Archos 9pctablet hands-on
By Paul Miller 
posted Sep 9th 2009 9:26AM
posted Sep 9th 2009 9:26AM
Overall the hardware seems very solid and astonishingly dense, and despite the recent advancements we've seen in thin and light laptops, it's pretty incredible that Archos has a full Atom-based PC running inside this thin, fanless slab. What wasn't so incredible was the resistive touchscreen, at least on the unit we were playing with. Our touches kept getting misread inexplicably as an inch below where we were tapping, and it didn't feel like a "light touch" resistive model at all -- no confusing what we felt with capacitive, though perhaps we got a faulty unit. This is probably a scenario where resistive makes sense, but we'd say Archos has a lot of work to do on the drivers or something to make this more usable. The good news is that there will be an optional, super-slim external keyboard, which should make input on the 9 a bit less of a chore.
I wonder if you can cram a slide out keyboard to a tablet. I really really hate typing on a touch keypad.
You might as well get one of those rotatable-screen touchscreen laptops that also go by the moniker 'tablet'. This sort of thing: http://www.engadget.com/2009/08/11/video-gigabyte-t1028x-unboxed-handled-available-in-good-ol-u/ although hopefully less ugly alternatives are available.
This tablet is wins, but no I think you'll have to put up with the touchscreen, otherwise this would be HELL to hold in your hands.
I wish this thing was resistive, because then I could do Corel and Photoshop on here and rid of my Bamboo. Oh well, gotta be grateful ^^.
You could also just write it out with the stylus. Also what's wrong with included keyboard. Set to a quick button and it should work pretty good. Unless you mean since it doesn't dock.
Looks amazing but with only 1.2GHz Atom processor don't expect any solid performance at all
What are the other 8 pieces?
Does anyone know if it has a memory slot and is upgradeable?
Same here. I always thought the projected keyboard thing (http://www.virtual-laser-keyboard.com/) should be built in to these devices by now.
Looks like everyone but Apple is coming out with some very cool looking tablets. Those rumors were a total miss.
Windows 7 on-screen keyboard so looks much better , why this ?
I was wondering the same thing above. The onscreen keyboard that comes with it is really nice.
I've only seen video of the OSK in Win7 but I can't say I think it's "better"...
wow, that's got to be the ugliest software keyboard I've ever seen!
Archos really needs to hire some software designers who know something about esthetics.
Yeah, can't go around making touch keyboards with bad "esthetics", right?
it's not just this software keyboard, a lot of their products have poor software design.
I feel with a product like this it's all about the details and delivering a full product with attention to detail will only help sales.
I think you missed his point.
And btw have you seen the Archos 5/7. Those tablets have AMAZING design and a kick ass linux-OS to boot.
oh bad , no option to increase it's size
"Our touches kept getting misread inexplicably as an inch below where we were tapping"
Why didn't you calibrate it in Tablet settings then?
"Archos had to build its own touchscreen keyboard to replace Microsoft's woefully inadequate implementation"
The Windows 7 tablet keyboard is resizable and perfectly touch friendly.
Perhaps we could get someone who knows what he's doing to review these things. If you can't even get the basics right then why should we care about what you have to say about resistive vs. capactive screens? I'd recommend Gizmodo's review to anyone who's interested in this tablet.
You think he made these problems up?
I mean, anything goes here at Engadget....
Yes I agree, what another random article putting down resistive screens without managing to set the thing up right ?
Agreed. Somewhere along the line engadget and Gizmodo traded places. I find myself reading more from Gizmodo than here when before the thought of reading articles from Gizmodo was nauseating. They've cleaned up quite a bit regarding their posturing and flagrant fanboyism. Maybe when engadget starts hemorrhaging readers it'll be a wake up call. For now engadget is my us weekly of tech blogs
Leave Paul alone!!!!!
I'm wondering if the issue is that this device will only come with Windows 7 Starter Edition. It's really stripped down and may not have the full on-screen keyboard features that other versions have.
Can I haz Android?
sure;
http://www.engadget.com/2009/09/01/android-based-archos-gets-pictured-briefly-priced-by-bandh/
Not the answer to everything... Some people (myself included) like to be able to run proprietary apps (Outlook, RemoteApp, iTunes) in their intended environment. I could happily use this instead of my laptop while traveling given its running full windows, Android not so much.
Ooooooooooooooh a Gizmodo recommendation in engadget comments.
Things are turning ugly pretty fast.
whenever I mention gizmodo on here, my comments magically disappear.
i thought there wasn't ever a good reason to use resistive! did you lie to me engadget!?
That kickstand looks like it would be pretty wobbly doesn't it? When I used a slate-tablet, I bought a picture frame holder for $20 that held it up pretty well.
