Archos 5 series reviewed in French

Archos fan-site Archos Lounge lived up to its name this week and threw down a 300,000 page review on the new Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet. We won't tear down the whole thing here, but the primary takeaway seems to be mixed. Apparently the new processor on board really souped up the thing, but Archos skimped on the software, shipping what basically amounts to a buggy beta. That's no small criticism for Archos from its number one fans, so let's hope the company gets its act together fast. The review is in French, but there's an unboxing vid after the break, in that universal language of nerdery.

Déballage de l'Archos 5 / Archos 5 unpacking
by ArchosLounge

[Amrit @ Sep 7th 2008 10:35AM]

"threw down a 300,000 page review"

what ?????!?!?!?!?!?!

[Jamma @ Sep 7th 2008 10:36AM]

"but Archos skimped on the software, shipping what basically amounts to a buggy beta"

At least it is only the first version of the software, unlike Apple's second attempt with the 2.0.2 firmware on my iPod touch, which crashes the wretched thing every other hour.

bring on the UK release for this beauty

[imacmatt09 @ Sep 7th 2008 12:44PM]

I believe it was their 3rd attempt. This thing is pretty sexy though.

[ybd @ Sep 7th 2008 1:06PM]

I can't stand Apple, and even I have no problem saying that Archos's software is much worse.

[Operation Northwood @ Sep 8th 2008 3:09AM]

are serious your ipod touch crash??? I had one a while ago and it never ever crashed! So, things are are actually getting worst.

[RAQ @ Sep 7th 2008 10:40AM]

This is the only thing that comes close to a replacement for my creative zen vision M. I love the vide codec support and the whole touch screen is great. There is only two things that are stopping me from getting one, firstly the battery life for audio playback is awful and secondly you can't use a simple USB 2.0 cable it has to be the Archos specific one.

Ah well I guess my never ending search for my Creative Zen Vision M continues.....

[Brian @ Sep 7th 2008 12:09PM]

i have a ZVM (it was good for the first year then the stupid thing got a broken screen from barley tapping it, creative support is the worst in the planet and it started crashing randomly but i digress) too and am considering getting this, im ready to jump but i still dont know about divx support i havent read about it anywhere i thought it might be another plugin, except for the divx and xvid this looks really awesome. anybody know for sure about divix and xvid support?

[JohnTitor @ Sep 7th 2008 3:24PM]

yes it supports, divx and xvid, in fact if supports it better than the ZVM, I remember my friend's ZVM didn't always play divx for some reason and he had to lower the video resolution to get it working, all archos pvps play divx and xvid at upto dvd resolution

[Yuriy @ Sep 7th 2008 6:07PM]

Are you in competition of leasening music? 14 ours not enough? Normal humans get up at 7 am +14 hours is 21 - almost time for diner and go sleep.?

[- @ Sep 7th 2008 10:42AM]

300,000 page review! are you sure thats not a typo?

[Mitch R. @ Sep 7th 2008 11:39AM]

Isn't sarcasm fun?

[Trent @ Sep 7th 2008 10:43AM]

yeah man, they don't f*ck around. =D

[Jeremy K. @ Sep 7th 2008 10:47AM]

Yeah, the interface looks really strange, especially for viewing pictures.

[Nastyatak @ Sep 7th 2008 11:03AM]

Hi,

Thanks for the link.

I'm Nastyatak of ArchosLounge.

A english version of the test is being drafted. A matter of days.

For the moment, we have uploaded a video with the interface of the Archos 5 in english language :

http://www.dailymotion.com/search/archos/video/x6obya_archos-5-english-review_tech

In HD soon.

;-)

[Atanas Boev @ Sep 7th 2008 11:14AM]

"archos 5 deballage" sounds funny:) like "removing the balls of "

[rento @ Sep 7th 2008 11:17AM]

These devices deserve a thorough look. They are amazingly good and very well priced. The Archos 5g is a HSPDA first for a PMP/internet tablet. Hi hope this will push Apple and Nokia to do better.

[sonicwind @ Sep 7th 2008 11:38AM]

I've had several Archos'. I like them, they seem to be getting better and better.

[Nathan @ Sep 7th 2008 12:00PM]

Looks absolutely amazing. Software seems pretty solid, especially for a beta. Just Engadget slagging off anything that isn't Apple.

[JT @ Sep 7th 2008 12:19PM]

That's ArchosLounge that's doing the "slagging," not Engadget.

Perhaps some here are just praising anything that isn't Apple?

[Adam @ Sep 7th 2008 12:38PM]

Yeah I agree.

If it's not Apple they just say it sucks even if it is a better product.

Engadget gets annoying some times about pro Apple 24/7 when really all your buying a pretty product that you over paid for.

[CT A @ Sep 7th 2008 1:10PM]

Engadget is just jealous because it wrote a 290,000 review on the iPhone/iPod Touch

[YpoCaramel @ Sep 7th 2008 12:06PM]

Things in the PMP world are finally back to its interesting pre-2005 / iPod domination state. Between the SPINN, P20, the S9 and whatever Apple has up its sleeve for Tuesday, there's plenty of choice and different ideas.

