Comments on: ARCHOS 9pctablet Earns a Starring UMPC Video Role

By: Kevin C. Tofel

Kevin C. Tofel — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 08:55:13 +0000

Vid is back. Enjoy!

By: TateJ

TateJ — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:06:45 +0000

In my opinion, the iphone succeeded because of size, ease of use, cost and apple branding/marketing. I think a 9 inch apple slate would not do as well. Its gonna be expensive (over $500) and people are going to wonder what they are gonna use it for. Maybe if its subsidized they might sell some. But I just don’t think the typical consumer is gonna get it.

How much computing power does the average consumer want or need to carry around on a regular basis? I’m not talking about work. I’m talking about for personal use. My non techie friends can get along just fine with a smartphone. They want to listen to music, text, twitter, do facebook and maybe check email. Video isn’t evena big deal to them. I pull out my Q1 and they ask me why I carry it around all the time. The only time they think my Mini 9 is cool is when I tell them the price.

I think that the average consumer does not see the need to have a full computer with them all the time, no matter how small. A smartphone is enough. I don’t think even Apple can easily change this mindset. But I hope to be proven wrong.

By: JC

JC — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:52:43 +0000

Clearly, the difference is the software. People (rightly or not) think that Apple will do a better job with tablet software than Microsoft.

By: Gordon Cahill

Gordon Cahill — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 21:15:28 +0000

“The question now (as it generally was before) is: Do folks want to carry a 9-inch UMPC that can run Windows for three hours?” I already do. It’s called a Fujitsu P1620.

Gordon

By: AEK

AEK — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:17:06 +0000

Maybe its pulled because that Archos fanboy who posted the vid has spent the last few years flaming MS, Intel, and the entire UMPC community for being useless crap (his words) and members of some evil empire. Now Archos releases a UMPC with W7 and Intel. Maybe he’s embarrassed.

By: Kevin C. Tofel

Kevin C. Tofel — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:01:40 +0000

Hmm… the source vid is gone from the original site as you said. Looks like it was pulled. Pity.

By: Art Kavanagh

Art Kavanagh — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:53:19 +0000

Has the video been pulled? I can’t view it here or on the ArchosFans site. When I right-click in the white space where it should be, it just says “Movie not loaded …”

By: dc

dc — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 18:04:26 +0000

Looks pretty!

By: Mike

Mike — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:58:27 +0000

You know it’s quite odd that at every single Apple conference, everyone wants a slate Apple tablet. Yet when ‘other’ manufactures create a tablet that uses Windows, right away people claim it won’t succeed.

I love and use Apple products everyday, but I just can’t figure this logic out?

By: Greg

Greg — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:40:30 +0000

Is there really still a market for resistive touch screens? Why didn’t they go capacitive?

By: tal

tal — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 17:06:00 +0000

I agree with you Kevin. Definitely.
They have taken the wrong turn and may be lost.
It is not like the company is doing so well to begin with – so it may a close to fatal blow in the long run.
The right thing may come with Android around September (see archosfans) but who knows what disastrous quarter they will have till then.

Tal

By: Brook

Brook — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:39:39 +0000

I would have said the same thing, but when you look at the Viliv S5 or even the larger X7 with about the same battery life, It makes you wonder what archos was thinking?

By: TateJ

TateJ — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:01:58 +0000

I want devices like this to suceed, but when I show my Q1 to my non geek friends they respond, “I can get an iphone to do that and its smaller too.”

Me personally, I’m lookng to upgrade from my Samsung Q1. The the 9pctablet is on the list of devices to consider. Battery life,cost and storage are my big criteria. I want to use it for video, music picture review word docs and pdfs along with web and email.

By: PJE

PJE — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:14:28 +0000

I just printed out the device 1:1 – given the dimensions in the specs – and I think the device is about the right size for this type of device.

Assuming the screen is multi-touch and responsive to finger use I think they’ll have a hit if the price is reasonable (<$500-$600).

With regard to the OS/CPU/Battery life. I think running Windows 7 on the device is the way to go initially, assuming a 4-5 hour battery life is available with a larger battery. Once everyone is accustomed to this type of device, moving to an ARM processor with a custom (Linux) OS will have cost/battery life implications.

Assuming the browser performance is equal, I would choose a device with a lower cost and longer battery life (using an ARM CPU) over a Windows 7 (X86) system.