Archos 504 80GB Portable Digital Media Player and Recorder (500870) Review

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(More customer reviews)Received my Archos 504 a couple days ago and I've been putting it through it's paces. The player is very solid and well made. The rocker buttons are easy to push with a tactile feel, but navigating the archos is anything but intuitive. Having to use 3 rocker buttons to navigate up, down, left, and right does not work nearly as well as a directional pad. The screen is very bright and crisp. Unfortunately, out of the box, the Archos doesn't play certain video codecs. MPG4 with AC3 and H264 with AAC both require codec plugins which are going to cost $15 per plug-in. So if you want full video support, add $30 to the price of the 504. The kicker, though, is that these codecs are not yet available and tech support has no idea when they will be available. Also the internal speaker volume is not very loud. Even at full volume, you have to listen closely to video dialog in a quiet room. If there is background noise, forget about it, plug in the headphones.
I really want to like the 504. The price is good for an 80 gig player, but be aware that Archos will nickel and dime you for accessories like an AC adapter (which is only available with the dock or dvr adapter), and the codecs.
If Amazon begins shipping the Zen Vision W 60 GB model soon, I may return the 504.

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With the Archos 500870 504 80GB Portable Digital Media Player and Recorder you have all the entertainment you need at your fingertips, in a package that stays ultra portable. The perfect companion for everything from long trips to short bus rides, from going to parties to just hanging out around the house, the Archos 504 lets you not only take your favorite music, movies, and moments with you, but helps you make new favorite moments wherever you happen to be.
With a screen size surface three times that of similar size PMPs (portable media players), the Archos 504 ensures you can thoroughly enjoy movies and videos. This unit uses a bright, 4.3-inch TFT LCD display with over 16 million colors to provide you a crystal-clear, sharp picture with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 480 x 272 pixels of resolution, as well as an intuitive GUI (graphic user interface) for easy-to-use navigation. The Archos 504 not only plays your videos and movies, but lets you store over a whopping 226 regular movies or 58 DVD-quality movies on its hard drive in either MPEG-4 or WMV formats, at up to DVD resolution. You can also purchase and download optional plug-ins from Archos' website that will allow you to play H.264 and MPEG-2 formats up to DVD resolutions as well.
Not only is the Archos 504 a portable video and movie player, but a high-resolution photo viewer as well, complete with features such as zoom, music, and transition effects. You can easily download photos from your PC, or transfer them directly to the 504 from your digital camera via the optional docking adapter. This unit is compatible with JPEG, BMP, and PNG file formats, and can hold up to 800,000 photos at a time, depending upon file size and what else you are storing at the same time. The Archos 504 can even read and display PDF documents for on-the-fly work situations, although it may not implement all PDF features.
For those times when you can't afford the distraction of watching high-quality videos, the Archos 504 can be your music player, storing and playing up to 40,000 songs so you can keep working, walking, or doing whatever you need with your own private soundtrack. This unit displays the track, artist, album, and album cover of whatever you are playing, and supports stereo MP3 decoding from 30 to 320 kbps CBR and VBR, as well as WMA, protected WMA, and WAV (PCM/ADPCM) formats. Furthermore, the Archos 504 can play AAC music files, and AC3 stereo sound files with the additional of optional software plug-ins that can be purchased and downloaded from Archos' web site. And just in case inspiration strikes or you want to make sure you don't forget something important, this handy media player lets you make voice recordings through its built-in microphone, or via the optional DVR travel adapter or DVR station through a stereo line-in jack in WAV format.
The Archos 504 is fully compatible with DVD-quality VOD (video on demand) and online music stores, allowing you to purchase and download new music and movies directly online rather than having to transfer everything from more traditional media sources. This media player can also record directly from TV in high-quality MPEG-4 with stereo sound via the optional DVR station, so you can take your favorite television shows with you wherever you go. And if you are at home, the Archos 504 can play back any of your movies or recorded TV programs on your television itself, also through the optional DVR station.
The Archos 504 has a built-in 80 gigabyte hard disk so you have plenty of space for anything you need, and includes a high-speed USB 2.0 connection for transferring files. This unit features a 3.5-millimeter stereo headphone jack mini-jack and TV output, and dedicated connectors for hooking up optional adapters or the DVR station. The 504 also features a music playback time of up to 17 hours, and a video playback time of up to 5.5 hours on its built-in LCD display, all with its internal, removable lithium-ion polymer rechargeable battery that charges via computer through its USB port, or more quickly with the optional docking adapter or DVR station, or a separate optional power charger. The Archos 504 is compatible with both PCs and Macs with a USB port and Linux, Windows ME or higher, or OS X or higher, and requires Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or higher and Windows Media Player 10 or higher for use with PlayForSure video and subscription services. This media player allows firmware updates to be downloaded via www.archos.com, weighs approximately 11.15 ounces, and measures approximately 5.1 x 3 x 0.9 inches (W x H x D).
What's in the Box Archos 504 portable media player, headphones, dedicated USB 2.0 cable, DVR station adapter, protective case, quick-start guide, and legal and safety notices.

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GPX C3960 Personal CD/MP3 Player with 120-Second MP3 Anti-Shock Protection Review

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(More customer reviews)Being a long haul semi driver I've found that MP3's are the solution to my audio needs since swapping a normal CD every 80 minutes while driving is impractical and some would argue downright dangerous. Originally I had an RCA 2410 which was as useless as a milk pail under a bull, and then later an RCA 2450 which was just the same. For a year I used my laptop as my player but after dropping it multiple times it has ceased to function. A colleague of mine purchased the GPX 3960 for his own use which caused me to laugh long and hard. To me GPX has always been one of those joke brands that you would expect to find in an Alco store (those of you in the midwest will understand) sitting on the shelf by the Emersons. But when he reported that his worked great I had to get one for myself and so far I've grown attached to it.
Unlike the 2 RCA's I've had, this one isn't terribly picky about the burn speed you use to create your CDR's or CDR-W's (yes they work too), the RCA 2410 would sometimes work if you burned at 1x, this model plays just fine on CDR's that were burned at 16x, might even work at higher speeds though I haven't tried yet. Also, it doesn't hang on mp3's encoded at 320 kbps or even variable bit rates. It also has both line out and head phone out jacks, a feature I haven't seen on portable CD players in years. There are some negative drawbacks that keep this from receiving 5 stars. First, it does skip from time to time, though I don't believe it's caused from vibrations since it has survived with flying colors the I70 across Missouri torture test. The skipping must be from occasional read errors though it usually recovers and continues where as both RCA models would either hang all day or jump to another region of the disk. Second, the randomize feature doesn't randomize very well, by that I mean no matter what track I put it to act as the seed for it's random generator it always will play the same order. Third, the interface is very clumsy, changing directories requires pressing two buttons in an esoteric manner so I usually just keep hitting advance to get the directory I want. Fourth, and most annoying, is the slow speed of the fast forward feature. At least it actually does go forward, unlike the RCA 2410 which would go 5 seconds forward and 6 seconds back, but the sluggishness makes fast forwarding through an audiobook ripped from tape a nightmare, and you can't advance to the next track and then rewind. Other minor annoyances are the lack of a backlit display, lack of a cigarette lighter adapter (car users may want to consider snagging a cheap inverter since it only comes with an AC adapter),lack of a cassette adapter, and some may find the lack of MP3 management software bothersome. Sound quality? Well, keep in mind I'm running through a cassette deck in a Kenworth T2000's stock stereo system and the only other experience I have with MP3 players are the RCA's and my laptop. The RCA's, especially the RP 2450 had a rather thin sound to it while this model sounds on par with the laptop.
I can't comment on how the more expensive players such as the RioVolt or iRiver will serve your needs, but if you're looking for a low priced player and can live with the aforementioned annoyances then this one is definitely worth a look.

