QUOTE(arniel @ May 18 2007, 08:48 AM)
QUOTE(freizugheit @ May 18 2007, 12:59 AM)
BTW, any comments to Archos embedded devices' performance and reliability.
Hi,
When I looked at the Archos some time ago, it looked perfect for my needs - playing multimedia files, surfing the web, driving USB devices etc. However, I found that it was slower than the 5500 that I already owned, and there are problems with way Archos have implemented Linux on it - some settings do not persist across reboots. Also, there are problems with e.g. supporting new codecs due to the sound driver and a collection of other issues that made me decide to get a dedicated multimedia player instead (the vivitar version of
this). It's the usual case of the software not being implemented well.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings!

Try looking for OpenPMA, I put their version of the software on. I'm having fun with this. Some of the Z ipks work without mods and some work with a bit of repackaging. You can still find the ARCHOS sdk and there are some helpful sites out there.
No it isn't as fast as the Zs but a 30GB hard drive, built in wifi, usb host and the ability to record and play video out of the box is quite impressive. The lack of a 'backup' battery is a slight pain, if you hard reset you have to set the time again!
The biggest lack to me is the absence of a physical keyboard. But I think of this machine as more of a music player and pda than as a palm top computer. It also has its uses as a portable hard drive for the Zs which have usb host.
What a shame ARCHOS didn't follow the same route for the AV700. Carry a cheap usb keyboard and the umpc would have a cheap open competitor.