Archos 704 WiFi (40GB, Silver) - Expert Reviews

Review summary: You wouldn't want to jog with this 22-ounce slab o' entertainment, but then again, your iPod doesn't let you check Gmail from the couch. The Linux-based Archos 704 Wi-Fi serves up an intuitive, aesthetically pleasing touchscreen interface on its 6.2 ...

Pros: Connects effortlessly to secure wireless networks. Touch-sensitive screen is a revelation in user interface (fingers or a stylus work seamlessly). Lightning fast digital photo transfer. Analog/digital audio outputs. DVR accessory allows for TiVo-like ...

Cons: Needs $120 in accessories to fully optimize potential. No slot for storing stylus. Web browsing can be sloth-like. Virtual keypad takes practice to get accustomed to. Lacks Bluetooth for wireless stereo connection.

Pros: Smooth video playback on a bright, reasonably sharp screen ; good viewing angle ; A/V recordings are very high quality ; touch screen is responsive to fingers or a stylus ; WiFi features add lots of versatility ; removable battery is a nice touch as ...

Cons: Audible system noise during testing ; built-in video codec support isn't as broad as it should be (additional codecs cost extra) ; have to pay extra to get the hardware required to use the recording features ; Opera browser isn't supported by some Web ...

Verdict: The Archos 704 WiFi multimedia player looks amazing on paper, but the Web browsing isn't quite smooth enough. Still, as a video player it succeeds: the large screen size makes it ideal for planes, trains, and automobiles, though it's too big to be an ...