Archos 20 GB USB 2.0 MP3 Jukebox Recorder

• 20 GB hard drive, with up to 300 hours of music and/or data
• USB 2.0 interface, USB 1.1 compatible
• Record audio from any audio source
• Rechargeable NiMH batteries with 10 hours of playtime included
• Compatible with 98SE, Me, 2000, XP, or Mac OS 9.2 or X

First off, if your buddy has an Ipod and you want to be cool like him/her then look elsewhere. The Archos is nearly twice as heavy, twice as thick and is a bit of an ugly duckling next to the Ipod.

With that said, it should also be mentioned that the Archos battery life is twice as long and you can get the same size capacity HD for less then half the price of the Ipod.

I have heard complaints about Archos quality, but I know plenty of people that have had theres for 2 years with out a bit of trouble. I have only had mine a few days, so I can not say how long term reliability is, but I will say that this unit is well constructed, although not the most ergonomic.

Very important is to replace the Archos OS with the free Rockbox OS. Just do a search and you will find it. Simply install the Rockbox OS to the HD like you would a song folder and the Archos will recognize it. With Rockbox installed, the Archos is very customizeable and the sound quality is superior to most postable MP3 players.

I would suggest this player to anyone who will pimarily use it in their car, sitting in their favorite chair, or hooked up to a Stereo system. I would not recomend this player to someone who plans on using it in "active" situations. Not that I feel the quality is not up to par, but because of the bulk.

At a higher price I would rate this unit as a 4 becuase the buttons feel a slightly cheap and the weight and size is above average. for the price it is 5 for 5!

UPDATE FEB 3, 2003

The more I use it the more I like it! Flashing rockbox to the Archos Rom decreases system turn on from about 12 seconds to 3 seconds. I really like the build quality and I have changed my mind about the buttons being "cheap". I think everything has a real solid feel and I think it is a great player. It is still bulky of course, but that is a tradeoff I am willing to take for the price. I would not except low quality and I have not had to with this player. GREAT!

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Great player. A little bulky, but Simple to operate. Certainly not designed with Jogging in mind... or any exercise that involves rapid movement.

Like most Computer products these days, the Archos ships with Windows-only / Mac software. Here is the quote from Amazon.com: "Compatible with 98SE, Me, 2000, XP, or Mac OS 9.2 or X".

But, did you know you can simply connect this player to a USB port & use as an external Hard Drive? Didn't think so. Unlike most MP3 players on the market today (iP0d included), this Archos version allows you to simply drag-n-drop your music folders, files, etc.

What does this mean? First and foremost, Simplicity. No software to imped or derange your well organized music files / lists. I can't speak for everyone, but I hate when an piece of software thinks it knows what I want (a certain software company in upper Washington State comes to mind). You don't have some software trying to tell you how your music should be organized. Didn't know that either, did you? Well if you did, then you probably already have another brand and have to live with such pains. Hey, I am using Linux so living with complexity comes natural.

Buy it and download the Rockbox firmware. Just google for the site "rockbox.haxx.se". It really make this player the best.... and improves recording fidelity. Oh, another thing I own the first version of the Archos 20GB, but don't let that bother you. These jewels are virtually identical internally.

Recommended Accessory:

Archos Stereo Microphone, which I purchased here on Amazon.com. Why do you need this? Well, the internal mic stinks. Not literally, but it does pick up the Hard Disk's noise of spinning up to save data. Annoying if you want to keep the recording for enjoying later.

Best of luck!

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Sure, it may not be the best looking option out there, but it works, and it works well. Plus it's cheap.

Note: The first thing you should do after putting a FULL CHARGE into the battery is install the Rockbox firmware! This solves a lot of software problems, and Rockbox is just awesome. Google it.

I have had absolutely no problems with mine in the year+ that I've had it. It sounds great (especially with some nice Sennheiser earphones), is easy to navigate, and has a great battery life.

It can also be used as a USB hard drive and digital recorder.

Sure, it may not be the most attractive looking player, but it's half the price of an iPod, and does more. Form should always follow function.

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I have an earlier version of the Archos Jukebox, but it's very similar.

The positive: excellent sound quality, very convenient method of storing vast amounts of music (and books on tape), easy to sync with computer via USB, very good battery life (I get around 10 hours), easy to hook up to home stereo or car stereo (requires optional accessory), and it's been reliable -I've had no problems in the year or so I've owned it, except a couple hangs that required it to reboot. Very good bang for the buck!

The negative: I don't think the Jukebox's OS firmware is particularly good in terms of user interface and the information it provides. It is quite primitive compared to the Ipod, which is the gold standard for these types of devices. For example, the Ipod sorts music by Artist, album, genre, user-defined playlist, etc., while the Archos just provides a DOS-like nested tree structure for filing music. This means it's much easier to find and sort the music you want to hear on the Ipod -something you shouldn't underestimate in terms of the overall usefulness of the device. The Ipod also has a much better display that's easier to read.

Note that alternative firmware is available for some Archos Jukebox models from Rockbox. I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard it's superior to the standard Archos OS.

Conclusion: The Archos Jukebox costs much less than the Apple Ipod. It provides comparable sound quality and reliability, in my opinion, but it's not as easy to use. I highly recommend the Archos to anyone who doesn't want to pay the Apple premium.

I've had my unit for 2 weeks now, and after an initial problem (which I worked out myself), I can honestly say I like the unit.

PROS:

Drag and Drop in Windows

Built-in recording capability (recorded my iTunes through analog because the files are not compatible, and it works well)

Easy to use

I'm getting a $50 rebate through Amazon.com bringing my cost to $159.99!

Great sound

CONS:

Not as stylish as iPod or Dell players

Problem with upper right corner cushion

OK, here's the problem I had: The unit would not always power up or stay on. After researching FAQ's on Archos website, it said to adjust the upper right corner bumper. I contacted Archos through the website asking if I did this if I would void my warranty, and after over one week, there was no response by email. So customer service through the site is not good in my case. THE FIX: Using a Torx T10 screwdriver, remove the screw holding the bumper to the case, pry carefully on the bottom side, fit the small wing door end into bumper indentation carefully and reinsert bottom of bumper into case. Insert screw and tighten until snug, but not tight. No problem since. It seems that the end flap needs to make contact with the battery, and the bumper can interfere.

Hope this solves other's buyers problems.

As I stated in my PROS, the unit sound great, the price is right, and it's easy to use. PLUS, Amazon is good about returns if needed.