Review of the ARCHOS 704 WIFI

With the introduction of its Generation 4 lineup of portable media players, Archos has once again demonstrated why it is the reigning king of PMPs. The latest addition to the family is the 704 Wi-Fi, which may be the ultimate PMP for multimedia mavens, even though it comes at a rather hefty price. It boasts a huge seven-inch screen, a DVR dock for recording TV shows, and can surf the Web wirelessly at a decent clip.
 
The 1.4-pound device features a brushed-aluminum finish that's characteristic of other Archos Generation 4 portables (though the 704 is boxier and not quite as aesthetically pleasing), twin USB ports, and a button on the right side of the body that ejects the removable battery. Sporting a massive widescreen display, the 704 will not be mistaken for the much more pocket-friendly 5G iPod, but this unit is first and foremost a movie player. The expansive real estate combines with the highest resolution we've seen from a PMP (800 x 480 pixels) to deliver a superior cinematic experience for videophiles on the go.
 
With this model, Archos abandons navigation buttons in favor of a complete touchscreen experience. Although users can navigate menus with a finger, we found that using one of the two included styli elicited greater response and accuracy. We would have preferred, however, that the 704 Wi-Fi had retained the standard button controls found on the other Generation 4 products, as the touchscreen was finicky at times.
 
The 704 Wi-Fi supports a wide range of video files (MPEG-4, WMV, protected WMV, with H.264, MPEG-2, and VOB available as optional plug-ins). Those of you who frequent online movie stores will be pleased to learn that the 704 Wi-Fi can play back purchased flicks from Amazon Unbox, AOL, CinemaNow, and Wal-Mart. Unfortunately for Apple devotees, iTunes' Fairplay-protected files are incompatible with the player. You can expect four hours of video playback from the 704 Wi-Fi, which is good enough to watch one or two complete movies. A built-in kickstand lets you set the unit down and view it at an angle.
 
Surfing the Web with the included Opera browser was, visually, a pleasurable experience. Because of the large screen, page formatting nearly matched that of the same site viewed on a PC. The bright, clear screen also makes Web pages legible from all but the most extreme angles, and the tabs let you view multiple pages within one window, á la Firefox.
 
On the other hand, like the Archos 604 Wi-Fi, this player suffers from sluggish performance. There was a pretty noticeable one- to two-second delay between an input and an action, which may grate the nerves of impatient Web surfers. In addition, flash-based sites such as YouTube are off-limit, but the 704 Wi-Fi does support Divx. If you're looking to do simple browsing or check your Web mail, however, the 704 Wi-Fi's online capabilities should suit you well.
The one nitpick that we've had with other recent Archos PMPs has been the lack of built-in video recording (optional DVR stations are available for $99.99). Archos eliminates that criticism by bundling the DVR dock and remote control with the unit, making the 704 Wi-Fi the most complete model in the Generation 4 lineup; you can easily schedule and record shows right out of the box.
 
If you're on the hunt for a device that will handle just about all of your multimedia needs, the Archos 704 Wi-Fi should more than satisfy. It's too big for a pocket, but it's perfect for a long flight or car ride. If you're looking for maximum portability, get the 604 Wi-Fi, but if you can handle the size and price, the 704 won't disappoint.

By Jeffrey L. Wilson
http://www.laptopmag.com/Review/Archos-704-Wi-Fi.htm