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The GPX C3960 personal CD player supports audio CDs, CD-R/RW discs and MP3-formatted discs. The anti-skip system provides forty-five seconds of CD protection and 120 seconds of MP3 protection, making it possible to use the player while running, biking or riding in a car. The two-line LCD screen displays all pertinent information. With the twenty-four track programmable play mode, it becomes easy to individualize a play list for a long walk or a trip downtown on the bus. The package also comes with digital headphones, making the player very versatile. With the bass boost system, sound quality is much-improved, helping to counter the bass-low characteristics of headphones. Other features include: hold, resume, intro scan, repeat and random.
What's in the Box GPX C3960 portable CD player, stereo headphones and a user's manual.

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Coby CA-747 Dual Position CD/MD/MP3 Cassette Adapter Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this product and found like many other people out there that if you have a tape deck with an auto-reverse feature, that you'll have some problems with just about any cassette adapter. After looking online, I found out how to fix most brands, but not this one. So after tooling around for about half an hour, I figured out how to get this cassette adapter to work in an auto-reverse tape deck. If you open the adapter and look inside, you'll see a small gear between one of the center teeth wheels and the little assembly that contains the guide wheel near the edge of the adapter that can only rotate in one direction. Remove this small gear. This will allow the tape to spin freely in either direction. If you look at the guide wheel, you'll notice that it can shift to two positions. One that protrudes closer to the outside of the adapter and one that has it sit more inside the adapter. Tape this piece so that it stays permanently in one of these two positions. That guide wheel moving is how the auto-reverse in your tape deck knows to activate. After I made these changes, I found that the adapter worked in my Ford tape deck flawlessly. No need for an FM transmitter, after all! Hope this helps those of you with the same problem!

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The key feature on this cassette adapter is the dual position, fully modular adapter which gives you the option to plug this into both front and side-loading cassette players. If you're trying to connect your CD or mini-disc player into a cassette deck, this component should do the trick.
What's in the Box Cassette adapter

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Archos 500856 DVR Docking Station for Archos 404/504/604 Media Players Review

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(More customer reviews)I found the docking station to be very easy to use. It's great for recording TV or movies onto your player to watch later and the AVI format allows you to store lots of stuff. You can also set a timer to record TV shows like you would on a traditional VCR or DVR. The recorder even comes with it's own universal remote to use on your cable box or TV (I admit I haven't quite figured it out yet). Also, the station charges your player while you record so it won't die on you in the middle of recording a show. Apparently it will record up to 2 gig before making a new file which means it shouldn't break up your DVDs into more than one file. The station automatically formats protected media into special locked files. My only complaint is that copy protected files can't be played back on a TV or computer which can be annoying if you want to enjoy your saved DVDs on a normal sized screen. And it's tricky to rename those files on the computer because you can't open them to see what's what if they are protected. What does it mean? You aren't going to be able to share the movie watching experience on many files because of the protection. However, it's great for recording for personal use and you can even use it to entertain the kids in the car. I threw a couple of Spongebob's on my player via the station and my son was absorbed for the 40 minute ride to my parents. If you want to get the most out of your player you should buy this product.

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Turn your ARCHOS (404, 504 or 604) into a full DVR. Record from TV and most video sources (satellite/cable box, VCR, DVD player, camcorder) in MPEG-4 format. Make scheduled recordings with the included infrared emitter that controls the external video source. Play back on TV in DVD quality (in video formats supported by your ARCHOS) through the composite, S-video, RGB or YPbPr video outputs.

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Philips USA PH-62050 CD/MP3/MD-To-Cassette Adapter Review

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(More customer reviews)I have two of these devices. The sony that I have cost $20 and clicks when I play it in my one car. In my other car, it always sounds like the dolby sound filtering is on. This one works and sounds better and was half the cost.

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The Philips USA PH-62050 CD/MP3/MD-To-Cassette Converter lets you play CD, MP3 or MD players in your car's cassette deck via a direct plug into your portable audio player. It's powered by your car's own electric system so there's no need for batteries, and it produces a clean sound without the static found in most FM transmitters.

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Archos 7 320 GB Internet Media Tablet Review

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(More customer reviews)As an owner of both the new Archos 7 as well as last year's model (the 705), I wanted to provide some points of comparison between the two for anyone trying to decide whether to save some money on the older model. In general, the two are very similar -- they provide essentially the same functionality, although the new 7 includes a couple of new features (and includes for free some of the plugins that you had to pay for before with the 705).
Here's a quick rundown of the positive changes in the 7 vs the 705:
* Speed -- particularly of the web browser. The new 7 has a much faster CPU and renders web content at a much better pace (probably 3x the speed of the 705). Using the browser on the 705 was often painful except on pages that were geared to mobile devices. The 7 can handle even most complex pages without a problem. Since I use the device for browsing quite a bit, this is a HUGE plus for the 7.
* Email -- The 7 includes a native email client that supports GMail, Yahoo mail or any POP/IMAP server. It's very simple but usable. It's also free (i.e. not a plugin).
* Better screen -- The screen on the 7 definitely is crisper than that on the 705. And the colors are rendered more accurately (at least from my subjective point of view).
* Better responsiveness -- The touchscreen on the 7 is more responsive than on the 705. The increased sensitivity really helps the usability. That said, people who use other touchscreen devices (e.g. iPhone) may find that the screen is still not as sensitive/responsive as other devices.
* Size -- although the screen is the same size between the 2 units, the 7 is slightly shorter and thinner than the 705 (but not by much). The 7's glossy case does collect fingerprints rather quickly, but that's purely an aesthetic issue.
Advantages of the 705 over the 7:
* Archos dropped the mini-USB plug that was used to connect the Archos to your computer. It now uses a proprietary connector for this purpose.
* They also dropped the USB host port from that came with the 705. The 7 includes the USB host capability, but to use it you must purchase the DVR station or mini-dock add-ons. This was built-in directly in the 705 unit. This makes using the device to dump pictures from your digital camera more of a hassle as one more attachment must be carried just for this.
* They also dropped the video out connecter that was standard in the 705. Again, to use this feature with the 7 you'll need the DVR station or mini-dock.
* No stylus or case included -- I've found that using my finger generally works fine but a stylus is still better/more accurate on the screen. Luckily, the 705 came with 2 of them, so I use the spare with my 7. As for the case, you'll have to buy one from Archos to a third party if you want/need one.
Things I wish they would have improved:
* Weight -- this is one heavy device at nearly 1.5 lbs. Granted, the size makes carrying it in a pocket prohibitive, but the weight would do you in otherwise. Fine for a travel bag though and definitely much lighter than a laptop.
* Most plugins still not free -- The browser plugin and "web radio/tv" plugins are now free, but to view many online videos and items ripped from DVD, you'll need to plunk down extra $ for those plugins.
* Support for Flash 9 -- The Archos ostensibly ships with support for Flash 9, but what they don't tell you is that not all Flash 9.x versions are created equally. For example, while most clips on YouTube work, the version of Flash on the Archos does not support popular sites like Hulu. This for me is one of the largest disappointments of the Archos 7.
* No HD or 3G plugins available -- despite what the product description days, the plugins that provides HD video thru the DVR dock (or mini-dock) and which support a 3G wireless connection thru a USB dongle do not actually exist. There's also a very good chance they never will. Archos is notorious for promoting features which are never delivered. If either of these plugins is critical in your decision to purchase the Archos 7, you would be best off waiting until they are released before making the purchase.
For me, I use the 7/705 as a travel companion so I can watch videos, browse the web and store digital pictures. For web use, the 7 is a huge improvement. For videos, the better screen is a nice improvement, but for picture storage, the lack of the built-in USB host port and the need to carry the mini-dock is a bummer.


