 "I see why this device is on the outs." | 2010-03-14 |
| - Reviewed By ReVeLaTeD from San Diego, CA |
First disclaimer: My review is for the 16GB version which Amazon no longer carries. For the summary judgment skip to the very bottom.
Those who have seen my review for the Zune HD 16 GB Video MP3 Player (Black) and Creative Zen X-Fi 16 GB Video MP3 Player with Wireless LAN and Built-In Speaker (Black/Silver) know I'm not new to media devices. I've been around them for many years, all the way back to the failed MiniDisc format and even back to cassette decks, single and dual reel. I just can't seem to find that perfect device no matter what I do - they're all missing one or more critical features that render them essentially worthless. Zune HD came the closest, but not for the glaring issues I mentioned in that review.
For me, I don't need a movie player - my laptop does that fine. I also don't need something to hold my entire library - I usually want to listen to a single genre at a time. But the catch with me is that it needs to be simple and efficient. I don't want to futz with all sorts of crazy settings in order to get it to work. Above that, it needs to be an all-around device that I can literally use anywhere without spending inordinate amounts of cash.
I decided to take a plunge on the Archos 5 as it was on sale. I know it's basically an all-around device with tons of features I don't need, but it also had the things that a lot of media players lack these days:
- support for hidden WiFi hotspots (Zune HD flaw)
- near universal codec support (Zune HD and iPod flaw)
- touchscreen (Zen X-Fi flaw)
- standard connectors (Zune HD and iPod flaw)
- Mass storage support for drag-and-drop (Zune HD and iPod flaw)
- Ready to use out-of-the-box (Zune HD and iPod flaw)
- Shuffle play (Zen X-Fi flaw)
- Bluetooth (Zune HD and Zen X-Fi flaw)
Those are the pros. And it is an impressive list. Unfortunately, the entire experience is marred by what I can only assume are glaring bugs with the Android OS on this device. I'm not sure if it's the older firmware or if it's Android specifically, but there are major issues with this device that render it nigh unusable.
- WiFi is essentially broken. I turned it on and set up my hotspot, and it did find the hotspot, but then it turned itself off. I tried to turn it back on and it came on for a split second, then turned itself off again. Then when I finally got it to stop turning off, it refused to connect to my hotspot claiming it was "out of range". Considering I'm 25 feet away from the router and I've got four devices around me all connected without a problem, obviously there are some glitches with the Archos. It never happened after I upgraded the firmware, but still...this is appalling to have it be released with this kind of issue.
- The touchscreen is analogous to the older style touchscreens, not the iPod Touch type touchscreen. The Zune HD also uses the older style, but it is a lot more responsive than the Archos. The way they implemented it, most options require a double click to confirm input, but certain menu options do not. This resulted in many inadvertent clicks on menu options I didn't want, just so I could scroll up and down. Sometimes it doesn't respond, sometimes it locks up completely. Not good.
- You can't do anything when it's connected via USB. This one is a tad bit unfair, but I want to note it as my BlackBerry Storm works just fine when connected via USB. I can't access the SD card, but I can still at least get to other options. The Archos throws a message that it can't access media functions even if you're just trying to navigate the File Explorer.
- I mentioned it supports mass storage. This is true...but it still requires Windows Player 11. Why's that a problem? Well, if you're a Mac user, the Archos will not be recognized. In fact, Snow Leopard never did throw a message that it couldn't read the Archos; it just ignored it even though the Archos claimed it was mounted. Now, I don't use iTunes, so that might have affected the experience. But I still expected the Archos hard drive to show up on the Snow Leopard desktop without additional changes, and it did not. In any case, mass storage should not require any application, hence the term "mass" storage.
- Shuffle play does work and works fine - which is a big feature for me given I use it in my car and don't want to futz with picking songs - but the problem is the control scheme of the Archos. Because it doesn't have any physical buttons, and because there isn't really a media "player" to use (more on this later), you have to select the first song/folder you want to play and then it will shuffle. Call it nitpicky, but I want to just go to a genre, "right click" and select "Shuffle Play" or "Play Folder" or "Play Random". I don't want to select a song, that's 6 extra clicks which isn't practical when on the move.
- The apps on the Archos leave a lot to be desired. I didn't go too deep into these as my main goal was music, but there is an actual "Music" app that didn't do anything. It wouldn't read the music I had stored on the Archos even though the primary music option did. The instructions didn't help either (more on that later). That Music app was where the flexibility was supposed to come into play, but how can I leverage it if it won't even read the music I've got stored?
- The instruction booklet in the box is pathetic. So much so that it actually refers you to a PDF stored on the Archos itself (or on the website) that goes into more detail. If you're going to have a user manual, include the WHOLE user manual. Don't pull a Final Fantasy XI (long story).
- SD Card corruption. I had a brand new card inserted, the Archos threw all sorts of red flags. Mind you, the card worked just fine in my Macbook prior to me inserting it into the Archos. Something the Archos did corrupted it, and it wouldn't let me format the card. I had to plug it back into my MacBook to format it before the Archos would receive it, and even then, it corrupted again when I was sync'ing files to it. After that, I plugged it back into the MacBook, and it crashed Snow Leopard. The Archos WILL corrupt your data, folks.
- Random shutdowns and reboots. The device would just shut itself off randomly, even when it was still connected and being charged. It happened at least 7 times. Didn't happen after I upgraded the firmware, but I note it here for anyone else foolish enough to buy this device.
