I have an Archos Jukebox 10, which I bought several years ago, and it's been very good as far as service goes, but recently it stopped responding to the USB input, so I decided I needed a new mp3 player.
I wanted one with lots of storage space on it, and also one that was compatible with Napster To Go. The Archos 705WiFi was all that, and much more.
The Pros:
Just about everything. Seven inch screen, remote control, built in speakers, video, audio, files, web surfing (with the optional plug in), web radio and TV (with the optional plug in), DVD quality video (with the optional plug in), and Digital Video Recorder (with the optional plug in and optional DVR dock). What more could you ask for? It does everything.
Okay, it would be nice if you could connect via your phone network versus WiFi, but you can't have everything.
Take it with you, enjoy music, movie, streaming media, photo shows, and make a big impression with your friends.
The Cons:
This doesn't fit in your pocket. If you want a pocket sized device, get something smaller like the 605 or Internet Media Tablet 5. Even those may be too big, if you're looking for iPod portability.
The Plug-ins. For a device of this price, or worse, the larger IMT 5 and 7, those plug ins should be included. Okay, I'll grant you the DVR dock can be an option, but web browser, web radio and TV, and cinema compatibility should all be included in the price
USB connection. This is a biggie. My computer, and Napster, have a heck of a time recognizing this device. I can hear when it connects to Vista, but neither Napster nor Windows will see it. Often times, I have to reboot the player, or reboot my machine to get them to see one another.
Napster last night told me that the DRM software got corrupted on the unit, and I needed to reformat it. A simple 'repair' function fixed that, but often I have to go through all sorts of stuff to get it connected. Once it connects though, it's fine.
If you're using your finger instead of the stylus, the fingernail works much better than your finger. There are two stylii included, you may find yourself wishing for more.
Documentation isn't too bad, but could be a little more specific in some areas.
WiFi is kind of slow for downloading stuff from the internet, but once it gets there, it's okay.
The output level is based on European standards, so it isn't the 'blast your brains' level that some devices are. The drawback of that is that if you're driving powered speakers, or an input to another device, you really need to crank the volume up on both the Archos and the device you're driving.
The Other:
While semi-frustrating to have the issues with the USB port, I'm not sure where exactly the problem lies. What I do know is that I really enjoy this device, and am looking forward to as long a life from this as I got from my first Archos.
Final Thoughts:
I recommend this product with the caveat that you may have issues with the USB connection, and that to make it fully functional, you'll need to spend more money on the plug ins. Knowing that going in, this really is a classy device worth owning.
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