Archos 605 WiFi (4GB)

Pros: Screen, ability to drop most movie files. SDHC cards, plays most common music files.

Cons: Does not play AAC files which most people have on itunes. The add on's make you want to spend another 100-200 bucks, Although you don't need to, you want to. Wish I could change the battery. USB upsets me, should be a standard.

Summary: For the people who complain about the screen not working or the machine freezing, that can happen with anything electronic, so I feel for you. I use my Samsung Instinct for some movie files. The video and sound are pretty good, not as good as ipods, but none the less passable when your sitting around at work bored. Instinct takes Mpeg-4. I wanted an ipod touch, but I didn't want to spend 250-400 for something that isn't as great as people make it out to be. Don't get me wrong, I would still get one, but it plays H.264 and Mpegs I believe. So, I'm still converting movies with handbrake, toast, popcorn whatever you using. Also, ipod falls into the same pothole, I can play certain music files, but not all. And I can buy silly games for it. but, I own a nintendo ds, do I don't care for ipod games. So, it comes down to what I am actually buying it for. Video player. And The Archos smashing the ipod here. Yes, it's bigger and no I can't just stuff it in my pocket. but, I don't mind. It fits in a coat pocket or front shirt pocket no problem. It plays AVI, and also acts as a hard drive. So, I can drop whatever files I want and switch them out at other computers. Works on Both PC's and Mac's. Interface, is fine. People cry about the interface. I don't understand what is so complicated about pushing an icon on the screen, then clicking either internal memory or SD card. I honestly don't understand where the hang-up's are on this one. I like most full blooded apple pie eating, flag waving Levi 501 owning American's didn't bother to look at the directions. And I figured out how to get the movies to play, how to transfer in 1 click. (one try.) The battery is a little slow, I put a season of Aqua Teen on this sucker and after about 2 hours the battery was half down. But that's with Wifi on, brightness up and speakers loud. I'm sure If I had headphone on and wifi off I could get the 5 hours out of it. That's 2 movies (1 Lord of the rings movie with previews.) The frame rate never drops or skips. The ocmplaint I have is also a positive, it does suck that I have to buy add on codec's or webbrowsers. But, I imagine it saved me money up front, and if you don't need them, then don't buy them. But at least i have the option of playing other music and video files. That's not the case with any ot the other dooda's and PvP's.

I know I'm forgetting something. Oh, The fact that it's a SDHC card reader is wonderrful. I can go walking with my camera, and keep in mind I have a Canon G10 14.7 megapixel camera, the LCD on that is probably better than anything on planet earth. But, I can switch the card from the Camera to my Archos, view my files, and or copy them to the hard drive and keep shooting. This is great for keeping the camera active for....whatever your taking pictures of, and viewing photo's. Making possible backup's. As of this time, I haven;t used the webbrower. My instinct does that for me, probably not as good, but my life will go on, I don't need to be connect everywhere everyday. And most people don't. But, hey you go ahead and keep your imagine up champ, I'm proud that you have your phones on vibrate during movies. Not annoying in the least bit.