My Next PMP

[PeytonJr]

Amazon.com: Archos 5 500 GB Internet Tablet with Android: Electronics

I have had the older version (non-Android) model with 250GB for about a year. While it does occasionally freeze, the device is quite a luxury.
And now it comes with bluetooth, GPS, 250 MORE GB's, fm radio, and some other stuff.

[ScottT]

Looks cool, any idea about battery life?

[PeytonJr]

battery life varies a lot depending on what it is being used for, and keep in mind that these ratings are for the non-android 250GB HDD model.

Music: a lot for something this size. I haven't run it with only music and the screen off for a whole charge cycle, but I'd guess that it can go about 24 hours.
Video: at about half volume it can go for 3 to 5 hours. I do know that I have watched two full length films on it in one charge
Photos: while I don't expect anyone to be looking at their photos for more than a few hours, it can stay good for several hours. I never have tested this part exclusively
Internet: with a good amount of page loads, it can do 3 to 4 hours

Of course, you can also do music and photos, internet and music (pretty demanding and doesn't work 100% flawlessly), and email and music (yes it has an onboard client; attachments and all), web radio and internet.

The web radio is awesome; there are literally too many stations to listen to. I think it is over 10,000 all sorted by genre, location, etc.

[NickJones]

I have a iPod Touch, and one of the things that annoys me is the lack of multi tasking, I can't surf the net, chat on MSN and play Tux Racer at the same time, but it's also a good thing because it never freezes up, but I might consider one of these for next time, I like multi tasking & I like Android.
Nick

[PeytonJr]

Before rushing out any buying one, I'd advise you to go read throrughly forum.archosfans.com
(I'm Mplus2)
The main issues with the Archos:

• Crashes
• Dies
• Firmware stops working
• HDD breaks
• unknown incompatibility issues
• inconsistent quality control
  
  
  
  
  

I have had two things go wrong with mine, most recently the charging circuit dying leaving it literally useless, but overall if it were flawless - as in no hardware/firmware issues - it works beautifully, quickly, and is awesome. It can get frustrating the third time you have to restart the device in five minutes however.
Archos doesn't like to support their products much, so there is a large knowledge base here.
There is SO much information there on these devices, and it can really help you choose if you really want one.

[fredthe]

Oh, you're talking about Personal Music Players. And here I was wondering what a thread about Project Management Professionals was doing on CB

[LightingPenguin]

Originally Posted by PeytonJr

Archos doesn't like to support their products much, so there is a large knowledge base here.

That is the biggest understatement of the century. Archos has, and I'm sure everyone who's ever tried would back me up, the WORST customer service in the world. There are so many horrible stories of Archos not replying, losing devices, sending back the device still broken, etc etc. Look into their customer service, and I guarantee that you'll be horrified

[ScottT]

Originally Posted by LightingPenguin

That is the biggest understatement of the century. Archos has, and I'm sure everyone who's ever tried would back me up, the WORST customer service in the world. There are so many horrible stories of Archos not replying, losing devices, sending back the device still broken, etc etc. Look into their customer service, and I guarantee that you'll be horrified

That's reason enough not to buy a product.

Two companies that I have had to deal with for customer support in the past year, Nintendo and Apple have great CS departments. So as long as they keep on making good products have me as a customer for life!