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(More customer reviews)Note: This is a total revamp of this review, after having had it a few days.
The Archos 9 in a neat little device.While it's not going to be an "iPad killer", it does seem to straddle the middle ground between a pc and a mobile device a little better.
The Archos 9 is effectively an EXTREMELY compact pc. And by extreme, I mean this thing is SMALL!And by PC, I mean it runs Windows 7, so in theory if the app works on a home pc, it'll work on this. There are obvious performance issues which we'll get to, but in general, it's code compatible with all Windows 7 software.
First off let me say I really like this device, but it is not flawless.The main flaws seem to be in the preinstalled software, which frankly suck, and the touch sensitive screen, which is only `alright',although I want to talk about what I like about the Archos 9 first, since, after all, I do like it.
What's good about this thing is the aforementioned PC-compatibility, the similarly aforementioned compactness, & the ton of built in hardware.This thing has built in WiFi & Bluetooth, which pretty much lets you connect it to anything you need to connect it to, even without the (sold separately) port replicator.The built in face-forward webcam is nice, I suppose, but not something I would really use.Same goes with the built in microphone, although I could see this getting more use.The built in speakers sound good considering their size.It has an HDMI output on the bottom of the device, which is strangely NOT advertised!Considering the potential of this device as a media player, I don't understand that at all.Also, the display is true 16x9. Despite all this, it seems to get some serious life out of the batteries - while I haven't totally drained mine, the 5 hour advertised lifespan seems reasonable given my experiences. What's missing here is a DVD drive, which of course makes sense for a device like this - and you can plug an external USB drive into the single USB port if necessary.
Now here's the bad news.The 32-bit, single-core Intel Atom Z510 processor is pretty lame, and gets a Windows rating of only 1.3.Now the Atom line of processors are designed for power savings, and compactness, but for those looking for a laptop replacement, beware: this puts it on par with 6 year old machines.The single gigabyte of (non-upgradable) ram isn't overly generous either, and leads to page-flipping, which further bogs the machine down.The 60 gb drive feels a little claustrophobic by today's standards,and is made more so by the ridiculous partitioning of the factory install, leaving only 25 gigs of useable space, and lastly the screen is only "OK" by today's standards, although those standards have been set by the iPhone and the forthcoming iPad, which legitimately have fantastic touchpads. Speaking of which, the touchpad on this device is resistive, which means single-touch (unlike the i-stuff), and feels a little "mushy", for lack of a better word.Again, think of a 6 year old PDA in this respect.The Archos 9 comes with a built in stylus, which given technology on display here, makes sense.One other hardware-related issue I've had is occasionally plugging a drive into the USB port seems to short the whole machine out randomly, forcing a cold reboot.Sometimes this happens, sometimes it doesn't, and I can't seem to determine what causes it. It's happened both when plugged in and on batteries, with a USB hard drive, and a USB DVD drive, but at other times (most of the time in fact), worked fine with both devices.
The biggest failure however isn't the hardware, it's the pre-installed software, which is terrible. Windows 7 Starter sucks.While the Archos is capable of running the Aero theme, windows 7 starter doesn't come with it, you need to upgrade.There are a handful of other missing features, but that's definitely the most visible.The installed media software is called vTuner, which in my opinion isn't terribly interesting.Going back to the lack of hard drive space, there's a 20 gb partition for backups, but from the factory there's NOTHING IN IT! In the fine print of the manual (really, it's all fine print, another gripe), you will find that it says to do a backup upon first starting the machine, but that's just lazy on Archos's part. If you're going to provide a backup partition, it should come with a "factory presets" image, ESPECIALLY if your device doesn't come with a DVD drive!I found this out the hard way when I tried to update the operating system to windows 7 ultimate and had a failure - I ended it having the wipe the machine and install from scratch, which also meant all my preinstalled software was gone, with no way of recovering it.
In the end I DID succeed in installing Windows 7 Ultimate, along with a standard suite of productivity apps (office 2007, adobe reader, itunes, chrome), and after experimenting with some of the settings (particularly the touchscreen & display settings, along with turning Aero back off), I'm getting acceptable performance from this (again, extremely compact) device.It won't run World of Warcraft (in any playable sense, anyway), but with the right software suite, it serves its purpose quite well.Realistically, I probably didn't NEED to put Windows 7 ultimate on it (if I hadn't messed up the previous install), but leaving out all those other free apps (neglecting Office) seems like another oversight to me, especially Adobe Reader, this thing is BEGGING to be used as an e-book reader!
Speaking of performance, while does technically do 3D, it does it poorly.I loaded a 6 year old 3D 4X space conquest game, "Hegemonia" on this machine and while it ran, it was very choppy on even the lowest settings.Maybe this isn't the best test program, but it does tell you something.Baldur's Gate(1) seems to run well enough.One non-performance software-related issue I've had is that after about a week the onscreen keyboard software seemed to stop working. I reinstalled it and all was well, but if this is going to become a regular occurrence, it'll definately be irritating.
