Digital Trends

Archos Gmini 400 November 14th, 2004 | by Nino Marchetti

Introduction

Archos is by far the pioneer of portable video player technology. They've set a standard in the industry for high quality, fully functional portable video and audio players which appeal to early adaptors and those looking for a stylish, useful device to carry their media with. One of Archos latest entries into this category is the Gmini400.

Archos states in their August press release, the the Gmini 400 is a “revolutionary new hard drive-based digital audio player...advanced features such as video playback, photo viewing and gaming for the ultimate portable entertainment experience.” It is a compact device which Archos CEO Henri Crohas says follows a tradition in which his company “continues to evolve its audio players to ensure consumers can enjoy far more than music...at an unmatched price.”

Does the Gmini400, a digital audio player pulling triple duty as a digital photo display device and portable video player, live up to the hype? What is it about the Gmini400 that makes it a potential rock star worth your time and money? Read on to find out.

Features and Design

The Archos Gmini400 which was released at the end of August 2004, is a hard drive based digital audio player which sports a 2.2-inch color LCD display and a 20GB hard drive. It measures 4.2” x 2.4” x 0.7” and weighs 5.6 ounces. Its chief features include playing multiple audio and video file formats, displaying digital photos, playing video games and acting as a portable storage device. The suggested retail price of the Gmini400 is $399.95.

From the moment you first lay eyes on the Gmini400, you know Archos was serious in designing something very cool. This portable player has a very hip look to it, with a silver aluminum shell and horizontal design making it stand out from many other portable electronics devices. It easily rests in the palm of your hand, feeling ultra light and slightly cool to the touch. The Gmini400's front plate is where all of the control action takes place. Spread logically around the 262,000-color, 220x176 pixel LCD are the on and off, multi-use and navigation buttons, two buttons related to game control and three buttons for various functions. The primary navigation button provides four degrees of control and is large enough for most thumbs.

On the left and top sides of the Gmini400 sit the interface ports. There is a multi-connect jack that supports headphones and A/V cables, a Compact Flash slot which supports Type I and II cards, a USB 2.0 input and the input for an included power adaptor.  There is also a small series of holes for the voice recording function.

The Archos Gmini looks very stylish with easy button layout