Buy the Apple not the Artichoke!
Written: Jul 31 '03
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Pros: Moderately priced, adequate controls.
Cons: Large, heavy, poor display, *not* Mac compatible
The Bottom Line: A prediction: a year after purchase, the Apple iPod will still make you grin from ear to ear. The Artichoke (!) Jukebox will be garage sale fodder.
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| rancidswill's Full Review: Archos Jukebox Recorder 20GB MP3 Player |
I was completely stunned by every aspect of this ghastly product. Firstly, it comes hopelessly sealed in a blister pack (as one would expect of a low-grade consumer electronic product) which requires a blow-torch and hacksaw to open. Yet, open it did—in an explosion of parts, after some significant effort. Now, this is a small concern I grant you, but the packaging was merely antecedent to the horrors to come.
The unit itself is styled (if you can call it that) like one of those “Heavy Hands” mini dumbbells that power walkers use. And it weighs as much, far more than even the old Sony Walkmans, much more than any mobile electronic product I’ve ever seen. The frightful weight is aggravated by the astonishingly huge dimensions. Its like holding a brick even for someone of my size, smaller folk need not apply. Imagine strapping something akin to a block of lead to your belt, backpack, etc., then going out for a stroll across campus or a jog through the park with this monstrosity pounding against your body unmercifully. Fun, huh?
My review of the unit’s performance almost didn’t come to pass as one must actually upload music to the player before one can evaluate the rendering thereof. Uploading is facilitated by a rather mediocre bit of supplied software: MusicMatch Jukebox, yet the software was the best of all the features of this product. Thankfully, Archos *does* supply a USB cable, a happy surprise considering the multitude of other glaring omissions.
Connecting was easy, and the software did condescend to acknowledge the unit upon initialization, it did accept an upload of a couple of test MP3s, and the unit did play said MP3s. But apparently Archos assumes we dull-witted consumers will tolerate listening to music through their Rube Goldbergesque earphones. These are hinged in the middle, jointed at the earpiece, and padded by some rather fragile foam rubber covers (removable for easy losing!). I would characterize this contraption more as some sort of medieval torture device rather than earphones. ‘Twas a stroke of engineering genius to be able to design earphones that will fit absolutely no one in the world. Be ready to buy after-market replacements forthwith.
The software, while a bit counter-intuitive, is easily mastered and is apparently compatible with other MP3 players. Just not this one. After a significant amount of effort, I was only able to add those test songs supplied with the software to the player from my PC, but that was as far as I got. The unit refused to accept any others, and it would not play them in any event. Is the unit faulty? No indication of hardware failure. So what is amiss?
Perhaps the problem is me; yes of course that’s it. Doubtful, but I must consider all possibilities. Here’s a prime example what any good Microsoft like product such as this one would assume to be the root of any performance short coming—the user himself! Dismal user interface design? Poorly implemented features? Rampant bugs? Nay, these are not the problem, Archos leaves it to you to find adequate work-arounds and adjustments to your expectations. You see old chap, your graduate-level training in computer science (which I have) is of no benefit when facing the olympian task of uploading and playing MP3s on the Archos Jukebox! I daresay, you mere mortals do not have what it takes to enjoy a little music from this unit.
But wait! The clouds part, a comforting ray of sunshine alights on the instructions included with the unit, hallelujah, there is hope yet. Not so fast there Skippy, the instructions are written in some bizarre Asian/English hybrid. Its almost embarrassing to read them, and while you are blushing, you will quickly discover that they are of no help other than with basic operation.
Undaunted, I tried again, the tiny, poorly lit display insisted that there was some manner of “error.” My PC would recognize the unit as an additional drive, I was able to manually move MP3s and even other types of files to the player. Delete, erase, reinitialize the unit’s drive, all to no avail. Attempted same using both a PC and a Mac. I was able to reset the unit by removing and re-inserting the batteries. That rousing little adventure spoke volumes about this product, it was indicative of minor yet numerous annoyances that abound.
Buy this product then try to change the batteries out. . . I dare you. You *will* scratch up the unit because you must pry it open with screw driver (in a vastly different manner than that represented in the instructions). If you haven’t heard already, Archos tech support is famous for being entirely useless. Don’t waste your time calling.
Conclusion: the unit works begrudgingly with the PC, yet it is flatly unusable with a Mac regardless of Archos’ claims to the contrary.
When the unit did perform, the sound quality was pedestrian with MP3s and tolerable with Wav files. Controls work after gaining some experience, yet when coupled with that small display, I predict this unit will be the cause of many car, bike, and jogger accidents because one must stop, look closely at the display, then carefully manipulate the controls. An annoying (and risky) enterprise at best. The drive itself had its share of failings: its loud, it vibrates, its painfully slow. I sent back the Archos. Kudos to J&R Music for happily accepting the return of this steaming pile of excrement without so much as a whimper.
I then bought the 10Gb iPod. It is cool with a capital “C.” Like all of their products Apple paid lots of attention to detail with this little gem. Wafer thin, feather light, brilliant features like a peripheral cable the is yank proof and doubles as a power/charger connection. Hands-down the best software anywhere, large display that backlights at just a touch (but only if you want it to!).
The sound is so good you may wish to invest in higher quality recordings to enhance the experience yet further. Even the packaging is cool. Sure you need a Firewire card to connect the iPod to your PC (a whopping 20 bucks) but didn’t you buy the card to also connect your Digital Camera and outboard hardrive anyway? Its wicked fast and well worth a sawbuck. Oh, and order your new iPod with the laser engraving on the mirrored back, its the perfect touch especially for a gift.
The problem is Apple does not even offer entry-level products, all are all mid level to top-of-the-line in feature sets, hardware quality, design, and functionality. Apple shamelessly exhibits its pride through their hefty price tags, the iPod included. Yet, the iPod is so far ahead of every other competing MP3 player on the market its not really fair to place the Archos in the same category for comparison.
Recommendation: If price is your dispositive concern, ignore the superior products now on the market, lower your expectations considerably, pay up your liability insurance, become fluent in Mandarin Chinese, then buy the Archos Jukebox. If you want to enjoy every aspect of your listening experience, pay a little more and get the iPod (yes, it really is *that* much better).
Recommended:
No
Amount Paid (US$): 265
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Epinions.com ID:
rancidswill
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Reviews written: 1
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