sdc100 wrote:FYI, according to this Endgadget article, the Archos 7 started shipping with Android 1.6 in June.

Why are you fretting over upgrading to Android 1.6?

FYI, you're article is outdated. Engadget updated their post with this review a week after:
http://www.engadget.com/2010/05/13/archos-7-home-tablet-review/

It clearly states android 1.5 was released with this tablet (and that it was one of archos' biggest mistakes). Yeah, I thought the same thing... it shouldn't matter right? I can upgrade easily to android 2.2. Well sort of. At the risk of bricking your tablet and having shaky wifi as well as no SD card access or even being able to copy files from a computer easily and losing smooth video playback. Upgrading to OS 2.2 does not promise upgraded performance/speed. Although it may offer the capability to run additional apps.

dropdeadjames wrote:How confusing. I see a LOT of opposing viewpoints regarding this tablet.

I need some help though, ppl. I'm looking at the Archos tablet on 1saleaday.com, the one with android2.2 and flash support.

I'm thinking of getting it, even though it doesn't seem like that great of a tablet. Here are my reasons:

-I don't want an iPad. Don't have much use for apps, GPS, multi-function, or multi-point touching.
-The bottom line is I have been looking for a CHEAP E-Reader, where I could view books in PDF format that I've already gotten off the internet.

...and if it has some additional features, cool. So somebody tell me once and for all, am I going to be happy using this thing (the one on 1saleaday) as a glorified E-Reader?

The big question is just what kind of PDF books you are talking about. Stuff written to be a simple paperback-esq textual book, without a lot of graphics, backgrounds, and other glitzy stuff, will often be created with proper re-flow tagging that lets the text display just fine on your typical e-ink based e-reader. (Such books ALSO tend to convert pretty easily to other formats like mobi or epub using a program like Calibre.) If that's the case, then your stuff would likely work fine on a real dedicated e-reader such as the new Nook Simple Touch, which I purchased the day it came out and highly recommend (and I've used a LOT of readers, including prior nook, Sony touch and pocket, kindle-II and kindle-III)

If you are talking about graphics rich stuff with lots of inset graphics, backgrounds, sidebars (like a magazine, brochure, textbook, or gaming rulebook) then the experience on ANY screen smaller than the size of paper it was formatted for will SUCK stagnant pond water. Especially because in my experience, the PDF authors of such documents rarely care about properly tagging the text for re-flow. Everything in the doc will be locked down and designed to look 'just like a printed original' on a screen large enough to display that stuff at 1:1 zoom. You might get a semi-reasonable view on something the size of an ipad or full sized tablet-PC, with a bit of zoom + pan/scan but likely a full sized laptop or desktop will be required.

For my money, what I'd do is lay your hands on a small MicroSD card if you can, drop your books on it, and go down to Barnes and Nobel and see if they will let you slot it into a sample of the new nook and see what they look like. Yeah at $139 it's more expensive, but it's a far better reader than a first gen android tablet will be. battery lasts for weeks under heavy use, months under light use, it's under a half pound in weight, and the screen is way easier on your eyes and can be viewed in sunlight.

jamesbottomtooth wrote:Stop. Sony dash is not a tablet. Comparing apples and cucumbers.

I thought it was comparing cucumbers to pickles.

JonPowell wrote:I thought it was comparing cucumbers to pickles.

Love it.

cernenus wrote:If you are talking about graphics rich stuff with lots of inset graphics, backgrounds, sidebars (like a magazine, brochure, textbook, or gaming rulebook) then the experience on ANY screen smaller than the size of paper it was formatted for will SUCK stagnant pond water.

I'm posting a little late, but I would never trust an e-ink reader to properly display *.pdf files. PDF reflow is extremely unreliable. If you are reading an academic journal article, your success will completely depend on how the database has chosen to format the document. In some cases, you will only get an image without text. In other cases, you might have a document with completely searchable text, but the unfriendly formatting (such as quotations, paragraph breaks, tables, footnotes, and other such things) will mess up the paragraphing after the reflow. Of course, you could just read the original *.pdf file, but the awkward refresh rates will make it almost impossible to navigate around the text. Unless you have a giant device that can display the entire document, you'll get nothing but headaches from an e-reader. Plus, you're going to spend a high premium for these devices with the bigger screens. The Kindle DX almost costs as much as a high-end tablet.

