CNet Reivew the Archos PMA430 PVP

[Jonathon Watkins]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://reviews.cnet.com/Archos_Portable_Media_Assistant_PMA430/4505-6499_7-31286907-2.html?tag=tab' target='_blank'>http://reviews.cnet.com/Archos_Port...-2.html?tag=tab</a><br /><br /></div><i>"[W]ith the Archos Pocket Media Assistant PMA430, [Archos] raises [the bar] even further, this time by adding a touch screen and a Linux operating system to the mix. The result is a device that tries to be as practical as it is fun--and it almost succeeds. The $800 PMA430 retains the AV420's superlative design while incorporating an even more amazing roster of features, including Wi-Fi, a Web browser, games, and a PDA's worth of PIM functions. Of course, don't forget the already-stellar movie, music, and photo features, most of which have been improved courtesy of the new OS. In short, this is one awe-inspiring, envy-producing device. To get it, however, you'll have to drain your wallet and live with less-than-perfect performance."</i><br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/Archos.jpg" /> <br /><br />The catchily titled Archos Pocket Media Assistant PMA430 may be a Personal Video Player (PVP), but I've tagged this as a 'Competition' post. As Gizmodo point out, this device runs the same Qtopia Linux-based environment of the Zaurus, which means that it’s effectively a PDA with a 30GB hard drive with Wi-Fi and USB Host capability. Convergence certainly continues to throw up new and interesting hybrid devices. I wonder what's around the corner for us in the Windows Mobile world? :wink:

[jlp]

Too many compromises to make a good PDA, especially compared to current generation of PPCs. The perfect example of a jack of all trades but master of none:

it's way too big
it's much too heavy
it's much too expensive but
but offers no internal expandability (the AV4xx has a CF slot, but they removed it on the PMA)
QVGA screen only, a pity for a multimedia oriented device
lacks BT, a pity for a device that calls the use of an external keyboard; the USB keyboard they offer is impractical and very expensive

One is better off with a cheaper yet excellent Pocket LOOX 720 and a 6 GB Microdrive; OK that's 5 times less the PMA storage capacity; however it offers everything the PMA lacks:
light
small
beautiful VGA screen
about same price for the Loox + Microdrive
BT 1.2
can serve to upload digicam pix if it uses SD cards, or the Microdrive can be shared between both devices
many thousands of readily available and tested programs
a CF slot
an SD slot
Yet it has everything the PMA has:
Wifi
USB Host
touch screen

Also note that Archos suffers from a very high level of device problems, double that of the average of the industry :evil:.

If an Archos drive fails (which inevitably happens sooner or later), the whole device is off for repairs for a few weeks. OTOH a failing Microdrive is all that is off for repair, you continue to use your Loox in the mean time.

.

[altden2002]

Convergence certainly continues to throw up

:devilboy: Archos products are low qality, so this is rather fitting.
Still bitter over $400 i had thrown away on one of these under-products.
:evil:

[jonathanchoo]

Yet it has everything the PMA has:
Wifi
USB Host
touch screen

.

All true, but can you record directly from the TV in real time?

[bjornkeizers]

Also note that Archos suffers from a very high level of device problems, double that of the average of the industry :evil:.


Really? Who came up with that lovely imaginary number. I've been a longtime Archos product user (I've owned the jukebox recorder 10 gigabyte, and I now have a Gmini 400) - never a problem with either of them. YMMV of course, but I wouldn't post that kind of statement or number without backing it up.

I don't mean this in any way negative towards you, though - just saying that's a big claim to make.

[jlp]

Yet it has everything the PMA has:
Wifi
USB Host
touch screen

.

All true, but can you record directly from the TV in real time?

As I understand the PMA and AV4xx can only record thru the VCR which defeats the purpose of making them VCR replacements :|.

And because you need the device to be static and permanently connected to your VCR for the whole show/movie/news, etc. this is very impractical :evil:.

One is better off recording these broadcasts on a PC (just nead a cheap TV tuner add-on) and transfer the files to the PDA; the which can stay with you at all time!!

[jlp]

Also note that Archos suffers from a very high level of device problems, double that of the average of the industry :evil:.


Really? Who came up with that lovely imaginary number. I've been a longtime Archos product user (I've owned the jukebox recorder 10 gigabyte, and I now have a Gmini 400) - never a problem with either of them. YMMV of course, but I wouldn't post that kind of statement or number without backing it up.

I don't mean this in any way negative towards you, though - just saying that's a big claim to make.

Here is an excerpt from a PCWorld article:

Archos, Panasonic, RCA, and Rio [b]got worse-than-average grades for ease of use and satisfaction with reliability. Archos received the only worse-than-average mark on the any-problems measure: 29 percent of Archos users reported a problem that affected the usefulness of the product. Archos's score was more than double the overall mean of 13 percent on this measure.

Find the article here (http://www.pcworld.com/reviews/article/0,aid,118514,pg,12,00.asp)

I'm happy for you that you don't have problems with their products; however some reporting problems doesn't mean everybody have them; as you said YMMV.

.

[ToodeeP2C]

I'm an owner of both AV420 and PMA430, so I'm telling you what I know from experience.

Yes, I have RMA'd my 420 once but in all honesty it was my fault. I chose to use the warantee to cover my... accident (sometimes pronounced stupidity).

JLP finds the 430 to be too big, heavy, expensive, with no expandability among other faults.
I disagree with him on every point except I believe the PMA430 is overpriced by far.

It's surely not too big... where else can I get 30gigs of storage, the potential and open-endedness of linux, a display that (IMHO) runs second to the Sony PSP, with personal audio/video recorder options all under an inch thick and just over 5inches wide??
(I would actually like my PMA430 to be bigger slightly just so I could have a bigger screen)

Too heavy? I don't think that's a fair statement because for the most part when you consider the battery life and 30Gigs of storage; it feels about right (I don't know the exact weight of the unit).

No expandability; I'm completely confused by that statement.
Maybe it's just me but I would take a USB host port over a CF slot anyday.

JLP later says: You need the device to be static and permanently connected to your VCR for the whole show/movie/news.
To that I could only sigh... It's completely untrue. And to that note if all your movies/programs on your Archos were manual rips via cable tv or what-have-you; yeah that would suck. unless you have a set-up ala Tivo and in that case it would be nearly transparent. JLP suggest a cheap TV capture card set up and transfering those huge A/V files to a PDA... to that I ask which pda did you have in mind?

User Altden2002 says, Archos products are low quality... I don't know anyone that's had an iPOD and an Archos and preferred their iPOD over their Archos. But at the same time I can understand once yer bitten by a manufacturer it's hard to be fair with them. I'm *very* reluctant to buy Sony after the nightmare of dealing with a Sony NetMD.


Now with all that said; before you think I'm someone from Archos company here's the reality of owning a PMA430.

It's biggest strength is tied to it's greatest weakness.

The PMA430 runs linux. That gives it the potential (tied with it's 30GB Hitachi) to do incredibly useful and customized functions.

The Software Developement Kit is missing in action. Without it, the 430 would be better off running some version of Microsoft Windows. So you're left scurrying around trying to get Zaurus apps to work (considering how much the 430 cost this is an insult!)

Qtopia was probably not the best choice. You quickly realize it actually holds the potential of the 430 back.

So the bottom-line with the PMA430 is; DO NOT BUY THIS DEVICE, till that SDK is released. Dollar for dollar is NOT worth it at this time.

(FYI: if that SDK doesn't come out soon I'm affraid I'll side with Altden2002 and steer clear of Archos for a very long time).