Keepin' it real fake, part LXXXIX: V503 apes old school Archos

Archos' AV420 hit the market quite some time ago, but that apparently didn't stop the Nanjing Panda Information Industry Company from trying to sneak one by us. The HDD-based V503 claims to feature a 3.6-inch LCD, rechargeable battery pack, FM tuner, USB 2.0 connectivity and support for DivX, AVI, MP3, WMA and VCD formats. Additionally, users can load in a 1.8-inch hard drive and take advantage of the AV output, integrated microphone and text viewer. Per usual, there's no price listed, but considering that this thing just looks old fashioned, we'd advise on passing, anyway.

[Via PMPToday, thanks Brian B.]

[Vincent @ Oct 13th 2007 12:34AM]

WOW, I'm just getting sick of this kind of blog 'Keepin' it real fake'.
Engadge call Nokia's next coming Phone an 'iPhone-like' Phone. Or something 'Zune-like'...
Anything Chinese own companies trying to do will be call a 'fake-colon', 'Ripoff'...even if the Apple or Microsoft manufactures in China are next door to those companies making these products.
Hey, Mr.Engadget, check out the 'Frog design team' on google, they design all kind of product for major companies, including Apple, Logitech.....
Anyway, My point is, this is just some common design, I don't think it should be called 'Fake'. You can't just expect them to make something flooding in the air or 'Alian-like' Products, right?

[imacmatt09 @ Oct 13th 2007 12:42AM]

This has nothing to do with the iPhone. Yes it is a knockoff, just like Vince is a knockoff of Vincent. Get over it.

[rainygrass @ Oct 13th 2007 12:57AM]

and this one, i have no idea what's the original model...
you know the 1980's tv set used to have a screen on the left and several buttons on the right side. maybe that what mr.engadget's talking about. got you!!!

[Wwhat @ Oct 14th 2007 9:30AM]

Iphone and ipod are/were knockoffs too, it's not like there were no phones before the pitiful iphone, or mp3players before ipod, or audiofiles before 'podcasts' for that matter.

As for the 'old' look, well ok it lacks a bit in the design department but if you can have a nice looking product that does nothing or a slightly dated looking product that does it all, which do you pick?
Plus you can always mod it.

[rainygrass @ Oct 13th 2007 1:06AM]

from this day, engadget "keeping it real fake" writers can seriously thinking about change the title to "Chinese suks in everyway".

[404error @ Oct 13th 2007 2:04AM]

Sounds good to me.

[sidmaster @ Oct 13th 2007 2:52AM]

Sounds good!
There was an interesting questionnaire concerning ipod.
http://www.vsist.com/vs/245

[Lovebaby @ Oct 13th 2007 5:09AM]

I have a Archos 402 that I haven't used in years. I turned it on (thinking of course the battery would be dead) and lo and behold , it has a full charge !!

Archos makes quality kit. THey could Apple a run for their money if they scale down their products and make a more useable interface.

BTW I have 3 Archos PMPs for sale. Tyring to afford a OQO2.

[Bobs @ Oct 14th 2007 5:56AM]

interested i am, ive got an AV500 alredy, and its camera, but only 2/27gb(30gb model=27gb formated) is free, 1 gig is music, and the rest is movies and videos, i could sure use something else that plays videos, as archos made it harder than hell to swap the odd sized hitachi harddrive.

[Pdexter @ Oct 13th 2007 5:09AM]

They ahve raped my old AV440 was a great device btw ;)

[siaolala @ Oct 13th 2007 5:17AM]

thsi is some sort of china product.... You cant trust china poducts.... www.siaolala.co.nr

[siaolala @ Oct 13th 2007 5:17AM]

this is some sort of china product.... i wont buy it...

[JohnTitor @ Oct 13th 2007 11:30AM]

Wow, this is the 2nd Archos look-a-like (the last one wasn't even a keepin' it real fake). They must really be gaining marketshare