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MULTIMEDIA PLAYER, ARCHOS 7, 320GB,

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Archos 604 30 GB Ultraslim Portable Digital Media Player and Recorder (500860) Review

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(More customer reviews)The Archos 604 Video player is wonderful piece of electronics. It is a great update of the venerable AV500 and takes care of all of the problems of its predecessors.
Package Contained
Archos 604, 1 battery, nice ear bud headphones, 1 proprietary USB 2.0 cable used to charge the device and transfer content from your computer, setup guide and legal stuff, DVR station adapter and a storage sack.
The Great
The screen is totally amazing: Big, Bright and Beautiful in a 16:9 layout. It has a 30 Gig HD which many people will think is probably on the small size, but I find it more that enough to store 8-10 movies and 8-10 TV shows leaving more than 20 gigs for music. And how much do you really need for movies and TV. These are not like music files: once you view a TV or movie a few times you will want to delete it and put newer movies and TV shows on the unit. More space would be nice, but the 30 here is more than enough for what this unit will be used for, ie watching on the go.
Viewing angle is very wide. The unit itself is well constructed and is made up of a high density plastic and metal - a nice surprise when most people are using only plastic to save money and lessen weight. Here too the 604 has really improved the surface of the metal with a very nice brushed surface that always looks clean: no fingerprints show.
Included are a few sample files to show off the 604 abilities in the video and music areas. The manual is right in the unit in a pdf file which is a very nice feature. The 604 can view most pdf files and the screen is so nice reading and viewing them is a pleasure. I bought my 604 to watch stuff on the go, and this unit is PERFECT for that.
Archos technical support is easy to call and they pickup and give advice without putting you through the ringer or automated FAQ system - another nice surprise.
The 604 has a Replaceable battery! Don't by any product where you can't replace the battery.
Battery life is wonderful for music at over 14 hours when listening to music only. When using it to play videos, I am getting 4+ hours of use before the battery is exhausted. Looking at pictures and listening to music falls somewhere between 7 and 10+ hours.
The interface looks really cool with lots of interactive items. When connected to your computer it asks you what you want to do: charge only, sync (via Windows Media 10) or mount as a hard drive. No installation discs come with the unit as they are not needed. Only thing you need to do is make sure Windows Media 10 (a free download from Microsoft) is installed if you want to use the it for syncing files, but it is not required as you can drag and drop files on the the 604 in HD mode just like any regular hard drive.
The speaker is small but actually sounds good considering its size - perfect for office or desk listening or to share video clips with friends gathered around. The built in Kickstand is extremely cool here and makes playing videos and watching them at your desk very slick.
The built in microphone works exceptionally well and picks up even the softest sounds clearly.
The photo viewer is great and and is fun to use (slide show, rotate, etc.). You can even listen to music while you view pictures which is a wonderful feature: just start listening to music before you switch over to viewing photos.
The Not So Great
Many might be disappointed that it comes with no cables to play back video on television, but again what this unit is really useful for is watching video ON THE GO. If you want a DVR for your house, get a Tivo or something similar or get the additional add-on that make the 604 a full featured DVR, but if you go this route, I would suggest getting the 504 with the bigger HD. Although there to you will pay more for the additional storage size, and you will also have to buy the cables to enable it to record live shows.
The navigation buttons take a bit of getting used to of course, but the design is really quite simple and straight forward.
Things to do when you get your unit.
Be sure to go to the archos website and get the firmware update from the download section for the Archos 604 and update it right away. It adds functionality.
The very bad
The storage bag is useless: provides no more protection than a zip-lock bag. Don't worry, there will be many people selling skins for this unit soon.
Update on 9-20-06:
I wanted to pass along a few more things since my review. I have used the Archos 604 for the past 3 weeks now and I am even more impressed then when I first wrote my review. The unit is just so light and compact for what it offers. This is not like an iPod of course, but with that you gain such a beautiful screen for doing all the things an iPod or similar just can't do. I use the Archos to workout (cardio), currently watching LOST, and the time just flies by.
I have not had any problem connecting or transferring files to the Archos 604: it just works well.
Update on October 4th, 2006:
I have played around with the display setting for brightness and have discovered that if you reduce the brightness to the minimum level (still super acceptable for viewing IMO) you can get about an extra 1 hour of viewing of videos.
Update on October 27th 2006:
The H.264 - AAC sound plug-in was released a few days ago. I downloaded it and installed it easily. The plug-in is tied to your unit so no sharing the codex. Now there is no reason to convert iPod videos for the Archos, they play perfectly with this new plug-in. The plug in was $19.99. The DVD video plug-in also works perfectly and I installed it also without problems and have watched some wonderful DVD movies without having to convert them to a different format. This plug-in was also 19.99. I wish Archos had included these in the original price.
Update on December 5th, 2006:
The Archos 604 as of this date supports the following files types (some may require a plugin: see the Archos website for details).
.divx
.xvid
.wmv
.wma
.m4v
mpeg-4
mpeg-2
.vob
.mpg
.ps
.mp4
.ac3
.acc
.mov (H264)
Summary
This is a very cool device and is certainly easy on the eyes. This blows away any other portable video player (PMP) on the market and the price is incredibly low for what it offers. The very low price will make this a must have item for watching video on the go if you can find it for sale. My 604 is just such a joy to use. I am never without high quality TV shows or DVD movies now no matter where I find myself. The size is just perfect, any larger and it would be cumbersome, and smaller and it would produce eye strain like I had with the video iPod.
Overall, I continue to be very, very happy that I bought the Archos 604.

