In my day job I travel a heck of a lot. I think at the last count I had taken over 170 flights in the past 18 months. Don’t even ask me to work out my carbon footprint. For anyone who has been on a long haul flight you know one of your biggest problems is boredom. The in-flight entertainment is either very poor or you have seen it before, probably on the last flight you took a few weeks previous. So what’s a person to do? Take my advice and invest in an personal media player from Archos, such as the 605 Wi-Fi model.

I know for many when they first think about a personal media player they think Apple. Well in my opinion if you want movies on the go then forget about the iPod, and think Archos. The 605, 5th generation model, comes with a vibrant 4.5″ touch screen, which in my opinon is a perfect combination for those who want to watch more than just video podcasts. The addition of wi-fi and web browser means that you also get quite a pleasant Internet experience - YouTube anyone? My concern when I heard that the 605 would have a wi-fi enabled browser was that the quality of the main feature, media playing, would be sacrificed. I should not have worried as Archos have managed to deliver a great experience for both.

Given that the 605 supports JPG, MP3, AVI, WAV, WMA, MPEG-4, MPEG-2 and WMV, it’s fortunate that this beast comes in 30GB, 80GB and 160GB models. Another new addition is a funky little kickstand which is sturdy enough to allow the player to stand alone without fear of it toppling over. I’ve been an Archos fan, and indeed owner, since the first generation models, and they certainly have improved in both the feature and looks department. Looks however don’t mean that Arhcos have forgotten about build quality,  and I find the player feels just right in the hand, but can also take a knock or two.

One downside to the Archos range is that if you wish to record from your TV you need to invest in the separate DVR module, which allows you to record directly from your TV. This is one of my main uses of the Archos and quite regularly find myself watching Match of The Day somewhere across the Atlantic - I can spot the jealousy of the passenger beside me who is forced to watch a re-run of The Darling Buds of May.

For me the Archos is one of the first gadgets I pack when travelling and would recommend one to anyone who spends any serious amount of time away from home.

Posted on November 28th, 2007 by nigel