Release Date:September 1, 2006 Availability:Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Features:
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Lightweight and portable digital video, movie, music player and photo viewer with easy-to-use, intuitive controls and a bright 4.3-inch TFT LCD screen
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30 gigabyte hard disk lets you store up to 15,000 songs, 300,000 pictures, or 85 movies, or any combination thereof
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Compatible with MP3, WAV, WMA and protected WMA music files, JPEG, BMP, and PNG picture files, and MPEG-4 and WMV video files
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Uses high-speed USB 2.0 for both file transfers and charging, and includes a removable, rechargeable Lithium-Ion polymer battery with up to 16 hours of music and 5 hours of video life
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Lets you play music through a stereo or videos over your TV via an optional docking station, weighs only 9.05 ounces, and measures approximately 5.1 x 3 x 0.65 inches (W x H x D)
Product Description The ARCHOS 604 is the perfect companion for people on the move: its 30 GB hard drive capacity allows you to store up to 130 hours of video encoded with a PC, the equivalent of 85 movies. Play them on the built-in 4.3" LCD color screen or playback on TV in high resolution up to 480x272 (DVD quality) with the DVR station. Play a large variety of video files, including MPEG-4, WMV and protected WMV and read MPEG-4 ( MP4 QuickTime files), MPEG-24, and VOB with optional software plug-ins. The ARCHOS 604 also offers many more functionalities such as slow motion, adjustable screen size, video editing and even a video bookmarking function. Transform your ARCHOS 604 into a Digital Video Recorder with the optional DVR station. Record TV or most video sources such as satellite/cable box, VCR, DVD player or camcorder in MPEG-4 format. Set up the DVR station by connecting it to the external video source; simply slot in your ARCHOS and record instantaneously or make scheduled recordings with the included infrared receiver that controls the external video sources. Photo viewer - JPEG, BMP, PNG - Transfer directly your photos from a digital camera with the optional Docking adapter Package includes - ARCHOS 604, headphones, dedicated USB 2.0 cable, Lithium-Ion Polymer battery, DVR station adapter, pouch, instructions Minimum system requirements - For PC - Windows ME, 2000, XP, Media Center; Macintosh - OS X or higher (with USB Mass Storage Class support), Linux (with mass storage device support), USB port / For PlaysForSure video and subscription services - PC with Windows XP SP 2 or higher, Windows Media Player 10 or higher, USB 2.0 port Unit Dimensions & weight - Approx. 130 x 78 x 17 mm - 5.1? x 3? x 0.65? Approx. 255 gr. - 9.05 oz
Amazon.com Product Description With the Archos 500860 604 30GB Ultra-Slim Portable Digital Media Player and Recorder you have all the entertainment you need at your fingertips, in a package that approaches iPod size. The perfect companion for everything from long trips to short bus rides, from going to parties to just hanging out around the house, the Archos 604 lets you not only take your favorite music, movies, and moments with you, but helps you make new favorite moments wherever you happen to be.
With a screen size surface three times that of similar size PMPs (portable media players), the Archos 604 ensures you can thoroughly enjoy movies and videos. This unit uses a bright, 4.3-inch TFT LCD display with over 16 million colors to provide you a crystal-clear, sharp picture with a 16:9 aspect ratio and 480 x 272 pixels of resolution, as well as an intuitive GUI (graphic user interface) for easy-to-use navigation. The Archos 604 not only plays your videos and movies, but lets you store up to a whopping 85 movies on its hard drive in either MPEG-4 or WMV formats at up to DVD resolution. You can also purchase and download optional plug-ins from Archos' website that will allow you to play H.264 and MPEG-2 formats up to DVD resolutions as well.
Not only is the Archos 604 a portable video and movie player, but a high-resolution photo viewer as well, complete with features such as zoom, music, and transition effects. You can easily download photos from your PC, or transfer them directly to the 604 from your digital camera via the optional docking adapter. This unit is compatible with JPEG, BMP, and PNG file formats, and can hold up to 300,000 photos at a time, depending upon file size and what else you are storing at the same time. The Archos 604 can even read and display PDF documents for on-the-fly work situations, although it may not implement all PDF features.
