Disappointed and hopeless product

I have compared many other similar products/features but Archos 604 it is simply worthless product – as compared to many other similar products. It should not cost more than $200 as such!

I am giving lowest ratings for these reasons/problems:


1. A product of $450 and they are so poor that they can’t even supply AV cable? I will cost less than 50 cents for a company if get it from china. iPod cable is available for just $ 3 online. One can even make/modify cable, please see below:
http://www.anythingbutipod.com/archives/2006/04/zen-vision-m-video-cable-other-4pole-35mm-pinouts.php

2. I could not play any movie which were stored in iMac. Mp4 or even AVI movies did not work! Unit displayed a message that we need to buy plug software in from Archos website. It is another trick/gimmicks to cheat people and force them to buy accessories and software. I converted MPEG4 movie to AVI from QuickTime software but it did not play in Archos unit.

3. I was told by a tech person (pre-sale) that this unit gives dual display - on TV as well as in the handheld unit. But once button to TV out was pressed, screen became blank! A major defect! How can I forward or reverse or stop or pause? I have to switch back to unit and then again back to TV. In comparison, once out put to TV is selected in iPod and Vision M (from Creative) these units shows interface on unit though but you can/t see movie in unit itself- but nothing in Archos 604! I wanted to use this product so that I can show movie/clips to audience (by using big screen projector) and be able to watch (at the same time) what is being displayed in handheld unit. But this unit is just hopeless about such regards.

4. I got it from Sams Club and even the sales person was little confused once he read that unit description that it comes with DVR saddle. We did not know what saddle is but we assumed that it is a bundle and comes with a DVR station. However it turned out that a saddle is a piece of junk, which costs no more than few pennies for Archos to manufacture in bulk!

5. Even 20 years old camcorders have technology of using AV cable which can serve both purposes- out to TV and as sell as for recording in camcorder Why Archos did not use same technology? Obviously they wanted to make fool of us- to make a DVR station! It is just anther way of rip off!

6. Most of the times, unit failed and did not work- regarding touch screen features. I had to calibrate several times –built in feature to repair it so much hidden that it was tough to find a way to repair it. It is almost last feature on screen. Even after calibrations, same problems persisted.

7. Audio is very very poor quality (compare with Samsung, creative or ipod nano) . Whether I use flat, rock, live it does not make much difference!

Eventually I returned unit back to Sams Club.