ARCHOS Mini Jukebox 15GB MP3 Recorder - $159.99

[gspyer]

It's USB 2.0 to boot.

Linky

 

[crumpet19]

transfer speeds to 12MB/sec


So.. this is USB 2.0 "Full Speed" instead of USB 2.0 "Highspeed." IE it's not 480mbps so don't get too excited. They're trying to pull a fast one.

 

[marvdmartian]

Seems as though it's this device, on Archos' website:
Jukebox Recorder 15

Straight from their website:
Capacity: Jukebox Recorder 15 - 15GB Hard Disk Internal Buffer: 2 MB Interface :

USB 1.1

PC & Mac
Format Supported: MP3 (30 to 320 Kbps) Variable Bit Rate - VBR
MP3 (selectable 30 to 160 Kbps) Real-Time Encoding Playmodes: Normal, Single, Repeat All, Shuffle, Queue and Scan. All Playmodes work with playlists. Display: Graphic Backlit LCD (Up to 8 lines of characters) Audio Specifications: Stereo Digital / Analog Line In, Stereo Line Out, and Earphone Jack.
Signal to noise ratio > 90dB.
Max Output Power: 100mW Freq.
Response 20 Hz - 20 kHz
Harmonic Distortion: < 0.1% Playback autonomy: Up to 10 hours on a full charge Scalability: Downloadable Firmware Updates from web. Power Source: Internal: 4 x AA Rechargeable NiMH Batteries.
External: AC to DC Charger / Adapter Included Dimensions: 115 x 83 x 34 mm. (4.5 x 3.2 x 1.3in) Weight: 350 g (12.3 oz.) System Requirements: PC: Pentium 233 MHz or higher. Windows 98 SE, ME, 2000 or WinXP
32 MB RAM (64 MB recommended).
CD-ROM Drive with digital audio extraction support.
Mac: OS 9.2 or X. iMac, G3 or higher. USB Manager version 1.2 or higher. Package Includes: Jukebox MP3 Recorder
USB 1.1 (AA) cable
AC-DC adapter
NiMH Batteries (Already installed in Jukebox)
Stereo headphones
Carrying pouch
MusicMatch? Jukebox software
Manual in 5 languages

But even at usb 1.1, it's a heckuva lot cheaper at outpost than at Archos' website!! Even searching on PriceGrabber, Nextag and Pricewatch, the lowest price I found for this was $192.

Nice find, gspyer!!

 

[SCTrojan]

You can also pick it up @ Fry's

 

[infostate]

Not bad.

 

[abaez]

Does this have a record level setting?

 

[CheetahMk2]

Bah.. don't any Mp3 players nowadays that use a laptop drive inside use USB 2.0 connections? After using USB 2.0, I'd rather rip out the laptop drive and connect it each time than use 1.1 again... it is that good. Just MO, though. Does Archos even make a USB 2.0 version?

 

[AnyMal]

Originally posted by: crumpet19
transfer speeds to 12MB/sec


So.. this is USB 2.0 "Full Speed" instead of USB 2.0 "Highspeed." IE it's not 480mbps so don't get too excited. They're trying to pull a fast one.

They sure do try to confuse you. It's listed as "USB 2.0 compatible" Meaning, you can use USB 1.1 devices pluggen in 2.0 card.

 

[vkeks05]

Originally posted by: CheetahMk2
Bah.. don't any Mp3 players nowadays that use a laptop drive inside use USB 2.0 connections?

iPod can, though you have to purchase a proprietary $20 cable from Apple. Not bad because firewire cards can cost around that. (for people who don't have firewire ports on their comp like me)

 

[dud89]

Well I do have a 15gb and it is a usb 2.0 they just stuck a sticker over the usb 1.0 but I know it's a usb for sure. Whether this one is the 2.0 version or not as there is the older 1.0 model with blue bumpers you can go to a store to check if you want as they do exist. Here's a pic for reference http://jimray.net/image/arco15lg.jpg

 

[nyarrgh]

I had the USB 1.1 version (Recorder 6) then upgraded to the USB2 version (Recorder 20). The difference in transfer speed was night and day. With USB2, the recorder 20 acted like an internal hard drive although slow (3500RPM I believe), with the recorder 6, It acted like a fast floppy (meaning it crawled). I don't know if the 15 is a USB2 device though. But anybody who buys this should look at rockbox.haxx.se to add a lot of features missing with the original firmware.

 

[TerryMathews]

Originally posted by: crumpet19
transfer speeds to 12MB/sec

Ummm, 12MB/sec is much faster than USB 1.1. It's also, coincidentally, the throughput of the laptop HD contained within the Jukebox.

