Product reviewsArchos 5 Gray (256GB) Digital Media Player

Great multimedia player

This was probably the best gadget I have ever owned a brilliant piece of kit played movies, music (+ music videos) some games and could surf the Internet. Did as claimed loved it. Unfortunately the hard drive did eventually fail but I did use it a lot. I love gadgets and this really was a masterpiece. I wish someone made a solid state version now.Read full review...

Verified purchase: No

good piece of kit ideal if you travel by train & record TV/Films at home

The archos 5 media player with wifi.
This is a well made and very useful piece of kit which comes in very handy in a variety of situations.
1. In a cafe or wifi area you can surf the internet and access emails.
2. You can watch the films/tv series/ holiday snaps on your own Tv with the appropriate docking station which will cost you a further £25-35.
3. Take on road trips to keep the kids quiet in the back but they will need headphones as the ambient noise in a car will not be overpowerred by the small speaker.

If you buy the appropriate plugins via ebay (£16)or direct from archos (£25) you can also play films or TV series in a variety of formats that you have downloaded e.g. BBC Iplayer which allows direct transfer to archos. NB There is no way to file share these plugins - you have to buy them.

If you also spend some cash on a nice leather case it will be well worth the cash to protect the media player and you can then pause/stop what you are watching and slip it into your coat pocket quite easily.

I take my archos on holiday and in the evening i let my children watch their favourite films on the TV before bed.

An archos with 250gb hard drive will store over 200 full length films easily in a variety of formats.

I am a fan of the archos product and have had two before and just bought one for my daughter.

Downsides.
1. you have to buy plugins to get full use, thats extra cash.
2. Charging is via usb ( lead supplied ) so unless you buy a mains charger this is a slow process.
3.. The screen is good if you protect it but, in bright sunlight you cannot watch it. Even on a train you have to keep it in the shade.
the screen is not as good and clear as e.g. an iphone, so don't expect that and you wont be diasappointed.
4. Internet surfing is via OPERA. Its fairly quick and you can zoom in but don't expect it to be as good as a latest smartphonesRead full review...

Useful gadget

Although smaller than the Archos 7 this has all the same features without the added weight, albeit with the smaller screen.

You can play movies and music, as well as looking at photos. Using the wi-fi connection you can also access the internet, although navigation is not as easy as using a netbook etc.

The memory storage should be ample for most people, with only those with very high volumes of movies or memory hungry photos finding this a problem.

One gripe is that some types of video files etc will not play unless you purchase plug ins, which is a shame as earlier Archos models used to play pretty much anything that was thrown at them. The optional DVR station is really useful so that you can record from the TV and play any content from the player on a larger screen or even use it to view internet content.

The one thing you do feel with these units are that they are well built and should last a while, provided you take care of them. A good case is the first step in helping to protect the unit from knocks or scratches and will need to be bought separately, unless you get a bundle deal.

Battery life is generally good, of course, depending upon exactly what features are being used.Read full review...

Archos 5

great product, everything you could want and has enough memory for you not to have to worry about whats been left at home whilst out and about, wifi internet is a bonus. viewing web pages in full does strain your eyes and makes clicking links a little frustrating but the rest of the interface is easy to use with touch screen. sound quality is great if a little quiet but then maybe thats just me liking my music LOUD. One thing which has annoyed me about this item is the fact you need to purchase extra plug-ins to be able to play pod casts and certain files which i see as a bit of a con to be honest but i am sure there are ways around this. i would also recomend gettin the DVR station for this item as battery life is limited due to have such a big hardrive and such a big screen, the DVR station reduces charging time from 8 hours + (3 days in my case) to just 3 hours maximum. Before buying this item i would suggest physically seeing one as they are bigger and heavier than they look in the picture, although below 60gb the item is signifficantly smaller. All in all a great new gadget for me which does everything i need and more besides A*Read full review...

The original Archos 5, one of the best multi media player on the market

The original Archos 5, in my opinion one of the best multi media player to have come on the market in the last 4 years. The medium you can put on this player – movies (in HD 720p), music and pictures. With a massive 250GB hard drive it would take some doing filling it.
You also have access to the internet via Wi-Fi and the ability to receive and send e-mail. Archos also produce a number of add-on, granted at a cost, but the DVR station is well worth the outlay. It enables you to connect and record contents from your TV to the 5. You can then edit that content (if you wish) and watch movies/ TV programmes on the move.
This 5 is not the android version/48, but in many ways a lot better. The unfortunate/regrettable thing is that this model has been discontinued by Archos, but if you can find one you will not be disappointed.Read full review...

I love it.

This is my second Archos 5. The first died when dropped. The unit has 250 g capacity which is sufficient for all my films, phots and music. The batter lasts about 7 hours if you don't activate the screen, just listen to music. If playing a film, you might get 2 or 2 1/2 films out of it. Biggest drawback is the inability fit a new battery which can be done with the old 400.Read full review...

happy now

had to have the first unit replaced, problem with touch screen. replacement working fine. music and video play-back are very good, e-mail and web are good, happy now.

Fantastic media gadget. Media management magician.

Not much to dislike about the Archos. It does exactly what it states on the tin so to speak. With the media docking station and remote control its your media management (best friend) does everything well without complaint. Recommended item for any household. Portable and a good battery life for your away day media needs.Read full review...