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Archos 605 WiFi

Archos 605 WiFi
Archos 605 Side Bottom

review

Back to School 2006The evolution of portable media players in recent years has been a joy to observe. Players generally get smaller, yet offer better screens and abilities (the Apple iPhone comes to mind—even though it is not technically a pure entertainment device). The new Archos 605 WiFi, an update to last year's 604 WiFi, is a (slightly) slimmer and shorter player with some new features. Although the device no longer comes with a Web browser, the 605 is a capable beast. It can record video and audio, surf the Web, download movies using a new Content Portal feature, stream media from networked PCs, and do all the things a music and video player should as well. Unfortunately, while the rest of the tech industry is gravitating towards more user-friendly interfaces, Archos devices still behave more like mini PCs with must-read manuals than like intuitive and easy-to-navigate toys. The 605 does everything Archos says it will, but using it can feel a little bit like work.

red arrow Read the Archos 605 WiFi full review

Company

Archos

http://www.archos.com

Spec Data
  • Price as Tested: $300.00 List
  • Player Type: Portable Media Player
  • Radio: No
  • Recording, Voice: No
  • Recording, Line In: No
  • Video Recording: Yes
  • Music Playback Formats: AAC, MP3, WAV, WMA
  • Photo formats: BMP, JPEG, PNG
  • Video Formats: DivX, MPEG4, WMV
  • Audio Battery Life: 12.5 Hr
  • Screen Resolution: 800 x 480 pixels
  • Screen Size: 4.3 inches
  • Storage Capacity: 160 GB
  • Dimensions: 4.8 x 3.2 x 0.6 inches
  • Weight: 6.7 oz
  • Notes: Pricing 30GB: $300 list; 80GB: $330; 160GB: $400; 4GB flash: $230

Bottom Line

The 605 behaves more like a mini PC than a portable gadget—less fun than useful. It's a versatile performer, but the manual's a must-read.

Pros

Great-looking screen. Programmable video recording. Downloadable cable guide. Content Portal offers movie rentals. Sturdy kickstand for optimal viewing. Streams from networked PCs.

Cons

Not terribly user-friendly. Not many major improvements over previous model. Wi-Fi no longer included—costs extra. Internet browsing blown away by iPhone. Mysterious organization of music files.

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AmazonRating: 3.50
$209.99Buy It
B&H Photo-Video-Pro AudioRating: 4.50
$240.99Buy It
AmazonRating: 3.50
$279.95Buy It
B&H Photo-Video-Pro AudioRating: 4.50
$279.95Buy It
Zappos.comRating: 5.00
$354.00Buy It
Zappos.comRating: 5.00
$404.00Buy It
Amazon MarketplaceRating: 3.00
$259.88Buy It
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