On the advantages of an Archos tablet over iPads

starbase1 · Jan 2, 2011

I got an iPad for my wife, but chose an Archos for myself.

I can see that the iPad has some real strengths, not least the superb screen, and excellent ease of use (once you have it loaded), and it impresses straight out of the box, but I think that for anyone who wants something over the basic use, android tablets are a better option. For anyone still considering, here are the key advantages as I see it:

Price. WAY cheaper.
Size - for use while travelling, I find 7" a great size, and very practical. Even with the Archos 10", its a lot lighter.
Expandable storage. This is a real biggie - with Apple you are locked in to what you get when you buy, and you pay through the nose for high storage. This is a simple rip off as far as I am concerned.
USB hosting. Linked to expandable storage - you can connect your camera or an external drive directly.
Highly customisable. Pretty much anything on the interface can be changed if you don't like it, (those who are nervous about tinkering may not like this so much!)
iTunes. Hideous software, particularly for video. Seems designed to drive you into buying everything from Apple rather than loading what you already have. If anyone tells you Apple design great software, say "iTunes".
Video. Very wide range of video formats supported. And dead easy to load. Apple is horrendously restrictive in what video formats you can play, and loading video is a world of pain.
Built in small video camera. I travel a lot, and always go for hotels with free wifi - Skype for international free video calls will save me a fortune.

There are a couple of things I'm not so keen on, but they are outweighed by the pluses:

No Google marketplace by default.
A slightly faster processor would be nice - its not quite got the 'flick and slide' responsiveness of my phone or an iPad.
No physical buttons. Dumb move.

Nick

CarsnGadgets · Jan 2, 2011

I found my 101 far more responsive using Zeam launcher instead of LauncherPro or the default launcher. Also, look in settings and under power management set the cpu speed to overboost if you havent already.

Im assuming you got the Market on your Archos using the gapsforarchos apk, but there are also good alternate markets available like slideme and android pit which offer an alternate way to buy apps and download/install the free ones.

another good reason to get the archos 101 is it has HDMI out so you can connect it to a tv or monitor.

starbase1 · Jan 2, 2011

CarsnGadgets said:
I found my 101 far more responsive using Zeam launcher instead of LauncherPro or the default launcher. Also, look in settings and under power management set the cpu speed to overboost if you havent already.

another good reason to get the archos 101 is it has HDMI out so you can connect it to a tv or monitor.

I'll try that overboost immediately, thanks!
And the Zeam launcher too, (is it easy to go back if I don't like it?)

The 701 also has HDMI out.

Cheers,
Nick

CarsnGadgets · Jan 2, 2011

Yes, the first time you run Zeam and hit the home button it will ask you which program you want to use, choose Zeam and tick the default box. Now Zeam is your default home/launcher app.

if you want to go back to the stock home/launcher app, go to settings/applications/manage applications/downloaded/zeam and click the button to remove defaults, then the next time you hit home, it will ask again what program you wish to use, just choose the stock launcher.

or get an app like home switcher that will let you switch between any installed home apps.

ps. the overboost function is one of 3 power options available (but only if you are using the latest firmware from Archos).

I mentioned HDMI out as a plus over the iPad, I know the 70 has it as well, its great isnt it. :0)

ODog2323 · Jan 2, 2011

I dont think skype supports video on android yet, does it? The IOS version just got it the other day...

Zenstrive · Jan 4, 2011

the tiny camera is horrible on my archos70. never use it again.

Vipfreak · Jan 7, 2011

My best friend's wife got a 64gb iPad (got it for xmas) and she's one of "those" people (non-techie) that thinks CrApple why go with anything else... ? She was trying to rub in that she could watch LOTR on demand via Netflix.

This was the first time seeing an iPad in person and the only thing that bothered me was that the picture was better looking than my Archos, but then I thought about the outrageous price. Then the fact that my Archos could do all the same things and more that she couldn't because it use a CrApple OS... I don't bother with Netflix (LOTR/Hairy Putter blow) too. The places I'd want to use it would studder (shitty provider) or not play at all (work, no signal). Even if it did work... I don't pay extra for shit I already have.

I also can't believe how heavy that POS is along with being 10in. non-portable fail.

starbase1 · Jan 10, 2011

And the alarms work just fine on an archos, unlike Apple products!

Zenstrive · Jan 10, 2011

Ah yes. The alarms. This change everything, again!

starbase1 · Jan 10, 2011

Odog - The camera is good enough for video calling, I really don't think its worth increasing the price of the device for something better...

Another update on the iPad front, my wife really does like it, particularly for web browsing in the home, and looking at our extensive photo collection.

