Why did you get an ARCHOS Tablet (PDA) and not a Smartphone?

[coffee-turtle]

Loving my Archos 4.3 so far! Believe it or not, I am still a fan of the true PDA and I still buy parts keeping my modified Palm LifeDrive humming along. The Archos 4.3 is the closest thing I've seen to what a PDA used to be (before it was killed by the Smartphone), besides the iTouch. I'm one of the few who don't like locked down Apple products.

So basically that's my reason...I'm curious and I would like to hear from you, please. What do you use it to do daily?

Maybe I'm not as alone as I thought?

Thanks.

[MarcusMarcus]

FYI, Polls don't work on this forum and have not the entire time I have been here.

[coffee-turtle]

Thanks MarcusMarcus. I didn't know. Well, hopefully people will just post their thoughts insteads.

[exelletor]

Well, I was just looking for mp3 player. It would be nice if it would have a possibility to play videos as well. Something like Archos 35 vision. Oh, look they have an 32IT with Android! This thing looks cool, something like an iTouch. But the screen is a bit too small for me... But, wait, they also have the A43IT! It also has a kick-stand, no idea what it's for... And an awesome battery life! Well, let's take this one.

P.S. I love the kickstand now very much.

[ubergrog]

My work supplied me crackberry, so I didn't need the phone but wanted my own toy that i could play with as I choose . I've been through several Zaurus's & Nokia IT's & wanted to try Android. I was attracted by the size & price of the A28, but the hardware was too limited so bought the A43, didn't like the screen so returned it & now have an A70S. I love the A70S except that it's too big to be pocketable. Looking forward to tomorrow's announcement about Gen9, hoping for a good 5" device.

Have fun!

[tdude51]

Polls aren't working. Anyways, the cost of smartphone ownership when you include the data plan is just ridiculous...it costs more than buying a brand new computer every 2 years. I'm fine with a normal phone. I wanted something similar to an iPod Touch, but I really don't like iOS. At the time, the 43 was the only choice with a modern processor, so I went with it. Other then the resistive screen, the device is perfect for my needs. There's WiFi at home, at work, at lunch, and all around town, so I really don't need the data plan. Plus, if I was traveling somewhere with no WiFi I should probably be spending more time enjoying my surroundings then looking at a phone or tablet! EDIT: I'm also looking forward to a 5" device, I want the biggest thing I can stuff in my pockets!

[Hitchhiker]

I wonder when, if ever, they will fix the polls thing. Anyway I got the Archos, because I didn't feel like taking it from behind on a monthly cell phone bill just to access the internet. When where I work there is no reliable cell coverage.

[coffee-turtle]

Thank you all of you who have posted already. I see we share common feelings about smartphone cost and use in comparison to having a PDA form factor. And there are some other things I didn't even consider, so thanks for pointing those tidbits out as well!

I am sorry about the Poll thing not working. I wish I knew before I went to the trouble of creating it. So thank you for writing your comments anyway as a post.

Please can we hear from some more folks out there?

Thanks!

[donap]

Loving my Archos 4.3 so far! Believe it or not, I am still a fan of the true PDA and I still buy parts keeping my modified Palm LifeDrive humming along. The Archos 4.3 is the closest thing I've seen to what a PDA used to be (before it was killed by the Smartphone), besides the iTouch. I'm one of the few who don't like locked down Apple products.

So basically that's my reason...I'm curious and I would like to hear from you, please. What do you use it to do daily?

Maybe I'm not as alone as I thought?

Thanks.

My reasons exactly!!
(although my Palm III Color died awhile ago for good ! I never quite got used to my HP iPAQ.)
I also can not justify the monthly cost of the data plan for a Smartphone. I just wouldn't use it THAT much...other than as an MP3. I sit in front of a computer all day at work, can't be looking at the smartphone all day.

[coffee-turtle]

I'm a bit of a tech-junkie, donap. True, I don't buy every new thing on the market, but I love keeping and using old tech running and enhancing it.

This Archos 4.3 Intelligent Tablet is the best thing to happen to pure handhelds in a long time. People don't understand why I want my phone separate from my "PDA". When they have to charge up their phones every few minutes to make a phone call because of playing videos and surfing the internet, my phone is always at the ready. haha!

The next level I want to do is to connect an hdmi monitor, bluetooth mouse and keyboard to my Archos and use it as a computer at home on a small table I have. That will keep a number of my documents always ready to go and a few videos as well. :^) I'm sure I can find something about that on this forum somewhere.

thanks for posting everyone!

[GeoD]

I bought the 43IT for a couple of reasons.

1. My Dell Axim X30 was outdated (but worked flawlessly) and I needed an upgrade.

2. My current cell phone bill is $39.99 a month. I couldn't justify another $720 a year just to get email and have internet access on a phone.

All in all I was very happy with my 43IT until firmware 2.3.20 and 2.3.26. Now it's nothing but a headache to use. Sometimes it's almost useless. Thx ARCHOS!! I just saw the Gen9 tablets have been unveiled. I hope that doesn't mean Archos is going to let the Gen8 people hang with all these issues. If I could only rollback to FW 2.1.08. That was when 43IT life was good.

