$499 too much for your next gadget purchase? Closed iPhone OS not quite your cup of tea? Looking for digital video output, video recording, micro-SD slot, USB (host and slave) capability and portability with a high-end processor? I can’t say that the Archos 5 is as slick as an Apple iPad or iPod Touch but it’s a damn good product.
The Archos 5 8GB is now available in the US Archos store. We’ve also heard that EU versions will be shipping soon too so for some sub $250 pad action, this comes highly recommended. [Full review here] If you prefer RadioShack, it’s also in stock there.
If you’re looking for something a bit larger though, the 7 inch version of this is, to all intents and purposes, confirmed. (See comments on this post.) We’re expecting Archos to announce this soon and wouldn’t be surprised to see a 3G version of the Internet Tablets too. Would 512MB RAM and a full Google-approved Android build be too much to ask for too? Stick a slider keyboard and 3G on a 512MB Google Android version and I’m sure a lot more people would be happy!
Thx to grnxf and Chris Street who commented on this post.
ok, so now I can claim the Apple iPad a success. It may be doing just what I hoped it would do…come out a price so low that now the manufacturers of the tablets I might really want feel compelled to release their products at even lower prices. Bravo, Apple, and yippee for the rest of us. – vr/zeux..>>
Totally agree. This is so unlike Apple to be first in a market and enter at a low price. Maybe they see it as ‘make or break’ but I hope it opens the doors for many now.
only thing missing now is for google to green light the bundling of the services apps and market on these devices.
btw, anyone found a free pdf viewer for android anywhere?
On the Archos you get ThinkFreeMobile. That has a PDF viewer.
not exactly free tho, right?
Keyboard??? Are u crazy???? Nobody needs those stupid bulky keyboards. No thanks, keep this thing nice and clean.
The 16 GB version is currently on sale at Best Buy for $279.