Archos Gmini402 20 GB Camcorder and Multimedia Player

Average customer rating: 3.5

4 star on product when it works, 1 star on CS & Tech support
Could be Great but...
Nice all in one multimedia unit
Had Early Issues
Flimsy, easy to drop.

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Archos Gmini402 20 GB Camcorder and Multimedia Player

Manufacturer: Archos
Product Group: CE
Binding: Electronics
ASIN: B000BN8R5G

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Amazon.com Product Description

Take your favorite music and video with you wherever you roam with the Archos Gmini 402 Pocket Camcorder and Multimedia Player, and capture personal videos and photos with the integrated video camcorder. It features an internal 20 GB hard drive--which stores up to 80 hours of video, 200,000 still photos, and up to 10,000 songs--2.2-inch TFT LCD screen, and a built-in rechargeable lithium-ion battery that provides up to 10 hours of battery life when listening to music, 4 hours when watching video, or 2 hours when recording video. Ultra-slim and sleekly designed, the Gmini 402 measures just 0.7 inches thick and 4.1 inches wide and it weighs just 6.65 ounces. It's compatible with a wide variety of digital audio, image, and video files, including protected Windows Media content downloaded from multiple PlaysForSure online music services and stores.

Record your personal videos in MPEG 4 format directly to your Gmini 402 Camcorder. Five different modes of resolution are available to suit your needs. In low mode, you may capture up to 50 hours of your personal videos and 13 hours of your personal videos and 13 hours in high resolution (VGA). The Gmini 402 Camcorder also features a digital zoom 2x. With DSC function, your Gmini 402 Camcorder can be used as a still camera, allowing you to take photos with maximum resolution of 1.2 mega pixels.

The Gmini 402 offers audio compatibility with MP3, WMA, protected WMA, and WAV files and still image compatibility with JPEG and BMP files. For video files, the Gmini 402 can play MPEG-4 SP files with B-Frames (compatible with DivX and XviD 4.0 or higher) and stereo sound. You'll get near DVD quality, with up to 720 x 480 pixels at 30 fps (frames per second) in the NTSC format (U.S. video standard), or 720 x 576 pixels at 25 fps in the PAL format. In addition to watching video from the player's LCD, you can also connect the Gmini 402 to a TV with standard RCA A/V output. It also has a standard mini headphone jack. Record from any standard audio source with high-quality stereo sound via the stereo analog line-in connection or record voice or live music with the built-in microphone. Files will be saved on the Gmini 402 in WAV format.

The Gmini 402 Camcorder has a USB Host Port that lets you to copy, share, connect and transfer files directly from other powered mass storage devices such as digital cameras, card readers, USB keys, and powered portable hard drives. Play back directly any compatible contents on the external hard drive connected to your Gmini 402 Camcorder (no data transfer needed). The Gmini 402 Camcorder also features a high-speed USB 2.0 interface to connect your device to your PC or Mac and easily transfer contents.

Transfer photos directly from your digital camera or from another mass storage device using the built-in USB host connection, or from a computer using the high-speed USB 2.0 interface. Store up to up to 200,000 photos. Organize photos in easy thumbnail or slideshow views, and view them on the Gmini 402 Camcorder screen or any external display.

The 2.2-inch TFT LCD screen has a 220 x 176-pixel resolution with 262,000 colors. It connects to Windows-based PCs and Macs via super-fast USB 2.0 (which is also backwards compatible with USB 1.1)

<b>What's in the Box</b>
Gmini 402 Camcorder and Multimedia Player, earphones, USB cable, USB Host adaptor, AC power charger, Quick Start Guide (full user guide in Gmini 402 Hard Drive), protective pouch

Product Description

<b>Package includes:</b> Gmini 402, earphones, USB cable, USB Host adaptor, AC power charger, Quick Start Guide (full user guide in Gmini 402 Hard Drive), protective pouch.
The Gmini 402 is the ultra-small, ultra-light, ultra-slim Pocket Multimedia Center. It lets you easily transfer up to 10,000 songs in the most used format such as MP3, WMA, WAV and protected WMA (Including PlaysForSure files). Customize your view by artist, album, type of music, title, year, and create play lists without having to use a computer. Using the high-speed USB 2.0 interface, the Gmini 402 will easily auto-synchronize content with Windows Media Player 10 each time you connect it to your PC, or convert your Windows Media Player 10 library content to one of the many compatible formats (MP3 , WMA , WAV, protected WMA, MP4 , WMV and protected Windows Media Video). The Gmini 402 has a USB Host Port enabling you to copy, share, connect and transfer files directly from other powered mass storage devices such as digital cameras and card readers. Records music from an analog source in stereo sound for WAV (PCM & ADPCM) format 2.2 TFT LCD display -- 220 x 176 pixels (262,000 colors) USB 1.1 & 2.0 Host port compatible Mass Storage Device Stereo analog Line in, earphones, TV line out connections Built-in microphone Highly scalable with firmware updates from www.archos.com Internal rechargeable Lithium-Ion battery - lasts up to 10 hours for audio, up to 5 hours for video Mophun game engine TV output - enjoy your photos and movies on any external screen / USB 2.0 - easily transfer content from your PC / USB host - connect other USB devices Dimensions - 4.1 x 2.3 x 0.7 (10.6 x 6 x 1.7 mm) Weight - Approx. 6.64 oz (160 g) System requirements - PC with Windows ME or 2000, and USB 2.0 port; Macintosh G3 with MAC OS v10.2.4 or higher, and USB 2.0 port