Then I tried to transfer some new photos onto it - but the only way is to email them and view the images in the browser, or wipe what is on there and resynch with whats on the PC with the new stuff.

It really does seem to be impossible to add a couple more folders. (Or come to that, to copy out the ones that are in there already, apart from as a full backup, where the individual files are unreadable).

iTunes is a stinking heap of donkey doo dah.

Vipfreak · Jan 11, 2011

starbase1 said:
Another update on the iPad front, my wife really does like it, particularly for web browsing in the home, and looking at our extensive photo collection.

Then I tried to transfer some new photos onto it - but the only way is to email them and view the images in the browser, or wipe what is on there and resynch with whats on the PC with the new stuff.

It really does seem to be impossible to add a couple more folders. (Or come to that, to copy out the ones that are in there already, apart from as a full backup, where the individual files are unreadable).

iTunes is a stinking heap of donkey doo dah.

LOL Oh man, it's great. I'm glad you feel my pain. I hope my best friend is too.

mbell75 · Jan 11, 2011

starbase1 said:
I got an iPad for my wife, but chose an Archos for myself.

I can see that the iPad has some real strengths, not least the superb screen, and excellent ease of use (once you have it loaded), and it impresses straight out of the box, but I think that for anyone who wants something over the basic use, android tablets are a better option. For anyone still considering, here are the key advantages as I see it:

Price. WAY cheaper.

Size - for use while travelling, I find 7" a great size, and very practical. Even with the Archos 10", its a lot lighter.

Expandable storage. This is a real biggie - with Apple you are locked in to what you get when you buy, and you pay through the nose for high storage. This is a simple rip off as far as I am concerned.

USB hosting. Linked to expandable storage - you can connect your camera or an external drive directly.

Highly customisable. Pretty much anything on the interface can be changed if you don't like it, (those who are nervous about tinkering may not like this so much!)

iTunes. Hideous software, particularly for video. Seems designed to drive you into buying everything from Apple rather than loading what you already have. If anyone tells you Apple design great software, say "iTunes".

Video. Very wide range of video formats supported. And dead easy to load. Apple is horrendously restrictive in what video formats you can play, and loading video is a world of pain.

Built in small video camera. I travel a lot, and always go for hotels with free wifi - Skype for international free video calls will save me a fortune.

There are a couple of things I'm not so keen on, but they are outweighed by the pluses:

No Google marketplace by default.

A slightly faster processor would be nice - its not quite got the 'flick and slide' responsiveness of my phone or an iPad.

No physical buttons. Dumb move.

Nick

Pretty much everything you listed has a solution if you took a few minutes to look around the Internet. Your biggest gripe is storage and paying a ton for a lot of it. Ever heard of mobile me? I have 50GB of storage for basically $8 a month. I can store files, photos, movies etc...and stream it to my ipad anytime i want. In case you don't know, mobile devices will be moving towards cloud storage and less on board storage for many reasons, start getting used to it.

Vipfreak · Jan 11, 2011

: scratches head: $8 a month vs a cheaper FREE a mo. device that does the same things? Yeah... great solution. LOL

uniquenameEVO · Jan 11, 2011

Vipfreak said:
: scratches head: $8 a month vs a cheaper FREE a mo. device that does the same things? Yeah... great solution. LOL

Maybe you would be more enticed if it were called "iMobileMe"

That little i makes it worth more :rolleyes:

starbase1 · Jan 11, 2011

It's worse than that - it simply would not work.

Take a specific example - while flying to where I am now, for 1 leg of the flight I wanted to watch a 1 hour video. That was about 650 Mb of data.

So, to watch it his way:

1. Use a complete monthly data allowance to get one file.
2. Spend longer than the flight waiting for it to download.
3. Only there's no internet on the plane anyway, so I can't download it!

Contrast this with my 1 terabyte USB pocket drive, instant access.

The cloud is great for storing documentrs, or other small files you may need. But for anything over say 100 Mb its not yet good enough.

I was thinking about waiting for the 250 Gb hard drive model archos, but it was not available in time for this trip. It's certainly the tablet I'd recommend now though...

Oh, and I'd also take issue with your wording of 'paying a lot for a ton of it' I'd say you are paying a ton for a few extra Gb.

Vipfreak · Jan 11, 2011

uniquenameEVO said:
Maybe you would be more enticed if it were called "iMobileMe"

That little i makes it worth more

Sadly... That does sucker more idiots in.

Zenstrive · Jan 17, 2011

starbase1 said:
1 terabyte USB pocket drive

don't you meant 1 TB USB hard drive? as in hard disk based and not flash based?

vja4Him · Jan 18, 2011

I use several free online storage services, with a total of somewhere around 40GB! No need to pay for online storage.

On the advantages of an Archos tablet over iPads

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