Audio Player, Video Player, Voice Recorder, Photo Viewer - 4.3" 130560 Pixel - 17 Hour Audio - MPN: 500870
Strengths: Nice idea...recording programs from tv and playing them back - sorta replaces the VCR
Weakness: Unstable
I have had 2 Archos 504's - the first was replaced due to a faulty screen and the fact that it would stop playing and have to be "reset". The replacement is the same as far as stability. When I try to use it as a mp3 player I have to hold it when I am walking - If I try to put it into my pocket it stops playing and I usually have to take the back off and reset it. This arbitrary "shutdown" has also happened when I have been recording using the DVR docking device. Overall this instability is unsatisfactory.
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TopStrengths: Plays more formats than most others. Extremely simple to use.
Weakness: No software that completely tethers togther all of the Archos functions is a blessing , but some see it as a curse.
I started off with the Archos Av300 years ago. Back then, the archos was by far the few things that could do what it claims to do - be a miniturized media center. I've also had the AV 400, and now this one. Archos has listened well to thier audience. Sure, you can buy a video Ipod and it may be simpler. You won't have to worry about re-encoding video or supporting different formats, because they'll only want you to use thiers. Archos - like the 504 - is made more for those that demand more of thier gadgets. If you want to put a few entire dvd's on your Archos - you have a number of formats that it will support. Do you have a huge music library that you've built up over a number of years? It has many options for that too. Sure I could carry around a laptop to watch videos or even my pocket pc. But my pocket pc doesnt nearly have the screen clarity that this machine has, nor the capacity for holding all the tv, movies, and music. I also have used it to record perfectly clear lecture notes, and moments later share those notes with friends and the whole class over the internet. Now with Beyondtv, I have my media center pc DVR any shows that I want and it automatically records the show in divx and syncs it to my archos when I plug it into the network. So the next morning, I have my shows to watch during my commute to work, and I get some gym time when the show originally aired. This contraption is only limited by your imagination.
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TopStrengths: Noon, without those so called optional firmware and docking station.
Weakness: This product is a hook. The price looked pretty good base on what it can do. However, the device will not be fully operational without you buy additional "firmware" and docking station.
The manufacture try to hook up the user by cheating on the user with a fake price. The price of the body appears to be low. However, this is just a tripped down skeleton.
If you want it to be fully operational, you need to buy additional "firmware", a DVR station, and a Travel Adapter, totally around $200. With that money, you can easily buy a laptop which can do much more.
Therefore, I rate this product as "Do not Buy", unless the current price would include all these required accessories.
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TopStrengths: huge screen, supports a variety of media formats
Weakness: to get full use of all the features you have to buy docking stations
This is a really nice media player, but it's a little aggravating having to buy the docking stations to use all the features (files transfer, video recording, etc).
Tech support is pretty lousy. I contacted them both by e-mail and telephone and had no luck with either. I had some problems playing some video formats which ultimately ended up being fixed by firmware updates, but the tech support people were clueless.
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TopStrengths: 80GB HD, Play multiple media formats, Very nice and sharp 4.3" screen, DVR capability, Cheap for its size and what it can do.
Weakness: To reach its maximum ability, a lot of upgrade software/hardware need to be purchased... Very weak starting accessory that comes with the package.
After I play around with this device, I have to admit that I'm very impressed with all the functions, video/audio quality of this media player. For standard user, this device will be a perfect fit. However, in my case, I also want to play differnt type of media file formats (.VOB, MPEG-2, etc). That's where the fun begins. I need to purchase additional software called "cinema plug-in" ($20) in order to play those files. I think it would be much more convenient to include that plug-in from the beginning.
Beside watching movies and listen to musics, I'd like to use this device as my pictures storage. I can directly transfer pictures from my digital camera to the device, which is pretty nice when I'm traveling. No need for bulky laptop. Then again, to do so, I have to purchase additional adapter for file transferring ($30). Not to mention another adapter for TV recording ($60). You can have it all by getting a DVR station for both file transfer and TV recording ($99), though. Anyhow, I will stick with just file transfer adapter, for now.
Don't get me wrong about all these additional purchases. In my opinion, they're all worth it, but it would make our lives a lot easier just to include those things with the package. It's a pain to search and shop around afterward.
After all said and done, this media player still ranks very high on my list with its ability to store, play and record media file. It is a mighty powerful little device on-the-go (with some spare room to carry all those extra gadgets).
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Archos 504 80GB receives an overall TopTenREVIEWS score of 2.3 out of 4.00. It is ranked the #39 hard drive MP3 player of all time. The overall rating represents an intelligent balance of features, value as a function of price to features, and a summary of reviews from a variety of sources. The TopTen REVIEWS' formula gives a picture of important consumer features, market value, and a product's...
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Archos 504 - 80 GB PMP
Strengths: Picture quality, 80-GB hard drive, solid build.
Weakness: No flip-out stand for viewing, no AC power adapter included, no screen protector overlay included, extra cost accessory needed to route signal through a TV.
Overall a great unit. I would recommend the 504 to anyone. I personally prefer this model with side-mounted buttons vs. the newer versions from which have touch-screen. At $260 this was a very good deal.
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