Archos 480 PVR - Personal Video Recorder
What exactly is this device? Archos sells this as a Personal Video Recorder, a personal version of the category made famous by TiVo.
The Archos 480 PVR is great, but it certainly doesn't replace my TiVo, or for that matter, my computer based PVR. At the same time, I'm really happy to have and carry it with me all over the place.
Can it record all your T.V. progrmas for you? Well, yes, It can. But,... what good is a device that is supposed to sit around recording your programs for you if your going to want to take it with you on the road (where it can't be recording for you any more.) These guys got the details down, but missed the big point.
They may have jsut settled on marketing it as a PVR because it was the best use they could nail down that they figured the market would buy. But, there are many others uses for this device.
It would be great as a portable security camera recorder. With 80 gigs, you should be able to put an awful lot of video on the Archos 480.
Rather than a PVR I look at it as a very versatile device for techies. Archos must have been thinking this as well. Why else would they have included a Flash Memory reader on the side. A PVR with an 80 gig harddrive does need access to Flash Memory. Even if you come up with a use case, I bet it would include recording to the Flash Memory which is not supported. Compact Flash cards are read-only.
The version I bought has an 80 Gigabyte harddrive. Mine is full already, but much of that is just stuff in transport. It's a very fast harddrive and paired with a USB 2.0 cable you have a huge portable harddrive that can run on batteries for a while if needed. Back up your laptop in the field and you'll still probably have some space left for your favorite shows.
A few weeks ago I went on an international trip and took the 480 with me. I used it to back up photos from my compact flash cards (a great use for the 480 that would justiy it's expense for a pro photographer. In fact, it's better at this than devices dedicated to this purpose; and faster at it.)
So how do you get your shows recorded. My answer is Beyond TV on a dedicated PC. This is a subject for another review but their's a lot to be said for using a PC for your DVR, especially if you have an Archos 480. They make a poweful combination. The word synergy comes to mind...
I'm not saying you can't record with the Archos. I tried it out jsut for kicks. It does a great job.
It was odd to me to find that the Archos 480 can not charge from a USB port. So, I figured out a way to do it.
Interestingly, the Archos 480 is powered by a five volt plug with a positive center tap. To many people, that means nothing. Interestingly though, this plug and voltage configuration is also used by some other products I have. Spcifically, this is the same voltage USB ports supply.
My old Nokia phone could be charged from a USB post with a special cable. After making my own cable, I found that this cable was exactly the same configuration. :(
Now I have two of these cables and never use the one I made.
Since I view this as an in-the field device, I was anxious to buy the portable version of the 480's video cable. This cable provides the most critical functions of the docking station. When the price on the website changed from "coming soon" to "$19.95", I placed an order. That was two weeks ago. All I can get back at Archos is voice mail. My e-mail hasn't been answered either. :(
As an amatuer photographer, one of my favorite uses for this device is to back-up my photo cards in the field.
There next great thing coming rom Archos looks a lot like the Archos 400 series with an even bigger verison of "What exactly is this device?" Their new device will include PIM functionality and access to the Linux OS. It's too big to be a PDA. Too small to be the perfect media center.
If you don't have an immediate need, I would wait and see how this new device plays out. It seems well positioned to have a cult following that stays dedicate to the device long after comany does while never reaching mainstream use.
Probably though it will be just right for a lot of techy users looking for the gadget that does a lot and does it well. I imagine there will be a lot of one-off uses for this device that only it will fill. I have already seen some Archos's video devices in "spy equiptment" stores.
The Archos 480 PVR is great, but it certainly doesn't replace my TiVo, or for that matter, my computer based PVR. At the same time, I'm really happy to have and carry it with me all over the place.
Can it record all your T.V. progrmas for you? Well, yes, It can. But,... what good is a device that is supposed to sit around recording your programs for you if your going to want to take it with you on the road (where it can't be recording for you any more.) These guys got the details down, but missed the big point.
They may have jsut settled on marketing it as a PVR because it was the best use they could nail down that they figured the market would buy. But, there are many others uses for this device.
It would be great as a portable security camera recorder. With 80 gigs, you should be able to put an awful lot of video on the Archos 480.
Rather than a PVR I look at it as a very versatile device for techies. Archos must have been thinking this as well. Why else would they have included a Flash Memory reader on the side. A PVR with an 80 gig harddrive does need access to Flash Memory. Even if you come up with a use case, I bet it would include recording to the Flash Memory which is not supported. Compact Flash cards are read-only.
The version I bought has an 80 Gigabyte harddrive. Mine is full already, but much of that is just stuff in transport. It's a very fast harddrive and paired with a USB 2.0 cable you have a huge portable harddrive that can run on batteries for a while if needed. Back up your laptop in the field and you'll still probably have some space left for your favorite shows.
A few weeks ago I went on an international trip and took the 480 with me. I used it to back up photos from my compact flash cards (a great use for the 480 that would justiy it's expense for a pro photographer. In fact, it's better at this than devices dedicated to this purpose; and faster at it.)
So how do you get your shows recorded. My answer is Beyond TV on a dedicated PC. This is a subject for another review but their's a lot to be said for using a PC for your DVR, especially if you have an Archos 480. They make a poweful combination. The word synergy comes to mind...
I'm not saying you can't record with the Archos. I tried it out jsut for kicks. It does a great job.
It was odd to me to find that the Archos 480 can not charge from a USB port. So, I figured out a way to do it.
Interestingly, the Archos 480 is powered by a five volt plug with a positive center tap. To many people, that means nothing. Interestingly though, this plug and voltage configuration is also used by some other products I have. Spcifically, this is the same voltage USB ports supply.
My old Nokia phone could be charged from a USB post with a special cable. After making my own cable, I found that this cable was exactly the same configuration. :(
Now I have two of these cables and never use the one I made.
Since I view this as an in-the field device, I was anxious to buy the portable version of the 480's video cable. This cable provides the most critical functions of the docking station. When the price on the website changed from "coming soon" to "$19.95", I placed an order. That was two weeks ago. All I can get back at Archos is voice mail. My e-mail hasn't been answered either. :(
As an amatuer photographer, one of my favorite uses for this device is to back-up my photo cards in the field.
There next great thing coming rom Archos looks a lot like the Archos 400 series with an even bigger verison of "What exactly is this device?" Their new device will include PIM functionality and access to the Linux OS. It's too big to be a PDA. Too small to be the perfect media center.
If you don't have an immediate need, I would wait and see how this new device plays out. It seems well positioned to have a cult following that stays dedicate to the device long after comany does while never reaching mainstream use.
Probably though it will be just right for a lot of techy users looking for the gadget that does a lot and does it well. I imagine there will be a lot of one-off uses for this device that only it will fill. I have already seen some Archos's video devices in "spy equiptment" stores.
posted by Christian Farmer at 9:38 AM
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