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Archos Gmini XS200 20 GB
by slbhill
At 7.5 x 6 x 2cm the Gmini is small enough for a pocket although it is quite heavy for its size (you won't be clipping it to your collar like some of the new tiny ones). The computer recognises it as another hard drive (like a memory stick), so it's very easy & quick to transfer files, including setting up folders if you want to. ... It will happily play mp3, wma, BBC iplayer files, any audio files I've thrown at it in fact.
I find the navigation system a bit counter-intuitive and fiddly, especially for setting up playlists, but I soon got used to it.
The buttons are rather easy to nudge by mistake. There is a "lock keys" option which locks everything except the volume but even that can get turned off in a pocket. Keeping it in the side pocket of my bag it tends to get turned on accidentally so that the battery is flat when I go to use it. I have occasionally had the problem another user mentions, where it turns itself off at random, but only when the battery has been very low. When it's turned off properly it keeps its place but if the battery runs out then it goes back to the previous "bookmark".
The capacity is huge - I have most of my music collection on here & I love not having to decide ahead of time what I will want to listen to. Sound quality is better than the quality of my headphones! It doesn't seem to go very loud but again I think that is a headphone issue.
I've had mine about 3 years now and although the battery doesn't last as long as it used to, it still does about 3 hours playing time and I haven't had any problems with it. It's been dropped any number of times & has several dents in the casing but that doesn't seem to affect the functioning at all.
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Archos 605 WiFi 30 GB
by nmcooper
The Archos 605 Wifi has been one of the best purchases I have ever made. Although there are a number of other portable multi media players now available, the Archos stands out as a very impressive piece of kit.
The first thing you notice when you handle the 605 is the build quality. If feels solid and fits comfortably into ... your hand. The screen is a good size, and has a crisp, sharp and colour rich immage. The navigation buttons are conveniently located to the right side of the screen and are contoured, which makes for easy navigation (even in the dark).
A kick stand at the back allows you to stand the 605 on a table, so you won't be left with aching arms trying to watch a movie. Using the kick stand tilts the unit at an angle that makes viewing comfortable.
Picture and sound quality are both excellent (the Archos earphones supplied are pretty good too).
To get the most out of your Archos it's worth stretching your budget and purchasing the TV docking station too (that's when the Archos really comes into its own). With a docking station you can connect your Archos to a TV and record programmes to watch at home or on the move.
The programme guide is good, and makes it easier to set for recording. The guide is supplied by TvTv and costs £15 per year (although the first year is free).
My only critisism is that Archos charge extra to download the plugins that allow you to access the internet and play certain files etc. Overall though, the Archos 605 is a great product. Available as a 4gb, and 160gb too, I find 30gb is more than adequate.
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Archos Gmini 400 20 GB
by everdream
I got this about 3 years ago on amazon, at the time I thought I was grabbing a bargain. I paid around £120, which really was a steal for 20GB of music and video goodness.
Weighing in at 160g, this is much heavier than competing products available. That said, the actual size is the same of that of the Ipod, but it is thicker ... and seems more 'cluncky' to me. One thing that irks me about this is the design; it looks stylish, however it isn't practical, requiring two hand to navigate quickly. Many video players enable you to use just one hand. It reminds me of using an old gameboy advance.
It comes preloaded with several games, some of which look quite fun. This is another flaw of the system though; it only comes with trials of the games. You have to buy the full version from their website and download them onto the device. You also cannot multi task, so if you want to listen to music and play a game, you cannot do it. In the same way, you cannot view photos and listen to music at the same time, either.
It features a 2.2-inch LCD screen, which is pretty decent. Not the best quality, but watchable. You have to be facing it straight on though, so it isn't great if you're sharing video with a friend. My device also has a pixel missing, which is annoying but many screens on many electronic devices have this problem, and it isn't something companies will do anything about.
The playback quality is very good. Better than some MP3 players, but not as great as you get from the likes of Sony. You will also want to invest in a better pair of headphones than those provided.
I like how it can be connected to the TV, so any videos you have on the device can be watched on the big screen. It goes across well; the quality after transfering is very good. You can also transfer photos directly from a digital camera by connecting them together, which is very handy if you want to use it as a photo storer. These can be views on the TV as well.
The device also lets you create playlists without the need of a computer. In the past, I have had to create a playlist in media player and sync it to the device, which is time consuming and annoying when I want to make a list there and then.
Navigation is simple enough, nothing is hidden and you wouldn't need to read the 68 page manual to get to grips with it. A lot can be gained from the manual though, and I think that tomake the most of what the device can offer at least half an effort should be made to read it.
There is an audio recorder, which records to a high standard, it picks up sound well and isn't distorted much.
The device is a mass storage device, meaning it acts like a hard drive. Here comes another irk. It can get noisy. Not noticable on a bus or in a public space, but when it's quiet sometimes it whirs a little too loudly (I dare say even my laptop is more quiet). It also crashes on me sometimes. For example, sometimes the screen will randomly go blank, but the sound will continue, and you can navigate it still, you just can't see what you are doing. It also goes mute on me too on occasion, but this is fixed by pausing and un-pausing a song.
I like this product overall. It represents value for money, though does still have many flaws.
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