MP3 players forum: iPod Touch vs Archos 605 wifi (webbrowser, video, youtube)

hey Jon, thanks for replying back and you made great points. I actually emailed Donald Bell and he mentioned they might be able to do it in a prize fight instead of the iPhone vs iPod Touch(so keeping my fingers crossed on that one).

And yeah this is a difficult comparison because both are good in their own way for pretty much all three of these categories like you pointed out. Thanks again and hopefully some more people comment on the subject.

I have been planning on getting one of the two i kind of like the Archos but I am not sure it would be cool to see that soon

go with the archos 605. i have it in my pocket right now. the music play back is as good as it can be.and if your an apple fan (thats realy realy picky) if you get the 605 you can copy it right from I tunes to the archos 605. buy the $20 plug in then play music with I tunes. (ps who said the lay out is hard to use i didnt need the manuel) the thing i dont like is that archos makes their players fater because it fits in the crease of you hand, it does but they should make it thinner. i have tons of movies in hd format, all my music, tons of fotos in realy good quality, and some home work if i loos my paper i print it at school all on 30 gig! just like lauroy8 said archos would be as popular if they advertised. thats the only reason an ipod is recionized. apple relies on advertisments because their players arnt top quality. the 605 plays flash web pages intianly. wile apple is swiching youtube to quick tim cause they cant play flash. in all i picked the archos 605 cause it rocks it is worth more then i paid. i paied $299. ps you will find tons of typos above.

there's really two things wrong with the Touch excluding the stuff about iPods people usually complain about;
costs way too much (16GB for the price of a 160GB 605)
has those screen issues people are reporting
and it's not like the 605 doesn't fit in a pocket, honestly I believe you would be well inclined to find the 605 more appealing if it was made by Apple, not in fact anything else about it

iPod Touch ... and i'm extremely happy with my purchase. I must also add that I picked up the 30gb Archos 605 at Circuit City (CC) and it was a pretty nice headturner as well. What it ultimately came down to the was the support from Apple (I prefer being able to walk into a store compared to calling for help) and the in store experience is what pretty much sold me on the iPod.

If Archos had some store fronts then I think they'd be more competitive, especially when people can just come in and use a product for a few minutes (hours) at the store and get a good feel for what they're about to purchase. It may only be me, but I was hesitant on buying Archos since I've never used one in the past and didn't feel like paying the open box/return fee if it wasn't what I had in mind.

Also, the iPod Touch is ridiculously sized. I want to go running (want is the key word since I'm lazy) and I just couldn't see how that would work with an Archos ... or maybe I could but didn't like what I was seeing.

Either way, both seem to be great products and I think the Archos has the better internet browser and storage; however, the internet browser isn't THAT much better (save for flash sites, but I only use youtube really) to decide the outcome of my purchase and the iPod Touch is an absolute thing of beauty in terms of looks.

This may be a bad analogy but I kind of think of it like this ... the Archos 605 is like the top of the line Kia and the iPod Touch is the stock Mercedes Benz C-Class (one you get more bang for your buck but the other is pretty much a proven winner that looks great and works just as good if not better).

I have used both for a few weeks and the Archos 605 is the way to go.

Dimensions: Not too much difference, especially since you get a bigger screen on the Archos. Both are very portable, neither are meant for exercise. The Archos is much more durable.

Touch - 4.3W 2.4H 0.36D
Archos 605 - 4.8W x 3.2H x 0.6D

Price
Touch $400 for 16gb
Archos $300 for 30gb (you can get it for as low as $240)

Sure you need to buy plugins and a dock for the Archos, but even if you buy them all it would cost you $450 for every plugin and the DVR dock that allows streaming content from your computer to your tv, recording tv, playback of tv and ability to play music over your sound system. Plus you get an extra 14Gb of storage. Worth the extra $50 I would say. Spend more and get up to 160gb in the Archos.


Wifi/Internet - the 605 is easier to see because of the 200dpi screen (800X480) vs Touch's (480X320) 160dpi and the Archos also has built in Flash, that will come in handy when you decide to leave youtube and venture out on the rest of the flash dependant web.

Features
The Archos does just about everything the Touch can do without all the restictions plus much more like the previously mentioned recording/playback to tv, DVD playback, Divx support, photo playback, a built in tv tuner to schedule recording like a dvr, streaming from your computer or music/video files and more.

In my eyes the iPod Touch offers you a few advantages - the iTunes store offers a lot of content - yet the Archos 605 provides its own as it can record tv shows and movies - no buying, no downloads. The $100 DVR(available on amazon for less than $80) is worth it if you plan on buying showsyou can record for free.

The Touch is also smaller - great for portability - if you are not afraid of breaking the screen while in tow and of course the smaller,lower resolution screen.

Archos 605 is the winner - the Ipod Touch was nice for the week before I got my Archos. The Touch now collects dust as I try to sell in on ebay. I hope I do not break the screen before I sell it.

