Well i had the difficult task of choosing between the iPod video or the Archos AV500 100GB.I must say the iPod is great in design & mobility but i felt as if i was being deprived of some much needed features.
The Archos Av 500 is bigger than the iPod video but it can be connected directly to a tv, dvd player or camcorder.The archos plays & records video,stores photos,is an mp3 player & can be used as a portable hardrive.
Archos specs:
Capacity: 30 GB* Hard drive 100 GB* Hard drive
store up to 130 hours of video1, 85 movies1, 15,000 songs1 or 300,000 photos1 store up to 400 hours of video1, 250 movies1, 55,000 songs1 or 1,000,000 photos1
Display: 4" LCD 480x272 pixels, 262 000 colours and TV output.
Video recording: MPEG-46 SP and stereo sound, optimised resolution for TV up to 640x480 @ 30 f/s, in AVI format.
Video playback: MPEG-46 SP with B-Frames with stereo sound. Near DVD quality up to 720x480 @ 30 f/s (NTSC), 720x576 @ 25 f/s (PAL), AVI file format. WMV9 (including protected files) up to 352x288 @ 30 f/s, and 800 KBit/s4.
Music recording: From an analog source in stereo sound for WAV (PCM & ADPCM) format.
Music playback: Stereo MP3 decoding @ 30-320 kb/s CBR & VBR, WMA (including protected WMA files), WAV (PCM & ADPCM).
Photo viewer: JPEG (except progressives) or BMP.
Download photos from computer through USB 2.0 port.
Transfer photos from digital camera3 through USB Host port.
AV connections: Earphones / Audio & Video line out.
TV pod with video pass through, AV in & out cables (SCART In & Out for European version) and IR emitter cable for tuner control of VCR, cable box or satellite receiver.
Speaker: Built-in speaker.
Interfaces: USB 2.0 high-speed device, compatible USB 1.1, PC & Mac.
USB Host port compatible Mass Storage Device.
Battery life: Up to 15 hours5 for music.
Up to 4.5 hours5 for video on built-in LCD.
Removable battery (additional battery - optional - 3 different models)
Scalability: Download firmware updates from www.archos.com
Minimum system requirements: For TV, VCR, Cable box, or satellite receiver connection:
Audio & video in/out RCA jacks (connection TV cable(s) provided in box - including SCARTs for EU version)
For computer connection:
• Minimum computer configuration:
PC with Windows® ME, or 2000, and USB 2.0 port. Macintosh® G3 with MAC OS v10.2.4 or higher, Macintosh® G3 and USB 2.0 port.
• Minimum configuration for Playsforsure™ content:
PC with Windows® XP SP1 or higher operating system, Windows Media® Player 10 or higher, and USB 2.0 port.
Power source: Internal: rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery.
External: AC charger/adapter.
Dimensions: For 30 GB* model approx.: 7.6 x 12.4 x 1.8 cm - 3 x 4.9 x 0.7 "
For 100 GB* model approx.: 7.6 x 12.4 x 2.4 cm - 3 x 4.9 x 0.9 "
For 100 GB* model with optional super battery pack approx.:
7.6 x 12.4 x 3.2 cm - 3 x 4.9 x 1.2 "
Weight: For 30 GB* model: 255 g - 8.99 oz
For 100 GB* model: 315 g - 11.11 oz
For 100 GB* model with optional super battery pack approx.: 430 g - 15.16 oz
Package includes: AV 500, USB 2.0 cable, USB host adapter, AC adapter & charger, stereo headphones, protective case, user guide, TV Pod, remote control (with batteries), audio/video cables (SCART in and SCART out for European version).
iPod video specs:
Holds up to 15,000 songs(2) and full-color album art
30GB model is 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.43 inches; 60GB model is 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.55 inches
Bright 2.5-inch, 320 x 240 pixel TFT display
Up to 20 hours of battery life(5)
Holds up to 25,000 photos(3)
Holds up to 150 hours of video(4)
Plays video or photo slideshows on TV via the optional Dock
Apple Click Wheel
Accessory-compatible Dock connector
Dock works with the new Apple Remote
Charges and syncs via USB
Works with Mac OS X or Windows 2000/XP
Syncs contacts, calendars and to-do lists
The Archos Av 500 is bigger than the iPod video but it can be connected directly to a tv, dvd player or camcorder.The archos plays & records video,stores photos,is an mp3 player & can be used as a portable hardrive.