[HalfJoey @ Sep 7th 2008 12:54PM]

Red shag carpeting, lol. I'll still wait to see what other reviews say about the product.

[Steven Smith @ Sep 7th 2008 1:40PM]

Translated version of the review made possible with Google Chrome.

These new tablets to integrate their hearts superscalar processor ARM ® Cortex announced as providing performance better than 4X embedded processors to its previous PMP (see the technical details provided by TI). Archos seems to have, according to its ads, a 6-month exclusivity on these processors from Texas Instruments. Texas Instrument benefiting from the experience of developers Archos debugger for their processor.
The bet was not won in advance, Archos forward to terra incognita. One must admit that when we received our copy test (and while the first score had already delivered), a small word of responsible product Archos indicated to us that the firmware of the player was provided betas and that some features were not yet present. Not really what we reassure them, but what on the other hand we reinforce the idea that the launch was somewhat hasty.

The Archos 5 is the flagship of the mark, on which a large part of the company's future. If these new tablets are a flop, finances manufacturer risk becoming even more critical and could furnish the very survival of the company in question and, hence, the output of hypothetical new Walkmans.
The conclusion of this test is a certain size.

We will support our expertise at the option of comparing lines, before devoting an entire chapter, the Archos 5 to his eldest the 605 WiFi.

Here is Slim 60GB version of the Archos 5 passing on the grill. As a reminder, there are two other versions larger chunks of 120 and 250GB.

As this test ages necessarily ArchosLounge team will endeavour to update the option of new firmware and availability of new accessories. Some chapters of this test will therefore somewhat empty and be content with a simple presentation (and not test) the next functions.

We synthétiserons data variations of this test in the chapter "Conclusion".

[Alvira Khan @ Sep 7th 2008 2:31PM]

The Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet seems like a useful device. I would like to read some of the reviews, although a 300,000 page review does seem a little excessive

Alvira Khan
Florida Atlantic University
FAU Alumni

[Bjarke @ Sep 7th 2008 3:37PM]

Great video! Mind telling us what that amazing song is called?

[JF @ Sep 7th 2008 3:44PM]

WOW...what do you know... Archos has released another product with 50,000 bugs right out of the box? Stop comparing anything this crap company makes to Apple. Apple may not have all the "features" these lemons have, but at least their units are usable out of the box. People are already reporting that the Archos 5 crashes non-stop when using the WiFi -- thank God it's an Internet Tablet Unit. I like how they try to cover all the bugs up, by stating that the firmware it is shipped with is BETA. Get the f' out of here. GM wouldn't get away with selling a Cadillac with a motor in it, that is marked as BETA -- sorry your motor shuts off after 30mph, but it is just a BETA engine; too bad. GET YOUR HEAD OUT OF YOUR ARSE ARCHOS. We don't want this crap you are building anymore.

[Plailleur @ Sep 7th 2008 4:02PM]

Strange, I've read the same things about Apple's products...

[Thorny @ Sep 7th 2008 4:14PM]

I like the hardware of the Archos 5 and 7. Considering that it's probably running an TI OMAP 3530 or 3430, I wonder if it can be hacked to run Angstrom linux.. Would make a nice portable Beagle Board. :) Wonder if there is a pin header for a bluetooth module... hmmm..

I can't wait for the first take-apart video..

[mcbrock @ Sep 7th 2008 4:46PM]

As an owner of an earlier Archos model, I can say they have good hardware but terrible software and support. They basically only support the latest and greatest model, while leaving their previous users out in the cold.

[Peter @ Sep 7th 2008 6:11PM]

From what I have read, it seems as if the web browser and some of the other software will be free, such as mail, internet TV and radio, and other stuff.

[paul-engadget @ Sep 7th 2008 6:35PM]

archos products would be SO much better if they
1/ fixed most of the bugs before starting to ship product
2/ didn't have hidden extra charges by not including things like A/V codecs (so you can't play back all your media unless you pay extra) and not including the much publicised extra system software (web browser) meaning you can't do half of what its capable of without paying extra
3/ made them more reliable

[1234321 @ Sep 7th 2008 9:35PM]

1 and 3 are pretty much the same thing
2, you got it wrong, they only charge for licensed to codecs, if they included it they'd have to raise the cost on their player, but wmv, divx work out of box, and with these new players, the web browser is included, as is the web radio and tv

[apw76006 @ Sep 7th 2008 6:43PM]

Very attractive and promising but it is screaming for a protective case with that gorgeous screen and shiny backside.

[Nelson @ Sep 8th 2008 4:03AM]

Any translators, I forgot my french ever since the US changed french fries into freedom fries.

[Ubergeek @ Sep 8th 2008 4:53AM]

and there : http://www.svmlemag.fr/actu/03352/svm_tv_archos_5_le_multimedia_du_bout_des_doigts

[noam @ Oct 24th 2008 1:58PM]

hi just 1 Q

what r the language options in the archos 5 on the first boot?

does it have hebrew if i buy it in amazon or the us???

thank's