In my opinion, the only option for reliably reading *.pdf documents is an LCD screen. This Archos tablet would be vastly preferable to the new Nook Single Touch, provided that you can update to 2.2 and install ezPDF Reader. An e-ink device is just not the best option for people doing serious professional work. They are perhaps a good choice for leisure reading, but you need more functionality if you want to do more than just read the latest John Grisham novel.

Sooo how many of these do you have Woot? lol

This is the A7ht V1. Check out Archosfans.com for more information as to why you shouldn't buy it. I have the newer V2 and even with the brilliant work of the people at archosfans.com and their custom ROMs, its only usable for basic web browsing. They tell me the V1 is far worse.

So i purchased one of these after doing some research. I bought it only because of the updates to Andriod 2.2 and people proving it worked.I think for $85 to my door, cant find a cheaper alternative.

Thanks Woot!

I just received my tracking number. It hasn't shipped yet it says.

thomas998 wrote:Warning Will Robinson, Warning.

Avoid this like at all cost.

I have one and it is a complete and utter waste of money.

Major headaches, it locks up all the time... it is slow... the touch screen feels bad... Oh did I mention that in order to play the MKV and any 720p videos that you need to purchase an additional plug-in from Archos? Did I mention that the first one I had crapped out and had to be returned to Archos? Did I mention that after 4 attempts to get it fixed they only made good on the product when I contacted the better business bureau? Did I mention the multiple dead pixels on the screen? Did I mention that mine is currently collecting dust in a draw while my Ipad is getting constant use?

Please don't get sucked in by this one, it would only be worth it if it was free.

lol sucks for you. looks to me that it can be rooted which this will actually be my first dealings with android and also sounds like if you know what you are doing you wouldn't have to pay for anything including codecs to play .mkv. My phone is a HD7 and I have finally got it hacked and packed with games so if anyone knows the headaches of windows phone 7 then this will surely be a walk in the park. It was hella cheap and will be something to keep me busy while sitting next to the girlfriend on the couch while she watches her crappy shows but this will count as "quality time" so I am happy with my purchase as long as it works.

Arrived today Model A70HB
Firmware 1.0.15
Kernal version 2.6.25
root@cong-deskto #1639
Build number
RK-1.2.9.eng.root.20100028.160408

What do I have based on this data?

what does the email address under kernal mean?

It's July 1st and I received my tablet 6days too early very odd cause I had an eta for July 6. When picked up my package it was in a kool box w/WOOT! printed all over it. When I removed the tape and opened it I noticed there was a hole like it was jabbed w/a knife but when I openned it the tablet's touch screen was cracked, not to mentioned it looked old and used. I quickly took pictures of it and filed for an RMA. This was my brother's birthday gift and now I have nothing to give.

mmthomas44 wrote:Arrived today Model A70HB
Firmware 1.0.15
Kernal version 2.6.25
root@cong-deskto #1639
Build number
RK-1.2.9.eng.root.20100028.160408

What do I have based on this data?

what does the email address under kernal mean?

i have install google market

http://www.gadgetell.com/technologytell/article/how-to-install-the-android-market-on-the-archos-7-home-tablet/

IT'S A V2! BWAHAHA, I'M SO HAPPY! Well, relatively happy; Rockchip are bastards about releasing data on their chips, so low-level coding is impossible.

I can't find a straight answer on how to tell V1 from V2, but this unit has an accelerometer, and is running Android 2.1 Eclair. Appslib (Archos' own replacement for Android market) is "not compatible with this unit".

Includes a copy of Big Buck Bunny. FYI, if movie plays back slightly smaller than screen, tap screen, then tap the button with two diagonal arrows to enlarge picture.

Back of unit: A7OHB
FCC ID: SOV7701

OS Data:
Model number: A70BHT
Firmware version: 1.0.1
Kernel version: 2.6.25 root@cong-desktop #872
Build number: V0.18.ECLAIR.eng.root.20101215.110855

darkag3 wrote:i have install google market

http://www.gadgetell.com/technologytell/article/how-to-install-the-android-market-on-the-archos-7-home-tablet/

you have 1.5

bitman wrote:IT'S A V2! BWAHAHA, I'M SO HAPPY! Well, relatively happy; Rockchip are bastards about releasing data on their chips, so low-level coding is impossible.

