Archos 7 Internet Media Tablet - 320 GB

Archos 7 Internet Media Tablet - Digital AV player - 320 GB - 7 in

ARCHOS now introduces a new large-screen Android-based tablet, the ARCHOS 7 home tablet. This new product is specially designed to enhance the digital lifestyle in the home. The ARCHOS 7 home tablet bridges the gap between the smartphone and the desktop PC to provide constant access to the web, customization through Android Apps, and multimedia content – all in a large-screen format.

Of course, Archos doesn't market it as 'the complete shed cinema solution' (though maybe it should). Instead, the Archos 7 is described as an Internet Media Tablet.

It's light enough and solid enough for you to take on a trip or use on the plane or train, but it's not the sort of thing you'd want to carry around all day, every day. In fact, you'd have to be mad to use it as your main MP3 or mobile video player. I'm not so sure, however, that that's really an issue; there are plenty of small, cheap PMPs that fill that need. The Archos 7 is all about two things, browsing the Web and watching movies, and in both cases that screen has serious benefits.

The main negative, which most other reviewers kept hammering on about, was the lack of G-Motion sensor. That’s right, you cannot turn the device on its side to flip the layout.

The worst reviews are accordingly to the Archos service. The problem is that they do a poor job of supporting their products. Unit stopped booting after two months gentle use.

On the other hand the Archos has  really quick bootup. Also a great advantage of the Archos 7 is its easy set up,  and ability to do what a computer, ipod touch and tv can do all in one. WiFi is very good along with the audio and video. It's easy to download movies and other media on the Media Tablet. You can store a huge amount of videos, music, images and all the stuff in Archos’s huge 320 Gb harddrive. Battery life is really impressive - music playback time: up to 42 hours. So, as you can see you can have a lot of interesting features in your tablet.

Unfortunately after you pay money for this new technology, be prepared to PURCHASE plug-ins for it such as IMT Video Podcast plugin, IMT Cinema plugin, and IMT HiDef Video (they're still working on this plugin) for $19.99 each. They do offer for free the IMT Web browser and the IMT Web TV & Radio plugin for free.

The age old “you get what you pay for” is very appropriate here. However, there are some really crappy Android devices and this is definitely not one of them. The Archos 7 home tablet is the first android tablet that just feels like a “real” product that gives you to watch your favorite movies on the trip or in bed, knowing that you I paid not a lot of money for this!

Tech Specs (Source: Archos.com)

Mass storage memory   • Flash Memory: 2 to 8 GB^* 
                                        • Extendable via micro SDHC Slot

Operating system          • Linux, ANDROID™ 1.5 application framework

Display characteristics • High resolution touch screen with virtual keyboard, 800x480 pixels,

7'' TFT LCD, 16 million colors

Video Playback • H.264 up to 720p resolution – 30 fps / 2.5 Mbps.
                         • MPEG-4² – 30 fps / 2.5 Mbps.
                         • Realvideo™ up to 720p resolution – 30 fps / 2.5 Mbps
                             With the above codecs, the device can play video files with the following    

                              extensions: .avi, .mp4, .mkv, .mov, and .flv

Audio Playback • MP3, WMA (non protected), WAV³, APE, OGG, FLAC, AAC³

Photo viewer     • JPEG, BMP, GIF

Interfaces • USB 2.0 Slave: Mass Storage Class (MSC)
                • USB 2.0 Host: Mass Storage Class (MSC) – Connect a mass storage device or 

                  keyboard & mouse (adapter micro B/A sold separately).
                • Micro SDHC card

Communication protocols • WiFi (802.11 b/g)

Miscellaneous • 2 built-in speakers
                      • Leg stand
                      • Microphone

Power source • Internal: Lithium Polymer battery
                      • External: Power adapter/charge

Battery life • Music playback time: up to 42 hours
                 • Video playback time: up to 7 hours

Dimensions & weight • 203 mm x 107 mm x 12 mm (8” x 4.2” x 0.5”) – 388 g / 13.7 oz Compatibility • Microsoft® Windows® XP, Vista, 7 or higher, Mac OS or Linux in mass     

                          storage mode

Computer Interface • USB 2.0 interface

Package includes • ARCHOS 7 home tablet, earphones, Standard USB cable (micro B/A),

                              power adapter, user guide, legal and safety notice.