For those times when you can't afford the distraction of watching high-quality videos, the Archos 604 can be your music player, storing and playing up to 15,000 songs so you can keep working, walking, or doing whatever you need with your own private soundtrack. This unit displays the track, artist, album, and album cover of whatever you are playing, and supports stereo MP3 decoding from 30 to 320 kbps CBR and VBR, as well as WMA, protected WMA, and WAV (PCM/ADPCM) formats. Furthermore, the Archos 604 can play AAC music files, and AC3 stereo sound files with the additional of optional software plug-ins that can be purchased and downloaded from Archos' web site. And just in case inspiration strikes or you want to make sure you don't forget something important, this handy media player lets you make voice recordings through its built-in microphone, or via the optional DVR travel adapter or DVR station through a stereo line-in jack in WAV format.
The Archos 604 is fully compatible with DVD-quality VOD (video on demand) and online music stores, allowing you to purchase and download new music and movies directly online rather than having to transfer everything from more traditional media sources. This media player can also record directly from TV in high-quality MPEG-4 with stereo sound via the optional DVR station, so you can take your favorite television shows with you wherever you go. And if you are at home, the Archos 604 can play back any of your movies or recorded TV programs on your television itself, also through the optional DVR station.
The Archos 604 has a built-in 30 gigabyte hard disk so you have plenty of space for anything you need, and includes a high-speed USB 2.0 connection for transferring files. This unit features a 3.5-millimeter stereo headphone jack mini-jack and TV output, dedicated connectors for hooking up optional adapters or the DVR station, and a built-in kick stand for convenient table-top viewing. The 604 also features a music playback time of up to 16 hours, and a video playback time of up to five hours on its built-in LCD display, all with its internal, removable lithium-ion polymer rechargeable battery that charges via computer through its USB port, or more quickly with the optional docking adapter or DVR station. The Archos 604 is compatible with both PCs and Macs with a USB port and Linux, Windows ME or higher, or OS X or higher, and requires Windows XP with Service Pack 2 or higher and Windows Media Player 10 or higher for use with PlayForSure video and subscription services. This media player allows firmware updates to be downloaded via www.archos.com, weighs approximately 9.05 ounces, and measures approximately 5.1 x 3 x 0.65 inches (W x H x D).
What's in the Box Archos 604 portable media player and recorder, headphones, dedicated USB 2.0 cable, DVR station adapter, pouch, quick-start guide, and legal and safety notices.
the best of the bestAugust 9, 2008 this thing is the best. easy to use, holds all my music and videos and then some. no need to install any programs just plug in and go!
Archos 604 DVR - prone to breakFebruary 12, 2008 0 out of 1 found this review helpful
The device is fine, but I'm about to get a 2nd RMA. These things are prone to failure.
Great for watching movies, not so much for audio on the go.November 30, 2007 I've had the Archos 604 30gb for about 2 months now, and I've been using it practically every day. It's a fantastic PVP, and when it comes to watching videos on the go, I think the screen size is right in the sweet spot. Any smaller (I used to have a Zen Vision: M) and you tend to get eye strain or motion sickness; any bigger and it becomes too heavy. Anyway, here are my major pros and cons:
Pros *Great screen! The resolution is not the highest out there, but the size and contrast keep videos looking great. I Compared it with my friend's Zen Vision and his resolution was a bit sharper, but the Archos' viewing angle was far superior.
*Audio quality is great, and audio enhancements like an EQ and Bass Boost are included.
*Nice option between Mass Storage Device or Win. Media device.
*Fantastic base price. Mine was a steal at $180 refurbished.
Cons: *Silly button layout that takes some getting used to and requires two hands (one to support the device, one to push buttons) to operate. Very difficult to operate blindly.
*Blasé design. Ok let me be honest... It's just plain ugly compared to the slick curves of the Zen or iPod product lines.
*Limited video format support out of the box. You can purchase an upgrade for $20.
and the most nagging con... *DELICATE!! I know it has a spinning physical hard drive in there, but this thing is touchy to the point of frustration. Just the slightest tap or bump to the device while it's reading the drive will cause it to lock up, at which point you have to remove the battery (!) and press a Reset button with a pointy object. You don't lose any data except the time and date, but I must admit I feel pretty darn silly dismantling my device and resetting it in the train, on the street, at work, walking around, etc etc. I can honestly say it's crashed 40 - 50 times already in the past 2 months. I'm sure these crashes will destroy the drive eventually as well.
