Product Review: Archos 101 Internet Tablet

Kindle is for readers. iPAD is for gadget geeks. Archos 101 Internet Tablet is for everyone else. With a sleek profile, a thinner and lighter build than Apple's iPad, but boasting a webcam, full USB, mini USB, HDMI and SDHC expansion ports, the Archos 101 Internet Tablet delivers professional performance at a price point everyone can appreciate.

It's clear Kindle and Apple's iPad are frontrunners in a new generation of hand held computer. Palm Pilots and Blackberries started a portable PC wave back in the 1990's, but high price and limited capabilities when compared to desktops or even laptops kept them playthings of executives or gadget geeks. Now, with inexpensive devices like the Archos 101 Internet Tablet, everyone can afford a tablet PC, with the same power as a netbook or even a notebook.

Basic Design

Archos 101 runs Android - the same OS that powers many mobile phones. If you've never used Android, don't worry, it's an incredibly intuitive interface that you'll master in a few short days. On a tablet PC like the Archos 101, it's a matter of tapping, gesturing, pinching and using your fingers in a very natural way. Like the Apple iPhone or iPad, this sort of natural manipulation of data seems destined to be the standard by which all future computers run.

On a physical front, Archos 101 is a wonderfully light, sleek device, with a 10.1" screen. By using an over molded PVD stainless steel structure, through a patented process, Archos created a strong, but lightweight tablet. My sister has an iPad, and though it's certainly a well made device, it soon becomes annoying because of weight. With the Archos 101, there's also a nifty kickstand on back. This stand swings out from the unit's middle, allowing it to be viewed from nearly any comfortable angle. It saves you from the burden of holding it, and makes for highly enjoyable browsing or video watching.

Performance

Archos 101 runs an Arm Cortex A8 at 1GHZ, with a 3D Open GL Graphics Accelerator. This CPU power translates into smooth video playing, super fast app loading and a more than decent webcam. The cam isn't HD, but the video it streams and captures is decent enough. It's not a good low level light camera, but when used outside in strong sunlight, or inside with good lighting, videos look great.

Video codecs, the programs which enable video playback, let Archos play MPEG 4, WMV 9, and H.264-HD videos. With optional plug-ins - costing extra - the unit can play AVI, MOV, MKV, FLV, and many others.

Archos has a long and proud reputation as one of the first companies to make PMPs - Portable Media Players. Music is one of the unit's strengths, and it plays MP3, WMA, WAV, Ogg Vorbis and Flac. There's a cool music flow system. It lets you swipe and gesture through a music library. The built in speakers sound fine - if a bit tinny at times - and a headphone jack lets you listen to music like on an iPod or PMP. Battery life will give you about 10 hours of surfing time, 7 hours of video viewing, and about 36 hours of music. These times are approximate, however since I've had my unit, I've rarely had to charge it, and I watch lots of videos and surf for hours at a stretch.

One of the allures of Android is the Android Marketplace. Here you download thousands of applications like games or utilities. Because of a lack of certification, the Archos 101 can't access this, however there's a similar utility called Appslib.

Summary

Retailing for $299.99 for the 8gb model, and $349.99 for 16gb, Archos 101 Internet Tablet delivers a truly affordable tablet computer. Before its release, only iPad appeared a smart choice for consumers wanting real tablet PC performance. It's well designed, and boasts features most, if not all tablet PC's as of this writing lack. iPad may be slightly more powerful, certainly more widely marketed, but Archos 101's ability to expand by USB ports and SDHC makes it a real computer - not just an Internet tablet. Archos 101's name implies it's merely an internet tablet - good for just online browsing. However, with an ability to use full size keyboards, external storage, mice and even HDMI output to external monitors or TV's, it rivals all current tablet PC's. Most attractive of all, if you shop around, you can buy an Archos 101 for half the price of an Apple iPad.

http://www.archos.com/products/ta/archos_101it/index.html?country=us⟨=en