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Brilliant Technology

http://cache.gizmodo.com/gadgets/images/iProduct.gif



Seriously, that iPod looks very dated now. Doesnt seem to offer any recording or wi-fi streaming capabilities. They have a long way to go to match Achros.

http://www.archos.com/products/gen_5/index.html?country=global&lang=en

I can see the need for small, light, computers, however i can't understand why they have stayed with the dated and limiting notebook format when convertable tablets are now so well established.

However for my line of work, we use a different aspect of design. We have a few of these :

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Not that great a review as it misses the tablet functionality but you get the idea.

However, back to topic, this is what i'm looking forward to getting my hands on next :

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Edited at 00:33 Thu 6/03/08 (GMT)

The problem with those Archos players is they're way too bulky to be used as an everyday mp3 player. They're ok for watching videos on the train/plane etc. Even iPods are big, but those things are rediculous.

The price is baffling too. £150 for just 4GB?!?! (I know the iPod Touch is a ripoff too, but that's not the point)
They don't even include a charger in the package... you have to pay EXTRA for that.


Oh yeah, they're French too. I'm not sure I trust French electronics.

Where did you see that price?

http://www.archos.com/store/psearch.html?country=gb&lang=en&prod_id=archos604

£159 inc for the basic 30Gb isnt bad i thought. It's true i was aiming more at the features offered than anything else here.

What gets me most about the new iPod is it seems a complete rip-off of the year or more old iCon Digital Touch, which was about £80 for the 4Gb mdel with a mini SD slot which gives you cheap and easy expansion.



Best of all you dont have to infect your computer with iTunes to use it!

http://www.archos.com/store/psearch.html?country=gb&lang=en&prod_id=archos605wifi

4GB - £150
30GB - £200
160GB - £300

Higher capacity players aren't to bad value wise, but you shouldn't have to pay more than £100 for 4GB... and that "give us an extra £20 if you intend to charge the thing" still annoys me too.

The one you linked is for the older generation player which doesn't have those fancy features.

I agree they are ahead of Apple in terms of features, it's just that they aren't that good if you primarily want them for music (which I'm guessing most people would).

Yeah, Apple's new products are almost always overpriced. The classic iPod isn't bad value though if you want a high capacity player for your music.

And yes, I'm surprised AVG doesn't class iTunes as a virus actually.

Yeah the achtros range is definitely video orientated. The 1gb iPod shuffles are now under £25, which isnt bad, but they still lack the functionality (and practicality) of the basic "USB Pen Drive" style.

I find it quite strange that there is such a market for mp3 players now that almost all mid-range mobiles also have the facility.

I use my phone as an mp4 (when not driving of course!)mp3/podcast player, i find it convenient not just because i have it with me anyway, but because it lets me take calls without messing about changing from one thing to the other, seamlessly connects to everything via bluetooth etc

You may notice, i'm not one for technology for the sake of it.