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With the Archos 500860 604 30GB Ultra-Slim Portable Digital Media Player and Recorder you have all the entertainment you need at your fingertips, in a package that approaches iPod size. The perfect companion for everything from long trips to short bus rides, from going to parties to just hanging out around the house, the Archos 604 lets you not only take your favorite music, movies, and moments with you, but helps you make new favorite moments wherever you happen to be.
With a screen size surface three times that of similar size PMPs (portable media players), the Archos 604 ensures you can thoroughly enjoy movies and videos. This unit uses a bright, 4.3-inch TFT LCD display with over 16 million colors to provide you a crystal-clear, sharp picture with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 480 x 272 pixels of resolution, as well as an intuitive GUI (graphic user interface) for easy-to-use navigation. The Archos 604 not only plays your videos and movies, but lets you store up to a whopping 85 movies on its hard drive in either MPEG-4 or WMV formats at up to DVD resolution. You can also purchase and download optional plug-ins from Archos' website that will allow you to play H.264 and MPEG-2 formats up to DVD resolutions as well.
Not only is the Archos 604 a portable video and movie player, but a high-resolution photo viewer as well, complete with features such as zoom, music, and transition effects. You can easily download photos from your PC, or transfer them directly to the 604 from your digital camera via the optional docking adapter. This unit is compatible with JPEG, BMP, and PNG file formats, and can hold up to 300,000 photos at a time, depending upon file size and what else you are storing at the same time. The Archos 604 can even read and display PDF documents for on-the-fly work situations, although it may not implement all PDF features.
For those times when you can't afford the distraction of watching high-quality videos, the Archos 604 can be your music player, storing and playing up to 15,000 songs so you can keep working, walking, or doing whatever you need with your own private soundtrack. This unit displays the track, artist, album, and album cover of whatever you are playing, and supports stereo MP3 decoding from 30 to 320 kbps CBR and VBR, as well as WMA, protected WMA, and WAV (PCM/ADPCM) formats. Furthermore, the Archos 604 can play AAC music files, and AC3 stereo sound files with the additional of optional software plug-ins that can be purchased and downloaded from Archos' web site. And just in case inspiration strikes or you want to make sure you don't forget something important, this handy media player lets you make voice recordings through its built-in microphone, or via the optional DVR travel adapter or DVR station through a stereo line-in jack in WAV format.
The Archos 604 is fully compatible with DVD-quality VOD (video on demand) and online music stores, allowing you to purchase and download new music and movies directly online rather than having to transfer everything from more traditional media sources. This media player can also record directly from TV in high-quality MPEG-4 with stereo sound via the optional DVR station, so you can take your favorite television shows with you wherever you go. And if you are at home, the Archos 604 can play back any of your movies or recorded TV programs on your television itself, also through the optional DVR station.
The Archos 604 has a built-in 30 gigabyte hard disk so you have plenty of space for anything you need, and includes a high-speed USB 2.0 connection for transferring files. This unit features a 3.5-millimeter stereo headphone jack mini-jack and TV output, dedicated connectors for hooking up optional adapters or the DVR station, and a built-in kick stand for convenient table-top viewing. The 604 also features a music playback time of up to 16 hours, and a video playback time of up to five hours on its built-in LCD display, all with its internal, removable lithium-ion polymer rechargeable battery that charges via computer through its USB port, or more quickly with the optional docking adapter or DVR station. The Archos 604 is compatible with both PCs and Macs with a USB port and Linux, Windows ME or higher, or OS X or higher, and requires Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or higher and Windows Media Player 10 or higher for use with PlayForSure video and subscription services. This media player allows firmware updates to be downloaded via www.archos.com, weighs approximately 9.05 ounces, and measures approximately 5.1 x 3 x 0.65 inches (W x H x D).
What's in the Box Archos 604 portable media player and recorder, headphones, dedicated USB 2.0 cable, DVR station adapter, pouch, quick-start guide, and legal and safety notices.

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Sony D-CJ500 Portable CD/MP3 Player Review

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(More customer reviews)This is my third CD-MP3 player and my favorite by a long shot. I have also owned a Philips Expanium EXP103 and a Pine D'Music SM200C. This Sony has the fit and finish of the Philips device, but the ID3 tag support of the Pine device.
Pros:
* Battery life. Sony claims 24 hours. I only use it for 4-6 hours at a time and in doing so I've only depleted 25% of the battery so it seems about right.
* FAST startup. It is about 10 seconds from the time you put the CD in to the time it actually starts playing. Usually MP3-CD players with ID3 tag support take much much longer.
* Great ID3 tag support. You can view the title, artist, and album information.
* Folder navigation (and shows the names of the folders as you are navigating)
* Fantastic anti-skip protection. I was unable to get it to skip without doing something that might actually damage the unit. For MP3s it actually reads the current MP3 into memory and stops spinning the CD. For the most part the CD is not spinning when you play MP3s. I assume this is how they get such long battery life.
* Good repeat options for CDs and MP3s (on MP3s you can repeat just the current folder)
* Intuitive controls
* Size: slim and very light
Cons:
* No "line out" jack (not a big deal for me, but it is for some)
* No backlight for display
* Size: while it is slim it is somewhat longer than the smaller Sony CD Walkmans. It is still smaller than the Philips and Pine players I had.
* Sort of cheap looking, especially the bottom of the unit. Since nobody sees the bottom there's no big deal. For me this is a bonus since I spend a lot of time listing in the airport. If it looks cheap nobody will want to steal it. It's not cheaply made, but it doesn't have the "cool" factor that some of the other Sony CD Walkman products have.

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Sony introduces a personal CD player that can play it all: CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, and MP3 files. It has the ultimate skip-free G-ProtectionM-^Y technology, so you wonM-^Rt have to worry about your tunes skipping while you exercise. The unit features MP3 playback capability that lets you play music files that were downloaded and recorded onto CD-Rs and CD-RWs. And you can get up 32 hours of CD playback on just 2 "AA" batteries.

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Philips MP3 CD/Radio/ Cassette Player with AM/FM Radio. CD/CD-R/RW Sound machine with Stereo Cassette Player Review

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(More customer reviews)All the features work well in this tiny machine. Sound quality is good and we like the manual dials and switches rather than digital/automated features because we feel it gives us better control. One drawback is the lack of volume control on the remote, but if you have the player set up the way you want it before you play, this shouldn't be a problem. If you use this in America, MAKE SURE the 110V / 220V switch on the bottom of the unit is set to 110V. Otherwise the CD player won't work. (This is in the manual, but not as obvious as you would expect.) This comes with a dual plug so it's ready to use in countries that use 220V (like in Europe) or 110 V (like in the USA).

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Enjoy your favorite MP3-CD in superb sound with AZ1047 featuring powerful stereo speakers and dynamic bass boost. Your handy CD soundmachine features cassette and radio - continue your music enjoyment. MP3/CD Playback means MP3 plays like a normal CD FM/MW Stereo tuner Autostop Stereo tape deck Enhanced bass performance Dynamic Bass Boost for deep and dramatic bass Easy to use CD to tape synchro-start recording 20 track CD programmable Multi-functional LCD Display SpecificationsAudio Playback Playback Media CD, CD-R, CD-RW, MP3-CD Loader Type Top Disc Playback Modes Fast Forward/Backward, Next/Previous Track Search, Repeat Play, Shuffle Play Number of decks 1 Cassette Deck Technology Mechanical Programmable Tracks 20

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Coby Portable MP3/CD Player with AM/FM Radio - Black (MPCD471) Review

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(More customer reviews)I should have paid more attention to the reviewers who said it WOULDN'T play computer-burned CDs, no matter what Coby claimed. I never got it to play one, even tried CDs burned on different computers. The CDs played just fine in my car, but never on this player. And even worse, after a total of no more than 30 hours using this player, most of that using the flash drive function, it no longer recognizes "store-bought" CDs. A complete waste of money!

