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Portable video player powerhouses |
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 James Kim Senior editor |
November 21, 2005
Long before the video-enabled Apple iPod hit the market, companies such as Archos and Creative established themselves as portable video pioneers with the launch of a variety of devices that played video, in addition to MP3s and digital audio. While the iPod boasts a gorgeous screen and an easy way to download and play back video content (via the iTunes Music Store), it is an MP3 player first and foremost, as the small screen and paltry video battery life attest. If you're aching for a true portable video player, with a big screen and decent battery life, check out the current crop, which includes the Archos AV500 Mobile DVR, Cowon's impressive A2, and Creative's Zen Vision--a.k.a. the big three. If you want a huge screen, check out the AV700 Mobile DVR, and if you want something pocketable, try the Archos Gmini 402 Camcorder, which has a video and a still camera built right into its svelte body. And if you're a Windows Media Center zealot, you can still find some satisfaction in the aging Zen PMC, though it's still a pricey piece. More resources
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| Product name |
Archos AV500 Mobile DVR (100GB) 
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Archos AV700 Mobile DVR (100GB) |
Archos Gmini 402 Camcorder (20GB) |
Cowon A2 (30GB) |
Creative Zen Vision (30GB, White) |
Zen Portable Media Center |
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| Review date | November 11, 2005 | October 11, 2005 | February 9, 2006 | February 1, 2006 | October 4, 2005 | September 1, 2004 |
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Editors' rating (Editors' rating explained) |
8.3
Excellent |
6.7
Good |
8.0
Excellent |
8.0
Excellent |
7.7
Very good |
7.0
Very good |
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| Buying choices |
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| Review summary | The well-appointed Archos AV500 puts wide-screen video in your pocket, but we're still waiting for a point-and-click way to get video into the device. | Proof positive that bigger isn't always better, the Archos AV700 fails to make the most of its wide-screen LCD. | The Archos Gmini 402 Camcorder looks more attractive than ever, now that it's added a camcorder and a still camera to its long list of music and video features. | The Cowon A2 is a sleek portable video player with a bright, wide-screen color LCD, as well as full multimedia recording and playback capabilities, but it's not the most efficient device. Plus, it's in desperate need of Windows Media DRM 10 (Janus) compatibility. | The Creative Zen Vision, a dazzling but occasionally frustrating personal media player, handles video and music with aplomb, all for a tantalizingly low price. | Eight months after its announcement, the Creative Zen PMC is finally here. Despite its bulk, the player is solid, but it's the Microsoft Portable Media Center software that deserves most of the praise. |
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| Product series | See all products in this series | See all products in this series | N/A | See all products in this series | See all products in this series | N/A |
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| Product name |
Archos AV500 Mobile DVR (100GB)
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Archos AV700 Mobile DVR (100GB) | Archos Gmini 402 Camcorder (20GB) | Cowon A2 (30GB) | Creative Zen Vision (30GB, White) | Zen Portable Media Center |
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| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
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| Price range | Email me when this product is available |
 Check latest prices$1259 from 1 store |
Check latest prices $314 from 1 store | Email me when this product is available | Email me when this product is available | Email me when this product is available |
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