Archos AV500 reviewed

A hands-on review of the Archos AV500 has been posted (in French) to the generationmp3 forum by Edrysark. Lots of pr0n and a few side-by-side shots with the iRiver H320, Archos Gmini 402, and PSP. The author likes the "very luminous" 4-inch screen, industrial design, and finds the ability to record broadcast television "simple" and even offers up a video made by the device for download. On the flip side, the included headphones are a bit shabby and there are some problems with DivX playback which he is confident Archos will sort out in future firmware releases. Bottom line: this is the best PMP available until the author gets his hands on the Zen Vision. He's probably right.

[Mr Snickels @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

I love French people:

LESS

No the Radio (not a problem for me but good)
No the OGG (I does not include/understand why it does not integrate it)

[Edrysark @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Mr Snickels : I love French people too :)

And for the OGG support, what i've try to mean was that Archos is a bit late about that. OGG is a very useful codec and Archos should make the move to be really competitive...

[sasha @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Maybe the design isn't perfect, but as long as it works well , i don't care.

[Dignan17 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Uh, Mr Snickles? Just in case you're being serious there, you may notice that the linked page was a Babelfish translation. I'm sure if you were French, the orignal would not read quite like that.

I agree that the aesthetics of this thing are not that great. Archos still hasn't figured out how to make a good looking device, although they always seem to be very close to making one.

Aside from its looks, I'm positive that this is the best device of its type. I would own a PSP, but the lack of a hard drive just kills it for me. I love how Sony just sort of stumbled into this market. Finally these stupid companies are realizing that people want to have video on the road. Sorry Apple fanatics, your Mr Jobs is just plain wrong about this, and always has been.

[Mike @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Why would you compare the AV500 and the Zen Vision? Sure they both play video, but the AV500 *records* video. That puts it in quite a different category, oui?

[TIMMAH! @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

"there are some problems with DivX playback which he is confident Archos will sort out in future firmware releases."

I've pretty much had it with Archos. I don't think they've ever released a reasonably problem-free product. My Archos jukebox is now running on non-Archos Rockbox firmware. My Gmini was absolute trash and it only really becamse semi-usable after 5 firmware revisions (I had problems with inability to play tracks and the unit locking up and freezing.) So twice burned, never again...

[Google Nazi @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Insead of building portable media devices such as these, they should have more commercial uses like inventory check and that kind of crap. These things are worthless and don't sell unless your renting one for a 9hour trip on an airplane but then they usually play Airplane on flight so why bother?

[grass @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

I think the codec support has improved dramatically, ever since they added b-frames support (to the av400, av 500 and gmini 400) 90% of my videos do not require rencoding (vs 30% prior). Does the zen support b-frames?: If not that's a major advantage for the archos.

[mikataur @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

As well as having more features (eg, AV recording) the Archos is probably the better product for straight viewing as well, considering reports that the Zen Vision's higher res screen has a poor viewing angle and requires you to hold it at a slightly angle to get an optimum viewing experience.

I've heard good things about Archos and this product looks to be excellent.

[mikataur @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

#4 > "Finally these stupid companies are realizing that people want to have video on the road. Sorry Apple fanatics, your Mr Jobs is just plain wrong about this, and always has been."

Some people do, but *more* people probably want to just listen to sound on the move, and that's why iPods are so popular.

I like the idea of taking videos with me to watch on my PSP while sitting on a park bench, and I do that. But I have to admit, after 15-20 mins of video, I get a bit bored and start playing a game.

PSPs rule!

[chodite @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

The Archos player is leaps and bounds ahead of the Zen player simply because it's also a PORTABLE DVR. No contest IMO.

[SWORDFISH @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

does anyone know if you can view files from your computer on the AV 500 ...eg. Word Files, or custom programs for PDAS

[SWORDFISH @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

does anyone know if you can view files from your computer on the AV 500 ...eg. Word Files, or custom programs for PDAS

[Deathdealer0351 @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

First of all the ARCHOS AV500 is ugly there's no argument there. However dont judge a book by its cover! the ARCHOS is a powerhouse when it comes to features I mean TV recording video camera accessory. I was one day away from receiving the Zen Vision but I cancelled my order in just 2 hours of research. only $60.00 difference!!!

[Matthew W. @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

I had problems as soon as I opened the box. The player keeps freezing during play, data becomes corrupt, the sound is of poor quality, and advertising up to 20 movies storage space is not possible. The most I could ever get on my player was 5, and that was when the playback quality was set on low. I tried to have it serviced just 2 months into a 1 year "warranty" and they said it was going to cost me $150.00 to repair. If you purchase this product, you will be sorry!

[Bob Johnson @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

This one is ugly. Sometimes archos doesn't get it right, but they are committed with firmware updates. I've had a lot of players that weren't "right" and never became right, just because of a bug, unimplement feature, etc. They've had troubles in the past with quality, but now it's not an issue. Gmini400 is built better than iPod IMO. And AV400 series has got to have the best video playback support. I'd not look any other way, in terms of connectivity (USB host!!!), etc. ARCHOS KICKS ASS.

[HiRub @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

I just bought one and I think it's great. www.pocketvideo.info has an Archos discussion forum.

[Toria mcNeile @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

I have this baby - phooooooooaaaaaar is all I can say - the photos on the web to NOT do it justice at all. The screen and colour is quite dazzling and everything about it is just .......... WOW! However, can someone please tell me how to set up with a Sky Plus box? I know physically how to do it, i.e. put IR emitter 'tag' on the IR emitter on your Sky Plus box and select the relevant code and tune it in. I've tried this and none of the codes work either for Pace or Sky Plus! HELP!

[paulg @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Not a gadget freak. bit old for that but do download music and movies. everyhting ive dragged and dropped onto this has played.

was bought mostly to record TV for my wife to watch whilst commuting on a train or plane. does the job fantastic.I have got it linked so that it can record from our video player as well. if shes has got it with her some nights we record all her stuff to video and waht she doesnt get to watch i just transfer to the archos while we sleep. she particularly loves the way u can find programmes so easily. as opposed to tape. we will defiantly be getting a hard drive home recorder next.

[mr peter @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Screen great, mp3 sound fine except on the pathetic in built speaker which is useless. I have seen PDA'a at half the price with far better sound. Pity that the recorded sound on video is quite a bit worse than mp3 quality, fine for films but not for music listening.I'd like to know how to convert VCD DAT files to mpeg4 or Divex, asked archos but they just send you a web link of stuff which does not appear to do the job. Not sure if I will keep this as the recorded sound is not good enough IMO-peter

[mr peter @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

Having had it for a few days I think it's almost unusable for recording video due to the very poor sound, so for an mp3 player with photos it's a bit on the expensive side

[mr peter @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

what an idiot, the pre set recording level was just too high, reduce it and it's fine. I wonder why recordings have the sound out of sync though?

[david levin @ Dec 19th 2005 2:06AM]

just bought the av500 100 gb 10 days ago. worked great until today. it is now dead. maybe a bad hard drive. now i have send the device back and receive a new from them. hope this isn't a harbinger of multiple problems with the device. on the good side, technical support, on a sunday, abswered immediaqtely.