ARCHOS Multimedia 20 - works with Mandrake

[Gowator]

This is a very cool device, especailly if you wanted an external drive anyway. 500 euros or less.

Basically its a 20GB drive with USB 1.1 as standard and an option for USB2.0 or Firewire. (More later on that).

It also has stereo out/TV out. So anything you can see on the tiny 1" screen you can see on TV or hear through an amp.

 

It also has an audio in that rips to mp3 and a builyt in microphone.

The whole thing works as a USB Mass stoage and is thus faultless under linux mandrake. The only problem for me at the moment is Im having problems getting usb 2.0 working properly so its being used in usb 1.1.

 

You can stick as many mp3's as you have tinme for on there. you have 20GB after all. Of course you can play them too. Ripping is a bit awkward since you need to manually break by pressing a button if your recording a whole CD into seperate tracks.

 

You can also watch movies but they must be in simple MP4 with sound in MP3. Video out cable direct to a hotel Tv is great.

 

In addition it comes with optional accessories:

Smart/mmc card readers. USB2.0 lightning fast transfer to/from your storage card. I use this facility when travelling to empty my camera on a daily basis. Once downloaded you can browse your pictures of course.

 

Camera Module: Basically 1.1 MPixel camera plugs in, don't have one so can't comment further. Also decodes straight to MP4 for movies.

 

Video Module

Basically a video recording module with remote. Allows direct MP4 recording on the fly.

 

Hold fire on buying because the newer ones are comiong out but an outstanding device. Basically it replaces a laptop for entertainment when travelling. download photos, watch movies on hotel TV, listen to music all on a 2 1/2" inch HDD.

 

Will submit more as I get the time;

http://www.archos.com

 

Update:

I just ordered the MP4 ripping hardware for 50 euros.

I'm pretty impressed all-round with the device and surprised they don't bother with saying it works under Linux....

 

If you look at the NEWEST ... it looks a lot like a QT interface on the frame buffer!

 

Considering its about the same price as a portable DVD but with the ability of ripping your own stuff I still think its reasonablly priced.

 

I ordered a spare specialist VIDEO/Steeo out cable because I thought I'd lost my old one and had a panic. ?5.99 is pretty reasonable (I think) I mean you'd pay the same for a non custom 1/8th inch to stereo RCA cable in a dept store so the fact this is custom and I'm not ripped off is pretty good.

Also can't get over the 50?/$ price for the hw MPEG with remote...

Its like the same proce as a decoder (hollywood/creative) but doing a lot more and comes with remote...