So what is the purpose of this device, might one ask? Well, for me, again, because it runs Windows 7, it's an extremely portable PC.It works well as a media device as well, because of the inherent compatibility of a Windows PC, and here it might even have the iPad beat.Non techies will probably not like this however, as you definitely need to do some tweaking to get the most out of it, and in this respect, Apple will definitely win the battle of the tablets, but really, is anyone surprised by this?At $549, you can definitely get more pc bang for your buck if you're not looking for ultra-portability, but then again, if you're in the market for a tablet, you probably are. In that respect, the Archos 9 wins hands down.Cheaper than all but the cheapest iPads, able to hold its own with netbooks & laptops, and useful as a media device, the Archos 9 PCTablet is a cool tech device, but only for those not afraid of mucking with the installed software. 3 Stars.
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Product Description:
"Offering breathtaking design, excellent ergonomics and an impressive touch interface, the Archos 9 PC Tablet lets you take all your favorite entertainment with your wherever you roam as well as work in an entirely new way. Powered by Windows 7 Starter Edition operating system, the Archos 9 enables you to do the things you do every day more effortlessly with fewer clicks, faster searching, easier browsing, and simpler ways to connect.
The Archos 9 PC Tablet.
The optical trackpoint and integrated mouse buttons make it a breeze to navigate the Archos 9 (see larger image).
The adjustable leg stand allows the Archos 9 to be positioned to suit a range of uses. Designed for easy portability, the Archos 9 weighs less than 2 pounds and measures 0.67 inches thin. The Archos 9 sports a full touch-sensitive 9-inch resistive touchscreen display with a virtual keyboard as well as an innovative optical trackpoint (virtual mouse) for easy navigation. An adjustable leg stand allows the Archos 9 to be positioned in a number of positions--upright for watching videos or photo slideshows, or angled for an optimal typing position.
You'll also enjoy brilliant video playback on the Archos 9 thanks to the gorgeous widescreen, LED-backlit display, which provides a full HD 1080p resolution. And you can set up video conferences (using the 1.3-megapixel webcam), chat with friends and surf the web on the go via the integrated 54g Wi-Fi networking (or tether to a compatible mobile phone via Bluetooth and surf via cellular connectivity; additional charges applicable). Other features include a 60 GB hard drive, 1 GB of RAM, built-in speakers, and up to 5 hours of battery life.
Smart Features for Intuitive Use
The ARCHOS 9's controls are ergonomically placed for comfortable and natural use.On the right, an optical trackpoint for finger navigation replaces the big touchpad of a laptop to ensure you can precisely point to any position on your screen.
On the left, screen brightness, Wi-Fi control, and left/right mouse buttons complement the virtual keyboard, so that your regular mouse controls aren't left aside.
Designed for Portability
The Archos 9's form and design breaks the rules of the conventional laptop design. Its edges fan out from an already thin structure (0.67 inches or 17 mm at its thickest). And since it weighs less than 29 ounces, you can easily carry it with you in your handbag or backpack and use it any time. It also features a two-position leg-stand that best positions the device depending on how you are using it:The upper position is best for viewing videos on the go, surfing the web, or reading
The lower position is ideal when you need to type memos or web addresses, send an email, or chat with your friends.
Windows 7 Starter Edition
With Windows 7 on Archos 9 PC Tablet, accessing files regardless of where you are in the interface is easier than ever. Windows Search will transform the way you search and find your documents. It's simpler and much quicker than previous versions of Windows. Handy widgets can now be placed anywhere on the desktop. Whether you are looking for the weather forecast in your hometown, or a stock value in your financial portfolio, or the latest movie theater program, it's right at your fingertips.The included Internet Explorer 8 will enhance your web experience. It is the fastest, easiest, and safest browser ever released by Microsoft. Discover the hot new features of the world's number one web browser with the Windows 7 dedicated pages. For example, with Web Slices, you can follow your bid on auction sites or view live sports scores directly in the toolbar of the new Internet Explorer 8.
Key Specifications
8.9-inch LED-backlit resistive touchscreen display (1024 x 600 pixels)
Optical finger navigation system (trackpoint) as well as integrated left and right mouse buttons
1.2 GHz Intel Atom Z515 processor (400 MHz front-side bus speed, 512 KB L2 cache, 2W maximum power consumption)
60 GB hard drive
1 GB of installed DDR2 RAM (400 MHz)
Integrated Intel GMA 500 graphics
1.3-megapixel webcam with built-in microphone for easy video chats
Built-in stereo speakers
54g Wi-Fi networking (802.11b/g)
Bluetooth 2.0+EDR connectivity enables you to connect to peripherals such as mice as well as tether wirelessly to a compatible mobile phone's cellular connection (additional charges applicable).
Fast Ethernet (10/100) via optional port replicator
One USB 2.0 port with additional two USB ports via optional port replicator
VGA video output via optional port replicator
Up to 5 hours of battery life via removable Lithium Polymer battery
Dimensions: 10.07 x 5.28 x 0.67 inches (WxDxH)
Weight: 29 ounces (1 pound, 13 ounces)
Pre-loaded Software
Microsoft Security Essentials (antivirus/antispyware) provides real-time protection that guards against viruses, spyware, and other malicious software.
Lotus Symphony (office productivity) lets you easily create and edit all your documents, spreadsheets and presentations.
vTuner (Web TV and radio player) provides access to over 11,000 radio and TV stations broadcasting over the Internet.
What's in the Box
Archos 9, removable battery, stylus, AC adapter with power cord, user guide, legal and safety notice "
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