DailyTech - 160GB Archos 504 PMP Released

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Gadgets 160GB Archos 504 PMP Released
Brandon Hill (Blog) - October 25, 2006 9:41 AM

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13 comment(s) - last by Funksultan.. on Oct 26 at 4:44 PM

Archos 504

Archos unveils the World's largest hard drive-based portable media player

Back in August, DailyTech reported on a number of new portable media players (PMPs) from Archos. At the time, the Archos 604, 604 Wi-Fi, 504, 404 and 404 Camcorder were all on display. Today, Archos has announced the availability of the Archos 504.

The 504 is available in 40GB, 80GB and 160GB varieties. The player features a 4.3" (430x272) display and has a battery life of 17 hours. The 504 supports H.264, MPEG2, MPEG4, WMV and Protected WMV and VOB video formats. WMA and Protected WMA, MP3 and WAV audio formats are also supported.

The 40GB, 80GB and 160GB 504 players are available now for $349.99, $399.99 and $599.99 respectively. $600 will buy you a decent laptop these days, so it’s likely that the Archos 504 160GB will be reserved for the ultra-mobile multimedia user who must have their entire library on hand at all times.

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Interesting

By Aikouka on 10/25/2006 9:57:09 AM , Rating: 4

It has an interesting control scheme with all the buttons there on the right. I think I'd have to try it before I buy it at that price though. The buttons look like they'd be best accessible with your thumb and with my fat fingers, it looks like i'd be hitting the wrong button a lot ;).

Although I think I agree, it does seem like a bit much for 120GB, although even my laptop, which cost more than $600 doesn't have that big of a HDD and HP took a portion of it for their restore feature :(. Although, you then get into the debate of whether or not you'd want the extra features of a laptop and the fact that a laptop can use optical media (normally). Having to convert your media over to one of the support formats can be a pain sometimes.

RE: Interesting

By WhiteBoyFunk on 10/25/2006 10:21:15 AM , Rating: 3

Correction...It's actually $600 for 160 gigs, not 120 my friend.

Is it worth it now? :P

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RE: Interesting

By Aikouka on 10/25/2006 10:52:33 AM , Rating: 3

Err, my bad... mixed up the figures in my head. Thanks for the correction :).

Still... I really can't say unless I can try one for a couple days to a week. I know I'm not that huge of a media-phile and I'd probably rather spend the $600 on building an in-car mini/nano-ITX computer, which would cost about that much if you include a small TPD (Touch Panel Display).

I'd say the higher versions really work toward a niche market, but that niche market would be expected to have the money to shell out $600 for a somewhat novelty item.

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RE: Interesting

By WhiteBoyFunk on 10/25/2006 3:29:04 PM , Rating: 2

I'm looking to build one of these ITX pcs for my car. Any recommendations for sites or products?

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RE: Interesting

By Aikouka on 10/25/2006 3:58:10 PM , Rating: 2

Actually, yes, I found a really nice site a long time ago and just recently rediscovered it. NewEgg does have an ITX board or two, but you won't find the power adapters and such (or at least I didn't find them) on NewEgg.

The site I visited was Logic Supply ( www.logicsupply.com ). They even have prebuilt systems that you can customize with a variety of different motherboards, memory setups and even flash/hdd storage! The prices are fairly decent as well.

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Meh,

By encryptkeeper on 10/25/2006 11:56:01 AM , Rating: 2

For that much money you might as well get a laptop. Or a portable DVD disc player. Lets say you're on an international flight, or a long camping trip. How often during those instances are going to have NO place to set down your DVDs? This isn't like music, where you don't have to see it to enjoy it.

RE: Meh,

By Lazarus Dark on 10/25/2006 12:45:27 PM , Rating: 2

quote:
ultra-mobile multimedia user who must have their entire library on hand at all times.

what kind of mediaphile only needs 160 gb? that barley fits my music in lossless format. forget even a portion of my vids.
call me when its 500gb.

a laptop would make more sense though not as portable. Anyone else notice the ultra small laptops are sometimes twice the price of a similar performing laptop twice as big?

anyway, the wifi one seems a more useful solution as at least it offers web surfing. I actually may be interested in that one.

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RE: Meh,

By WhiteBoyFunk on 10/25/2006 3:30:25 PM , Rating: 2

Would you even want to put lossless video on a device that can't play it? Now I do realize that it has an a/v out, but I'm still wondering.

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Not a laptop!

By Funksultan on 10/26/2006 8:37:34 AM , Rating: 1

I use the Creative Zen Vision (pretty much the same thing) and for it's purpose, it's vastly superior to my laptop.

Can your laptop...
- Fit in your pocket?
- Boot in 3 seconds, shut down in 2?
- Charge from a USB connection?

Completely different devices. I love my Vision. I can carry around enough music to satisfy, along with a couple dozen movies, and a season each of Lost, The Simpsons, and whatever else strikes my fancy.

DF

p.s. Ugh, please people, the days of bragging about how many gig of music you have were over like 3 years ago. Anyone can grab all the music they want now. How much do you actually LISTEN to? Thought so. Just about the same about as everyone else. :)

RE: Not a laptop!

By Lazarus Dark on 10/26/2006 12:17:15 PM , Rating: 2

errr... if the music stuff was directed at me, I wasn't bragging. I was simply saying that 160gb is not enough for some. yes I listen to all of it in a given month at least once and half of it multiple times.

If I were to brag about anything, it would be the fact that all of my music is legitimately purchased and ripped cds. You seem to imply that yours is not.

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RE: Not a laptop!

By Funksultan on 10/26/2006 4:44:12 PM , Rating: 1

errr... No idea where you got that idea. All my media is ripped from hardcopies in my possession.

Heh, no implications, I'll just say that you are not anywhere near the target audience for this, or ANY other PMP on any level. If you have to have more than 160gb of music with you at all times, I think you need to examine why exactly that is. Either way, commenting regarding something like this and saying it doesn't meet your needs is akin to reading a press release for a moped, and you replying that it's not going to be able to pull your yacht.

No, really?!? ;)

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Does it display images like in RAW mode?

By aguilpa1 on 10/25/2006 11:01:11 AM , Rating: 2

If it can do RAW like from a Canon SLR, it would be worth it because I could tout this around and offload my memory and preview for a long time without worry..., hmmmmmmmm?

Cost/Performance-time

By tbrand68 on 10/25/2006 3:53:13 PM , Rating: 2

Although I believe that $600 for this is too expensive, I have yet to see a $600 laptop play media for 17 hours on a battery :)

Even audio only with the display off, typically it won't last more than 4 or 5 hours.

Just a thought...