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Archos Jukebox 6 GB MP3 Player/Recorder/Hard Drive 500201

Archos Jukebox 6 GB MP3 Player/Recorder/Hard Drive 500201

List Price: $349.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Awesome...
Review: ... This is not only a small easy to use device but, setting it up is a snap too. I love how it's it's own little drive. My whole mp3 collection that I've collected from past years (I was one of the first mp3 users) fits entirely on the player. Get one now. It's awesome. Only thing I think may eventually replace this, for me, is the same player with higher capacity! (I have the 6GB) Overall, it's a wonderful little player!

Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Is it Really worth it?
Review: A friend of mine has this jukebox, and has had some issues. I bought the Classic Juke box through Circuit City, and it works like a champ + more memory.. 10gig to be exact. If your not interested in transferring files directly from your CD player, you might want to look at e.Digitals Treo 10. You can do a search on edig.com.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Archos Recorder
Review: Amazing product, but I have 4 problems.1. Have to change screens to change sound level when listening to a song. 2. NewSong file is not always created when recording. I stop to be sure it is created and then start again. 3. After have a NewSong recorded file, the software does not create NewSong2 for another recording, but overwrites the first. 4. I cannot use the machine while it is recharging. Have to unplug, which means a lot of recharging.
Does anyone else have these problems? Any solutions? Theinstruction book is poor and does not explain use of the functions.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A kick butt little machine
Review: Apparently this product is a hit or miss with quite a few lemons floating around. There are reviews that are blatant on steering clear from this "over manufactured disaster" seething with many bugs. Then you have the other amazed half.
This is where I come in.
I have been looking for something to hold a pile of music, data sheets, web site files and photos, basically anything that I need to have with me on my travels. This past winter traveling to Sweden, Denmark, London and Spain I had the Archos with me.

I took it to business meetings where I traded files on customer's laptops (like a zip) and traveled around with a virtually endless stream of music.
The recording aspect is also a sweet attribute, converts everything into MP3; vinyl, tapes even voice. I wouldn't buy one without the recording capabilities.

It is bigger then a typical MP3 player plus it IS a hard drive so I wouldn't recommend skiing with it. The 6 GB space and long battery life makes this completely affordable(10GB the price goes up a bit). For storage, music and easy accessibility it is so far the best I have seen.

The packaged headphones [are of poor quality].But there is a nice surprise when you buy a pair of fine ones.
If you are thinking about this - go for it. However make sure to put it through the tests when you get it - keeping your eye out for the infamous lemon.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of my "Happy Toys"
Review: Every once-in-a-while I purchase something "just for fun" which ends up making me happy each and every time I use it. Mine already has 3GB of my CDs on it ... and more to load! I had bought the earlier "player only" version for a good friend who comes to visit and has me download more music to his as well. I no longer have to choose a CD to listen to on my daily train ride into Manhattan, or bring yet another carry-on with CDs to keep me calm on flights - I have them ALL on this one player. I did buy another set of head phones. The set they provide is convenient but lessens the quality of sound ... the device actually puts out amazing sound quality when listened to on a better quality set of headphones.

I was not an impulse buyer on this item; I thought about it for months and did some comparative research. I was not disappointed at all!! If you've been thinking about purchasing this - GO FOR IT!!!

Added notes: January 2, 2002
I feel it important to make clear that my review is for the 6GB Player/Recorder model.

Here are some tech notes that ANYONE who buys this should be aware of.

1. FIRST CLASS CUSTOMER SERVICE - My first unit crashed - unrecoverable. Sad to note it did so one hour after the WTC came down on 9/11. But a call to a very customer service oriented man at Archos (it wouldn't be fair to name him) informed me that my unit (by serial number) had a Toshiba drive and that they were now aware of the Toshiba drive problem. They offered a swap. Within 5 days I had a brand new unit (factory wrapped) with a Fujitsu hard drive.

2. IT'S A COMPUTER!! - You need to buy this unit with the full understanding that it is NOT a normal audio device ... it IS a computer. As with any computer, it needs to boot up, check itself, and then find the tune you have directed it to find. For those of you who understand computers, I can tell you that it maintains its own FAT (File Allocation Table) which is an indexing structure with reference pointers to all files on the drive .. as well as it's "operating system" aka "OS" FAT can (and do) become corrupt. This can happen if the unit loses power during a command function, during a download (although the instructions do state you should plug in the power adapter before downloading) ... or if the unit is dropped or sharply knocked. Nothing that one shouldn't expect.

3. USER ERROR - I thought this new unit had crashed on me in Montreal at Christmas. I went to the Canadian Staples, bought Belkin USB connector and, in the computer room of the Bonaventure Hilton, desparately tried to bring it to life so I could share Christmas music I had downloaded at home with the Family. The screen was blank, except for the volume and power indicators at the very top. The computer couldn't find the USB hard drive. I was crushed. But I hadn't paid enough attention. When I got back home, I realized that it was starting up and turning itself off immediately. This, I realized was a protective measure. The darn batteries were not seated right. All I had to do was remove them and boot up on AC power only. Everything came back fine. I put the batteries back in carefully and it has been running great. Clearly, my fault.

4. ONGOING SUPPORT - Updated drivers, Operating System, and even a FAT repair utility that runs from your base computer are available on their site.