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Coby Electronics MP-CD471 Radio/CD MP3 Player Boombox MP-CD471 Boomboxes

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Aiptek MPVR 8MP MPEG4 Digital Camcorder with 4x Digital Zoom Review

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(More customer reviews)but luckily I was wrong. I bought the MPVR at Target for $128.77 (the lowest price I found). There were only 2 left, so I took that as a good sign. After the initial charge, which took less than the four hours stated in the manual, I was ready to play. I took a few pictures inside my house in low-light conditions, both at 1 and 3 megapixel resolution. I also shot a short video just so I could test it. The following morning I shot another video outside (it was a beautiful day with plenty of sun), and I took pictures in all the available resolutions: VGA, 1, 3, and 6MP. Here's what I think:
For under $150 you get a digital still camera, digital camcorder, MP3 player, voice recorder, and TV-DVD recorder. It's an amazing deal.
-The camera:
While it does tout the camera as being able to take pictures at 6MP resolution, the actual sensor is for 3MP. I was a little thrown off by this, but if you research, you'll find that more megapixels doesn't necessarily mean better quality, and this little camera is a perfect example. The way it achieves the 6MP resolution is by taking them at 3MP and adding in the extra pixels by the use of an algorithm (similar to what happens when you enlarge a picture using any photo-editing software) before the JPEG encoding, so the results are good. The images are crisp and vibrant. The get a little fuzzy when you take them at full zoom (4x optical), but that's nothing a good tripod can't fix. I currently have the resolution set at VGA because it's the perfect size for email attachments.
-The camcorder:
The first video I shot was indoors, at night-time, without engaging the night mode, and in low light. The image was good but a little fuzzy. The one I shot outdoors was beautiful. The colors were brilliant, and there was very little noise. Also the microphone is really good, and you can adjust the volume settings. You can also zoom in and out while recording video. There are two settings for video: VGA, and the lower-quality less-space consuming QVGA. All video is encoded in MPEG4 so it easily plays on your computer.
-MP3 player:
When you connect the camera to your computer, you'll find an MP3 folder. Just drag and drop your songs there and you're set. The speaker on the camera is pretty good, but it distorts a little if you have it on too loud. The included ear-buds are pretty good, although I'm sure it would sound much better with high-end Bose. You can't fast-forward or rewind a song, but how often do you really do that?
-Voice recorder and TV-DVD recorder:
I haven't used either of these functions yet, but from the sound I heard in the videos, I can probably say the voice recorder is good too. For TV-DVD recording, the camera comes with AV cables so it's just a matter of connecting the camera and hitting record. A 2GB SD card will hold about 2 hours of video.
The MPVR is amazing. It blew me away. And the size is fantastic. It comes with a 2.4" swivel screen, slim rechargeable battery and charger, AV-out/USB combo cable, AV-in cable, and wrist strap. It comes with an internal 16MB flash memory, and a SD/MMC slot accepting cards of up to 2GB. The only draw back that I could find is that the lens is not covered and it does not include a cap. So just be careful not to scratch it. When I first bought the camera I wasn't sure if I was going to keep it, but now that I've fallen in love with it I bought a small compact camera case (BestBuy has good, cheap ones) and a 256MB Kingston SD card. At the manufacturer's website, www.aiptek.com, you'll find extra accessories such as an AC adapter for the camera, extra batteries, tripods, and a wireless remote.
This camera does seem too good to be true, but I can assure you, you won't be disappointed.

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Aiptek???s MPVR is a hand held multi-functional Media Player / Video Recorder which allows you to connect to your TV/VCR/DVD player to record your favorite TV shows, Movies, video clips, pictures, audio recordings, and playback on the huge built-in 2.4 TFT color LCD or on your 60 TV for an affordable price!If that wasn???t enough, the MPVR also performs as your MPEG-4 DV Camcorder recording Super VHS quality video (640 x 480 VGA resolution at 30 frames per second), 3 Mega Pixel Digital Camera with 6 Mega Pixel enhancement, Voice Recorder, and SD Card Reader / Removable Hard Disk!The most convenient personal entertainment solution with exceptional value and features!

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NAXA NX-250 Portable AM FM Radio USB Port MP3 CD Player Boombox Stereo Review

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(More customer reviews)With the ability to play mp3-cd, usb flash drives, and SD cards, you can't expect to pay any less for this unit being at only about $40. Anything cheaper and your looking at tiny radios that can't put out any volume and have very limited features.
Pros:
-several inputs provide plenty of options
-radio reception is phenomenal, tons of stations and alot of them come in crystal clear
-button layout is simple and easy to use
-very portable, only about 14" long x 6" high x 8" deep and maybe 4-5 lbs without batteries
-lcd screen lights up with a nice blue display
-has an AUX-in for whatever that can be used for
Cons:
-battery compartment is a bit tight so its a bit of a pain in the butt getting batteries in and out if you do this frequently
-metal screen that covers speakers sticks out a bit to much and makes it too easy to dent the screen if the unit is hit
-the 2 slider buttons that switch the unit between cd/radio/usb etc and Am/FM/stereo are kinda cheap and its best to try and minimize the number of times you handle these buttons. The buttons work ok but they definately have a cheap feel to them.
-bass is a joke
-only moderately loud and only the "jazz" and maybe the "normal" presets provide decent sound and minimal distortion on maximum volume
-radio tuning is analog (which many people prefer digital)
-the +10
I wrote more more cons then pros but I think alot of the cons are just being picky and also alot of them are easy to live with. If less then maybe $60 and considering the features it has I would probably purchase this unit again.

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The NX-250 is an easy affordable way to provide hours of music listening entertainment. It features a top loading programmable CD player (which is MP3/CD-R/CD-RW compatible), an AM FM stereo radio, and two high performance speakers. It is equipped with a USB port and SD/MMC card slot which allows you to use external memory devices which have audio files downloaded on to them.

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Philips GoGear 4 GB Vibe MP3 Video Player with 1.5-Inch Color Screen Review

