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Archos AV380 80 GB Personal Video & MP3 Jukebox Player / Recorder w/ Digital Video Recorder

Archos AV380 80 GB Personal Video & MP3 Jukebox Player / Recorder w/ Digital Video Recorder

List Price: $699.95
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 3 stars
Summary: Great gadget but let down by poor aftersales service
Review: The preceding reviews of this product already adequately describe the benefits of the product.

For what it's worth, I concur: the AV-380 is indeed function-rich, eminently useable and a top buy. I'd also add that its upgradeable firmware renders it reasonably future-proof. Archos have already demonstrated their willingness to improve the player through this means.

If rating the product alone, 4.5 stars.

That said, woe to those of you unfortunate enough to have to turn to Archos for post-sale service.

My unit developed a minor power problem four months after purchase, in Feb 2004. It is now June and I still have not received my repaired unit.

I have contacted Archos on several occasions, to no effect.
The fact that their customer service centre is completely separated from their RMA processing centre does not aid matters.

Quite frankly though, I don't care about the cause of their non-reponsiveness. Any such debate only distracts from the fundamental point that no modern retail company should be operating a warranty repair service with a 14 week (and counting...) turnaround.

All of this makes for a bitter aftertase that threatens to ruin an otherwise very tasty piece of kit.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Coolest toy ever!
Review: There is so much hype over the ipod based solely on marketing. This unit surpasses the ipods wildest dreams. The Archos has twice the capacity of the biggest ipod, plus has video capabilities. You can view photos, watch movies, etc.
This thing can even act as your portable Tivo and record TV where ever you can plug it in. If you travel, you can load up DVD's, music, and you don't need to carry anything else. Plus you can be responsible and load up computer information, because you are carrying an 80 gig hard drive.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Mother of all gadgets!
Review: This is the ultimate toy. The Mother of all Gadgets! The best I have come across so far. Will bring friends with Ipods to tears. Bought the AV Unit first, than the AV Cam as well. What can I say that hasn't been said yet. Well, there's one downside; you can start throwing away your digital camera, MP3 player, portable HD, VHS player and half your stereo. The damn thing does it all. Still waiting for my credit card to stop smoking though and would love to see Archos come out with an underwater housing, so I can take the thing diving.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Great Gadget, but Archos Customer service is the worst ...
Review: This thing is exactly what I was looking for to take on long trips. First, it replaced a portable DVD player and the need to take all my movies on DVD disks with me. Next, it replaced an electronic film vault as I can load JPEGs in from my CF cards, and the screen is much better to share photos with friends. And the size and weight of the AV380 compared to lugging around a laptop is pure joy!

I was concerned that movies would be "jerky" or "pixilated", but nothing could be further from the truth. Maybe it's not DVD quality, but it's so close I can't tell the difference.

This product is going to turn heads wherever you go. I see that Archos is releasing the AV400, which has CF built in, but it's not hard to do with this unit. Synchs right up to Win XP, and the USB 2.0 is great for moving files around.

Anything I don't like? I believe we'll see these PVPs really take off in the next year. On my wish list would be removable battery packs, a speaker, and a built in CF reader (all now available on the new AV400 which should be shipping soon, and more file acceptance TIFF, PDF, etc. A flip cover for the screen would also be nice, as the unit doesn't come with a case. Recording movies into the unit is a snap, but the process of doing file conversions on movies I've made with Pinnacle was more daunting than I was prepared for (no, I didn't major in computer science). Much easier to just output to disk or camcorder and then re-record into the AV380.

All in all, the coolest product I've bought since the first portable DVD players came out a few years back.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Much easier than dragging all those DVDs around
Review: This thing is exactly what I was looking for to take on long trips. First, it replaced a portable DVD player and the need to take all my movies on DVD disks with me. Next, it replaced an electronic film vault as I can load JPEGs in from my CF cards, and the screen is much better to share photos with friends. And the size and weight of the AV380 compared to lugging around a laptop is pure joy!

I was concerned that movies would be "jerky" or "pixilated", but nothing could be further from the truth. Maybe it's not DVD quality, but it's so close I can't tell the difference.

This product is going to turn heads wherever you go. I see that Archos is releasing the AV400, which has CF built in, but it's not hard to do with this unit. Synchs right up to Win XP, and the USB 2.0 is great for moving files around.

Anything I don't like? I believe we'll see these PVPs really take off in the next year. On my wish list would be removable battery packs, a speaker, and a built in CF reader (all now available on the new AV400 which should be shipping soon, and more file acceptance TIFF, PDF, etc. A flip cover for the screen would also be nice, as the unit doesn't come with a case. Recording movies into the unit is a snap, but the process of doing file conversions on movies I've made with Pinnacle was more daunting than I was prepared for (no, I didn't major in computer science). Much easier to just output to disk or camcorder and then re-record into the AV380.

All in all, the coolest product I've bought since the first portable DVD players came out a few years back.

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: baba@mlode.com
Review: Will probably give it five stars soon. So far I am happy with it. Have over 8 thousand photos on it plus a few videos. I am having problems understanding how to get dvd movies on to it. I have a combo dvd/vcr unit and can not figure out the connections. Have a lot of personal movies that i have transfered to dvd. My only complaint is that it does not have a neck/wrist strap. I have never dropped a camera but feel more secure with a strap. For the price it should have come with some kind of case other then the one that came with the camera. If anyone has the time i would appreciate any help.


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