Superb! (Archos AV320 20 GB)

Member Name: andycris3107

Product:	Archos AV320 20 GB
Date:	17/09/04 (377 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Quality, Portability, Ease of use

Disadvantages: Battery life, Quantity / ositioning of cables , No case included

Having been introduced to Archos when I bought their 20gb Jukebox recorder I was already impressed with their sturdy design and quality.
My only gripe had been the startup speed, which was something I was looking for when upgrading to the AV320.

Luckilly there is simply no comparisson. The AV300 range is a huge upgrade, with a vastly superior operatig system and of course far more functionality.

My initial reason for upgrading was simply the added video facility on the new range, but as it turns out this little device can do so much more.

The standard MP3 functionality is just as good as you'd expect, though it does have a much improved playlist editor which is very easy to use. Of course the free musicmatch software provided enables you to effortlessly convert your CDs to MP3 and transfer them to your player (no drivers needed).

Photos are also transferred in the same way via USB2.0.

Video though is where the AV300 really excels.

Connect the AVR100 decoder to the side of your AV300 and you have an instant hard drive video recorder and player with remote control. When you attatch the AVR100 he recorder icon becomes accessible from the main screen, and as long as you have the device connected to a video source such as a DVD/video player, satelite/cable box, or video camera you will receive the image on the AV300 and can record at the click of a button.

Using the same cables plugged into the input connector of yuour TV/video will allow you to view your entire device on your tv, from photos, music, and video.

As the device encodes video in MP4 format the quality is very high and the quality is comparible to dvd though not quite so good.

Encoding dvds on your pc and transferring to your AV300 has been the main concern for most potential users, though I have found that using the ImToo dvd converter this can be done quickly and painlessly.

The included video editor is very easy to use and excellent for cutting out unwanted adverts and the trailing edges of tv recordings. Add to this the recording timer and you've amost made your old VCR redundant.

My only complaints with the AV300 would have to be that the battery lasts a mere 3 hours on video, a major issue if you are travelling. Note that official travel chargers are available though they are expensive. The unit doesn't come with a case, which I find slightly annoying as this is essential if you want to avoid marking the screen.
The only other strange thing I have found is that as the unit has no stand you have to either hold it or lean it against something in irder to view a movie. With the charger socket on the underside this means you cannot rest it against anything while charging. Also the sheer number of cables required to connect the thing can be a little daunting at first.

On the positive side this is one sturdy machine. I'm sure you could kick it around the office for hours and it would still play fine, thanks to the padded elevated corners. Finally the remote control is an excellent addition, allowing full functionality from the comfort of your sofa.

Summary: