Archos rules ipod video drools

Author's Rating:

Pros: Does it all, movies, music, pictures and does it well

Cons: Has its own plug rather than standard USB

The Bottom Line: 
Buy this thing all day long. Easy to use and the ahhh factor by Ipod people is great. Buy a media player, not a player of the media

Author's Review
My wife was looking for an MP3 player and had considered an IPOD video like our sons have, she asked me to help her select so I did.

First late me start that I am not a bandwagon jumper and feel the the IPOD and Itunes are overated, over priced, over advertised pieces of junk. That being said, you can see why the IPOD was out.

At our local Wal-Mart, they had the Archos 404 on clearance for $200.00 not $299.00 like other Wal-Marts, or $369.00 like Sams wholsale club. But $200.00 a full $48.00 less than the Ipod video.

I convinced her that this was the one and we bought one of the 2 that they had.

I took it home and played with it for her to figure it out, like most women, she is electronically challenged.

Set up was easy, putting on music, movies, and pictures a breeze. We decided to expand its capabilities and purchased the docking station that you plug into your TV then you can record directly from the dish onto this little beauty.

Another thing that is extra handy is you can plug it into your DVD player and copy ANY movie directly on it for viewing anywhere, anytime.

On a recent flight to Florida, she had me strip everything off of it and fill it with movies, as many as I could. I put countless episodes of SCRUBS (around 14 episodes)on it for her directly from the dish and recorded 15 full length movies from DVD to it.

This is the real deal, sond is very good and the picture is crisp and bright. Compression of video allows for many movies or tv shows to be put on for hours of enjoyment. Dont like the small screen? With the dock in place on the tv you can watch it on the big screen very nice.

The battery claims to last 14 hours but 9 is more like it, the included instruction manual is weak but the thing is so darn simple it doesnt cause a problem.

My younger boy had wanted a Video Ipod like big brother but after seeing the Archos he wanted it instead, we went back and got him the only other one our Wal-Mart had, now bigger brother is wanting to ditch the pod and get an Archos, rough break - sold out.