I can't find a straight answer on how to tell V1 from V2, but this unit has an accelerometer, and is running Android 2.1 Eclair. Appslib (Archos' own replacement for Android market) is "not compatible with this unit".

Includes a copy of Big Buck Bunny. FYI, if movie plays back slightly smaller than screen, tap screen, then tap the button with two diagonal arrows to enlarge picture.

Back of unit: A7OHB
FCC ID: SOV7701

OS Data:
Model number: A70BHT
Firmware version: 1.0.1
Kernel version: 2.6.25 root@cong-desktop #872
Build number: V0.18.ECLAIR.eng.root.20101215.110855

I got 2 V1's. How did you get V2?

Well, i am little worried seeing as i haven't received mine yet. or maybe anxious is more like it.
Why is it that some people are receiving V1 and others are receiving V2? that's more that a little weird.

got mine. Clearly a return as all the plastics were open, and there were files on the unit. I can see why they returned it because its giving me lots of errors, & the appslib first wouldn't update and now isn't installing apps?

this is gonna be a project :/

I have bought this tablet from china days agao,well,it has nice look and with 8GB Flash Memory, can't believe it just cost $169

xuan1982 wrote:This is where i bought it: xxxxx

Mines is locked up tighter than a drum... can't flash or do anything.

Got mine today. Easily rooted it. Works great. Listening to Pandora now while I type this. Plays videos nicely on a bright screen. Touchscreen easier to use than others have posted. Not as nice as my IPad but nowhere near the price. Great Woot!

rich101682 wrote:I got 2 V1's. How did you get V2?

No idea, I'm just lucky that way. A custom ROM is always a good idea, and they're making decent progress with the V1 units. You can get everything up to Android 2.2, but only the 1.5 variants support video playback due to special drivers that only Archos has access to.

The V1-V2 mix isn't that weird; the price suggests someone had a truckload of "probably working" tablets they wanted gone, and rather than pick through them, they just dumped the whole truckload on Woot. That means some of us get shiny V2 units, and some of us get trash. Much like the Bag of Chattel, really.

psigti wrote:Mines is locked up tighter than a drum... can't flash or do anything.

Google for "unbrick", there are ways to fix it if it's just defective software. If it's defective hardware, you'll want to send it back.

johnmcken wrote:Great Woot!

I agree, the unit is pretty awesome ... except for Wifi. Range is merely OK, but speed is so slow as to be useless. Browser and Market barely work, but Pandora and Weather Channel are useless.

Well, refurbed is being generous. They only went half way. They fixed it I guess. But they sure didn't wipe the previous owner's stuff off of here.

1 - i imagine that owner #1 should be happy that i am not a bad person, since i have all of their data, including their Chase account
2 - i can't register the product or set it up correctly because it is linked in the owner #1
3 - i can't get into most applications because i can't figure out how to remove owner #1's sign in name, the only thing the machine will let me change is the password, not the account name.
4 - Archos tech support won't deal with me unless my product is registered, see item #2

$80 into the garbage, i guess i can use it as a night light

http://www.stupidiocy.com/geek-life/hacking-the-archos-7-home-tablet/

Follow the directions and everything on the tablet will be wiped

cincysurfer wrote:Well, refurbed is being generous. They only went half way. They fixed it I guess. But they sure didn't wipe the previous owner's stuff off of here.

1 - i imagine that owner #1 should be happy that i am not a bad person, since i have all of their data, including their Chase account
2 - i can't register the product or set it up correctly because it is linked in the owner #1
3 - i can't get into most applications because i can't figure out how to remove owner #1's sign in name, the only thing the machine will let me change is the password, not the account name.
4 - Archos tech support won't deal with me unless my product is registered, see item #2

$80 into the garbage, i guess i can use it as a night light

I received my Archos Tablet yesterday but it doesn't work. What I have to do with that problem? Can you please help me?


Thank you.
Basim

johnmcken wrote:Got mine today. Easily rooted it. Works great. Listening to Pandora now while I type this. Plays videos nicely on a bright screen. Touchscreen easier to use than others have posted. Not as nice as my IPad but nowhere near the price. Great Woot!

