But back to the device itself, in terms of hardware is the Archos with its capacitive screen, the latest version of Android, a 1 GHz CPU incl. GPU, 8GB Flash (unfortunately only 256 MB RAM), as well as with Lineout, HDMI, USB & Micro SD good connectivity to the amount of time. Due to the price are the display, which could be a little more stable viewing angles and with 800 * 480 screen resolution also sets no standards. The pity is that Archos has installed the control buttons as software buttons in the operating system that takes the display next to 0.3 inches diagonal even some resolution, and there is applications where then slide to parts of the representation under the buttons and then are not visible , Only when it comes to video player, the buttons are automatically suppressed, so that this is the full resolution available. Furthermore, there is no UMTS or GPS, both can be but via Bluetooth from a smartphone use (ideally, with the same Android version). While the Samsung Galaxy Tab so makes the smartphone superfluous, the Archos is seen rather as an additional solution to a smartphone if this mobile application purpose is paramount. For the holiday and living room use, the device is but unrestricted. UMTS roaming abroad is anyway far too expensive because the hotel Wi-Fi makes more sense.
Why, then, not 10 inches (the Archos 101 with the even also offered)? Well, the iPad (on which I have professional access and its specialties know so well enough) is just too heavy and too bulky to keep nearly 700g in hand tired in the long run but very - in a direct comparison of the 300g Archos are to some angehmer. The smaller screen does not hurt so much, while appreciated by my experience, 50% of web pages read on 480 * 320 quite well, there are 800 * 480 but already more than 90%, so that 1024 * 786 only very little to contribute better readability, especially a 100% coverage in my view is not always achievable with a "smart" Tablet because for long texts write a simple touchscreen keyboard is inferior. Missing Flash or missing Flash Performance (for Android there are flash, but it is still running does not perform very well) are added, which makes it the normal PC for some purposes indispensable.
I will not at all lose many words about Android itself; who owns a cell phone with this OS, gets along very quickly, but it is by handling her not too complicated for new comers. In the Implementation Archos could here and there but still rectify something that sometimes the tablet feels quite tough or reacts somewhat allergic to it if you do too much, here an iPad just runs round. Say a few resets I am not yet come help because once the file browser has been looking too long or an application's resources would not give it back. Who expects absolute perfection in every situation will get here acceptance problems.
Even when it comes to apps and marketplace there a few things to consider, the tablet does not have official authorization to Google Marketplace, but comes with access to the Appslib Market which lacks some applications but that we know from the Google Marketplace. But thanks to the fairly open system, it is a no-brainer, but to gain access to the Google Market (just search in acc. Archos fan forums according to the instructions), you can also Android applications (.apk extension *) often directly load of the Web sites, you need not infallible a Market. Can score Correct the Archos as a video & music player, here Archos has customized applications representing just about every format and can even access via network on SMB shares. 720p is this liquid, in combination with the HDMI connection has thus expresses a portable, HD-capable video player.
Overall conclusion: the price of half a iPads one here gets a tablet, which although still leaves some room for just this, but can shine with some clever details (HDMI, USB, Micro SD, network streaming with many formats out of the box, lightness, mobility), so that it achieved a "good" in the overall standings. It will be also curious if Archos incorporates a few clever things in future firmware updates and VTL. also support for even newer Androidversionen offers, with more stability in the operating system and the way the soft buttons if necessary hide possibly would have been even almost a "very good" inside.