Re: Archos 5 vs. N900
 

Thanks for this information. You are no doubt correct about the Android app store. I have never worked with Android. On the other hand, I have been working with Linux on the desktop, on the server, and on maemo for the better part of the last 15 years. So I am used to being able to apt-get install with a pool of 15 or 20 thousand packages and picking and choosing my desktop, window manager, apps etc.

On the other hand, the app store seems to provide a choke point for limiting the number and nature of apps. Apple's app store is the defacto example. And a pretty poor example it is. I am not familiar with Android app stores, so I will have to defer to you on this.

BTW, what part of DC do you live in?

--vr

Re: Archos 5 vs. N900
 

http://www.slashgear.com/wp-content/..._0-540x408.jpg

http://www.slashgear.com/wp-content/..._1-540x323.jpg

Re: Archos 5 vs. N900
 

frank.wagner your two links are hosed. Remove the first part with the ip address and it will work fine.

Re: Archos 5 vs. N900
 

I agree about Apple's app store. I can understand why they like it from their perspective, but from a user's perspective it does nothing but frustrate me.

I look at the Android app store (the official one) as something similar to Nokia showcasing applications they like on the Tablet home page. It has a payment mechanism built-in (a rather unsuccessful one if you believe the reports about how few android users will actually purchase apps), but the fact that I can install any .apk file that I download onto my phone makes me feel good.

Someone else above mentioned the lengths Archos goes to lock-in the user, and while I can't speak to their past antics (I've never been remotely tempted to purchase one of their devices), I think they'll have a hard time doing that with Android. At the very least, it defeats the purpose of using the platform, as the whole idea is that vendors don't need to spend resources developing the internals of the software. If you look at what other vendors are doing with Android (Motorola and HTC) they are basically just writing custom interfaces to run on top of it, as a way to differentiate (and pretty it up, because Android, like all things Google, is very much an engineer-driven OS).

I know they are fond of selling codec support, which is a little bootleg, but forgivable.

I'm not particularly interested in the Archos device, but I think it represents the first of a large number of new Android-powered devices (not just phones).

and to answer your other question, I live in Upper Northwest.

Re: Archos 5 vs. N900
 

I have the Archos 5 and it is very light (182g) and not noticeable in my pocket. Its a dream to use connected to bluetooth on my E71. Marketplace place apps loaded up on the device memory install fine.

Re: Archos 5 vs. N900
 

how would rate the web browsing on the archos 5 android.

thinking about picking this or the dell streak when ever it comes out.

Re: Archos 5 vs. N900
 

my moto ever since the iphone was...no qwerty keypad = rubbish. Meaning I would never....ever...eva, buy any 'computer like gadget' without it having a keypad....I don't care how cool it looks or how fast it moves, having to smudge up the screen, and being extra careful to touch that one tiny area on the virtual keyboard to type, just doesn't cut it for me.

I have big meaty claws/hands and there's no way I'm gonna type a complete word on a touch screen without having major mistakes, tried with iphone and itouch and it stinks, literally. All in all touch screen typing is extremely annoying, I can't stress that any further....

Re: Archos 5 vs. N900
 

Its no good for extended typing I agree. Just to input web forms and pages (with android autocorrection) so its fine. Get a screen protector and smudges wont bother you much.

bxbomber, the web experience is amazing. Even connected by bt only, 600kbs or so, pages load super fast in full screen view. And links are so easily clickable.

e71 + archos 5 > streak IMO. Although I will prob end up buying the streak anyhow. Only thing is battery life on archos is not great, with about 3-4 hours of active browsing the rest of the battery will be out in 24 hours. Could be a power management issue that I will need to update firmware with. Oh, and the battery is not user replaceable.

Re: Archos 5 vs. N900
 

the 3-4 hours of active browsing is fine with as i'll mostly be using it at home. i'll prob still wait for the dell streak to come out as it's a google experience so i'll have android market with out having to hack it.

that being said if it's to expensive i'll go with archos, at 250 for the 8 gig it's a price that can't be beat.

Re: Archos 5 vs. N900
 

Sorry to chip in here but i have to say...I bought an Archos 605 wifi when it came out and i promise you this, I will never, ever, ever buy a product from that company again.
I am a bit of a gadget freak and have purchased many over the years but have never come across customer service as bad as from Archos.
They completley ignored several emails for assistance and charge you extra for codecs and other such things. If your PMP happens to break and you get a new one (out of guarantee) you have to pay again for the codecs!!
Have a look around some Archos forums for some customer support threads.
I feel that if a company can't be bothered with it's customer base, then I can't be bothered with them.

Obviously, it's up to you and i'm just speaking from personal experience but their attitude alienated me and many others. Never again Archos.

Dan

Re: Archos 5 vs. N900
 

i think they have changed, somewhat, since those days. Just observe that they have now released angström images for the archos 5 IMT and archos 5 IT. Basically, turning either device into a pocket linux computer.

and if they do the same with the archos 7 HT thats supposed to start shipping soon, things get really interesting. That one may come with a weaker cpu then the archos 5 IT, but it has a full sized usb host port within easy reach.

heck, they are even making noise that they are considering expanding the IT series of products into devices with larger screens. Potentially as large as 10".

Re: Archos 5 vs. N900
 

Price is coming down in the US on the 32GB Archos 5:

http://dealnews.com/Archos-5-32-GB-5...ng/377378.html

Can anyone link to anything from the company saying they're going to take this tablet to Android 2.0, 2.1, or 2.2?

I'm excited by Android, but at the same time I won't spend 300 bucks on a machine that is instantly outdated. I mean it has a nice wiki at http://wiki.archosfans.com/index.php?title=Main_Page but I need to feel this thing will have some legs.

I don't particularly mind the device's dual identity as a custom-firmware media player with its own codecs -- these things aren't free on any platform -- as long as the Android OS can keep up.

The Open Development part of the forum for the device doesn't really apply either because while they can build a custom boot of 2.0 or whatever, they can't build the software support for the media playback.

And to go on the record, I'd pay a nominal fee for a full point release of Android for it if it gave me access to subsequent point releases. E.g. $20 for 2.0 that would get me all 2.x releases, another $20 for 3.0. I know development isn't free.

Re: Archos 5 vs. N900
 

Android 2.2 is nearly unofficially ported if you check archos fans forums.

Re: Archos 5 vs. N900
 

the thing is that the android on the archos is a hybrid between android and the pre-android archos devices (they where linux based even before they started using android). As such, its hard to tell exactly what android version is being used.