Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet is now up for grabs

You know you want one. Sure, Archos isn't tops when it comes to sexy, but there's enough technical doohickery in these new Archos 5 "Internet Media Tablets" to keep you busy for a while -- and they're now shipping. C'mon, live a little. It's only $350 for 60GB of fun, $400 for 120GB and $450 for 250GB. They're practically giving these things away.

[Thanks, Pierre B.]

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 6th 2008 11:34PM]

Archos makes some sweet products. I like the fact it will play flash, unlike..ummm..other products. No stupid zooming into a webpage is also very nice. interface could use some work but looks easy to use. Once I saw that it can record video from any source I was sold. Can't wait to get it.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2008 12:10AM]

Gorgeous. Either going to grab the 250gb Archos 5 or wait a month for the 320gb Archos 7.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2008 12:44AM]

What about the Archos 5G with 3.5G HSDPA? Any chance of this being supported in the US in the next few months?

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2008 1:41AM]

Hope you can install Qtopia on it like the 605. Besides that. It looks amazing with stainless steel! Where do you get off saying "Archos isn't tops when it comes to sexy" "technical doohickery".

Now go write something about Apple. Bish.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2008 4:11AM]

Can this play decrypted DVDs (i.e., VIDEO_TS.IFO and .VOB files) without converting?

I see a Cinema plugin that supports VOB files, but I want to make sure I can also use the standard DVD menus, subtitles, etc.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2008 4:23AM]

Archos 5 review on Archoslounge :

http://translate.google.fr/translate?u=http%3A%2F%2Farchoslounge.net%2FTest-Archos-5-Introduction%2C8277.html&sl=fr&tl=en&hl=fr&ie=UTF-8

[rento Posted Sep 7th 2008 6:17AM]

What a fantastic set of devices! I am painfully waiting for the Archos 5g (HSPDA enabled) !!!! This one is set to come out in December in UK... too long!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2008 7:16AM]

I just saw a couple of video reviews of the Archos 5, and yes it is very impressive and very fast.....and web surfing is very good....but is it pocketable......I am not so sure......

That is the one thing the iPod Touch has, that the Archos 5 barely has.....pocketableness.

Itamar

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2008 8:17AM]

one more thing....I owned an iPod Touch for a while, and then sold it......and I'm just waiting for the next amazing gadget. Is this it? maybe....

or is it the 2nd gen iPod Touch?
or is it the Nokia N810 Wimax version?
or the Archos 5?

We'll see.

[chriscross Posted Sep 7th 2008 7:35AM]

Oh my gosh!
UK Prices (GBP) compared to USD Prices...

60GB
USD: $350 | GPB: £279 ($493)

120GB
USD: $400 | GPB: £320 ($566)

250GB
USD: $450 | GPB: £360 ($636)

Not amused Archos..you must think we're rich over here..I don't care about taxes...

[voodoo Posted Sep 7th 2008 10:25AM]

Also, don't foget, your £279/£320/£360 buys you a device with severely restricted functionality. You'll need to shell out straight away on 2 or 3 plugins to enable H264, AAC, AC3 etc

I had to spend an additional €70 on plugins for my 605. Shame on Archos if they think im going to do the same again for this (admittedly very nice) device.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 8th 2008 2:43AM]

Prices in € compared to $:

60 GB
US $349.99 | EU 339.99€ (489.21$)

120 GB
US $399.99 | EU 399.99€ (575.55$)

250 GB
US $449.99 | EU 469.99€ (676.27$)

The 250GB version makes a 226.28$ difference! You gotta be kidding me.
Ah screw that, I'm getting myself a decent notebook for 670€.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2008 7:57AM]

Looking back to when engadget first posted these new players a couple weeks ago they also criticized the design then. Bizarre. I think they look gorgeous. The interface looks slick and amazing, the device itself looks to have a perfect blend of curves and practicality. Form with function = perfect.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2008 12:46PM]

That looks plenty sexy to me.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 8th 2008 12:00AM]

You obviously have never seen *Ainol.

It's real tight.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2008 2:35PM]

Looks like another me-too device inspired by Apple's outer design, but with little of the interface design philosophy that makes their products so easy to use.

http://www.learnucd.com/kevlar/why-is-the-iphone-popular

[jimtravis Posted Sep 7th 2008 3:56PM]

I have been using Archos products since the iPod only had a small monochrome screen, and Archos' designs have shown a natural progression. They are not copying Apple. Archos had big screen devices long before the iPhone, or iPod touch were designed. I started using Archos' products because they had a much bigger screen than the iPod, and very importantly, were/are able to record directly from any video source. Watching a video on the 800 x 480 current generation 605 is so much better than watching the same video on the iPod touch, and the screen is even bigger on the new Archos 5. I have extensively used both the touch, and current generation 605, and found the 605 to be far better for my needs, your needs may differ. My blog entry at http://www.jimtravis.com/gadget.html#archos details why I like the 605 so much better than the touch after extensively using both. There have been a few software releases for both devices since I last updated the blog. The touch's app store is a non-event for me (it may be important for you). I use the 605 for recording/watching video, and sometimes for web surfing, which unlike a previous poster, I found to be a good experience on the 605.

[serialtoon Posted Sep 8th 2008 12:35AM]

Its still too ugly looking...i gotta see it in person.

[slbailey1 Posted Sep 8th 2008 10:21AM]

I would buy this if three of the Add Ons are Microsoft Reader, Mobipocket, and Olive Tree Bible Reader.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 8th 2008 12:18PM]

I want one.

[(Unverified) Posted Oct 5th 2008 2:02AM]

I have noticed and had confirmation that The Archos 5 has the same CPU, GPU , and DSP as the new open source Pandora hand held Gaming device that is supposed to be released later this month, and Hypothetically if they could open it up , could do much of what the pandora is supposed to be able to do.

any one know of this? If some of the devs from the Pandora project got on it they might be able to make headway into opening up The Archos 5 .... what a dream....