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Front
The front of the Archos 5 is dominated by the glossy 4.8" screen. The only other item on the front of the device is the Archos name printed below the screen.
This screen will be festooned with smudges before long.
Left
The left side of the Archos 5 has only the 3.5mm headphone jack.
In your pocket, this headphone jack
makes sense. If you're just holding the device,
however, it will seem awkwardly placed.
Right
The external speaker grill is the only feature on the right side of the Archos 5.
The right side of the device is
about 20% speaker and 80%
smudge canvas.
Top
On the top of the Archos 5, you'll find the charging light indicator, power button, and volume rocker switch. The power button says you can press and hold it for 10 seconds to reset, but this is actually a lie: you'll need to hold the button for a full 15 seconds to reset. This duration is about 12 seconds (or 500%) longer than it needs to be.
You'll actually need to press the power button down for a full 15
seconds to reset, which is great for all those people who have a habit
of accidentally holding down buttons for 12-14 second intervals.
Bottom
On the bottom of the Archos 5, there are the accessory connectors and the reset button.
Back
On the right side of the rear of the Archos 5 is the flip-out stand. Other than this, there are no other features on the back of the Archos, save for model name, model and serial numbers, and other required certification symbols.
Note the smudging.
Your Archos 5 can recline.
Battery Out
The PDF manual that comes installed on the Archos describes that the battery can be removed and replaced, but it doesn't state how this can be done. The FAQ on the Archos site states that the battery is not removable and that battery replacement "must only be done by an authorized Archos service center." We couldn't find a way to remove the back of the Archos 5 without power tools and possibly causing damage to the device, so we don't have any pictures of it with the battery removed for you. We're hope this news doesn't cast a pall over the rest of the review.
In Box
The Archos 5 comes with a USB cable used for charging and connecting the tablet to your computer, as well as a set of earbuds, a screen cleaning cloth, and a plastic DVR station adapter for use with the Archos DVR Station (which must be purchased separately).
The box will contain a cloth, a DVR station stand, headphones, and a USB cord.
Durability (6.00)
 The Archos 5 seems pretty solid. The two main durability issues are scratching and the stand. The screen and body tend to pick up scratches very easily. The stand seems robust, but it's also a thin moving part.
Aesthetics (6.00)
The Archos 5 is a sleek-looking device with shiny surfaces all around. The screen has a glossy, mirror-like finish, and the surrounding bezel is a matching glossy, unidentifiable metal. Despite its shininess, it has a minimalist, expensive look that would not cause anyone over the age of 13 shame in any scenario. It also, unfortunately, doesn't have much to it other than its gigantic screen, which doesn't leave a lot of room for cool design flourishes. Also, one aesthetic detractor is the screen's ridiculous aptitude for preserving your fingerprints. After your initial use, the back will look like a The only detractor is the tendency of the screen, bezel, and metal back to pick up fingerprints. Unfortunately, the Archos 5 looks less attractive every moment it's handled because of this.
Portability (2.04)
The Archos 5 we tested has a 60GB hard drive and weighs a little over half a pound (8.82oz) -- the 120GB model weighs .66lbs (10.58oz). lbs (the 120GB model . This is a hefty device, compared to something like an iPod Touch at 4.05 ozs. And while the 4.8" screen is great for viewing video and browsing the web, the Archos 5 is not a device that will just slip into your pocket unnoticed. You can cram it into the back pocket of your jeans, but it won't be comfortable and you certainly won't want to sit on it accidentally. While it doesn't feel particularly fragile, you'll probably want to get a dedicated case for it to protect the screen and make it easier to carry around, most likely inside your backpack or purse.
Supported File Types (7.88)
The Archos 5 supports a good array of media files. It will natively play back your MP3, WMA (protected, unprotected, and pro 5.1 surround), and WAV files, and you can opt to get a plug-in for AAC/AAC+ or AC3 files. Video files are set up the same way, with MPEG-4, WMV (protected or DRM-free), and M-JPEG videos supported out of the box, and the option to get a plug-in for HD support, MPEG-2 files, or H.264. The photo viewer will support JPEG, BMP, PNG, or GIF files. The device will also let you view PDF files.
Though we would've preferred those audio and video files supported out of box, we were impressed with the ability to view PDF files.
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