Archos specs:
Capacity: 30 GB* Hard drive 100 GB* Hard drive
store up to 130 hours of video1, 85 movies1, 15,000 songs1 or 300,000 photos1 store up to 400 hours of video1, 250 movies1, 55,000 songs1 or 1,000,000 photos1
Display: 4" LCD 480x272 pixels, 262 000 colours and TV output.
Video recording: MPEG-46 SP and stereo sound, optimised resolution for TV up to 640x480 @ 30 f/s, in AVI format.
Video playback: MPEG-46 SP with B-Frames with stereo sound. Near DVD quality up to 720x480 @ 30 f/s (NTSC), 720x576 @ 25 f/s (PAL), AVI file format. WMV9 (including protected files) up to 352x288 @ 30 f/s, and 800 KBit/s4.
Music recording: From an analog source in stereo sound for WAV (PCM & ADPCM) format.
Music playback: Stereo MP3 decoding @ 30-320 kb/s CBR & VBR, WMA (including protected WMA files), WAV (PCM & ADPCM).
Photo viewer: JPEG (except progressives) or BMP.
Download photos from computer through USB 2.0 port.
Transfer photos from digital camera3 through USB Host port.
AV connections: Earphones / Audio & Video line out.
TV pod with video pass through, AV in & out cables (SCART In & Out for European version) and IR emitter cable for tuner control of VCR, cable box or satellite receiver.
Speaker: Built-in speaker.
Interfaces: USB 2.0 high-speed device, compatible USB 1.1, PC & Mac.
USB Host port compatible Mass Storage Device.
Battery life: Up to 15 hours5 for music.
Up to 4.5 hours5 for video on built-in LCD.
Removable battery (additional battery - optional - 3 different models)
Scalability: Download firmware updates from www.archos.com
Minimum system requirements: For TV, VCR, Cable box, or satellite receiver connection:
Audio & video in/out RCA jacks (connection TV cable(s) provided in box - including SCARTs for EU version)
For computer connection:
• Minimum computer configuration:
PC with Windows® ME, or 2000, and USB 2.0 port. Macintosh® G3 with MAC OS v10.2.4 or higher, Macintosh® G3 and USB 2.0 port.
• Minimum configuration for Playsforsure™ content:
PC with Windows® XP SP1 or higher operating system, Windows Media® Player 10 or higher, and USB 2.0 port.
Power source: Internal: rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery.
External: AC charger/adapter.
Dimensions: For 30 GB* model approx.: 7.6 x 12.4 x 1.8 cm - 3 x 4.9 x 0.7 "
For 100 GB* model approx.: 7.6 x 12.4 x 2.4 cm - 3 x 4.9 x 0.9 "
For 100 GB* model with optional super battery pack approx.:
7.6 x 12.4 x 3.2 cm - 3 x 4.9 x 1.2 "
Weight: For 30 GB* model: 255 g - 8.99 oz
For 100 GB* model: 315 g - 11.11 oz
For 100 GB* model with optional super battery pack approx.: 430 g - 15.16 oz
Package includes: AV 500, USB 2.0 cable, USB host adapter, AC adapter & charger, stereo headphones, protective case, user guide, TV Pod, remote control (with batteries), audio/video cables (SCART in and SCART out for European version).
iPod video specs:
Holds up to 15,000 songs(2) and full-color album art
30GB model is 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.43 inches; 60GB model is 4.1 x 2.4 x 0.55 inches
Bright 2.5-inch, 320 x 240 pixel TFT display
Up to 20 hours of battery life(5)
Holds up to 25,000 photos(3)
Holds up to 150 hours of video(4)
Plays video or photo slideshows on TV via the optional Dock
Apple Click Wheel
Accessory-compatible Dock connector
Dock works with the new Apple Remote
Charges and syncs via USB
Works with Mac OS X or Windows 2000/XP
Syncs contacts, calendars and to-do lists
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