[RynoRama]

I didn't need this. BUT, I got a 43IT because I refuse to pay for data on my cell phone. Most of the time I am at home or work where I have wifi. And I've learned 3/4 of the stores and restaraunts I go to seem to have wifi also, so why pay $30 for a data plan. Actually I asked for this or a new laptop for Xmas, my wife got me both. A top of the line i7 machine. Never expected both, would have been more than happy with just the Archos 43.

I am 100% happy with my Archos. Except this latest firmware drops it to 80%, supposedly fixed next week though.

edit. A rollback to FW 2.1.08 would be awesome. I should have left a good thing alone.

[mvl]

Loving my Archos 4.3 so far! Believe it or not, I am still a fan of the true PDA and I still buy parts keeping my modified Palm LifeDrive humming along. The Archos 4.3 is the closest thing I've seen to what a PDA used to be (before it was killed by the Smartphone), besides the iTouch. I'm one of the few who don't like locked down Apple products.

So basically that's my reason...I'm curious and I would like to hear from you, please. What do you use it to do daily?

Maybe I'm not as alone as I thought?

Thanks.

I bought the 43 for the exact same reason. It was the first device that could replace my Palm TX. I want a pocket tablet for internet, and a phone for phone, I hate the inconvenience of convergence.

Plus Archos is the only brand on the market to create bluetooth tether for Android, which means my cheapo dumbphone dataplan works with it.

I'm debating whether to buy a second Archos 43 to keep in storage, as it may be hard to find it in a few years when the first Archos 43 croaks. I was lucky to find a second Palm TX on craigslist when the first one died.

[coffee-turtle]

The Palm TX! Music to my ears!

It had most of the features that the larger LifeDrive had, but still kept a small form factor! Very nice!

The Bluetooth tethering comes in very handy! (I have a few hiccups with it now, but that's because of my phone. Still, so far WiFi has been more than adequate).

Thanks for sharing, mvl!

Good to know I am not alone. The Smartphone guys can't seem to understand. Too bad really...

[davidbec]

A lot of people ask me what is that?

I tell them "It's my pocket computer".

It does. Games, Office docs, notes, email, pdf, music, video. And best of all I do not have to charge it every night.

Goes every where I go so I never have to boot the laptop to find information. Or worst yet; go back to the office to get it when something comes up. Free WIFI is not every where here.

[coffee-turtle]

A lot of people ask me what is that?

I tell them "It's my pocket computer".

It does. Games, Office docs, notes, email, pdf, music, video. And best of all I do not have to charge it every night.

Goes every where I go so I never have to boot the laptop to find information. Or worst yet; go back to the office to get it when something comes up. Free WIFI is not every where here.

Excellent points! I used to say pretty much the same with my old Palm LD. It also had a voice recorder like Archos, excellent for taking notes at business meetings/school.

I there is still an obvious niche for the "pocket computer" sans phone!

Thanks!

[dewback]

have a cheep prepay cell phone don't need to pay for data plan have wifi everywhere.


also reason why I got it to replace an ipod classic that the hard drive crashed and wanted a device that could play divx(avi) and mvk files with out having to be reincoded.

[jbmcb]

I use, maybe, 60 minutes of talk time a month. 90% of the time I'm either at home or at my desk at work. On my pay-as-you-go plan, that averages out to $5/month. If I could get a smartphone plan that cheap I'd get it - but I just don't use voice enough for it to be worthwhile.

[tmc]

My archos 43 killed 2 birds with one stone.. my Creativle labs media player was stolen & my old laptop died... this replaces both! Sure there are some limitations of a first (popular) generation (1ghz & Android 2.2)internet media tablets but that will be remedied in successive generations if the prices compared to netbooks & laptops remains competitive. for the moment they seem quite high but I've already bitten the bullet. Right now Archos doesn't have a successor for the 43 so that means I may look elsewhere for a replacement when the time comes.

Pocketable android tablets are a solid market since the cellular industry decided to play the price gouging card. I totally predicted that would happen, and guess what? It did! Now Archos and others seem to have temporarily abandonded the 3-6" tablet market. I know this might push consumers back into the netbook market.... It's a shame too, b/c prepaid unlimited data & voice was looking almost good enough to buy, and now that its getting more expensive it's way out of reach now.

**I would advise any tablet company to RUN, not walk away from the smart-phone handset market. Expect consumer backlash on pricing of all kinds.. handsets & service. You might even see consumers shun cell phones altogether, even a service as cheap as Tracfone.

[GeoD]

A lot of people ask me what is that? I tell them "It's my pocket computer".

Now that is an excellent way to describe the 43IT to people. I've had trouble telling people what it is. I say PDA and some people look at me crossed eyed like they never heard of that term before. I also would say "Internet Tablet" but I get similar looks because people are accustomed to 7" & 10.1" tablets. Then I was saying it was my gadget. Did I catch heck from some people when I used that term!! LOL!! I think I will give "Pocket PC" a try.

Somebody above mentioned about free wifi spots in their area. I want to thank you for reminding me my ISP has free wifi spots all over my surrounding areas. I just dloaded the entire list of places that offer the free wifi (as long as you have an account with the ISP).