Archos 9 up for pre-order in America for $50 more than anticipated
By Darren Murph 
posted Nov 3rd 2009 1:33PM
posted Nov 3rd 2009 1:33PM
Uh, Archos? You do remember telling us that your Archos 9 media tablet would ship on October 22nd for $499 back in late September, right? 'Cause if our eyes are being truthful to us, that's not at all what's happening here. The outfit's official web store has the 8.9-inch device listed (complete with Windows 7 Starter, WiFi, Bluetooth and a 1.3 megapixel camera) for $549.99, and worse still, it's only up for "pre-order." You know what happens after the second strike, right guys?[Thanks, Trini]
I prefer to pay $50 extra if that means the software and hardware are stable and go hand-by-hand. Anyways pretty awesome little device.
Right, because you should pay extra money in order for the product to work.
$499...oh, wait, you want it to work? $550.
Hmm, you do realize anything before official solid release can change? Rumors and rumors, the real deal comes when they give a release date and a price.
Remember Project Dark from T-Mobile, rumor had it the whole plan was $50 unlimited everything... or the rumored Verizon iPhone ... we got a Droid first....
Right, because you were _entitled_ to a $499 working device?
Let's rephrase it so as not to confuse the entitled-whiner crowd: "it's better for the device to cost more if that's what it took to deliver a stable, working product."
Of course, this assumes it works. Archos doesn't have a particularly excellent track record for flawless product releases.
Actually, don't you still have to buy the plugins?
@Kesey and oGMo
Completely agree.
4200rpm HDD, FAIL
Z515 1.1GHz, FAIL
sorry, was really looking forward to this but am now highly disappointed
well, at least it's compatible with 1080p video playbacks
@nick.allain
For plugins
if you want to change the desktop wallpaper you will have to pay for the Windows 7 Home Premium pluging
if you want Aero you will have to pay for the Windows 7 Home Premium pluging
if you want business features you will have to pay for the Windows 7 Professional pluging
if you want all features you will have to pay for the Windows 7 Ultimate pluging
@ Ocean Clak 34th
Your point being? You pay for business features, you get business features. You don't want them, you don't pay. Seems like a pretty solid business model.
Congratulations on bringing up a completely off-topic and wrong comparison in an article that had nothing to do with what you think you know you're talking about.
The third strike?
When is someone going to make a device like this with a 6 inch screen and minimal bezel (so it's not wide any extra) and maybe a 16:9 aspect ration.
A 6 inch screen with a 16:9 aspect ratio is what I can fit in my jeans pocket comfortably and is still usable as a tablet device or even a phone. In theory 6.5 could also work but that would mean there is almost zero bezel area surrounding the display surface.
If you mad one with no bezel that would be great but it's kinda hard to mount the screen with no bezel. Also making one with a decent processor that small (at least worth it) would be so thick it will be laughed at before its even released.
too much money for no reason; what if this had android, hmmm
yes, because Android rules and is way better than windows 7.
-end of the sarcasm-
If Archos put Android on it (like the A5A) it wouldn't have all the cool apps that the real Android has. You are currently limited to Archos Apps on their Android device. If you put Android on this it will be the same issue. But if we could put Android 2.0 (real release) then I could see that. Archos Android wouldn't even be worth the plastic its covered with.
Considering the first part of their statement, I assume it was price and not quality that was the basis for mentioning Android.
the Archos 5A has hardware that's too advanced for the standard Android 1.6, that's why they use their own App Catalog so that they can make sure it's compatible, but considering the similarities with the DROID, the 5A should be compatible with the standard Android 2.0 OS
@JohnTitor- Seriously? Who told you that? Archos? Charbax? Regardless they lied to you. The processor the A5A uses has been supported by Android since the release of it. Who ever told you that is an idiot.
If you prefer Android, Archos does Android tablets as well and those start at $249 for the 8GB version. Hundreds if not thousands of Android apps work on it today. Google Marketplace and Google Apps should work on it when Google releases WVGA medium density support for those. Should come with Android 1.6 or 2.0 updates.
For a 800gr 1.7cm thin Windows7 tablet, the Archos 9 is a super good deal. In fact, it's the only deal at all on the market.
actually it's not the processor I was reffering to, it's the screen, up until 2.0, the supported resolution was HVGA
if you remember shortly after the release of the G1, an Australian company wanted to do a QVGA phone, but Google warned them against it, and anything higher than HVGA causes problems too, the first you can tell right away is the background not adjusting
the DROID is the first device to go beyond HVGA with a WVGA+ screen (slightly more than the 5A)
I am starting to think users should get a rank on how fowl all their shitty comments are and the fade should start with that... then maybe they will stop writing FIRST!! on every damn post :\
exactly, i dont understand why they dont introduce an account and comment system that f***ing works!! users that continuously post crap should automatically be dimmed, and not even get the chance to have their "first" posts be visible at all.
