Archos 604, 30GB Ultra Slim Portable Multimedia Player with 4.3" LCD Screen in 16/9 Format

2007-05-06T21:00:00

I've been looking for something to replace my aging Gen 2 iPod for some time now. The Archos 604 is the perfect upgrade. It is priced about the same as the 30GB video iPod, but has a much larger screen (4.3" with a resolution of 480x272), and with the additional purchase of a base station, it is incredibly easy to add content to the device. The player is somewhat larger than many of the devices out there, including the iPod, and I wouldn't say it fits easily into a pocket, but it is still very portable. It weighs in at just over 9oz and has a reported battery life of 5 hours of video playback and 15 hours of audio-only playback. Best of all, the battery is removable, and additional batteries can be ordered from Archos. The device even has a built-in kickstand to allow it to be viewed on a desktop or other flat surface. Out of the box the device plays many of the common video formats including MPEG-4, AVI, and WMV. Additional codecs can be purchased to allow playback of H264 video/AAC audio files and MPEG-2 video/AC3 audio files. One drawback is that the 604 does not come with an AC adapter, so it can only be charged via USB without additional purchases. The best add-on to get with the player is the Archos DVR Station. This device allows you to record video directly to the 604 from any device that can output to RCA composite outputs. The DVR Station even has an infrared emitter to tune your VCR, Cable Box, or Satellite dish, and allows you to use the built-in scheduling/recording software on the 604 to turn it into a full-blown PVR. By the end of my first day with the 604 I had already managed to record several movies and TV shows for later viewing. My original reason for purchasing a new player was to give me something to watch while working out on the treadmill. If you plan ahead and create playlists for the audio player, or have a good video queued up you'll be fine. However, if you need to fiddle with the buttons while trying not to trip over the fast-moving (or in my case not-so-fast-moving) treadmill, you'll quickly discover the one real drawback to the 604 (and, in fact, most of the X04 line of products), the buttons. They are all arranged along the right edge of the device and each button is a rocker with a left and right position. The arrow keys are especially hard to master, and a week later I'm still struggling. But the buttons are textured, and with a little practice you can find your way around without having to look. Remembering what each button does, however, can be a bit of a challenge. In all, I can honestly say I would recommend this device to anyone looking for a good video player. It doesn't have the largest storage capacity out there, but it's on par with most of the good systems available. Recording new material does require an add'l purchase, but most of my pre-recorded videos worked on the first try. And since this device plays equally well with Windows, OS X, and Linux it is easy to add new content from a variety of sources. This is one product I expect to be playing with for a long time.

Stray B.

2006-10-04T21:00:00

the most finnest product. i can't believe it, much better than ipod for the same price!!!!!!!!

joe t.