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MP3 Insider Lounge: Archos 5 120GB or iPod Touch 32GB?

by ThunderPumpkin - 7/11/09 1:28 PM
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Post 1 of 5

Archos 5 120GB or iPod Touch 32GB?

by ThunderPumpkin - 7/11/09 1:28 PM

A Prizefight would be helpful with making this decision *wink wink*, but so far, I've compiled this list:

Archos 5

Pros:
1: Beautiful 4.8" screen at 800x480 resolution that trumps the Touch's.
2: Much more storage for the same amount of money.
3: The Opera browser has flash support and is better than the iPod's. You can watch YouTube and basically any other flash video site without an app, right in the browser.
4: Widgets, like iPod apps, are available. Practically any widget you use with Opera on your computer can be used on the Archos.
5: HD video support (720p).
6: With add-ons, you can record TV (DVR), use it as a camera (Helmet Cam), use it as a TV (in Europe with the TV doohickey), listen to and record the radio (with an FM tuner add on), and use it as a USB host(With the mini dock. This means you can get data directly from a USB device like a flash drive or camera without a computer).
7: There are thousands of Web TV and Radio stations to listen to so if you get bored of your music and videos, you always have something to lean on.
8: Better battery life than the Touch's with video at 7 hours.
9: Built-in fold out kickstand for easy viewing.
10: Full touch screen, if you like that.
11: Works as a portable hard drive as well, so you can store any file on it.
12: Supports more codecs out of the box than the Touch.
13: Stream content directly from your computer to your device.
14: Can rent and buy movies directly to the device over the internet.
15: No software to install.

Cons:
1: Worse battery life than the Touch's with audio at 22 hours.
2: Hard drive player, and hard drives tend to fail over time (as was the case with my Zune).
3: The device needs extra plugins if you want h.264, AAC, and other codec support, which will run you up $30.
4: Add ons also cost a lot of money, but do add a lot of features.
5: Bigger than the iPod Touch, but still pocketable.
6: Can't play protected AAC files. If you bought iTunes songs with DRM, sorry, that was a stupid mistake.
7: Takes 8 HOURS to charge via USB. That's sloooooooooooowwwwwww (Add ons improve this to 3 hours).

iPod Touch

Pros:
1: Flash player, which doesn't have moving parts.
2: Greater app support than the Archos 5.
3: Small and easy to transport.
4: Also a full touch screen.
5: Better battery life than the Archos with audio at 36 hours.
6: Web browser.
7: Multi-touch interface.
8: Tons of support from 3rd party add on developers.

Cons:
1: Really small storage. 32GB is not enough for videos and audio.
2: Overpriced for what it does. $210 for a new 16GB as opposed to $200 for a new 120GB Archos 5 (at the time of my writing this).
3: No flash support in the browser.
4: Worse battery life than the Archos with video at 6 hours.
5: The screen is half the size of the Archos'.
6: iTunes is bloatware, plain and simple.
7: Pretty poor codec support.
8: Can not use it as a portable drive. Which totally sucks.
9: Minimal Linux support.

Right now, I'm pretty sure I'm going with the Archos 5.

Post 2 of 5

I Say

by 1shado1 - 7/15/09 4:20 AM In reply to: Archos 5 120GB or iPod Touch 32GB? by ThunderPumpkin

To heck with the Archos 5 120GB. For 80 bucks more, you can double the capacity by getting the 250GB Archos 5. Same physical size as the 120GB, just a tad heavier.

Post 3 of 5

Archos 5

by mhybers - 7/17/09 8:40 AM In reply to: Archos 5 120GB or iPod Touch 32GB? by ThunderPumpkin

I am not sure why the Archos does not receive higher ranks. It seems to me that pound for pound the Archos is an all around better device. If I hadn't sprung for the touch 32 gig a couple of years ago, I would grab the Archos 250 Gig. You can get one on Ebay brand new for less than 250.00

Post 4 of 5

Wait for the Zune HD!!

by frankwick - 8/8/09 1:25 PM In reply to: Archos 5 120GB or iPod Touch 32GB? by ThunderPumpkin

The release to the public is soon!!! Not even the biggest Apple fans can deny this thing's coolness. HDMI out - are you kidding me??

http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-12519_7-10303243-49.html?tag=newsLeadStoriesArea.1

Post 5 of 5

I'm having the same problem

by canadianheli - 11/1/09 11:40 PM In reply to: Archos 5 120GB or iPod Touch 32GB? by ThunderPumpkin

I want a 32GB touch but then happened to come along the Archos.

I guess it depends what you do with them. I think the ipod would be good with games and music but the archos with the internet and movies.

Such a hard decision but I think I would get a archos for some reason.

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