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 enlarge | Brand: Archos
Category: CE
List Price: $499.99
Buy New: $379.99
You Save: $120.00 (24%)
New (52) Used (4) from $320.00
Rating:  55 reviews
Sales Rank: 5620
Color: Grey
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: Yes
Hard Drive Size: 160
Native Resolution: 7
Display Size: 7
Removable Memory: Unknown
Size: 160 GB
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4
Dimensions (in): 7.2 x 0.8 x 5
MPN: 501016
Model: 501016
UPC: 690590510166
EAN: 0690590510166
ASIN: B000W0Q2PU
Release Date: November 20, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: Expedited shipping available
Condition: Brand new, ships immediately!
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| Customer Reviews:
 A Great Product March 7, 2008
2 out of 6 found this review helpful
This product is just great. I will recommend it to anyone. The only thing that I would like for it to do is to go faster on the internet, but overall the product is a great product to buy.
 Not bad... not bad at all :) March 3, 2008
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
I mainly bought this device as i work the graveyard shift and needed something to occupy my time... had to go with the 160gb version because its 160gb, need i say more? lol...
pros:
1) plays xvid divx movies
2) wifi works, not the fastest but still decent
3) big screen
4) can change picture background and theme colors
cons:
1) sometimes unit will freeze when opening a file, usually it is a bad media file i guess? not sure but they work on PC but unit locks up... these were new encoded video files i was testing... only a small % didnt work
2) battery life isnt good, need a spare batter for plane trips
3) if the audio/video file doesnt have high audio, dont expect this unit to amplify it... the built in speakers are sub-average but work.... the headset is your best bet for higher sound...
4) need to buy cimena codec if you have AC3 files or some video formats..
5) need to buy web browser if you plan on using wifi
6) touch screen needs firm touch or use the pen that comes with it (better)
not tested: DVR functions
Overall i am still very happy with the unit even with the cons, for $449 shipped to the door by amazon, i would recommend this to anyone...
RECOMMENDED: get a warranty, i went with squaretrade, they have been really good in customer service and replacement/refunds
A great step forward February 25, 2008
I owned an Archos Av700. I liked it but it had a lot of limitations. But this time Archos really made an improvement.
The Wifi connectivity, the web browsing (after paying for the Opera plug in) and the fact that this time every file I uploaded to the device was recognized and working perfectly , all what you could expect for such a device. The resolution also improved very much. I was amazed about the UPNP capabilities !! I use it a wireless media server too !!
No comparison with other device in the market.
This Device Misses The Mark February 22, 2008
70 out of 75 found this review helpful
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.
Excellent product but not without its flaws February 9, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Pros: 1)Easy to use. The screens are very intuitive.
2)160 GB- lots of storage space compared to IPhone or ITouch
3)You don't have to pay for features that you won't use. Archos requires the purcahse of various plug-ins, ie, video podcasts, opera browser, video playback. Some might consider this nickle and diming you, but I like that they keep the initial cost down.
4)Features-this produst does just about everything you need in a portable media player. You can use it to watch movies, surf the web, listen to music, watch recorded TV shows, view photos and many other applications.
5)The product is well made. When you pick it up, it feels like it is solid and well constructed.
CONS
1)The touch screen is not in the same league as Apple's. You have to use either your finger nail or the stylus otherwise it will not work.
2)The screen could be brighter. Again, a step down from Apple's products.
3)The battery life is horrible. You might get 3 hours for video if you are lucky.
4)Customer service is only average. I called with a problem downloading shows off of Dish Network. I waited 20-30 minutes before receiving assistance. However, the gentleman I spoke with was very helpful.
Overall, I would highly recommed this product.
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