- And then, the Bluetooth. I didn't think anyone could screw up a Bluetooth implementation, but Archos sure did. See, I have a BlackBerry Bluetooth Stereo Gateway in my car, as my car has Bluetooth phone but not Bluetooth A2DP. Now, that device works extremely well with my Storm and my computer, and it did work initially with the Archos. The problem is that the Archos does not re-connect automatically; you're forced to manually re-connect it each time you want to use it. This is a pain - even the order of connection matters. The Archos has to be set up to connect to the A2DP device before the A2DP device responds. It's hard to explain, but suffice it to say, it was a struggle getting it to connect, and when it did, it wouldn't connect again. This one is a deal breaker, and I know it's not the Gateway, as every other Bluetooth device connects with no issue.
In short, is it recommended? No. It's simple as that. There's a reason that Archos released Archos 7 with a full OS that wasn't Android. There's a reason that Amazon dropped the prices of these to rock bottom. The device is a novel concept, and a worthy effort. But it's just not up to par. Even at lower prices it's not worth the headache of futzing with it.
Now you might be saying to yourself, "but what about movies?? What about games?? What about apps?? What about browsing??" To which I would challenge you to think: If this can't even play music properly, what does that tell you about more advanced functionality? Think about it. For the price they're charging, would YOU take that chance? |
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 "Arclibrary Track limit approx 35,700" | 2010-03-09 |
| - Reviewed By Rockman from USA |
| A very nice unit except the Arclibrary is poor. If anybody is thinking of using more than 160GB of a 500gb unit for their music library forget it. The Arclibrary is limited to cataloging about 35,700 tracks. You may also read the reviews are Archos forums from other users with similar experiences of track limitations. Recommend purchasing a much smaller capacity unit as the larger capacity is wasted. Save yourself $250. Archos tech support will refuse to acknowledge this limitation. Buyer beware. |
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 "a little dissapointed" | 2010-03-06 |
| - Reviewed By jimmy sizzle from YMH |
| i was a little disappointed when i powered up my archos 5 for the first time. my biggest fear with buying any new electro gadget is a dead or stuck pixel. Well, when i powered up the archos low and behold, dead center, was a stuck pixel. other than that i really like all of the hardware. it feels weird though because the hard drive spins very violently and vibrates the entire unit. another disappointment was the way archos nickel and dimes it's customers. to watch .vob or even most .avi files on the archos you have to buy a 39.99 dollar plug in! UNBELIEVABLE! along with the blitz of other accessories you might want, this one is necessary. |
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 "Android revolutionary to Archos for me !" | 2010-02-22 |
| - Reviewed By NBlack from NYC |
I upgraded from Archos 5 IMT 160gb to the Archos 5 IT 32gb Android and have never looked back. The sleek look and EASILY pocketable device has become my prime mp3 player and is alot of fun to fool around with. Although, it has its usual archos bugs here and there and it will take some patience to get the device to work the way you like it, but that is part of using a linux based software device. I love it despite its obvious flaws, sometimes internet wont read or it freezes, but for most part it does what i want it todo. Mp3 wise its been perfect especially with the android music software (way more seemless). the screen is incredable as usual and android is very fun.
highly recommend if you are okay with usual archos problems, handful fixed, but still some there. Nothing that deters me though.
thanks for reading! |
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 "A remarkable device" | 2010-02-21 |
| - Reviewed By Andrew J. Valencia |
This product was apparently so bad that Amazon stopped carrying it for a while! But its tremendous capacity and Android OS kept me interested, and I assumed that many of its flaws would be addressed by the time it was available again on Amazon. The short version is that I was right, and after several weeks of ownership I love this device more than the day I bought it.
The Android OS, now at 1.6, is a very slick mobile experience, and is a pleasure to navigate on the Archos 5's beautiful screen. While the Android Market is not installed on the device (I have no idea why), it is easily found online and with that in place the full "Google Experience" with marketplace and incredible voice and mail integration.
As a media player--the original reason for the purchase--the audio quality is excellent and the support of OGG and FLAC formats shows how the Archos folks really do understand and support the full range of audio enthusiasts. With an amazing 500GB, my own extensive music collection fits directly on the device--so I never again have to pick and choose what will be at my fingertips!
Stability has been quite good; I have not yet had a freezeup during actual use. If you're looking for minor annoyance, it will happen with things like sometimes you can't wake it up if you undock it while it's asleep. Once or twice it wouldn't associate with my WiFi Access Point until I configured WiFi off, then back on. These again most often were associated with travelling with it, then coming home and cradling it for recharge. I'm pretty sensitive to software flakiness, but this has all remained well beyond my own pain threshold.
I can't tell you about videos--it just isn't something I have any reason to access on a mobile device.
But as a mobile device with unprecedented media capacity, incredibly broad audio support (including Internet radio), and all the diversity of the Android software ecosystem--this is the device to watch. I love it. |
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| "Archos 5 for Anime and Manga Fans" | 2010-02-12 |
| - Reviewed By Wolfgang M. from Houston, TX USA |
I previously owned the Archos 5 160GB without android, was quite pleased with it, and decided to upgrade to the Archos 5 160 with android. I mostly use the device to watch anime, read manga, and listen to music. My first impression after I opened the box and turned it on was "this is crap" since it froze after 5 min. However, after installing the new firmware it works like a charm. The biggest plus for me was that the device now has mkv video playback. Yes, it works with mkv files with subs (big letters and easy to read) and the video quality is superb. The downside is RMVB playback is not available, but a lot of programs can convert the files now. Manga viewing is quite good with both downloaded images and manga online.
Overall, the device is great for what I want it to do. The only problem I have is with the battery life, I highly recommend downloading an app to quickly adjust screen brightness and wifi usage.
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Expedited Available
