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Portable video player powerhouses |
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 James Kim Senior editor |
November 21, 2005
Long before the video-enabled Apple iPod hit the market, companies such as Archos and Creative established themselves as portable video pioneers with the launch of a variety of devices that played video, in addition to MP3s and digital audio. While the iPod boasts a gorgeous screen and an easy way to download and play back video content (via the iTunes Music Store), it is an MP3 player first and foremost, as the small screen and paltry video battery life attest. If you're aching for a true portable video player, with a big screen and decent battery life, check out the current crop, which includes the Archos AV500 Mobile DVR, Cowon's impressive A2, and Creative's Zen Vision--a.k.a. the big three. If you want a huge screen, check out the AV700 Mobile DVR, and if you want something pocketable, try the Archos Gmini 402 Camcorder, which has a video and a still camera built right into its svelte body. And if you're a Windows Media Center zealot, you can still find some satisfaction in the aging Zen PMC, though it's still a pricey piece. More resources
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| Product name |
Archos AV500 Mobile DVR (100GB) 
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Archos AV700 Mobile DVR (100GB) |
Archos Gmini 402 Camcorder (20GB) |
Cowon A2 (30GB) |
Creative Zen Vision (30GB, White) |
Creative Zen Portable Media Center |
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| Review date | November 11, 2005 | October 11, 2005 | February 9, 2006 | February 1, 2006 | October 4, 2005 | September 1, 2004 |
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Editors' rating (Editors' rating explained) |
8.3
Excellent |
6.7
Good |
8.0
Excellent |
8.0
Excellent |
7.7
Very good |
7.0
Very good |
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| Buying choices |
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| Review summary | The well-appointed Archos AV500 puts wide-screen video in your pocket, but we're still waiting for a point-and-click way to get video into the device. | Proof positive that bigger isn't always better, the Archos AV700 fails to make the most of its wide-screen LCD. | The Archos Gmini 402 Camcorder looks more attractive than ever, now that it's added a camcorder and a still camera to its long list of music and video features. | The Cowon A2 is a sleek portable video player with a bright, wide-screen color LCD, as well as full multimedia recording and playback capabilities, but it's not the most efficient device. Plus, it's in desperate need of Windows Media DRM 10 (Janus) compatibility. | The Creative Zen Vision, a dazzling but occasionally frustrating personal media player, handles video and music with aplomb, all for a tantalizingly low price. | Eight months after its announcement, the Creative Zen PMC is finally here. Despite its bulk, the player is solid, but it's the Microsoft Portable Media Center software that deserves most of the praise. |
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| Product series | See all products in this series | See all products in this series | N/A | See all products in this series | See all products in this series | N/A |
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| User comments | 7.7 Very good (from 29 users) | 7.7 Very good (from 26 users) | 7.3 Very good (from 21 users) | 8.5 Excellent (from 56 users) | 8.3 Excellent (from 25 users) | 7.7 Very good (from 16 users) |
| Basic Specs | ||||||
| Device type | Digital AV recorder | Digital AV recorder | Digital AV recorder | Digital AV recorder | Portable media center | Portable media center |
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| Key multimedia features | Video capture from external source , Digital audio player , External HDD function , Digital video player , Digital audio recorder , Digital photo viewer | Video capture from external source , Digital audio player , External HDD function , Digital video player , Digital audio recorder , Digital photo viewer | Digital audio player , Voice recorder , External HDD function , Digital video player , Game console , Digital audio recorder , Digital photo viewer | Video capture from external source , Digital audio player , Voice recorder , External HDD function , Digital video player , Digital audio recorder , FM tuner , Digital photo viewer | Digital audio player , Voice recorder , Digital video player , Memory card reader , FM tuner , Digital photo viewer | Digital audio player , Digital video player , Digital photo viewer |
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| Compatibility | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | PlaysForSure Audio | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | MS Windows XP Media Center compatible |
