Archos 2 review

For such a slinky PMP, the Archos 2 certainly doesn’t shirk from its roomy responsibilities. Underneath that titchy 1.8-inch screen the Archos 2 packs in 8GB for stashing music, photos and video, as well as an FM radio and a microSD slot. Now that’s certainly iPod nano-bashing territory.

In fact, the Archos 2 has got the iPod nano firmly in its tiny sights. At half the price of Apple’s slimline jukebox. The nano might be thinner than the Archos 2, but the French PMP is compact and looks the part too. Plug in your buds and you’ll find that sound quality is right out of the top drawer, really giving Apple’s effort a run for its money. Add that FM radio and SD support, plus drag and drop for all major OS’s and it can really lay claim to being a worthy competitor to that most dominant of micro PMPs.

However, the Archos 2 is not without its flaws. The interface is, frankly, disgraceful. Finding tracks is convoluted and takes an age. Not ideal if you want to pick tunes quickly and sling the Archos 2 back in your pocket. You can’t see album artwork and with only MP3 and WMA support, you may find half of your digital delights won’t play nice.

Video playback, too, has its issues. The Archos 2’s 1.8-inch screen is far from ideal. In fact, even snacking on music videos will cause extreme strain on your peepers. Add to that a resolution that makes scientific calculators look futuristic, it’s clear that the video function should be left well alone. And with a measly ten hour battery life, a full 14 hours short of the iPod nano, you’ll be lucky to get through a long flight without it dying in your lap.

There’s no doubting the Archos 2’s excellent value. And if that’s all you want, then it comes recommended. But the awful UI and shocking screen mean music mad gadget fans should look elsewhere.