Customer Reviews:

4 star on product when it works, 1 star on CS & Tech support.......2007-06-12

Bought this product in Dec 06 when it was around $200. Not bad for 20GB and the loads of functions. Works well the first three months. Digital camera and Camcorder is not bad. Quality is not the best, but it's useful in a pinch. The MP3 shuffle is not a true random shuffle, it shuffles through the same path of MP3. With the 20GB, it stores alot of Video & MP3 and although the screen is not the biggest, can't watch for too long, but is good if you need something to do or need entertainment while waiting in line or on the train. However, in April 07, harddrive started having issue. Read error, can't read from hard drive and the whole thing started freezing up. Called Archos RMA (return) department, told them the problem and they email me the RMA right away, but you have to pay for the shipping. Took over 5 weeks to get the product back. Looks like they upgraded the firmware. Called to just confirm, they did upgrade the firmware and replaced the hard drive. Used the product for less than a month, same issues. Can't read from hard drive, hard drive error, product freezes up. Called them again and they issued an RMA through email and since it's second time with the same issue, they will send me a free ship label so I don't have to pay. That was 5/31/07, it is 6/11/07. Called them at least 5 or 6 times to see where the ship label is, each time, waited at least 1/2 hour and more and they can just keep saying it's coming. Take 72 hours, the person sending the label is not in the office. No help whatsoever, alot of run around, no one seems to know what they are doing. I have been on the phone today since 7:48pm, it is 9:20pm and am still on hold, have not talked to anyone at all. This is the customer service or Archos after you have bought the product. Very dissapointed and very dissatisfied. And with the hard drive breaking twice within 6 months, not sure if it's really worth the hassle.

Could be Great but..........2007-05-12

This product has a lot going for it especially on the surface--you can use it as a camera (low megapixels), digital video camera (not too bad), MP3 player (just fine), mediaplayer (can be difficult to import media) and overall digital storage device. Yup a lot there overall and a good price as well so what's the real issue? Well mine fried, the video screen and therefore all menus and all use just gone for no apparent reason; although fortunately within the warranty period but still no fun. Another major flaw although this will seem minor is that there is no way to attach a strap to this player and therefore it is quite awkward to hold and use in it's camera capacities; as your one handed hold will often hit just on the tiny lens that is far off center on the back of the device. So way to go Archos on giving it the old college try and please go back to the drawing board, and include WIFI when you do!!

Nice all in one multimedia unit .......2007-02-04

I bought this player about 2 months ago. I like it. It's easy to transfer files to and from the unit especially since the unit can be connected to your computer as a Windows device and use Windows Media Player to transfer files or it can be connected as a hard drive and the files can be transferred as you would transfer files from any hard disk drive. I use it mostly for music, but I have also used it to take photos and to record video. The picture quality is just fine for me and I believe for most applications. It works well as a camera and a camcorder and it is simple and straightforward to use. I don't like the carrying case supplied by Archos, it is thin and unpadded. The battery life is excellent. I am not impressed with the ear buds, but then again I don't like ear buds generally. Over all it is a nice unit. I haven't played any of the games, but it is a game player as well. It works nicely for me. You need a carrying case for the unit because it can easily slip out of your hands. The menu buttons are large enough to actually use even with clumsy fingers like mine. I use music match jukebox and I wish it had the ability to sync with this unit, but it currently does not. (last time I checked)

Had Early Issues.......2006-12-29

The unit seemed like it would do everthing that I needed for a vaction or school show. One unit for MP3 or video watching on the plane, recording the kids at the beach or taking snap shots. I opened the box and the camcorder and camera functions did not work. All I had was a snowy screen for both. It was sent in for repair...let's see what happens.

Flimsy, easy to drop........2006-12-25

This is a great item that Archos designed poorly. The still camera isnt all that great, takes blurry pictures. The video isnt great either; nice FPS but the sound is garbage. Plays great video. Has useless games on it that are also impossible to control because of the location of the buttons. Awful multi-use buttons for scrolling through menus, you lose track where you are in the menu process because none of the buttons are labeled and theres no indication on the screen of what you're supposed to click next. From the factory, the back part didnt fit well against the middle & couldnt get it to fit better; could welcome in dirt or moisture and wreck it.

Great battery life; it lasted for 6 days and about 9 hours of use before I returned it to the store and the level indicator was at 50%+. There is NOWHERE to put a wrist strap or lanyard and thats the main reason I returned it.

If this was redesigned with a no-slip design, case, or wrist strap and better menus, this product would rock.

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