Quote:
Originally Posted by brecklundin
Shel,
I really do see why many are tepid toward the Nook. Interesting device but I have pretty much dismissed it, for now, due to the tiny LCD panel which is of very limited use.
The Archos 9 is exactly the portable tablet/reader which i could be convinced to buy. Still I would be in the SSD/Flash memory group of users, as long as it has the microSDHC slot I'm golden for data storage.
The one drawback is I would want to use it outdoors often as well as away from power. So, like you, but for a different reason, I would want to see some real world results once it's out there in numbers. The 3-4hr battery live mentioned in the vids was also pointed out as just a guess and based on a non-optimized build of the device. Still no way I could manage life using a device with 3-4hrs battery life. I would rather give in to an extra 10-12oz or so of battery additional weight than accept such low power capacity. To me a portable device that needs constant charging is sort of pointless and self defeating. I am hopeful time will provide them with better performance.
And I see why you have been drooling over it...to me this is the level of device I had been expecting over this final quarter of 2009 and early in 2010. Also probably why I will take a look at a small 5" reader (Pocketbook 360 is currently my front runner) for reading on my walks and hikes...
Anyway, I found a few more details here:
http://www.umpcportal.com/products/Archos/9/
Seems most of the details for reviewers are assumptions of non-committal like responses from Archos. One thing I LOVE is it has a MATTE finish display. That is a BIG plus for anyone wanting to actually use it as a mobile device, especially in an office environment where a larger gloss LCD panel can be near impossible to use due to the bright overhead lighting as well as the usual white walls in most offices.
Anyway, I did mention to the mods if this thread belongs here in News or should be in the "Other Devices" forum, just mentioning it in case it moves on ya!! 
Here is to hoping there will be a device just like the Archos 9 but with a 3Qi panel, an Intel ULV processor, better battery life and a more robust version of Win7 to get the real tablet features built into Win7. Still I really have serious lust for this device at the announce $499 price point... |
There is a thread in the "Other Devices" forum already on this topic, and I believe it has been announced that there is no SD slot, however, there is USB, so a USB stick for extra storage would work. Not as ideal as an SD slot, which is almost completely enclosed and therefore much less likely to get broken, but it's still workable. In that thread, I've mentioned that the 60 gig internal storage the Archos 9 comes with should be sufficient for my needs, since I can freely move things between my desktop PC and the Archos via wifi or usb. I am a firm believer in redundancy, all my stuff is backed up about four places, and even one offsite (in case of a house fire). I too have "a serious lust" (love that...) for this product, and can't wait to get some serious extended time reviews on it. I too would LOVE to see a device just like this with a Pixel Qi screen, but I'm not going to wait on one...this baby will be mine after the first of the year, barring some seriously horrible hands on reviews.