gdgt

8.5

Great device but with a few issues.

By ChazClout - Jan 31, 2010

What can I say about the Archos 5 Internet Tablet? I was looking for a PMP as a christmas present and after using an iPod touch then an iPhone I wanted to try something different in a media player.

I was a HTC Hero owner and had really gotten into Android OS so one of the first things I looked into was Android based media players, that's when I discovered the Archos 5.

I told my wife what I wanted and she got it for me and I was very impressed with it. It had issues on the older firmware but was good enough for me on the most part. Since owning it I've seen 2 updates (one Android 1.5 based update then the recent 1.7.33 update which bought us Android 1.6, Donut).

With the newest firmware, things are better than they ever were. The device seems far more responsive and more stable but I do still experience the odd freeze here and there.

The screen is fantastic when viewing video or text in the Android browser and the music playback functions are great too. Add to all this, web radio,web video and you have a seriously entertaining device! Some of the optional docks do have me interested and I may purchase one in the future to enjoy my Archos 5 on my TV.

One huge omission is the lacking Android Market, instead you are left with Archos' own Apps Lib which has some great apps. This is where the tinkerer will get something out of the Archos 5 as the "Google Experience" apps can be installed on to the device, extremely easily I might add.

Once these are on the Archos 5 you get GMail, Google Maps, Google Talk and Google Market! Once this is done, all that the Market offers you is at your fingertips!

For someone who has owned an iPod touch or iPhone they may be disappointed as it isn't as stable as either of them but for those who like to tinker with devices, the A5 IT is a great toy with even better media player capabilities thrown in.

As long as Archos keep updating the thing, it will only get better and better! (Android 2.1 please Archos!)