Archos may not be a household name just like Apple but it is actually one of the pioneers when it comes to touchscreen devices. The market couldn’t care less when the company launched a Windows 7 Internet tablet but it has since produced a range of Android devices from a device with a measly 2.8 inch screen to one that is as big as an iPad. The company’s latest flagship tablet is the Archos 101, a 10-inch Android device that features a capacitive display, HDMI output and a front-facing camera among others. At only $299, the Archos 101 Internet tablet serves as a more affordable alternative to the more expensive Apple iPad.
The Look of the Archos 101
When it comes to design, Archos 101 tablet did not deviate much from its older brother, the Archos 9 PC Internet Tablet. The two devices are almost exactly the same except for the placement of a few buttons. The screen of the Archos 101 is framed by a brushed black aluminum border while its chassis is made of black plastic. The two panels at the back of the device are also made of brushed black aluminum. Compared to the Viewsonic G Tablet, the Archos 101 looks sturdier despite its slim frame.
One of the differences of the Archos 101 tablet from the Archos 9 and the G Tablet is that it is thinner being just less than an inch think. The Archos 9 and the G Tablet, in comparison, are 0.7 and 0.5 inches thick respectively. The Archos 101 is also lighter weighing just a little heavier than a pound. The G Tablet weigh 1.55 pounds while the Archos 9 weigh close to 2 pounds. The tapered look of the 101 also adds to the impression of lightness. In actuality though, the 10.6 x 5.9 frame of the 101 is nearly the same as that of the Archos 9.
The Archos 101 Internet tablet features a clean facade devoid of any physical buttons. All of the buttons and ports of the 101 can be found on the left side of the device. There you can find a volume rocker, the power switch, a headphone jack, a USB, micro USB and micro SD slots and a mini HDMI port. At the bottom of all of these is another port for the power plug. It makes one wonder why the device didn’t have another USB port instead since a USB port can also double as a power port. A VGA webcam can be found at the left of the screen of the Internet tablet.
One of the most innovative features of the Archos 101 Internet tablet is the adjustable kickstand that can be found at the back of the device. This makes it easy to prop the device on a desk.
Archos 101 Cooling
One issue about the Archos 101 Internet tablet has something to do with heat. Though the device as a whole remains cool to the touch, its backside can reach temperatures of more than 90 degrees. This can create quite a discomfort because this is the part where most people place their hands to hold the device.
Archos 101 Touchscreen
The 10.1 inch capacitive touchscreen display of the 101 boasts of a 1024 x 600 resolution that is comparable with the G Tablet and the Samsung Galaxy Tab. It also supports multitouch gestures such as pinch-to-zoom making this device ideal for browsing and for playing games such as Angry Birds. One of the downside of the 101′s display is the fact that the diagonal sensor is quite visible and can be occasionally distracting. Though colors are bright, user experience can be hampered by the reflective display and limited viewing angles. If you veer away from the middle of the screen, the on-screen image starts to appear washed out.
Archos 101 User Interface and Keyboards
The Archos 101 runs on an unadorned Android 2.2 operating system, which is an advantage since it saves on much needed resources. This device comes with all the Android live wallpapers. A nice touch is the changing sky that transforms from day to night that users will definitely appreciate especially on a big screen. What’s lacking in the Archos 101 are the tablet-optimized Android apps with dual pane view that is a standard in the Samsung Galaxy Tab.
The lack of physical buttons on the Archos 101 is augmented by the presence of virtual Android buttons (Search, Home, Settings, and Back) on the right side in landscape mode and on the bottom in portrait mode. These buttons remain on the screen regardless of what app one opens.
It is very easy to use the virtual keyboard of the 101 in portrait mode. In landscape mode though, it can be quite challenging. The width of the 101 makes it difficult to use the slightly modified Android keyboard. Users may need to stretch their thumbs just to reach the center. The Archos 101 device should have employed a split keyboard instead just like in the G tablet.
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Cheers!
FYI…….
Don’t waste your money!!!!!! Sent unit back after 8 hours of use. This product is crap.
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