I am new to this. How do you root? I have v1 and my grandkids want angry birds which isn't in the appslib.

Youtube works with this:
http://www.androidapk.net/?p=33

I love this thing!

mkalm1325 wrote:I am new to this. How do you root? I have v1 and my grandkids want angry birds which isn't in the appslib.

Follow the directions at: http://www.stupidiocy.com/geek-life/hacking-the-archos-7-home-tablet/

You connect your tablet to a computer. Download the file from the website. Transfer the file from the PC to the tablet making sure not to put it in a folder on the tablet. Disconnect the tablet from the PC and the new fiel will be installed which wil give you access to Android Market.

Got V1 in,,,bad power,,,RMA'd,,,sending back V2!

Bought one for the wife for use as an e-reader. It suddenly died. Woot washed their hands and sent me to archos. Tried to register the product, but website keep saying serial number was invalid. SO no sn, no customer service neither from archos nor woot.

Wich by the way really dissapointed me. Being a very active customer from them, I expected to be treated better. Now I will think twice in the future to buy again from woot.

Back to the problem... Read a few pleads on several forums for assistance on that same problem, but no one answered.

Seeing I have not that much to loose, I followed this tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_6k-RHGb_U

Opened it and found a ribbon cable loose inside. Put it back on its place and voila! the tablet has been working flawlesly for a week now.

Now that I got it to work again, I followed this easy tutorial:

http://www.arctablet.com/blog/archos-tablet/flashing-firmware-rockchip-cpu-based-devices-archos-ht-7-8-arnova-10/

Using this rom:

http://forum.archosfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=36439

And my wife is really happy with her now functional tablet.

Hope this helps anyone having problems, seeing that either woot or archos customer service stinks, maybe you can fire up your tablet again.

Cheers!

alxtronics wrote:Bought one for the wife for use as an e-reader. It suddenly died. Woot washed their hands and sent me to archos. Tried to register the product, but website keep saying serial number was invalid. SO no sn, no customer service neither from archos nor woot.

Wich by the way really dissapointed me. Being a very active customer from them, I expected to be treated better. Now I will think twice in the future to buy again from woot.

Back to the problem... Read a few pleads on several forums for assistance on that same problem, but no one answered.

Seeing I have not that much to loose, I followed this tutorial: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U_6k-RHGb_U

Opened it and found a ribbon cable loose inside. Put it back on its place and voila! the tablet has been working flawlesly for a week now.

Now that I got it to work again, I followed this easy tutorial:

http://www.arctablet.com/blog/archos-tablet/flashing-firmware-rockchip-cpu-based-devices-archos-ht-7-8-arnova-10/

Using this rom:

http://forum.archosfans.com/viewtopic.php?f=59&t=36439

And my wife is really happy with her now functional tablet.

Hope this helps anyone having problems, seeing that either woot or archos customer service stinks, maybe you can fire up your tablet again.

Cheers!

I was contacted by woot about sending a replacement. I said sure as long as it.was v2... they set me a v1. All the firmware upgrade cripple the machine. Im terribly dissatisfied and disappointed. I paid for a tablet that was supposed to come stock with 1.6 and I've yet to receive one. Good luck to anyone attempting to run a custom rom.

I am addressing this inquiry to whoever from Woot monitors this Blog. On the day the Archose 7 was listed in August it clearly stated that it came with Android 1.6, not 1.5. Is that a factual statement? If not, how do I go about returning the two that I bought?

ROGETRAY wrote:Woot Member Services has been contacted about your query. Please also feel free to email us at service@woot.com if you have any further questions or concerns regarding your order.

Sincerely,
Woot Staff

Im still extremely upset. This is a classic bait and switch. I ordered and payed for a tablet that should be running 1.6 stock. So did the rest of you. This is false advertising and a screw up on woots part. I dont want another v1 I don't want to root , I want what was advertised and what I payed for. Nothing more nothing less.

WARNING! Do not waste your money on this. CAVEAT EMPTOR holds true. It worked well for 2 weeks and then, the fateful message, "The Process android.process.acore has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again" appeared. I will never buy refurbished again!