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| Hard drive | 100 GB | 100 GB | 20 GB | 30 GB | 30 GB | 20 GB |
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| Flash memory cards supported | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | CompactFlash Card type II , CompactFlash Card type I | Info unavailable |
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| TV standards supported | PAL , NTSC | Info unavailable | PAL , NTSC | PAL , NTSC | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
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| Display type | LCD 4 in - Color | LCD 7 in - Color | LCD 2.2 in - Color | TFT 4 in - Color | LCD 3.7 in - Color | LCD 3.8 in - Color |
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| Sensor | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | - CCD | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
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| Digital zoom | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | 2 | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
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| Supported still images formats | JPEG , BMP | JPEG , BMP | JPEG , BMP | JPEG , BMP , PNG | JPEG | JPEG |
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| Playback image resolution (max) | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | 12 megapixels | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
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| Supported audio formats | WMA , WAV , Protected WMA (DRM) , MP3 | WMA , WAV , MP3 | WMA , WAV , Protected WMA (DRM) , PCM , ADPCM | WMA , ASF , AC-3 , WAV , Ogg Vorbis , MP3 | WMA , Protected WMA (DRM) , MP3 | WMA , MP3 |
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| Video playback formats | MPEG-4 SP , MPEG-4 , AVI , WMV | MPEG-4 SP , MPEG-4 , WMV , DivX , DivX 5.0 , DivX 4.0 | MPEG-4 SP | XviD , MPEG-4 SP , AVI , WMV , DivX 3.11 , DivX 5.0 , DivX 4.0 | XviD , MPEG-4 SP , MPEG-1 , Motion JPEG , MPEG-2 , WMV , DivX 5.0 , DivX 4.0 | WMV |
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| Video capture formats | MPEG-4 SP | MPEG-4 SP | Info unavailable | MPEG-4 | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
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| Radio | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | 76 - 108 MHz | Info unavailable | Info unavailable |
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| PC interfaces | Hi-Speed USB | Hi-Speed USB | Hi-Speed USB | Hi-Speed USB | USB | Hi-Speed USB |
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| Battery technology | Lithium ion | Lithium ion | Lithium ion | Lithium polymer | Lithium ion | Lithium ion |
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| Included accessories | Stereo headphones , TV Tuner Recorder / Docking Station , Carrying case , Remote control , Audio cable , Video cable | Stereo headphones , TV Tuner Recorder / Docking Station , Carrying case , Remote control | Stereo headphones , USB host cable , USB cable , Carrying pouch , AC adapter | Stereo headphones , USB host cable , USB cable , Carrying case , AV cable , Hand strap , Audio cable , AC adapter | Stereo headphones , USB cable , Carrying case , AV cable , AC adapter | Stereo headphones , USB cable , Carrying case , AV cable , AC adapter |
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| Width | 4.9 in | 8.2 in | 4.2 in | 5.2 in | 4.9 in | 5.7 in |
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| Depth | 0.9 in | 0.7 in | 2.4 in | 0.9 in | 0.8 in | 1.1 in |
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| Height | 3 in | 4.2 in | 0.7 in | 3.1 in | 2.9 in | 3.2 in |
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| Weight | 11.1 oz | 20.8 oz | 5.6 oz | 10.5 oz | 8.4 oz | 12 oz |
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| Color | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | Info unavailable | White | Info unavailable |
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| Product name |
Archos AV500 Mobile DVR (100GB)
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Archos AV700 Mobile DVR (100GB) | Archos Gmini 402 Camcorder (20GB) | Cowon A2 (30GB) | Creative Zen Vision (30GB, White) | Creative Zen Portable Media Center |
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| Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications | Full specifications |
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| Price range | Email me when this product is available |
 Check latest prices$899 from 1 store |
Check latest prices $299 from 1 store | Email me when this product is available |
Check latest prices $344-$489 from 2 stores | Email me when this product is available |
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