I think this unit is great for anyone over age 10.

A MOMENT OF NEW CREATIVE FREEDOM ...
Also, I got an Electronic Violin before Christmas. I was able to plug into the Archos and RECORD my playing in real time!!! AWESOME. I could then upload them to my base computer and then email the resulting MP3s to friends. This works great with my Yamaha Keyboard as well. You may only need a jack adapter. no biggie ... they are only about $5.

THIS UNIT ROCKS!!! Literally.
My Archos is FULL to capacity. I have really enjoyed letting friends hear, not just a favorite tune but, ANY selection from my COLLECTION .. anywhere I go. I believe they are working on a car adapter for this unit spcifically (the one for the regular Jukebox does not control some of this unit's functions. I also look forward to the upcoming MEDIA Jukebox, so i can put download my favorite movies and watch them in-flight. Archos is definitely on the cutting edge of the future of personal media devices. I LOVE THIS UNIT!!!!!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Beware = THIS Product is NOT for Everyone
Review: Hello, I origionally bought the Jukebox Recorder even after reading all the terrible reviews. It was the coolest thing since microwave popcorn and then it started (...). It eventually renamed all my files gibberish, then erased itself. No problem, I had back up's of everything on there. After putting some files back on the Junk box it (...) didn't want to load up... at all (during boot up it freezes). Now it is as good as "A paper weight." (...)
So, I bought a 20 gig Juke box. I must say the RECORDER IS MUCH EASIER TO USE! ARCHOS IS HORRIBLE WITH TECH SUPPORT. (...) Its a great product if it works. IF IT WORKS...
The 20 gig Jukebox only shows you one folder or song at a time. this is great if you've organized every song and know exactly where they are (a bit difficult with 20 gigs). The recorder however shows more titles.

EXAMPLE:
SONG 1
Song 2
Song 3

This company has a lot to work out. It looks real good on paper. After reading the first page of the manual I should have returned it.

It states:
MANAFACTURER SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES. EVEN IF INFORMED OF THE POSSIBILITY THEREOF IN ADVANCE.

The manual has so many RULES to follow about using the player.

Even if you do follow them (I followed them to a T) the player will probably mess up somewhere along the line.

(...)
I'm going to take back the 20 gig and wait for something decent and small to come out. The NOMAD is just too big for my pockets.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: I wouldn't be without it...
Review: I agree with Dan...many of the complaints listed here reflect user issues, which indicates to me that Archos needs to improve their instructions and tech support. I first bought the Jukebox 6000 and was so pleased we now have the 6000, the 6 gig player/recorder, and the Studio 20 in our house.
I personally don't care much for MusicMatch, so I just drag and drop my folders into the jukebox. As for battery life, we haven't encountered any problems, and usually get a good 10 hours of play time.
The Studio 20 gave me some error messages at first, but I would just disconnect, reboot the computer, and didn't have any more problems.
I use mine as a back-up hard drive regularly, and with 20 gigs, there's still plenty of room for music. When I had to reformat my hard drive, all I did was transfer my files to the Jukebox, then reinstall. It was a breeze.
I can't speak to the problems others have had, but we all love ours.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: VERY UNRELIABLE, EXPECT TORTURE
Review: I bought an Archos Jukebox 6000 from Amazon in July, it had repeated "Hard Drive Error" problems, Archos instructed me to return it to Amazon.

I bough an Archos Jukebox recorder from Amazon in November, basically a similar story.

Both times there was a lot of TORTURE with recharging batteries, reformatting the hard drive, re-installing firmware, etc etc. I think this would be a beautiful device if it actually worked, but it DOESN'T. The chance is VERY high that you will take it on a trip and it will break down, and you will be unhappy.

Also, Archos tech support is THE WORST I HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED. VERY DIFFICULT to reach, and very unhelpful.

Again, I wish this beautiful little device actually worked -- for the money, it is a wonderful deal.

M./

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Am I just unlucky?
Review: I bought my first Archos Jukebox HD-MP3 Recorder at Fry's Electronics (since, at the time, Amazon didn't have them), and it kept crashing about every fifth MP3 and powering itself off. After I would power it back on, it would play that same MP3 just fine. So I took it back, and bought one from Amazon, since noone locally had any. It arrived this morning, and it does the same thing. I called tech support, and they gave me the runaround between MP3 filenames being too long (if it's too long, why'd it work the second time?), batteries not being charged enough ([1] It's on AC power right now, [2] So you're saying it'll only work correctly with fully charged batteries at all times?), and then had me delete the newer 1.17m firmware off and run 1.17i. Well, 1.17i crashes too. The tech said he would "mention it to engineering", and told me to call back if it crashed again. Well, apparently they all left early today. So, back in the box it goes. Avoid this one, folks, I don't think they've got the bugs worked out yet, and I don't think they're very keen on doing so, either.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great, solid product
Review: I bought this for my brother for Christmas, and so far, it's been terrific. We've had no problems using it on his iMac computer, and the memory capacity is amazing. It's small and light and easy to use. I have an iPod myself, and I think this is better. While the iPod is prettier, sleeker, and slightly easier to use, the Archos has more memory, works on all types of computers, and can record songs from a stereo, tv, or anywhere else. It's just more compatible with everything. I highly recommend this product!


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