Ask Engadget: What's the best HDD-based portable media player out there?

These days, the cool kids are looking to do more than just play back the freshest jams on their portable media player. We're talking video, PVR, WiFi, the works. Have a listen at Marco's question, and if you think you could do one better, send in your inquiry to ask at engadget dawt com:

"I'm looking for a new PMP, but I want a unit that can do it all. A large screen, big hard drive, support for lots of codecs, PVR functionality, TV output, etc. I'd also like Bluetooth and / or WiFi if possible. I don't mind units that are somewhat bulky, but I want one with a great user interface and decent battery life. Any help here?"

Yeah, he totally just called the Archos / Cowon fanboys from the woodwork, but seriously, what would you recommend to this fellow? Is your current PMP a dream come true? Would you advise against getting whatever you've got? Spill your soul in comments below.

[Nick T @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:34PM]

One of them Archaos thingies? :D

[rock99rock @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:41PM]

dude. step awaaay from the keyboard.

[Robby @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:30PM]

feeling the 80GB SATA 3.5" HDD MP3 player ... http://www.chinagrabber.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1563

[El Taco @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:59PM]

Here, class, the subject is obviously not sure of what he is talking about. He is just posting so that he can get the first post without looking TOO stupid.

[Chigurh @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:30PM]

No.

Toshiba Gigabeat.

Form factor and ease of use = epic win.

This is coming from a guy who doesn't even like most Tosh products.

[Connor Milligan @ Jul 5th 2008 8:35AM]

I have to say I am a big fan of the Creative Zen Vision W ( http://uk.europe.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=15752 ) I use an iPod touch but have always like the creative players

[Nick T @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:36PM]

Archaos 605 wifi?

[Craig @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:19PM]

No. I have one. Not good. Screen is phenomenal. OS sucks it big time...totally unstable...constantly locking up. If the whole device was as good as the display, there'd be nothing even close. Sadly, that's not the case.

[maveric101 @ Jul 4th 2008 11:41PM]

really? i have an Archos 605, 160GB, and i have no problems with crashing. the music interface could be easier, but everthing else is great.

[nick @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:36PM]

Archaos 605 Wifi (most obvious choice..)

[Stevo @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:55PM]

Is the low rank because of the avatar, the double post or the choice of PMP?!?

[GatgetMan @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:00PM]

Not as Obvious as your repeat posting....
Not as Obvious as your repeat posting....
Not as Obvious as your repeat posting?

[wesg @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:02PM]

You can stop now.

[Giroro @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:49PM]

I have to agree that the 605 = win

... and I think that the low ratings come mostly from people who don't have one/ have no idea what it is.

&IMO the OS is the best part. It works wonderfully with linux (and I'm pretty sure it actually is linux). It also works with all the *best video formats (it doesnt play .mkv, but .mkv sucks anyway).

Nothing even touches the 605. the zune's wifi isn't particularly useful (I also own a zune30) And the iPod classic doesn't have much built in but it's raw media player... at all.

The 605 wifi also works as a DVR (optional accessory) and isn't strapped to any software (like iTunes or Zune Marketplace)

[E71 @ Jul 4th 2008 1:58AM]

@Giroro

MKV sucks? Well, I guess remarks like that come from people who don't use it or don't know what it is for.

[Mr V @ Jul 4th 2008 7:27AM]

My Archos was great, right up to the point where the battery decided it was too small for the casing and started to swell.

My next question was, do I want to have a PMP in my pocket (Near groin area) that looks like it's about to explode.

Comical answers are welcome

[Lloytron @ Jul 4th 2008 8:08AM]

I like my Archos 605 and can't really fault it. The OS isn't that bad IMO and I've not had any freezing issues whatsoever. It does what it is meant to very well.

My main problem with it (I've not had swelling/exploding batteries yet either, fingers crossed) is that you have to buy additional plugins to get the full functionality.

[Rogue_Genius @ Jul 4th 2008 3:21PM]

Is it bad form to give multiple minuses for extreme acts of buffoonery?

The low ranked is for:
1.) calling it a "thingy". (The reader with the question will definitely be able to find an "archaos" THINGY)
2.) Misspelling the brand name THREE TIMES. Is it really that hard to google?
3.) The multiple postings which proves that this person is unaware of the delay that typically occurs when you post on engadget. "WHAT, IT'S NOT HERE YET?! I MUST CLICK 'POST' AGAIN!!!"

[Adam @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:36PM]

Check out the creative MP3 players like this one!

I love these!!

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16855102041

[Sarig @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:13PM]

I bought a 30gb Zen Xtra, hmm, 4? years ago, and I'm currently looking for a replacement. I've never had much issues with it, so I looked too creative for my replacement, and that's what they've got. 2gb larger, without dedicated volume keys :(

I don't need half the stuff the original post calls for, I just want an mp3 player with a lot of tactile buttons so I don't have to take it out of my pocket, and a huge HD and nothing even related to iTunes.

Any takers?

[AndrewP @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:32PM]

That uses flash memory, NOT HDD.

[David Hamby @ Jul 6th 2008 5:18PM]

My Treo 700P does better than this.

[2fast4u @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:36PM]

The Coba Nama300

It has excellent features and it comes in a lovely mango salsa color!
I also love the 1400 dpi resolution.
I also love the 12 megapixel camera.
I also love the Wi-Fi and CDMA.
I also love the HSDPAXX2.
I also love the haptic-touch buttons.
I also love mango salsa!