I'm really starting to think a tablet/slate type thing might have a few practical uses, certainly not for everyday use though. I'd like to see one come out with a decent GPS setup. The specs also don't say anything about multi-touch unless I missed it, which would make using a virtual keyboard that size pretty much the lamest thing ever. Either way, I'm slightly interested in these devices and hope I get to tinker with one at some point.
Nope no Multi-touch. Sad I know. Nor does it have a digital pen. Even sadder.
I am really wanting the whole Tablet thing to take off! Taking notes in meetings, have a PDF of all of my reports at my finger tips....that I can wrote notes on...AWESOME.
I don't think $500 or $550 is a bad starting spot for tablets, the price will fall in a year or so as more products come out, except for Apple, if that thing ever comes out, it is going to cost a kings ransom!!!
It does support multi-touch even though it's a resistive touch screen. Capacitative does not exist for 8.9" screen, it only exists for smaller than 4" screens for now. Archos 9 pctablet comes with a stylus if you want to use that.
I don't give a damn about capacitive screens or multitouch, I just want something that's really good for carrying around and taking handwritten notes on. So far, nobody is even trying.
Your right windows 7 does support multi-touch, if the device wasn't windows starter, it would too. But it's windows starter, douche. So, no it doesn't Windows starter doesn't have the tablet software installed you need home or higher.
Man you need to d your research.....
www.virtualpressoffice.com/JPContentAccessServle
They do exist.
True. Sorry. It was my first comment. lol
I sent Engadget a couple of messages yesterday reference the Archos 9 but they don't seem to have picked up on them. I'm one of the few people in the UK to have received one of these devices and it has been collected by Archos today as it is faulty. Several of us who have received them cannot charge the battery in the unit. There is a rumour circulating on forums that this major battery issue is the reason they have been slow to surface in Europe and not at all in the US.
Thank you for sharing, you would think they would have at least added your info to the article.
Thanks for the heads up on that! I'm quite interested in the tablet myself. Hope they fix that issue a.s.a.p.
$549 for windows 7 non-starter edition and a bunch of crap I don't need and without the stuff I do need.
Hopefully nohrtec can get their $300 tablet out the door soon.
Wow so If I buy a $49 iphne or a $149 iPod touch over this what am I ?
Contractually deluded.
Doesn't work. Two completely separate classes of gadgets.
Mostly you're an idiot, regardless of what you buy.
Wow so If I buy a $5,000 elephant over this what am I ?
you're a guy with a cheap elephant, you've done gone and got yourself a great deal there...
Hey Engadget,
Any chance you can dig up how NITS of brightness that LCD display sports? Is it a trued sunlight-readable display?
Cheers, mateys!
how many NITS -- and -- a true sunlight-readable display.
wow. need to watch my typing today!
sorry guys. :-)
Well, I had mine for a couple of days before being returned for battery issues and the screen is fairly bright and semi matt finish so it is fairly readable in bright light. Of course the high brightness will eat the battery life (which isn't great to start with). It's no e-ink display but I think it would be usable outdoors.
Cheers, Drennan!
I'm looking for a viable solution as an aviation gps handheld platform. Direct (very direct) sunlight and ease of readability is crucial in my application.
Did you get a chance to try it out in direct sunlight?
Hear ya on the battery. Can't have it all, now can we... :-)
Do you know if the unit supports hot-standby battery swaps? Win7 must have some provision built in for this type of scenario?
Due to the battery issue I didn't get a chance to try it outdoors, but I was using it in a well lit office on about medium brightness and it was very readable. It's not a glass or gloss screen so it is much better than many netbooks. From the time I had with it, it's a great little device and I'm very anxious to get my replacement.
As for the Hot-swap on the battery, I'm not sure if that is viable. My battery appeared to be completely dead, but the machine would still try and fire up so whether there is some residual juice in the machine I don't know.... although come to think of it the clock kept resetting itself and it also states in the literature that the machine should not be operated without the battery connected and also not to leave it out for prolonged periods. This would lend me to think that the hot-swap is unlikely.
Hope that helps!
Absolutely helps, cheers. Always good to get information from the field. Good luck with your replacement!
Does it have mutitouch capabilities or no??? I mean, they say it supports that.. but I haven't seen one video showing that it does!?!?
It was $499 when I placed my pre-order Monday morning.
Prices at Archos.com are always set at the highest possible point for MSRP, as Archos is not supposed to sell cheaper than the many resellers that will want to sell the product. So $399 to $499 is more likely to be the street price for it.
Testing
you think you guys have got it bad!
across the pond it's £449.99, that's $738.74 at time of post!!!
how about mainland Europe, €499 = $732.33 but I believe $550 is before taxes, but still cheaper than over here, from a French company... pfff
Dreeman : This is not because two cases have been reported it must be concluded hastily that there is a widespread problem.
Out of the 3 people that I know who have received them, 2 are faulty. I'm not making the hasty conclusion, it has been started by others in the US who are awaiting release and have heard fro sources awaiting stock.
