritus
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 15,171
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Archos's PMA430: PDA + PMC Competitor
"We spent some precious moments yesterday afternoon with the Archos crew, mainly because we were dying to get a look at their new Pocket Media Assistant PMA430. For the specialists in the house, this used to be called the AV500 and was first unveiled (a bit prematurely, we might add) back at the CeBIT tech trade show in Germany this past March. Anyway, the reason everyone�s jazzed up about the PMA430 is that it�s a Linux-based portable audio and video player with a 30GB hard drive and an LCD touch screen that also doubles as a PDA...Because it runs on Linux you can install new applications for the PMA430, and there are plans to introduce an SDK next month. Of course we also snapped a mess of pics."
There's been a lot of buzz about this device ever since it was rumored about 6 months ago, especially since it's one of the first "PDA + hard drive portable media center" solutions. I'm going to hold off making an evaluation until I read some more reviews or get my hands on one, especially since I have no idea how good Qtopia (which is what I presume they're using) is as a PDA solution... but the potential is certainly exciting. One part of me says "this is way too complex and bulky to be a useful PDA", while the other suggests "all I need is a unit like this, with WiFi and Bluetooth". :dilemma: Where does your sentiments lie?
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01-10-2005, 04:17 PM
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Thinker
Join Date: Apr 2002
Posts: 437
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Re: Archos's PMA430: PDA + PMC Competitor
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Originally Posted by Janak Parekh
I'm going to hold off making an evaluation until I read some more reviews or get my hands on one, especially since I have no idea how good Qtopia (which is what I presume they're using) is as a PDA solution... |
After using Qtopia on the Zaurus, I can say that it's not a bad solution as a PDA OS. I think the main issue is software availability which might be tackled if Archos can get their PMA430 to take off in popularity.
After the death of the Zaurus in the US, I'm glad that the Linux PDA lives on.
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01-10-2005, 04:30 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 148
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Although it does't look all that pocketable, with usb host, wifi, incredible battery life and the flexibility of linux it has great potential to become a laptop replacement for the road warrior and a great multimedia device for the more stationary.
I agree the main shortcoming is lack of available software but that goes with any up and comming platform. I remember when there were hardly any usable PPC apps.
Big negative is going to be price, I havent' seen actual pricing but if this is the top of Archos' line then it will most likely be priced above the other models ~700.
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01-10-2005, 04:38 PM
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Pupil
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 20
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I am wating for a device like this that is PPC2003SE with Mobile MCE. An HP 4700 type device with MCE and a 20GB or greater with CFII would be the ultimate conversion device for me.
I could transfer photos, video, and music as well as use as PPC. It would serve as a data bank for digital photos and videos while on the road.
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01-10-2005, 05:23 PM
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Intellectual
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 133
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Looks like it would suck for gaming.
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01-10-2005, 05:42 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 797
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I find it hard to get excited about Linux-based handhelds after the Sharp Zaurus line. From the reviews I saw of it, you have to be a CNE to install programs on it. Now, I understand that a lot of that criticism is from people looking at it from the "average user" point of view, but still.
I guess if it worked well, was easy to install apps for, and had wide application support, then so be it; throw in some kind of wireless and I'll check it out. I was, however, very impressed with the Gmini 400 which I also saw at the show. That was really tiny, had a great screen, and could record directly from TV. Frankly, I need that a whole lot more than I need yet another PDA. :-)
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01-10-2005, 05:51 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,079
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The price is $800 (minus 1� :wink without taxes, or �800 !! including VAT in Europe.
The much higher price in Europe ($-� parity is around 1.3) comes from the fact the warranty is longer in Europe (12 vs only 3 month!!! 8O in the US) and the taxes are included in Europe.
That's an aweful lot, for a PDA, albeit fitted with a 30 GB HDD.
Big problems I think are:- small 3.5" screen
- only QVGA (the device is large enough for a 4" VGA screen!!)
- no screen rotation !!
- lack of support for WMV and OGG
- lack of BT for full wireless usage to pair it with phones, earphones, keyboards, GPS, etc.
- for BT connectivity you need a mini USB adaptor cable and a BT dongle 8O thus making a mess out of such a setting
- there is a rollable USB keyboard option, but it connects with a cable, possibly needs an adapter cable as well
- no CF port (the prototype presented at CeBIT 2004 had a CF port like the AV4xx actually has), they ditched it in favor of integrated Wi-fi, doing so they had to exclude BT support as well (not enough mboard space); if it still had the CF port one could choose to have both BT and Wifi (alternatively) or unload their digicam pix directly. It does support USB 1.1 host but that still requires a cable to remember to bring, an adapter cable to remember to bring (and both to avoid to loose) plus to deal with (broken fragile connectors anyone?) and you need 3 hands 8O to handle this, 2 to manage the PMA (hold it and stylus to operate the device) and a 3rd hand (!) to hold your digicam, memory card reader, etc.
- large
- heavy (50% more than an Hx4700 or an e800/830)
- no one really knows how much RAM/ROM this thing has
Only advantages are:- large HDD (30 GB)
- directly connects to TV to record and display its screen (video, PIM, email, web, etc.), tho I suppose you only get 320x240 rez on the TV 8O
I've pretty much decided to go for a 4" PPC + 5GB Microdrive.
I have all that the PMA lacks, except the 2 points above, and 5GB is a lot of CDs, DVDs and TV recordings (I need to be at home to record my TV, so I might as well do it on my PC)
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01-10-2005, 05:58 PM
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Pontificator
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,079
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by vincenzosi
I was, however, very impressed with the Gmini 400 which I also saw at the show. That was really tiny, had a great screen, and could record directly from TV. Frankly, I need that a whole lot more than I need yet another PDA. :-)
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NO you can't record directly from TV with the Gmini 400 as it only has TV out (it's written on the port and the site doesn't mention direct TV (or any video source) recording).
You must be confusing with the AV400 that does direct TV (VCR, DVD player, etc.) recording however, but NOT the Gmini 400.
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01-10-2005, 06:23 PM
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Sage
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 797
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Ahh, you are correct. Oh well. Back to the drawing board.
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01-10-2005, 06:41 PM
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Theorist
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 258
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by jlp
Only advantages are: - large HDD (30 GB)
- directly connects to TV to record and display its screen (video, PIM, email, web, etc.), tho I suppose you only get 320x240 rez on the TV 8O
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It can record from source at 512x384/30fps and playback videos encoded at 704x480/30fps or 720x576/25fps onto a TV. That is DVD resolution.
Regarding screen rotation, Windows Mobile 2003 SE screen rotation isn't that great either. I never use it on my JAM.
While QVGA is dissapointing, it does have a 18-bit display.
PocketPC doesn't come with default Ogg support. This came from third party developers. On WMV, no comment since I don't use this particular format. :wink:
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Linear Mode