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(More customer reviews)With a large outdoor project looming on the horizon I decided to purchase an MP3 Player to listen to my tunes as I work. After a lengthy review process both locally and online I finally decided to purchase the GoGear Vibe 4Gig player.
Overall I am very happy with my purchase. It plays my music very well. I even hooked it up to my full over ear headphones and some external speakers and it did quite well. I really enjoyed the equalizer feature as this did an excellent job of improving the music that I like to listen to. There are multiple presets based on Music Genres plus there is a custom setting as well. I advise you to try all the presets as I found the Rap setting improved my tunes the most, though that isn't the music I listen to. The controls are well laid out though the front panel toggle can be a bit twitchy causing mistaken key presses.
The device synch's very easily with your PC and I use the standard windows explorer to edit the files that are on it. The Rapsody player it is bundled with is a bit annoying. Take care when you have the Windows media player synch with the device for the first time. The darn thing went across my entire hard drive and synched every single WMA it could find! My only complaint with that is that it isn't perfect. It took compilations and created folders for each and every artist who was involved making it almost impossible to listen to the work together. Plus I have some older works that I have collected from several different sources that it insisted on making up lots of folders that would contain only 1 song in it. Then it would simply confuse some tracks and place them in the wrong folders. The best way I have found around this is to edit all those songs back into 1 folder to play those selections from the folder option and not the artist option. So far it has randomized my tracks well and I haven't been able to detect a pattern. I would like to try track editing software to attempt a more professional solution but I haven't tried this yet.
I'm afraid I can't evaluate the player for anything other than an MP3/WMA player as that is all I have been using it for although the album art does show up rather well on the very tiny screen (The screen is about the size of those keychain photo viewers.) I did use the FM also and it works well. The device has no expansion slots so you should make sure your music can fit in the 3.6 Gigs of formatted space. I don't have a massive collection of music so 4 Gigs was enough to carry my current collection and still leave a good amount of space for more music or some snapshots. I use the Phillips athletic armband carrier (Not included but I recommend it)to lug it around as it has no belt clip, but the carrier does a great job of protecting the device and gives you easy access to all of its features.
It plays for a very long time on a charge. I have let it run for better than 8 hours and it was still going. I don't yet know how long it will play before it needs a charge. It recharges very easily from a PC USB port fully in about 3 hours. It does have an extremely short recharge cable that only measures 4.75" long from tip to tip, but I have found any standard large port to small port USB cable (Like those of camera stick readers) allows it to recharge. The headphones that it comes with do an okay job of playing but they bothered my ears after a few hours so I bought some JVC in the ear buds for it that I like much better.
A Word of Warning! Only use the reset button in absolute emergencies. I used it casually to try to get it to the set time function and completely locked the player down! It would refuse to do anything after that. I thought I was going to have to take it back to the store, but I was able to get the Philips GoGear VIBE Device Manager to finally see it (Hold the + portion of the volume control down until it sees it) and it was able to update the firmware and restore the device to working order. This was great except it completely erased the Player! I had to restore my entire collection to the device again.
Other than that 1 hiccup (caused by me) the device has performed flawlessly ever since and I am really enjoying it. It has an excellent array of features compared with devices that cost twice as much.


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Philips GoGear ViBE Portable AV Player (4GB) packs big entertainment in a superbly small design. Its 1.5" full color display shows off album art and folder view ensures easy file navigation and organization.

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Sennheiser CX 300S Bass-Driven Lightweight In-Ear Headphone Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought the CX 300S earbuds to use with my portable MP3 player while walking/jogging. The rubberized cord tends to stick/cling to your clothing which results in the buds getting yanked out of your ears as your clothing moves around (not to mention the fact that the cord is a little too short.) The buds must be fully inserted into your ear canal in order to hear the full fidelity of the music. With the buds fully inserted, most of the outside sounds are silenced... but this has the effect of amplifying inside (in-body) sounds such as breathing, teeth chattering, swallowing, etc... as well as the sound that the cord makes as it rubs around. Also, as the air moves past your head (while walking) you'll notice very pronounced wind noise! I also noticed that once you get the buds properly fitted, then you smile at someone, the buds tend to pop out! No more smiling!
Now, let me say that if I'm sitting at my desk with the buds properly fitted, the sound is amazing. Very good fidelity with bright highs and nice bass. But, to fully enjoy your music, you'll need to sit perfectly still and breathe gently (and don't touch the cord!)
If you're skeptical about the amplified internal body sounds, try this experiment: take your index fingers and gently press them into your ear canals... not all the way in as to fully plug your ears, but gently about 2/3's of the way in. This is about where the buds will sit when inserted. Now, gently tap your teeth, or take a deep breath. Take your thumbs and rub your index fingers... you get the idea.
I know that this is not a defect with the Sennheisers... this is an inherit problem with anything that you'd stick into your ear canal. And I've now learned that I absolutely hate in-canal phones... very, uncomfortable and inconvenient (and I've recently learned that in-ear phones can cause hearing loss.)
I am switching back to my Koss KSC75 Portable Stereophone Headphones which sound amazing. And they're so comfortable that you might forget that you're wearing them.
Bottom line: If you're a fan of in-ear buds, then I recommend the CX 300S's... they do sound very good when properly worn. Since most of my gripes are with in-ear buds in general, I cannot fault Sennheiser nor the CS 300S's. I rate them only 4 stars because the rubberized cord is annoying and it's a bit too short.

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The Sennheiser CX300-S Earbuds are the ideal ear buds for use with portable MP3, CD, MD, DVD players and many other portable devices with 3.5mm headphone sockets. Soft silicone-rubber ear adapters in three different sizes are included to ensure a perfect fit, high wearing comfort and an excellent attenuation of ambient noise. These ear buds, with their in-ear, sound-isolating design, offer powerful, bass-driven stereo performance. Extremely small and lightweight -- they weigh a bit more than an ounce -- the CX300-S will go wherever you take them. Designed in a stylish silver finish, the ear buds include a 3.5mm L-shaped plug and 21-inch asymmetrical cable. Sennheiser, an acknowledged world leader in headphone-transducer technology, offers a two-year manufacturer's warranty on the CX300-S.

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RCA RD2780 20GB Lyra Personal Digital Multi-Media Player Review

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(More customer reviews)Last week I bought a Lyra 40GB mp3 jukebox and really enjoyed the storage, how it functioned as a hard drive, the sound, and ease of use.
The one thing that kept nagging me was how the 40GB mp3 jukebox was $299 and the Lyra AV was $399, so why not spend the $100 more and get the video player/recorder?
At first I loved the RCA AV device and spent the entire weekend playing with the features that were available. It was good improvement over just a pure mp3 jukebox, however after a few days the drawbacks and limitations became clear.
These are some big problems:
1. The video you capture is in ASF format and not avi, which makes editing in a common video editor a far tougher task.
2. The picture play back is only for .jpg files and not all jpg compression files worked.
3. Battery life with video only or mp3 only was very close to the same, which is alarming. The battery indicator also would go from full charge to 1/2 to 3/4 and never showed the correct charge. In one mixed function test the system ran for almost 3.5 hours. After another full 6+ hour charge it ran for about 2.5 hours in the same conditions.
4. The latest January 15 firmware adds a few features and fixes some problems, however a large amount of functionality is still missing.
5. RCA restricts users from backing up copyrighted works. People have figured out a work around, however there are several things that could be done to tighten copying, which severely restricts the usefullness of the device.
6. The system OS also runs slow. Checking the Lyra status screen took more than 2 minutes for some reason. At random times switching songs, stopping playback, or performing simple functions gives you 10-30 seconds of lag and it almost appears as if the system locked up.
The best things about the RCA AV jukebox include the nice TFT screen, the sleek form factor, the lower price, how so many accessories are included in the box, and how it forced Archos to lower the prices on their competing products.
If the RCA came out with complete functionality, recorded in avi format, and offered the same functionality as the Archos players it would have been a serious hit.
As it stands the RCA player is functional, has some good points, but it fails in a side by side comparision with the Archos. The promise was there, but the delivery was not.
Perhaps with jukebox 2 from RCA or after 6 more months of firmware updates the Lyra will be better competition, however there is a good chance future devices will be even further restricted as time goes on because media companies will just blame them as tools for abuse, ignoring the fact that any PC or Mac out there is a far better tool for any person wishing to pirate media.
I initially gave the Lyra a 5, but now feel it deserves a 2.5-3 for what it currently delivers. I am moving to a Archos AV340 because after my experience with the Lyra and after further research it appears the additional money is well worth it when it comes to these types of devices.

