Clash of the tablets! Archos vs Toshiba

Archos unveiled its Archos 5 Internet Tablet last night. Running Android, it’s had tech world eyeing it with interest, and is the second tablet in as many weeks to turn our head.

So what’s it like? We’ve stacked it against its closest competitor: The Toshiba JournE Touch. Read on, and let the battle of the tablets commence!

Size is everything
The Toshiba JournE Touch has a 7 inch screen, that’s a whopping two inches more than the Archos 5 Internet Tablet, but that extra bulk adds more bulk than is strictly necessary. See, the Journe Touch itself weighs 450g, compared to the Archos 5 Internet Tablet’s 286g. That’s enough to make us think twice before slipping it into a satchel.

Don’t get us wrong: The Archos 5 Internet Tablet has it’s own flaws. For a start, versions packing a hard drive are 2cm thick, but while it might not be super-skinny, it’s light enough to win this battle, albeit with a slightly smaller screen.

OS and apps inside
The Toshiba JournE Touch runs Windows CE, although you’d never guess. Toshiba’s software hides Microsoft’s ugly offspring ably, but there’s still a problem: While Windows CE developers won’t be hard to lure to the tablet, there are few apps ready made for it.

Meanwhile, the Archos 5 Internet Tablet has Android onboard, as well as running 3rd party Android apps Archos has launched its own store dubbed Appslib. It’ll come pre-loaded with some Android apps too, to give owners a taste of the software available.

Toshiba, however, will launch the JournE Touch without an app store, and while it promises there’s one on the way we’ve yet to see it in action, or find out what exactly will be on offer.

Put side by side, the Archos 5 Internet Tablet looks more flexible, at least until Toshiba shows us its legion of apps.

Toshiba JournE Touch: First hands-on

However, it’ll also work with Toshiba’s Media Controller software to stream content to a networked TV or computer. It’ll use the same software to grab content itself, so if your movies are shut in the back bedroom on a PC, you’ll still be able to watch them from the sofa on the JournE touch. So far, so smart, but there’s also a handy dock, outputting content in HD through HDMI.

Archos, meanwhile, suffers a bit here. Yes, the Archos 5 Internet Tablet has Wi-Fi, but there’s no way to give it 3G skills on its own. Instead, you’ll need to hook it up to a 3G mobile phone using Bluetooth and have it piggyback a connection. That’s quite a hassle.

Similarly, the Archos 5 Internet Tablet can’t stream content to a networked device. Instead you’ll have to fork out for a DVR dock and connect it up to the big screen. That’s extra.

The Archos 5 Internet Tablet is also snooty about the accessories you hook up. Sure, it’ll work with a GPS mount for in-car navigation, and yes, it has an FM transmitter, but for ultimate flexibility we’re going to award a win to Toshiba here.

Archos 5 Internet Tablet hands-on photos!

Sure, the Toshiba JournE Touch also plays MPEG 4 and H.264 video in HD, but the Archos 5 Internet Tablet floors it with an FM transmitter and receiver, Bluetooth and an army of codecs.

Storage showdown
Both the Toshiba JournE Touch and the Archos 5 Internet Tablet pack built-in storage, but it’s debatable whether a true tablet really needs it. Toshiba packs in just 1GB of storage (although it can be extended up to 32GB with an SD card). The Archos 5 Internet Tablet has flash memory versions starting at 8GB, or hard disk versions with 160GB minimum.

Of course, that storage is only useful if you plan to carry media around with you. Archos says its tablet is as much a PMP as an internet portal, but we remain to be convinced, especially as it risks pushing the price higher.

Battery brute
We’re using quoted battery life here, as neither companies are ready to dish out review units for a long-term test. However, on official stats at least, the Archos 5 Internet Tablet states it’ll last for 22 hours playing music, or 7 hours playing video.

That’s enough to batter Toshiba into submission. The JournE Touch promises 7 hours of audio playback, or 2 hours of internet browsing. There are no stats for video playback, which we assume is somewhere between the two.

Price quandaries
The big question: which is cheaper?

The Toshiba JournE Touch will be on sale later this month for £200. That’s much not bad for a huge screen, strong media skills and the possibility of an app avalanche further down the road. But still, Archos manages to blow Toshiba out of the water.

See, the Archos 5 Internet Tablet also starts at £200, and will be on sale before the month is over too.

Sure, it has a smaller screen, but its media abilities, hangar-like storage, existing app catalogue and more pocketable size make it our pick of the tablets so far, even if hopping online through 3G is a bit of a chore.

Clash of the tablets! Archos vs Toshiba was originally published on Electricpig.co.uk at Wed, 16 Sep 2009 12:53:44

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