Archos 20 GB USB 2.0 MP3 Jukebox Recorder $149.88 AR

[bryantp]

Review from Amazon
Amazon.com Product Description
The Archos 20 GB MP3 Jukebox Player/Recorder Special Edition is an updated version of the original Archos portable MP3 Jukebox. You can record up to 300 hours of top quality music in MP3 format directly from any audio source--real-time and on-the-fly. Record directly from a stereo, CD player, portable radio, or microphone via the stereo line-in jack without needing a computer. It is also features a voice recorder with a built-in microphone that you can use to record music or other sounds from any analog or digital sources at bit-rates up to 160 kbps. When you're finished, you can copy your recordings to your PC without any specialized software.
The Archos Jukebox Recorder/Player has a real-time MP3 encoder, plus an MP3 Player and 20 GB hard drive that connects to a computer through an ultra-fast USB 2.0 interface with transfer data speeds up to 480 Mbps. No special software is required to download MP3 songs. Just drag and drop MP3 files using Windows Explorer. Merge your entire collection of MP3's and CD's into one hand-held device. Slip it into your pocket, and listen to all your favorite music wherever you go!

The Archos 20 GB MP3 Jukebox Player Recorder Special Edition can be used as an optional hard disk to store all your data, images, software, etc. With a simple click on the Archos website, you can upgrade the firmware and get additional software extensions.

PC and Mac System Requirements: PC: Pentium 233 MHz or higher. Windows 98SE, ME, 2000 or XP32 MB RAM (64 MB recommended). CD-ROM Drive with digital audio extraction support. Mac: OS 9.2 or X. iMac, G3 or higher. USB Manager version 1.2 or higher.

This product comes with a 1 year warranty on parts and labor.

Link

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Repost from the Egghead - Go for $220 and higher on Pricegrabber/Pricewatch/Newegg

 

[Goosemaster]

Pro: Fantastic Initial Value. Quite a variety of features and a nice chunck of space

Con: Reliability and durability are out the door on this one..of and it's fugly

You can't beat the price/capacity ratio though so if you want it as a standby player or as a low use player, this is for you.

 

[DaveSimmons]

Yes, definitely read the user reviews at Amazon before deciding to buy it, a lot of semi-happy and unhappy reviewers.

 

[rasputinj]

Looks like a good deal?

A little worried about the reliability, the description of it as fugly was great.

For that cheap might take a chance, do not care about how it looks.

 

[weepul]

archos really needs a new designer. they get uglier every time they make a new model.

//krunk (^_^x)

 

[cyberia]

This thing has an amazing number of features if you load Rockbox firmware on it. However, it is a bit oversized and heavy (and unreliable?) for active use. I had their original 6GB Jukebox, and it was massive.

I am hesitant because of the size. Otherwise I would be snatching it really fast.

 

[TheBigCheese]

I have one of these (mine is the V1, I think this is the later version, V2). I'm very happy with it. because of the reliability issues, I bought an extended warrantee from buy.com but never had to use it.

For $150, it's not an iPod but OTOH, mine has replaceable AA batteries instead of the $100 battery in the iPod, it records, and the open-source Rockbox is great!

 

[wallsfd949]

I'm consideing this for a project for a nationwide speaker who travels alone. He would attach this to his belt and wear a lapel mic (I noticed that Archos makes one to go with their player for total cost - player+mic - of $200.00 AR).
I noticed that weight is 10oz w/ the internal battery. How does this stack up against the rip flash plus from pogoproducts? The RipFlash is light at 66g or 2.33 oz w/out batteries.
However, the low available recording time of the RipFlash could pose a problem....

If only Apple wern't so freakin proprietary.... belkin has a 'voice' recorder that uses the remote control input to record audio into the ipod. It is in mono .wav so quality is very high, and at 15GB, recording time would be great. But I'd have to spend more $ and disect a product as we need a lapel mic. :frown:

Any suggestions on either the RipFlash or Archos Jukebox?