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CNET editors' rating:
3.5 stars
Very good
Detailed editors' rating - Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 14 reviews
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Product summary
The good: The Archos 5 portable video player offers a large, high-resolution touch-screen display, Wi-Fi, music playback, photos, Flash video and game compatibility, a PDF reader, Mac and PC compatibility, built-in speaker, integrated kickstand, and optional DVR, GPS, and 3G capabilities.
The bad: The Archos 5 requires a proprietary USB cable for charging and transferring content, the glossy design is quickly marred with fingerprints, older Archos accessories are incompatible, some applications are still in beta, and you'll need to pay extra to activate many of the player's more desirable features.
The bottom line: The Archos 5 boasts an improved screen size, image resolution, and sound quality over its predecessor, but its Web browser and Flash media playback are disappointing for a product marketed on the strength of its Internet media capabilities.
Specifications: Device type: Digital AV player; Dimensions (WxDxH): 5 in x 0.5 in x 3.1 in; Display type: TFT 4.8 in - Color; See full specs
Price range: $319.95 - $339.49
CNET editors' review
- Reviewed on: 09/25/2008
- Updated on: 11/26/2008
- Released on: 08/19/2008
Editors' note: The following review has been updated to reflect product firmware updates that have increased battery life, improved system stability, and expanded audio format support. The product rating has not changed.
The Archos 5 is a beautiful touch-screen media player offered in several high-capacity models (60GB, 120GB, and 250GB). Archos made a splash with 2007's 605 WiFi, an Editors' Choice winner and one of the first portable media players to offer a full Web browser along with a host of video and music playback features. The features we loved in the 605 WiFi are still here in the Archos 5, but there are some notable drawbacks that prevent the product from realizing its potential.
Design
Archos is promoting the Archos 5 as a Wi-Fi Internet tablet, but its chromed plastic enclosure and 5-inch touch screen look more like a luxury GPS unit. In fact, for an extra $129 you actually can use the Archos 5 as a relatively sophisticated in-car GPS system. Unlike its predecessor, the 605 WiFi, the Archos 5 is controlled almost entirely by its touch screen, with the exception of a power button and volume rocker on the top edge of the device. A 3.5mm headphone output is located midway up on the left edge, making the gadget more awkward to hold than the 605 WiFi. Thankfully, a built-in kickstand folds out from the back of the Archos 5 for hands-free viewing.
The Archos 5 measures 5 inches wide, 3 inches tall, and 0.5 inch thick (or 0.75 inch thick for the 120GB and 250GB versions), making it not much bigger than the 605 WiFi. Despite its similar size, Archos was able to squeeze an extra half-inch of screen onto the Archos 5 by removing the redundant physical controls found on the company's previous players and placing the integrated speaker on the right edge of the device instead of the front.
Another surprising design change from Archos is the use of a glossy-coated screen instead of the matte, antiglare screens that have been a hallmark of its previous products. Combined with the Archos 5's glossy, reflective enclosure, Archos has created an ideal breeding ground for fingerprints and smudges.
Another small, but significant design feature that distinguishes the Archos 5 from previous Archos PVPs is the use of new proprietary dock connection. We've given Archos some flack before on its use of a nonstandard connector for its USB cable, but the upshot of the unique dock connection has been its compatibility with Archos accessories such as battery packs, FM tuners, video cameras, and AV docks. The introduction of a new dock connection on the Archos 5 has severed its compatibility with existing Archos accessories, with the exception of the in-car GPS cradle. Archos is busy making new accessories for the Archos 5 (including the new Archos 5 DVR Station); however, early adopters have only a few options currently and users looking to upgrade from older models may feel some resentment over replacing their existing accessories.
Features
The Archos 5 has plenty of features to brag about, including music and video playback, a photo viewer, Opera Web browser, Flash 9 video and game support, a PDF reader, e-mail support, and an integrated video download store. You also get optional support for digital video recording and output through the latest Archos DVR Station, and support for 3G and 3.5G HSDPA wireless connections through the use of USB modem dongles offered by your mobile carrier.
Despite the manufacturer's protest that Archos 5 shouldn't be categorized as a mere portable video player, video playback is the Archos 5's strongest feature. Out of the box, the Archos 5 offers support for AVI, WMV, MPEG4, and Flash video content with no transcoding necessary for videos sized at or below 640x480. Although Archos makes no mention of it, we were happy to see that DRM-protected WMV videos from Amazon's Video On-Demand service played on the Archos 5 with no problem. For an extra $20, you can outfit the Archos 5 with a high-definition software plug-in to enable 720p video playback from WMV HD, MPEG4, or MPEG-2 files (including VOB and DivX formats). To play h.264 videos, you'll need to throw another $20 at the Archos 5 for a Podcast media plug-in, which also enables AAC audio playback.
The music player of the Archos 5 is essentially identical to the 605 WiFi, although the design is more elegant. By default, the music player supports MP3, WMA (including DRM-protected files), FLAC, Ogg, and WAV files (with format support for AAC available as a $20 plug-in). You can also set up the Archos 5 to stream music over Wi-Fi from nearby computers or stream conventional Internet radio stations (sorry, no Pandora). During playback, the Archos 5's music player displays album artwork, allows for your music library to be sorted by ID3 tags, and gives you the ability to bookmark long files such as lectures and audiobooks. A five-band graphic EQ is included, but the 605 WiFi's independent bass boost setting is not.
Continue reading- See more CNET content tagged:
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User reviews
- Average user rating: 3.5 stars out of 14 reviews
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Where to buy
Archos 5 (60GB):
$319.95 - $339.49
| store | price | in stock? | rating |
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$319.95 | Yes |
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$334.99 |
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$339.49 | Yes |
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Amazon.com Marketplace
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$326.00 | Yes |
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