I can write more if you would like, just ask the questions.

First let me say I bought my Archos 605 brand new for $240. The price comparison in my past comment was quoting the MSRP to make a point - the truth is, with ALL the plug-ins and the DVR accessory my 30 GB Archos 605 still cost less than the 16Gb iPod Touch and the Archos provides many more features. Even if I added to the price one or two of the optional plug-ins (the option to watch DVDs/the internet browser) the device would still be under $300.

The ONLY thing the iPod Touch seems to have on the Archos 605 is the slightly smaller size. Screen size/quality, features, bang for buck, accessory options all go to the Archos.

You made a statement saying the Archos is "too thick" and if you "mainly listen to music, the Archos becomes clunky". Well, if you are mainly listening to music the iPod touch becomes very clunky as well. If it is mainly a music device you need with some video capabilities, buy the cheaper/much smaller iPod Nano.

Since it seems most people want a bigger screen for watching video the slight size difference does not effect you much since neither of these devices are made for exercise/active use, but both are very easy to carry with you on the go. Both are great for train rides/offices desks, etc - as a running device, I think not. As a video/photo/MP3/internet device for people on the go, the Archos offers much more for the common user.

Another thing you mentioned was that you need a TV subscription to record programs - actually you don't free TV signals still pass through the air. Also, don't you need an internet subscription to hookup to iTunes to BUY music/shows? It is not free. Unless you are going to say that you actually plan on using only free wi-fi connections at all times.

Between the online store, the DVR, the cinema plug-in and (if you use them) Torrent sites (btw the divx files need no converting) you will have an Archos full of content at all times. Yet, you say the Touch is the way to go? Can you even play back to your TV with an iPod? Can you record TV? How much does it cost for one season of "Flight of the Conchords" from HBO when you purchase it on iTunes? Can you even purchase it on iTunes?

Another option on the Archos would be to buy JUST the $20 cinema plug-in... it allows you to play DVDs on the device, no conversion necessary. $20 and the world is your oyster.

Last question and the most important - What features does the Ipod Touch have that are better or non-existant on the Archos 605? You can begin with the smaller size if you need somewhere to start.

Overall I think the Archos 605 is the better product ... overall. :-/

Oh and I didn't know that torrentz worked as is, I usually had to use VLC media player to watch my downloads on my computer back home. However, the Archos doesn't allow you to use bittorrent directly does it? If it does I may reconsider my purchase.

But yeah all in all I'm very happy with my decision. My main uses for either of the products would be for browsing the web and listening to music, occasionally watching videos. The sites I go to are as follows: Facebook, MSN, EPSN, YouTube, BankofAmerica, Gmail, Google (to catch up on news about Randy moss, Kobe Bryant, and Ronaldo), Cnet, Engadget, Sneakerfreaker, and my school email account ... so my internet usage is very basic and not so flash intensive. Also, in terms of price, I bought the 8gb (lol, don't laugh) with a 2 year warranty accidental warranty which I plan on using. I figure, like all iPods, the storage capacity will go up while the smaller capacity iPods get phased out, ala the 4gb iPhone) ... so basically when I do upgrade/"accidentally" drop my iPod I'll get a slight capacity bump.

Also, I don't have a computer or laptop, so I can't really download movies etc. anyways and I don't really plan on buying too many movies either. The one show that I use to use bittorent gets put on YouTube now and so I can basically watch it without downloading it which saves me tons of space.

I will need a movie or two for those long plane rides overseas or the weekend trips on the train but I'll figure that out when it comes time for that.

Again, I do think that overall the Archos wins in terms of price and functionality. However, it terms of portability, meaning sliding it in my pocket (and I don't wear baggy jeans), the Touch wins hands down. Also, the glass screen is VERY nice - but again, Archos doesn't have a storefront to let you test things out in person so I wasn't willing to gamble with the Archos when Apple had a winner I could see for myself without buying first.

Also, in order to use the Archos to record shows, movies, etc. that would mean I'd have to leave my Archos home to catch those shows and my Touch goes pretty much everywhere with me. So even if the Touch had that capability I don't think I'd use it since I'd want it with me rather than at home.

But yeah, I'm in my final semester of college and I really just wanted something portable to check websites and email etc. between (or during) classes with the option of watching YouTube wheb my shows come out. After class I have to commute on the bus between North and Central campus so I enjoy listening to my music then and when walking around campus.

While I'm pretty sure the Archos could do the same and more as the Touch I'm also pretty sure that it would feel awkward in my pants pocket being as it's much thicker and heavier than the Touch. Basically I forget that the Touch is even in my pocket most of the times.

Also, I don't think that looks should be a debate as most would PROBABLY agree the Touch looks a thousand times better than the Archos. Oh and the GUI is much better on the Touch than the Archos and because of my Industrial & Operations background I think that stands out more to me.