I wonder if you can use this thing as a thin client computer that can wirelessly attach to your main rig. It would be fun to use this away from the desk to edit photos, illustrations or video on the touch screen, while the big computer is humming away in the next room processing your stuff.
The war against resistive wages on.
Wow I can not belive someone said the archos 5/7 is great. Can I please have some of what you are drinking. I had the archos 5 looks nice great looking screen but operation wise it really sucked. Talk about piss poor software or o/s this thing had it in spades. After 2 days I and from what I read on Amazon a lot of other people quickly returned the unit.
Did you see the huge price drop in them also it is because no one wants them and Archos charges you for every little upgrade you want to do on the system. Complete with in O/S advertising. Sorry it would be very hard for me to trust Archos again. I am looking at the Viliv system but even that one has some problems.
I second this statement.
They will never learn. They could have been the I-p*** killer. But no. All they care about is money not the customer. And that is where they went horribly wrong. Oh well another shit company bites the dust. When their dead I will go dance on their grave, laughing hysterically.
W7 still probably doesn't run THAT great. UNR with some sort of a cool handwriting recognition tool?
More garbage from a garbage company. Anyone that spends money on this piece of crap, deserves the heart ache and pain they get with the 10,000,000 crippling glitches and bugs, this thing will come with.
Agreed
The fact that they have their own Virtual keyboard worries me. What else did they screw with? Will we see an Amazon like problem where shit just get deleted? Or more like the, well I forget the company name, but they sent their devices out with spyware, to spy on their own customers. All I know is this and their other devices wont ever make up for their crappy OS (yes even if it is originally Win7), their poor customer service, shitty hardware, and their nickle and dime techniques.
NEXT!!!!!
Random misinformation FTW
LOL I'm not sure if this whole Engadget capacitive vs resistive touch screen thing is blown out of proportion or what but it sure is funny until Engadget blindly hates on resistive because capacitive is apparently the sh*t right now (according to them). NVM the success HTC has had with resistive and the countless number of users who prefer and support resistive.
I personally think they both have their positives and negatives like most things but Engadget sure need to tone down the bias and just report as objectively as they possibly can because I can understand the frustration a lot of readers are having with the blatant preference for capacitive.
i can live with9 inches, but i am going to hold out until next year when everyone and their moma will be churning these things out.Might even consider going android.
Now we-re talkin'. Finally, a device that is the size that I'm looking for. Add bluetooth phone and 3G capability and the all-in-one device is born and I'll buy it.
"and despite the recent advancements we've seen in thin and light laptops, it's pretty incredible that Archos has a full Atom-based PC running inside this thin, fanless slab."
What, never heard of UMPC's?
Interesting piece of hardware though, especially with Win7. Wonder how it stacks up against the Viliv's.
When trying to decide between something like this and the rumored Apple tablet, my entire decision will come down to each implementation's ability to interact with my Windows 7 HTPC over WIFI.
I'll basically be comparing the different VNC and automation (remote control) applications; and perhaps the Mainlobby client/server suite of applications as well.
If they both handle them well, then it'll come down to speed and price.
/thumbsup to Archos though. This device looks hawt!
Here's another link to the archos 9 pc tablet that will give you a decent review of what's to come when you buy this little, but slightly heavier, guy.
http://www.tvlesson.com/video/38370_archos-9-pc-tablet.html
Any updates on the Archos 5 with android? I held back buying the first one hearing it was buggy.
Do you really think it'll be any different? Even with a third party (designed (by Archos) for the specific hardware, mind you) Android OS. These guys suck at making OS'. Heck even their software sucks. Why do you think they stopped doing it on their stuff all of a sudden? Seriously even with a third party OS they will find a way to screw their customers. Keep your money; cooler things are coming out within a few months.
BEAUTIFUL!! i have the Archos 605 wifi and archos 5, and both have power issues..and firmware issues...and streaming issues..etc (you get my point) but this looks promising..even though archos always Nickle and dimes its customer (wonder what the price wiould be for this tablet) this looks worth every penny (stop me if iam wrong) thumbs up for this one!
This isn't a "tablet". It seems that all you guys forgot about the failed ideas of UMPC.
Too big to put in your pocket, but too small to do any actual work.
Been looking for a slate tablet to use in school to replace my papers.
But does this one have a dititizer or just a normal stylus. I need digitizer for rejecting my palm it would be impossible to use for writing otherwise.
I LOVE the concept... I've been desperately waiting for the Apple version that was rumored... I loved the idea...but was never jazzed about it being an apple...because the rest of my network is PC... When apple pretty much axed that rumor I was disappointed...but then when I heard about this, I was excited. Perfect...and it's a WINDOWS7 OS...full version... will be great!! Gives me the protability I want to do web surfing and stuff....but can connect with the rest of my system for other needs.... I wonder if it will have a SD card reader slot?