14 DAY TRIAL // Well, we haven't heard anything interesting from Archos for quite some time now, but it would really seem that things are about to change dramatically, as the company has just introduced a whole new family of products, dubbed Internet Media Tablets. While the name is a bit vague, the truth of the matter is that the 5, 5G and 7 models included in this new family of devices are a hybrid between a WiFi-enabled MID and an advanced portable media player, providing both large displays and extremely long and comprehensive specs lists.
First of all, we'll talk about the Archos 5 and 7 models, which share pretty much the same features and specs, apart from the touchscreen display size (the 5 has a 4.8-inch LCD screen, with an 800x480 pixel resolution and 16 million colors, while the 7 features a 7-inch screen, with the same resolution and number of colors) and the available storage capacities. Thus, the Archos 5 comes in either 60 GB, 120 GB or 250 GB versions, while for 7 we have just 120 GB and 320 GB models.
Now, let's see what the 5 and 7 models have in common. First of all, they're both built around ARM Cortex processors, feature built-in WiFi b/g modules and come packed right out of the box with an Opera browser supporting Flash 9 (which allows users to visit any flash-based website on the Internet).
Then, they're able to play just about any type of multimedia file, ranging from MPEG-42 files (ASP@L5 AVI, up to DVD resolution) to WMV (MP@ML, up to DVD resolution), including WMV protected files and even H.264 videos up to DVD resolution with AAC. Of course, one can even enjoy these videos in HD, but they'll have to install a plugin (available for a rather hefty fee) that can be found on the Archos website. Other interesting features include the built-in speakers and the possibility to carry out audio and/or video recording (via an external DVR station).
Now that we've seen which are the main selling points of the 5 and 7 models, let's take a closer look at the 5G. This version is built on the platform of the 5 model, but it also incorporates an internal modem and SIM card, which support HSDPA cellular services, thus allowing it to work absolutely anywhere (not just in the vicinity of a hotspot, as it was the case with the 5 and 7 tablets). However, something had to be sacrificed in order to keep the prices at a more acceptable level, and for this reason the 5G model has only a 30 GB HDD built in.
And since we've tackled the subject of prices, let's take a look at the pricing and availability information on the new Archos Internet Tablets. Depending on the storage capacity, the Archos 5 will be available for $350 up to $450 when it arrives in September, followed by the 5G (priced at $550 and scheduled to arrive at some point in December) and then finally by the Archos 7, which customers will be able to purchase for either $450 or $550, when it arrives in stores in October.
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