But yea, I don't have a lot of music or any videos so space isn't a biggie. Portability, ease of use, and ability to check email/webpages are what I need it for when not listening to music - which the Touch does a good job of providing.

Archos is better but Apple still wins??? That kind of sounds right ... and really Archos should be happy with itself and learn from the one or two minor mistakes it made in its styling and graphical user interface. (The 606 should be even better!)

Oh and I think Archos needs a store front, I seriously NEED to talk to people in person to see their face and reaction when I have questions about their products ... because I also need a name and face to associate the purchase with in the event that I'm not satisfied and have to come back and speak to a manager about so-and-so who blatantly lied to me about X-product. :-D

i have the 605 (30 gig) on me all the time. i have eveything that is on my computer. and i still got 10 through 13 gigs to spare. the reason i like it is cause, i get photos off my camra with the mini dock, i rec. tv, some times my friends got music i want so i plug it to the mini dock and i got the music. the only thing that sucks is size. its not that bulky or heavey, but you still see it in my pocket. i had the ipod shuffle for a year or 2,and id forget it in my pocket so it was washed and dryed. then it broke after this process was being repeated 6 times through the 2 years. so i got the 605 and i know its not gonna get washed. i like the archos cause it has more functions and a larger screen, but if size maters the ipod touch.

"Appearance is really what determines your choice. Anyone disagree?"

That has to be the most ridiculous comment I've read in these posts. It's that shallow mentality that has made Apple millions. Yes you don't want your Media device to look like it's a cheap piece of garbage but I think the features that the device offers are way more important than how it looks. The Touch is very sleek but I wouldn't say that the Archos is the worst looking thing in the world either. You can have your Stock corvette and I'll take that Hooked up Nissan 350Z with all the Mods. Your stock Vette might look pretty on the outside but once you get in that 350Z and you see what it has and what it can do. You will quickly forget the Vette.

It amazes me how people are more concerned with appearance over functionality.

I understand that many people do base judgments on looks... and as I said before.... That's shallow. You mentioned schools, Do you pick a school based on how nice the buildings look? Or do you look into what the school has to offer as far as classes, teachers and programs?

I'm not saying that looks shouldn't play a role in life. What I'm saying is that you shouldn't base decisions strictly on somethings physical appearance. Let me ask you this.....If someone offered you a new IPOD Touch that was bare inside (no electronics), would you buy it? After all, it still looks nice.

As for the car analogy... The Kia you mentioned is not in the same class as the 350Z so that doesn't work.

What does Macs and PCs have to do with this? Compatibility? I may have your opinion wrong, but I see your answer as iPods may be thinner and smaller compared to other branded Mp3 players, but the other brands make up for it in storage and capabilities.

lloyd, did I interpret this right? Supposing I did, I can agree with this, though the Touch does have some unique capabilities to its arsenal. Safari, Contacts/Address Book, iCal, etc. are all some great Mac programs that have been optimizd for the iPhone and Touch. However, the Touch and iPhone only come in small, 8GB and 16GB flash models, which are too small for movie and TV lovers, but ideal for everyone else.

Also, from the reports that I have read this week, the Touch is starting to join with the iPhone crowd, meaning hackers have finally decided to "liberate it". As much as I love Mail, Stickies, Stocks, etc., I'm not too tempted to rig my Touch right now. I think that the Web Apps availability was a start for Apple though. Apple may give us Touch users some more programs in the future. Perhaps we could send a petition for Apple to sell us the programs through iTunes LOL. That would make them jump at it and make the Touch a bit more iPhone-ish. While the Archos may have a great deal of strengths on the Touch, it's hard to compare them to the iPhone. But, others may disagree.

They're all great.
-BMF

I want 50/100 movies in my pocket. I have DirTV and a Dirtvdvr loaded with movies. Can I upload these movies thru the Dirtv DVT usb to the Archos while in the docking station? I'm having a hard time getting an answer here. I want to by, but not only download movies for 3.99. If I could upload what is on my Dir TV DVR, wow. Can I?

I've read all the reviews, I've read all the details, I've read all the cons, all the pros and I've ordered the Archos 605 Wifi!

Overall I think it's a great product! And I don't know any other PVP that can actually record directly from the TV! Though you'd have to dish out the extra $100 (which I did, but hopefully, it's worth it)
But that's another thing which made me hesitate in buying the Archos 605, all the extra dosh I have to spend on getting the full extent of the Player.
Speaking of spending more and more money do I have to consider getting a case? I Know a case comes with the pack but is it really useful or completely useless?

and Also, I was really really dissapointed with the battery life and I want to get a battery extender or pack or whatever you call it, but it's really expensive so I'm going to get a cheaper custom one, but can only find one for the Gen 4 series, so....before, lauroy8 said that the Gen 4 docking stat was compatible with the 605 but was wandering was everything for the Gen 4 series compatible with the Gen 5?

Please reply!!

Thx