 

[GIZXMO]

12megs a sec sounds like usb2.0 as 1.1 devinces are strained to achieve 2megs a second sustained

 

[skasibat]

Guys its a USB 2.0 device and not a 1.1, this is a new version of the 15 gb, so dont get confused with the older version which is 1.1. I checked it out at frys my self

I just bought the 20 gb recorder (USB 2.0) it rocks, for $ 200 at circuit city two weeks back after $30 mail in rebate.

 

['BARtMAN']

Any device that passed for USB 1.1(12mbit/sec) spec, will pass for the USB 2.0 full speed spec... don't forget there is also usb 2.0 hi speed(12~480mb/sec)... I'm betting this is full speed...

 

[RDMustang1]

Remember, there is no such thing as USB 1.1 anymore, it's now called USB 2.0 full speed.

USB 2.0 full speed (or 1.1) has a maximum transfer speed of 12mb/sec (megabits).. If the description is accurate with 12MB/sec (megabytes) then this is USB 2.0 high speed but I'm guessing that this is the original Archos with USB 2.0 full speed (1.1) since if it was USB 2.0 high speed they would almost undoubtably say "up to 480mbps" instead of "up to 12MB/sec".

 

['BARtMAN']

didn't I just say that?

 

[meehawl]

Just MO, though. Does Archos even make a USB 2.0 version?

My GF's Archos 20GB Recorder has USB2, and digital (coax) I/O. All the later multimedia Archos handhelds use USB2 and the digital coax.

 

[CheetahMk2]

Originally posted by: vkeks05

iPod can, though you have to purchase a proprietary $20 cable from Apple. Not bad because firewire cards can cost around that. (for people who don't have firewire ports on their comp like me)

Hm.. I checked the IPod, I don't like it.... even the Apple rep couldn't show me the transfer speeds since it was ''locked'' onto his other comp

[he also told me explicitly how to 'break' that 'feature' ] Not exactly reassuring. That and the fact he said the $50 leather case was nearly a necessity, since he dropped his last one ONCE [out of warranty] and had to buy a new one!!!

I'll stick with IBM-Compatible... and cheap. And run off of AA's [in the meantime I'll ask at BB about the US speed of this]

 

[TerryMathews]

Originally posted by: RDMustang1
USB 2.0 full speed (or 1.1) has a maximum transfer speed of 12mb/sec (megabits).. If the description is accurate with 12MB/sec (megabytes) then this is USB 2.0 high speed but I'm guessing that this is the original Archos with USB 2.0 full speed (1.1) since if it was USB 2.0 high speed they would almost undoubtably say "up to 480mbps" instead of "up to 12MB/sec".

I doubt it. The pic is of the newer model, and 12MB/sec is just about right for the transfer rate of the laptop HD contained within.

 

[simo]

Jees, it's 12 megabits per second, not megabytes, so it's USB 1.1 (2.0 full speed) NOT 2.0 high speed (480 megabits per second)

Everyone go lookup the difference between megabytes and megabits

 

[CheetahMk2]

.. then there's the little problem of 'theoretical' vs 'actual' bandwith....

USB 1.0 = 1.5 MegaBits/s = .19 MegaBytes/s
USB 1.1 [<- those marketing asses won't change what I call it] = 12 MegaBits/s = 1.5 MegaBytes/s
USB 2.0 = 480 MegaBits/s = 60 MegaBytes/s

And I usually get 100kB/s, 800kB/s, and 10mB/s for USB 1.0, 1.1, and 2.0, respectively. The rest.... goes into ether. There IS such a thing as overhead.

 

[TerryMathews]

Originally posted by: simo
Jees, it's 12 megabits per second, not megabytes, so it's USB 1.1 (2.0 full speed) NOT 2.0 high speed (480 megabits per second)

Everyone go lookup the difference between megabytes and megabits

Thanks, I know the difference between bits and bytes. Duh!

Archos made an older version of this device with blue bumpers. USB 1.1 or USB 2.0 full speed depending on how you look at it. 12 megabits per second bandwidth.

Newer version has grey bumpers and is USB 2.0 high speed. Because it uses a 3500RPM laptop HD, it's bandwidth is 12 megabytes per second.

Also notice that it's a preorder item at Outpost, IE it's not out yet.

Is this simple enough, or do I need to draw you a picture?

 

[nj]

I called outpost and they have a new shipment coming in on the 18th. I went ahead and ordered one. Shipping was only $8 for overnight, $6 for 2 day.

 

[TerryMathews]

Here's a hot deal to go along with this Archos Recorder model.

Most Recorders and almost all new ones, come with a flash ROM instead of a standard EPROM. Now, you may be thinking "So what?"

RockBox is an open-source firmware for the Jukebox series that is better than the Archos firmware in every measurable way. Better interface, better hardware support, and quicker to boot.

Flash to RockBox This is a new proceedure that has been developed. It allows you to replace the default Archos firmware with the RockBox firmware. The Archos firmware is very slow to boot, whereas Rockbox is very quick. On my recorder, RockBox boots about three times as fast.