New Archos Pma 400 Linux Pda/pod...

[cradlinski]

Thanks.  Do you know when the 80G model is coming out?

[nathanwms]

Here's a link to the Archos Fan site, check out the WMV video of a guy demoing the device.  I'm more impressed now than I was before, the USB host accessories make this one tempting device.

http://archosfans.com/

[Tom61]

It looks at least one person has recieved his.  He has tried Zaurus apps on it too. Mild sucess. Some apps worked fine, some apps needed trickery to work, most didn't work at all.

His post in the PMA400 yahoo group(no sign up required to read):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/archos_PMA40...e/72?threaded=1

His post on the ArchosMultmedia group (need to join group though):
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/archosmultimedia/message/39026

[cradlinski]

Thanks for the Yahoo link.  That was a good review.  According to one of the follow-ups, the PMA430 will be availiable in the US in the first week of March.

[padishah_emperor]

Here's a link to the Archos Fan site, check out the WMV video of a guy demoing the device.  I'm more impressed now than I was before, the USB host accessories make this one tempting device.

http://archosfans.com/
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I've just watched the vid, I've been looking at Archos stuff for a while. Very impressed, I think that will be my next machine someday, I'll probably wait for prices to be a bit more favorable, i.e. when they release the next one ;-) With opie-reader, zbedic and portabase I'd be set.

I'm gonna read up on it later, once again Tux does us proud, it's a great piece of kit and a great use of Qtopia.

[padishah_emperor]

I'm sold on this. The 320x240 LCD res is no issue for me, after having a C series with a res so high I had to strain to read it, I prefer 320x240 on a small screen - for me it's optimal. Plus (finger's crossed) I've never seen a dead pixel on a 320x240 display in all my years. Also from my own experiments in the past, driving 640x480 is gonna require a lot more go-go juice from the processor etc than 320x240. Probably why YP3700 felt so much faster than my old 860 even with half the clock speed. It works up to 720x570 res. (PAL) when output to a TV etc. and I noticed on a forum all my favorite Z apps which I'm now using on my Yopy work out-of-the-box. I'd wait for Hancom to be ported which I've read is on it's way. Interstellar Flames works ;-) Dunno about Doom but it's critical.

At the mo I have an Ubuntu PC running MythTV but our house is going Mac in the next few months, all the old junk is destined for charity shops and I'd like something to fill the digital recording gap, if I can get something that does that, hold all my music (incl. Oggs evidently), replaces the PDA and still lets me keep Qtopia on a device I can even take on trips etc. then that's the one for me. The USB host is just another bonus.  If a solution for iTunes compatibility ever comes out it would be completely perfect for me. I wonder if any USB keyboard will work?

I may leave it upto a year for the price to be right for us, but after the new macs, a heap of bills, some dental work, a holiday, a robosapien v2 and whatever else my kiddie-within needs/wants this year, IT will be on the list.    

The only thing I'm not clear on is how it's wired up for recording TV, we only have digital satellite as their is virtually no reception of analogue here. I know it can be connected via Scart but I wonder if live TV from the a/v input can be watched. If anyone get's one and/or knows the answer do let me know.

;-)

[sharppda]

FYI,  price tag already starts falling at amazon.com. It is $759.99 now.

And release data in US is set to be 2/15

PMA430 @ amazon.com

[lpotter]

The only thing I'm not clear on is how it's wired up for recording TV, we only have digital satellite as their is virtually no reception of analogue here. I know it can be connected via Scart but I wonder if live TV from the a/v input can be watched. If anyone get's one and/or knows the answer do let me know.

;-)
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It has tv connections through the cradle. I have one in our office, though we don't have the cradle.

[padishah_emperor]

It has tv connections through the cradle. I have one in our office, though we don't have the cradle.
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What about watching TV through it though? I'd like to have one by my computer connected to a satellite reciever. Actually I think I'll draft 100 questions and email Archos.

[lpotter]

It has tv connections through the cradle. I have one in our office, though we don't have the cradle.
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What about watching TV through it though? I'd like to have one by my computer connected to a satellite reciever. Actually I think I'll draft 100 questions and email Archos.
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I don't not see why not. If you can record with it, you can view it. Looks like they also have a tv cable, for an analog video signal
.

[lpotter]

WE CAN start bothering Trolltech to release a qtopia 2.1 release for the pma400:P

You can, but it wont help.

Nuff ranting from me, only one last  word of wisdom (or two). Any alternative os and its applications MUST be compatible with the original os, I belive this is vital for the survival of a community, not to mention enlisting new people. If you buy such a kit and find that there is loads of great software, but only a third of it is possible to use at your pda/mediaplayer at a time then people will run with tails between their legs. I think this IS A LESSON WE HAVE LEARNED ON THE ZAURUS, AND ALL COMMUNITY PAGES SHOULD HAVE WARNINGS ABOUT CREATING INCOMPATIBLE SOFTWARE; IT SHOULD BE FROWNED UPON!! We need a "qtopia/opie standard base" Maybe it is possible to use lsb in some extent?

I can't agree with you more.

EDIT: I was WRONG, It is only qvga, I allmost started to cry when I found that out. Once again a company releases a device with a obvious defect. f*ck it, I just saved myself €800.
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Video playback is very nice, and you won't really notice when you play videos. Having a larger resolution screen decreases the battery life.

[B_Lizzard]

I don't know if I'm right here, but the PMA400 does not seem to have CF or SD or whatever slot.I guess that 30 GB is enough, and two USB slots, one with USB host is more than enough, but it just seemed strange.How are we supposed to transfer data to an external source, or move data from one device to another (e.g On a trip)?

[bluedevils]

USB host connection if you're transferring from a digital camera or you can do wifi with a PDA/notebook.  You could always just get a card reader on USB host.

[B_Lizzard]

Correct.It also has Wifi, so...I guess it's ok.They left us to choose, just like Sharp did with the wireless.Go figure.

The Archos sounds like a great device! It certainly has more value for money.But strangely, the Zaurus still looks like the device I'd buy.Or mabye the Yopy 3500, if I found it for 200 Euro or less.Those devices rule.

[padishah_emperor]

Correct.It also has Wifi, so...I guess it's ok.They left us to choose, just like Sharp did with the wireless.Go figure.

The Archos sounds like a great device! It certainly has more value for money.But strangely, the Zaurus still looks like the device I'd buy.Or mabye the Yopy 3500, if I found it for 200 Euro or less.Those devices rule.
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The YP3500 is discontinued. [shameless plug]www.yopypda.co.uk[/shameless plug] is the only place you can get the YP3700 from.