Archos 5 Plus Review
Posted June 4, 2009 
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Many people have tried the Archos products and been less than satisfied with their performance. If you fit in that category, you might want to give the Archos 5 a shot. This device has been called the sexiest new device on the market lately. Perhaps the best reason to give it a whirl is the interesting tweaks that have been made to the user interface; they have made a huge difference in the product.
If you are in the market for a good portable video player of have had a horrible experience with Archos, hang around for a moment. As with many electronic devices there are always ways they can be better, nevertheless there are quite a number of things to like about the Archos 5.
Unlike many other portable video devices, the Archos 5 is solidly constructed of gunmetal. The only place that plastic is present is on the right and left sides of the player. The only real problems with the construction are the fingerprint and scratching issues. Gunmetal seems to be a magnet for both of these and is a real drag.
A logical way to go is by the use of an attached case, but I think that this would be a blasphemous thing to do. Use the Archos 5, love it and above all enjoy it. Every scratch and scrape marks your identity as well as the interaction that you have with this device. You may want to think about putting a screen protector on this device since it will protect a crucial component and, if it is applied right, will be invisible.
Speaking of the screen this is the first thing you will notice on the Archos 5. It is fantastic; the colors are bright and accurate with a resolution of 800 x 640 and a full 16.7 million colors! This gives the screen a crisp look and accurate color reproduction. Unbelievably this screen is actually much better than many laptops that are on the market. The screen does have a glossy coating, which is nice for images and not so nice in direct sunlight. The Archos 5 is on the money for the most part with the screen.
One feature that has noticeably improved is the accuracy and responsiveness of the touch screen. Another thing that works very well and seems to be fairly accurate is the on screen keyboard. Typing on the screen of the Archos 5’s keyboard is similar to any QWERTY mobile telephone such as Blackberry, Treo, Nokia e71,etc. “Flicking” could use some improvement as the touch screen is sometimes unpredictable and sometimes “sticks”.
The battery life of the Archos 5 has been rated at 12 hours audio and a mere 4 hours on video. There is one main thing to say about the battery; the battery times will be archived after approximately 5 charges and discharges.
If you want a video out option and extension on battery life, you might consider purchasing the battery dock. It is a neat addition but it is somewhat bulky. A sliver type battery that slides onto the back would have been a better option for the Archos 5.