The bottom line: If you are like me and like to listen to music on the go, make sure you stuff this thing into the included case (at which point it's the size of a small book), or be ready for lots of hard disk lockups. But load this baby up with some TV episodes or Movies, find a nice comfy place to sit, and the Archos 604 with its great screen and adequate battery life (about 4 hrs) really shines.
Get the dockOctober 31, 2007 I purchased this unit from Amazon last May and use it primarily for travel. Before a trip, I choose some interesting movies from Netflix, pop the movie in my DVD player and record it to the Archos. The screen is so nice that people sitting by me on airplanes ask about it.
Since I have used it for several months, I have some observations:
1. With the dock (which, in my opinion, should be included with it), you can record directly from a DVD player or DVR. I have recorded programs on my Dish Network DVR and then just played them later, recording them to the Archos.
2. On an airplane, the audio is really too low (even at full blast) unless you have noise canceling headphones. I tried the earbuds and could hardly hear my movies. My Bose noise-canceling headphones give me a great experience with the Archos on an airplane.
3. I subscribed to Urge subscription music, which was dovetailed with Windows Media Player 11, and subscription music worked fine. I downloaded lots of subscription music to the Archos and as long as you did a sync at least once a month, the DRM dates would be updated by WMP automatically. Alas, Urge merged with Rhapsody a few weeks ago and guess what? Rhapsody is not compatible with the Archos. Neither is Napster. So if you use subscription music, this player isn't much good. Obviously, your purchased music and CD rips work fine on it.
4. I would like to see a better way to manage files on it. Deleting files from it to make room on the hard drive is easy enough, but I haven't found a way to delete whole folders. For example, I can easily delete individual songs from an album, but there's nothing on the menu that lets you delete the album all at once. Little quirks like that make using it take some getting used to.
5. It is a little heaver than most similar devices, and I haven't found it very good if I am walking or running ... a smaller mp3 player would be better for that. But for video during travel, it can't be beat.
Overall, I consider this a good purchase and love my unit. I bought an extra battery (video sucks battery pretty good, but I can generally watch at least 2 full-length movies before the battery dies) and the dock, and would highly recommend both purchases if you want to use this unit. Of course that adds to the overall price so keep that in mind when comparing, at least if you want to get full functionality from it.
Dude, Sweeet!October 5, 2007 This Product is absolutely fab darlings! I've just recently bought my Archos and have had it now for about a month and am enjoying every inch of it. All the great things about it have been mentioned in the other reviews, but the thing that I just went ga-ga for is not having to pay to put movies on this thing. Also, I'm not a big fan of the questionable things we view in movies; every now and then I'd just like to watch a wholesome movie not tainted with drugs, sex, profanity, and violence. So when I'm recording movies on my Archos I like to do what movie makers call, "jump cuts," where I pause the recording when a scene in a movie comes up that I don't care for viewing, and resume recording when its over. So when I finally watch the movie, any contents I didn't want in it won't be. How cool is that?! Works out great with the kiddies.
The Archos doesn't hurt your pockets either. Again, as was mentioned before, its reasonably priced for all the things you can do with it unlike the ipod. Its funny cause each time I buy a media player or MP3 player I compare them to those rinky dink iPods, but they can never measure up. You buy an iPod for this price you get music, videos, and pictures. You by the Archos you get movies, TV shows, music, photos, digital camera connection capability, PDF capability (my favorite), audio recording (also my favorite), TV playback with the DVR dock station, or all these tarveling with the DVR Travel Dock. Is that a Steal or what?
The only things I didn't like about the Archos 604, which wasn't enough to make me get rid of it or not purchase it, is the fact that the buttons don't light up(making it hard to navigate at night or if you just happen to be in a dark area; this can be remedied by buying the Archos' with the touch screens), and it didn't have an FM tunner(not that it really needs this feature, but it couldn't hurt.).
I Compared the Archos to the Zen that I have by Creative. And I must say, although they're both great buys, I use my Archos the most. I don't see why more people don't use these as opposed to the iPod. And if it appears right now that I'm abasing ipod, I'm not. They're just not the better buy.
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