Yeah, I lost interest when the price crept above $450, they went with W7 starter, and dropped the z515 for a z510.
Maybe next time though.
Its a nice device, and besides all the griping ive done over my Archos 7, i would rather have the A9 over my A7, especially since its just about the same price i paid for my A7. too bad they don't do a upgrade or customer loyalty discount.
What do you know? Even with the disasterous Archos Android units still haunting people, they are shoving other crap out the doow weeks later.... Anyone want to take a bet that this thing has more holes, glitches, and crashes than anything that Microsoft and Apple make -- combined x 400 ?
I'll take that bet.
If you are saying that you believe that the Archos 9 will be shipped in a decent WORKING condition, then you are nuts if you are going to take that bet. I'll bet my house against you, if that is what you are saying. If you are saying that it will be the typical piece of 'shiat' that Archos pumps out -- then I apologize... you are going to find a hard time finding a sane person to book against that bet.
By NO means did I mean that. Archos will always release half bake crap software with semi-decent hardware. Even with Windows 7, just like Android, will have tons of bugs and glitches. I am usually here right with you warning customers about Archos and the crap they release.
Let me just add...
Remember
NOVEMBER 5th
It could also have to do with the Dollar tanking. Look at it as a stealth tax because we are too chickensheet to fix our balance sheet.
Maybe it has something Archos tanking.
I seem to remember the launch event people earlier this year saying it'd be around €450, not $499. The Sterling & Euro prices are within €1 of each other on the Archos website, which is why I suspect someone at Engadget has merely had a brain fart rather than there being any story whatsoever here.
Why why why would anyone spend money on an archos unit please someone read all the reviews on their products on Amazon. They suck they have no customer support they charge you for plugin's why why would you want to do this to yourself stay away far away from them. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED
Most of the Archos reviews on Amazon are very positive. Archos is the best company in the world. So much better value and better features than Apple, Microsoft, Sony and Samsung products.
I respect your opinion, but totally disagree with it. I have owned the last four generations of Archos devices, and they are the best mobile pmp's out there. After watching videos on the Archos 5, and 5IMT, the iPod touch seems like a toy when watching videos. Concerning the plug-ins, yeah it can be a PIA, but it helps keep the price down. With the new 5IMT, the web browser is already unlocked, and the podcast (H264) plug-in is activated for free when you register the device on-line. Even with the older devices, I would rather pay the $20 plug-in fee than perform the time-consuming reconversion required with other devices. At least you had the option of paying $20 for a plug-in, or converting the videos into a format natively supported. Wish more manufacturers offered this option.
As far as quality, only one of the devices had a hardware failure (USB connection). It happened about a month before the warranty expired, and Archos fixed it no charge.
The software may be buggy when released, but which manufacturer's device isn't delivered with buggy software? With the new IMT, as soon as I turned it on, I was asked if I wanted to download the latest firmware. I did, and the devices has been rock stable since day 1 with the first, and remaining firmware updates..
Where is this up for pre-order. I have checked around and found only 5's & 7's, no #9.
I am really interested in this line of product and want to try this thing out....as long as there is a very forgiving return policy. I don't see it up at Amazon, where are people placing orders?
This product is pointless with a resistive screen. It needs to have a digitizer - Wacom style, otherwise, what's the point in implementing touch at all? This could definitley be a "slate" like product, but note-taking needs to be precise and accurate and resistive screens cannot offer that.
I suppose I will be waiting for the Apple "something or other" tablet, whenever that will be.
Oh, BTW, what happened to that other tablet? Let's see - the CrunchPad?
Dear Archos,
Make a PMP that's SMALL for once, as in pocketable, that has at least 250, but preferably 320gb of space, and I will easily pay $400 for it. Neither the Zune or the iPod classic have HDD's this big, the only PMP I can find in the market with huge hard drives are archos players. Make it pocketable and you have a customer.
Due to the battery issue I didn't get a chance to try it outdoors, but I was using it in a well lit office on about medium brightness and it was very readable. It's not a glass or gloss screen so it is much better than many netbooks. From the time I had with it, it's a great little device and I'm very anxious to get my replacement.
As for the Hot-swap on the battery, I'm not sure if that is viable. My battery appeared to be completely dead, but the machine would still try and fire up so whether there is some residual juice in the machine I don't know.... although come to think of it the clock kept resetting itself and it also states in the literature that the machine should not be operated without the battery connected and also not to leave it out for prolonged periods. This would lend me to think that the hot-swap is unlikely.
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Thank you for sharing, you would think they would have at least added your info to the article.
Somebody mentioned no capacitive touchscreens on 8.9? That's not true. The T91MT is multi touch, so is the HP TX2 models.
I think the form factor of this is awesome. But yes, fail on the 1.1ghz and 4200 rpm. If the HD is easily upgradeable then might reconsider.
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