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Lyra Audio/Video, 20GB, 3.5" display - RCA Lyra portable audio/video 20GB Jukebox- 20GB internal hard disc (stores up to 300 hours of music, 80 hours of video, or 100,000 JPEG images)- Plays open mp3s- 3.5" TFT color LCD screen- Built-in rechargeable battery (up to 4 hours continuous play in video mode)- Hi-speed USB connectivity (up to 40 times faster, compatible with USB 2.0 and original USB specifications)- PC/Mac compatible- Composite video input/ouput jack (2.5mm)- Audio/video recording mode- Compact flash slot (type 1)- 3.5mm headphone jack- Dimensions: 135mmW x 80mmH x 24mmD- Weight: 275 grams- USB connection jack - Stereo line in/out (2.5mm) jack- External DC jack (3.5mm)- System requirements: Pentium III 500MHz or iMac G3. Windows 98SE, ME, 2000 with service pack 3, XP or Mac OS X version 10.1.5. Internet Explorer 4.0. Internet access. 100MB free hard disc space. 64MB RAM. CD-ROM drive capable of digital audio extraction. USB port- Sleek design- SilverPackage Contents:- RCA Lyra Jukebox- USB cable- CD-ROM for PC, music management software- Audio/video line out cable- Earbud headphones- Carrying case- Compact AC adapter- Car kit accessories (tape adapter, cigarette lighter charger)

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Archos 604 30GB Wi-Fi, Ultra-Slim Portable Digital Media Player and Recorder (50872) Review

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(More customer reviews)I have had this product for several weeks now. I thought long and hard about which type to buy (I finally settled on Archos as the manufacturer) and went with the 604 WiFi due to the size (704 is too large for what I wanted) and cost (the 604 without WiFi was about the same price).
I also prefer the removeable battery, which the 605 does not have. The 605 does allow you to stream video whereby the 604 doesn't, so if this is an important feature for you keep that in mind. Also, oddly enough, the 604 WiFi comes with the Archos browser already loaded, and it appears you have to pay extra for this with the 605.
Learning how to convert files took me a while, but I found a good software to use (there are several freebies out there) and through a bit of trial and error, I have it down to a pretty good routine now. I've put about four movies on it and they work fine, although one I may have to reload because the movement on the screen is a little choppy for some reason. Converting DVDs to .avi takes a while, so I usually do this in the background while doing something else. Transfering the file to the Archos only takes a few minutes.
I see many complaints about the fact that you have to buy extra accessories, which is apparently true for most any Archos PMP. You should, of course, do your research ahead of time and figure those costs in the final price before you make the decision to buy it in the first place. If you want any cables, the docking station, etc. add those into the total cost when you compare, presuming that whatever you are comparing it to has these already included. I have ordered the docking station but it has not yet arrived, so I can't comment on its usefulness (or lack thereof). I also bought the two plug-ins online at the Archos web site. I knew in advance that I would incur these costs in addition to the cost of the 604 if I wanted them. Considering the price I got if for on Amazon, though, I still considered it to be a good buy.
Several comments have also been made regarding the sound quality of the speaker. Well, of course it's bad! It is a tiny little thing on a faily small device, so don't expect thundering surround sound. All I use it for is to make sure that the movies I have transferred to it did transfer successfully with the sound. In that respect, it's pretty handy to have.
I plan to use this to watch movies while traveling by plane, and I think it is perfect for that purpose. It is heavier than I thought it would be and IMO it is not a good choice if you mainly want MP3. There are many lighter options for this with probably better sound quality. In no way would you want to go jogging with this thing; it's simply not made for that.
If you do decide to buy this device or another model, check out www.archosfans.com to get some useful tips on using it. For newbies like me in regard to file conversion, a great resource on this site is http://forum.archosfans.com/viewtopic.php?t=8348, which guides you step-by-step.
All in all I have been pleased with my purchase and will probably buy a second one to give as a gift. I do recommend it.
EDIT 05/30/08: I have had this unit for about seven months now and continue to be pleased with it. I have it continually sitting in the docking station to charge and have learned how to set the timer. So, while in the docking cradle, it will turn on my Dish receiver, turn it to the correct channel, record the program and then turn the receiver off. You cannot transfer Dish recorded material to the unit, although you can do this with a free plug-in from Archos with the 605 or the 705 units. I am a bit irritated that Archos updated this feature for the 605/705 devices but not for the 604/704 devices, but such is life, I guess.
If I have any regret in buying it, it is that I didn't get the 80 GB or larger option instead of the 30 GB, but on the other hand this does make me delete those files I don't really need. It serves the exact purpose I wanted it for, though. When I travel, I now have a variety of programs to watch at my finger tips instead of being at the mercy of "AA Eye On American" every flight. It is one of the better buying decisions I've made.

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With the Archos 604 30 GB portable digital media player and recorder, you have all the entertainment you need at your fingertips in a package that approaches iPod size. The perfect companion for everything from long trips to short bus rides, and from going to parties to just hanging out around the house, the Archos 604 lets you not only take your favorite music, movies, and moments with you, but helps you make new favorite moments wherever you happen to be.
With a screen size surface three times that of similar size PMPs (portable media players), the Archos 604 lets you thoroughly enjoy movies and videos. This unit employs a bright 4.3-inch TFT LCD display with over 16 million colors to deliver a crystal-clear, sharp picture, with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 480 x 272 pixels of resolution, as well as an intuitive GUI (graphic user interface) for easy-to-use navigation. The Archos 604 not only plays your videos and movies, but also lets you store up to a whopping 85 movies on its hard drive in either MPEG-4 or WMV formats at up to DVD resolution. You can also purchase and download optional plug-ins from Archos' website that will allow you to play H.264 and MPEG-2 formats up to DVD resolutions as well.
Not only is the Archos 604 a portable video and movie player, but a high-resolution photo viewer as well, complete with features such as zoom, music, and transition effects. You can easily download photos from your PC or transfer them directly to the 604 from your digital camera via the optional docking adapter. This unit is compatible with JPEG, BMP, and PNG file formats, and can hold up to 300,000 photos at a time, depending upon file size and what else you are storing at the same time. The Archos 604 can even read and display PDF documents for on-the-fly work situations, although it may not implement all PDF features.
For those times when you can't afford the distraction of watching high-quality videos, the Archos 604 can be your music player, storing and playing up to 15,000 songs so you can keep working, walking, or doing whatever you need with your own private soundtrack. The unit displays the track, artist, album, and album cover of whatever you are playing, and supports stereo MP3 decoding from 30 to 320 kbps CBR and VBR, as well as WMA, protected WMA, and WAV (PCM/ADPCM) formats. Furthermore, the Archos 604 can play AAC music files and AC3 stereo sound files with the additional of optional software plug-ins that can be purchased and downloaded from Archos' web site. And just in case inspiration strikes or you want to make sure you don't forget something important, this handy media player lets you make voice recordings through its built-in microphone, or via the optional DVR travel adapter or DVR station through a stereo line-in jack in WAV format.
The Archos 604 is fully compatible with DVD-quality VOD (video on demand) and online music stores, allowing you to purchase and download new music and movies directly online rather than having to transfer everything from more traditional media sources. This media player can also record directly from TV in high-quality MPEG-4 with stereo sound via the optional DVR station, so you can take your favorite television shows with you wherever you go. And if you are at home, the Archos 604 can play back any of your movies or recorded TV programs on your television itself, also through the optional DVR station.
The Archos 604 has a built-in 30 GB hard disk, so you have plenty of space for anything you need, and includes a high-speed USB 2.0 connection for transferring files. The 604 also offers Wi-Fi capability that lets you more easily transfer files to and from your Archos media player and other Wi-Fi enabled devices or computers. This unit features a 3.5-millimeter stereo headphone jack mini-jack and TV output, dedicated connectors for hooking up optional adapters or the DVR station, and a built-in kick stand for convenient table-top viewing. The 604 also features a music playback time of up to 16 hours, and a video playback time of up to five hours on its built-in LCD display, all with its internal, removable lithium-ion polymer rechargeable battery that charges via computer through its USB port, or more quickly with the optional docking adapter or DVR station.
The Archos 604 is compatible with both PCs and Macs with a USB port and Linux, Windows ME or higher, or OS X or higher, and requires Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or higher and Windows Media Player 10 or higher for use with PlayForSure video and subscription services. This media player allows firmware updates to be downloaded via www.archos.com, weighs approximately 9.05 ounces, and measures approximately 5.1 by 3 by 0.65 inches (W x H x D).
What's in the Box Archos 604 portable media player and recorder, headphones, dedicated USB 2.0 cable, DVR station adapter, pouch, quick-start guide, legal and safety notices.

