Best Small Video Device!

I bought this a month ago from Office Depot on sale for $200. I was skeptical and was prepared to return it but I was so thrilled that I also bought the Archos 604!

The 404 small and fairly light but with a hard to quantify feel of something very high quality that makes this a very ‘high techy’ and durable looking device. The screen is 3.5 inches.

I was attracted to the Archos ability to download movies from TV to watch during my commute to work. I record movies from HBO and Starz to TIVO and then download them from TIVO to the Archos using the audio/video OUT jacks cabled to the audio/video IN jacks of the Archos . (You could also record direct from the TV, DVR, cable box, DVD player, VCR, camcorder) To do this you’ll need an optional “DVR Station” to which the Archos docks. The DVR Station sells for $100. It has all the appropriate connections and cables. If you record movies to your PC, or transfer TIVO stuff to your PC, you can avoid the need for the DVR Station. With the DVR station this functions as a portable TIVO. As with a VCR you can set it to record at predetermined hours on whatever channel you wish.

I’ve recorded 20 movies and used about 75% of its 30 GB recording space. The manufacturer claims you can record up to 25 movies (300,000 photos or 7,500 songs) so this seems reasonable. I have this set on the second highest recording quality and the picture is the equivalent of HD – amazingly bright and sharp. Make sure to set the recording volume at the highest level or it may not play back at a high enough level to hear clearly. I learned this the hard way after recording my first few movies.

Want to record shows like Desperate Housewives to watch at lunch or on your commute? You can pay $2 an episode at itunes or do it free with the Archos! In this sense, the Archos will pay for itself.

This is a ‘full screen’ model and if you tape something in ‘widescreen’ you’ll get the dreaded bands at the top and bottom of the screen. You can use a zoom setting to overcome this but the picture quality suffers. I make sure to record things off non HD channels to avoid this. If a show is only broadcast in widescreen format, like American Idol, you’ll get the top and bottom bands no matter what. Still not bad, but the bands really bother me and I try to avoid them.

I’ve transferred videos, MP3s and pictures from my PC with the included proprietary (!) USB cable which also charges the Archos from your PC. The DVR Station also charges it and does so more quickly. A wall charger is optional, unfortunately. A poor choice by the manufacturer.

I didn’t buy this for music but transferring files to it is easy and the sound is excellent. However, playback is not intuitive and this is no threat to my ipod which will continue to be my prime music gizmo. The control buttons and menu screen are not the easiest and are limited in ease of use by the small size of this. There is a learning curve but the investment in time is well worth it.

Archos claims a 5 hour battery life for videos. My experience is 3 hours and this is with a fairly new device. There are 3 brightness levels. I keep mine on the brightest and I suspect that the 5 hours comes using the dimmest setting. I wonder if there will be enough juice in a year, or less, to watch a movie without recharging or dimming the brightness setting. Unlike the 604 model, but like ipods, the battery is not removable and I assume must be replaced by the manufacturer, at great expense, in order to keep the warranty intact. The manufacturer claims a 16 hour battery life for music. While I haven’t used it much for music, 10 – 16 hours seems like a reasonable actual estimate.

It comes with a decent slipcase to protect the screen and the unit itself from short drops but a better case is needed to prevent drop damage and from spills and dirt. It also has no means of support (the 604 has a kickstand), so you’ll have to hold the unit or lean it against something when watching video. A $25 stand is available as an option.

If you’re looking for the “cool factor,” this has it. Everyone has an ipod now but who have you seen with one of these? Believe me, I get a lot of curious onlookers when I pull this out. I love this so much I came out of a self exiled Epinions retirement in order to write this review. Especially for the money, this is one of the neatest electronic things I’ve ever purchased.