We’ve already tried both the 8GB and the 250GB models of the Archos 70 running on Android 2.1. Both variants have their own respective advantages and storage capacity is at the center of that. Check out the full review of the Archos 70 after the jump.
Much like it’s bigger sibling, Archos 101, the Archos 70 seems like just the right fit for a portable tablet. It’s very light and slim (as far as the 8GB variant is concerned; the 250GB variant is a bit thicker) with a solid build.
The back panel is covered with a combination of hard plastic and thin sheet of metal (brushed aluminum) with all the four corners peppered with a tiny rubber pad that serves as a stand when the tablet is placed on its back.
For better viewing, there’s also a kickstand at the back so you can position it at and angle on a table or flat surface — great for when playing movies or running a photo viewer.
The screen is bright though not really that crisp (probably has got to do with the resolution or pixel density) nor have that sharp contrast which is understandable for a regular LCD screen. At 800×480, it’s got the same resolution as the 4.3″ HTC Desire HD (so that explains it). It works just fine but don’t expect it to be as sharp or crisp as the display of the iPad or even the previous-generation iPod Touch.
Running a 1GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor really helped in the performance of the device. Apps fire up fast, the videos play smoothly and web browsing is pleasant. HD movie playback is smooth and great; viewing angle is wide enough, maybe over 100 degrees across. Sound quality is good and volume is decent with the speakers all situated at the front.
The tablet does have the Android Market (so are all other Google Apps/Services) out of the box although you can always install it manually. Archos has an alternative app store called AppsLib though it’s not as extensive as the original one. The UI is pretty much basic to Android with up to 4 sliding panels.
Didn’t bother using the VGA camera as it doesn’t take any decent-quality photos. There’s a mini-HDMI port so you can hook up the tablet to an external display (probably to watch HD movies on a bigger screen) while the micro-USB port helps you connect the device to a PC or laptop so you can easily transfer files to and from it. There’s no microSD card slot on the 250GB but there’s one on the 8GB model (corrected).
Archos promises up to 10 hours of battery life on a single full charge. The claim is doable on the 8GB variant but I don’t think the 250GB variant can do the same due to the power-hungry disk drive.
Archos A70 Internet Tablet
7″ display @ 800×480 pixel capacitive screen
1GHz ARM Cortex A8 CPU
720p HD video playback
VGA camera
HDMI, USB ports
8GB Flash or 250GB HDD model
WiFi 802.11 b/g/n
Bluetooth 2.1
Archos 70 250GB price: Php16,990
Archos 70 8GB price: Php15,490
Between the two variants of the Archos 70, I think I’d prefer the 250GB version since it allows me to store more video and music though there’s the obvious drawback in the thickness of the device and slight degradation of battery life. At under Php17k for both, they’re already a good buy though.
mabilis npo malowbat archos 7.0 250gb ko,… saan po service center dito sa pinas?