Performance
Setting up the Archos GPS holder in our car took minor effort, however, it's not the sort of thing you want to habitually move around or take between cars. Two adjustment knobs on the GPS holder allow you to position the Archos 605 WiFi however you like, and a sliding suction cup lock creates a tight seal with your windshield.
After placing an Archos 605 WiFi in the GPS holder and powering it up, it takes about 45 seconds and a few taps of the screen before you can really use the GPS navigation feature. We weren't thrilled with twiddling our thumbs for nearly a minute, but even dedicated GPS systems need time to get their bearings.
The Archos GPS in-car holder shined in its most important role: dispensing directions. Inputting street addresses using the 605 WiFi's large and forgiving onscreen keyboard is a snap, and the turn-by-turn directions dispensed through the holder's built-in speaker are clear and easy to understand. Using the Points of Interest feature, we quickly found dozens of local restaurants, banks, gas stations, and hotels, although our favorite subway terminal was absent from the local public transit listings.
To truly test the mettle of the Archos GPS in-car holder, we veered off our designated course several times to see how the system would react. Without fail, the Archos GPS system would gently chime in about 5 seconds after a missed turn, offering a sensible new route.