[derX @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:40PM]

But do you also love long walks on the beach? If so, send me a message*.




*Please don't.

[Nick T @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:38PM]

Scrap that - try the 705WiFi..

http://www.archos.com/products/gen_5/archos_705wifi/index.html?country=global&lang=en

[wesg @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:03PM]

It was wrong the first time, it's still wrong now.

[GatgetMan @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:05PM]

DAMN! I thought you were done!



Here's the process:

1. Know what you are talking about
1a. Research what you are planning on talking about
2. Post your knowledge
2a. Post it once
3. Change your avatar
3a. actually leave it, it answers so many questions...

[Reziarfg @ Jul 5th 2008 7:55PM]

Is someone paying you for this?

[happy_penguin @ Jul 4th 2008 1:52AM]

Nick, I'm not a fan of beating people up most of the time.I'm not trying to be nasty, but your repeated posts are annoying. Most of what gatgetman suggests is good advice. Please tone it down a bit. :)

[Almighty- @ Jul 4th 2008 7:45AM]

Maybe he is a Archaos reseller.
Well, I kinda hate Archaos now because of him.
EPIC FAIL :(

[lagmastac @ Jul 4th 2008 9:47PM]

SHUT THE HELL UP!

[ShadowKain @ Jul 6th 2008 5:43PM]

You need to stop before you wreck yourself...

[Jesse S @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:38PM]

Cowon Q5W.

[Jesse S @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:40PM]

Cowon Q5W (my last post seems to have not gone through).

Huge screen, wifi, bluetooth, 60gig harddrive easily upgraded to 120gigs, free GPS cradle, etc. Oh, and digital audio out. It's perfect.

I'd stay away from Archos, they hiss like crazy, and will drive you mad if you have decent IEM's.

[Jesse S @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:41PM]

Oh, and it's 800*480.

[rektide @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:10PM]

Early cowons had egregiously bad sound quality. I've never heard an Archos. I dont know the facts on the situation today

[Nemisys @ Jul 7th 2008 12:04PM]

Q5W for sure!
the sound quality is amazing btw.
Component/Fiber Out
WiFI
Bluetooth
Full Codec Support (everything has worked)
GPS is awesome!
Remote works great!
Interface is good!
Windows CE in the background for Devs.

[BluesK1d @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:40PM]

You've just described a laptop...

Seriously though, an Eee PC fits the bill. Addordable and not only does it support many codecs, it supports ALL of them and is infinitely upgradable. WOW!

[deyanimay @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:50PM]

what part of hdd did you not understand?

[Striker @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:57PM]

@deyanimay

Your skill at reading Engadget = FAIL. Ever heard of the Eee 904HD, or the Eee 1000-Series? Seriously, where have you been lately? Engadget has turned into Eeengadget.

[deyanimay @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:03PM]

are you gonna carry one of the larger ones around to listen to music?

[BluesK1d @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:04PM]

@Striker
haha seriously
I'm pretty sure warrantless interweb anonymity induced douchiness + being completely wrong = Epic win
Something about a negative multiplied by another negative producing a positive... I slept most of that class.

[BluesK1d @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:10PM]

@deyanimay
He already said bulk is OK. Id rather carry around a fully capable 9in PC with a web browser/codecs I don't have to pay Archos extra for.

[deyanimay @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:12PM]

@ BluesK1d

He said somewhat bulky, like 5-7 in., not a 9 in. laptop.

[BluesK1d @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:17PM]

@deyanimay
Now you're just embarrassing yourself by putting words in his mouth to save face. Striker pwnt you. Just take your lumps and disappear into obscurity.

[transws6am @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:45PM]

Avoid Archos like the PLAGUE. I have owned 4 generations. The first 2 were great. It has been down hill. They are full of 8,000,000 crippling bugs and the company will just deny everything and blame the users. While it may look fancier than Cowon, Cowon does what it says. Archos only says what it wishes it could do. Not one single feature works well enough to give these pieces of junk a look. My 704 gave me nothing but ulcers. After spending $700 on the unit, accessories, and plug-ins -- I had to send this piece of crap back EIGHT times (at my own expense each time). Each story had it's own side story (like when they tried to send me someone else's unit with chocolate smashed in the usb port). In the end, I realized that these were problems that everyone else experiencing and they had NO CLUE on how to really fix them. So they would just let me ship them the item -- set it on a shelf for 4 weeks -- and then mail it back and hope I though they actually worked on it. This company is disgusting and should be embarrassed.

[Jake @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:46PM]

God damn it Engadget,

I JUST bought an 80 gig Classic today...and you run this now.

fuckity.

[Michael Nelson @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:52PM]

Thank the maker for those 15-90 day return policies.

Costco is your friend.

[Striker @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:59PM]

Damn, Costco's 90-Day policy is the best thing ever, you won't ever find a better return policy, and even if you find anything close, they charge a "Restocking Fee" (I'm talking to YOU Apple).b

[Shinigami @ Jul 4th 2008 7:12AM]

Return it if you aren't happy with it.
But if its music-only player, I guess iPod Classic is your best choice. Its the smallest 80-160gb mp3 player I know of.
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