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Archos 705 Wi-Fi Portable Media Player (80 GB) Review

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(More customer reviews)On paper, this device is in a class by itself. It has the largest screen (7") of any similar media player, it has a 160gb hard drive, it has wifi, it has links to content portals (such as Cinema Now), it has a touchscreen interface and it is reasonably priced.
But, as is so often the case, paper specifications are meaningless if the user experience falls short. And for me, the device had significant flaws in many important categories, so that, when taken as a whole, it left me unimpressed and searching for another player.
First, the screen, while 7" measured diagonally, displays videos that are so grainy that they look like poor analog television. I ripped xvid files at high bitrates to test the 705, and in every case, the videos were grainy and blurry, not sharp or detailed. Perhaps this has something to do with the fact that the 705 has 260,000 colors and not 16 million colors that other players have (for example, the Cowon A3 and the Archos 605). While I realize that I cannot even see 260,000 colors, the number of colors does affect contrast and sharpness, and Archos would be well advised to update its technology. Furthermore, it seems counterintuitive that Archos would have fewer colors for a 7" screen, when the Cowon A3 and the Archos 605 have much smaller screens but 60 times the colors.
Second, the audio is only adequate. In direct comparisons with other players, the 705 had very low volume, a mediocre soundstage and only average detail.
Third, the hard drive froze so many times that I lost count. I was constantly resetting it, and in doing so, I had to re-input data.
Fourth, the touchscreen interface requires the supplied stylus for many functions. Using one's finger without the stylus is a frustrating experience, since the 705 is not sensitive enough to work only with finger prompts.
Fifth, the battery, while removable, worked only for 1 1/2 hours when I watched videos. The specifications state that the battery life for videos is 5 1/2 hours. These numbers are so disparate that I'm not sure under what conditions Archos tested the battery life for videos.
Lastly, the content portal, which could be a great source of streaming media, was clearly an afterthought. I tried to purchase videos from Cinema Now, and the search function rarely worked and in most instances, I was unable to purchase videos. I ended up having to purchase the videos from my PC and sync them to the 705.
In sum, the 705 did not suit my needs. However, I will watch it closely for future developments. Archos has a potentially great product here; one that no other manufacturer makes. It is indeed unfortunate that it falls short of its promising specifications.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Archos 705 Wi-Fi Portable Media Player (80 GB)

With 80 GB of built-in memory, the Archos 705 Wi-Fi portable media player lets you surf, stream, download, and record movies for easy playback on its crystal clear 800 x 480 7-inch full-color touchscreen. With its Wi-Fi capabilities, the 705 Wi-Fi connects to the Internet for surfing the Web, accessing e-mail, and watching Web-based videos wherever you go. Its Opera Browser plug-in puts Adobe Flash support on your Archos, which enables access to and use of Dailymotion and other Web video sites on your Archos device. You can even view and post YouTube videos wherever you have a wireless connection and your Archos.
To assist in finding new and exciting media, the 705 Wi-Fi comes with integrated access to Archos' content portal, a service that features thousands of movies, TV shows, and songs for downloading wirelessly to the player. The player also sports an integrated TV program guide you can use to record your favorite TV shows for later playback. And because the device supports PDF files, you can kick back with an e-book in PDF format while on the road or review important PDF documents while away from the office. The 705 Wi-Fi supports MPEG4, AVI, and WMV video files and audio files in MP3, WMA, Protected WMA, and WAV file formats.
Bridging the gap between the PC and the TV, the 705 Wi-Fi allows you to stream content from a PC or the Internet directly to a TV or the 705--all through a wireless home network and an optional DVR station. It also features a sophisticated touchscreen, no-button design to ensure simple navigation with your fingertips or stylus. In the absence of a Wi-Fi network, content can be transferred to the device via USB 2.0. The player supports Windows, Mac, and Linux operating systems. The 705 Wi-Fi measures 7.05 x 4.96 x 7.75 inches, weighs only 22 ounces, and features a music playback battery life of up to 25 hours and a video playback life of up to 5.5 hours.
New Free Widget Pack Archos has launched a new widget pack that is free for the 705. A widget is a piece of software that adds new features to your player. It gives you fun, quick, and easy access to hundreds of tools, right on the device. The package contains seven widgets, including a calculator, a currency converter, a unit converter, news, weather, a note writer, and a data vault.
To be able to use the widgets, you need to purchase the Web Browser plug-in (about $30). Then, you can download the free widget pack via Archos.com.
New Dish Network Plug-in With a new plug-in, you can transfer recorded movies and TV shows from your Dish Network set-top box directly to your Archos 705. Play back Dish Network-recorded movies and TV shows on the go or on TV--in DVD quality.
Multi-language is supported. The plug-in is compatible only with Dish Network STB models 622 and 722.
What's in the Box Archos 705 Wi-Fi, headphones, USB 2.0 cable, USB 2.0 host adapter, DVR station saddle, two styli, remote control with built-in keyboard, power adapter and charger, protective pouch, quick start guide, and legal and safety notice. NOTE: The Archos 705 manual states that a UK/European adapter is included; however, this adapter is not included in the box. To obtain the adapter mentioned in the manual, contact Archos Customer Service at 866-489-4718--available seven days a week, 7AM to 11PM CST.

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