I'm surprised that no one has mentioned this yet, so here goes.

While some may want to compare N800 with the iPhone, I believe that a better comparison is N800 with Archos' 605 Wifi.

The 605 has the following features:

• high resolution screen, 800×480 pixels,
• 4.3′’ touch screen TFT LCD, 16 million colors
• Wifi
• it plays flash videos from Youtube, Dailymotion, etc
• it has better multimedia features than the N800 (i.e. videos & music)
• can install Opera's 9 widgets on the device itself
• new Content Portal provides quick and easy access to the latest movies, TV shows and music directly to the device
• device automatically downloads latest firmware updates
• 5.5 hours of video playback or 16 hours of audio playback
• $299 for the 30GB model or $399 for the 160GB model
• 9.2 ounces, and 4.8 x 3.2 x 0.6-inches on the 30GB model (0.75-inches thick on the 160GB model)


It's optional one-time price plugins are as follows:

• The browser on the 605 WiFi is $30 (includes Adobe Flash plugin)
• Opera widgets cost $20 to enable
• The Real video plugin costs $20
• The internet radio plugin costs $20
• The HD (720p) video output plugin costs $20
• The H.264 plugin costs $20, as does "cinema" video, which supports VOB + 5.1-surround

Assuming you get the 30GB version for $299 plus spend another $30 for internet access, $20 for widgets access, and $20 more for H.264 support for a grand total of $369, the N800 has some serious competition!

Look at these two "hand-ons" mini reviews:

http://crave.cnet.co.uk/digitalmusic...9291074,00.htm

http://www.infosyncworld.com/news/n/7983.html

Here's a quote from Crave from CNet:

"It's built on a new version of Linux, has fully integrated Wi-Fi and can be used to browse the Internet thanks to the Opera browser. Flash is fully supported, so sites such as YouTube work perfectly. In fact, not only do YouTube's embedded videos play perfectly -- including in full-screen mode -- but videos can be uploaded to YouTube directly from the device itself, without any need of a computer."

The only drawback that I see is that it doesn't have Bluetooth like the N800.

It's supposed to come out in July in Europe, and in August in the USA.

That looks very cool! a shame that the software extra's are so very expensive.
I really hope you are mistaken and that the device does have bluetooth for a DUN connectie to a 3G network.

BTW. If it is based on Linux, shouldn't the software be (at least partly) Open Source? If I look at the website, they don't promote any community influence on the software do they?

That's the biggest complaint from Archos fans. They want Archos to fully open their software so that they could hack into it. Thus far, Archos has never fully opened their software (except what is required of them from Open Source but hackers haven't been able to do much with it).

Opera's Widgets, though, will allow users to install a bunch of stuff on their 605. These widgets are free (once you purchase the initial plugin) and are community driven (i.e. bunch of developers have designed widgets). Check it out here:

http://widgets.opera.com/

I actually bought the n800 after debating between the 604,605wifi from archos. I test both the n800 and archos 604 wifi[same as 605 pretty much ecept fot interface,flash and few other minor inprovments] and I liked the n800 better because of these reasons.
1. The camera add on is 129.99 with is alot considering the n800 has 1 built in.

2.DVR station is 80.00

3. if you want to play other types of media not supported on the device they cost extra its like having to buy the firmware updates from nokia.

4. Its thicker.

Dont get me wrong this thing is great with the 16mil. colors ,opera 9 but once you buy it your stuck no updates except having to dish out extra money for extra video codecs. Plus no web calls even with the add on cam. and not op en source so what you see is what you get no add in word programs or anything ecept 2or3 crappy games you can pay for. In the end even with less menory the n800 wins in my opinon. [by the way im Not an archos hater ive owned some of there products before there great just will run the fattest walets dry.Definatly an ipod killer though!!!!!

A little off topic, I know, but I have a 604 wifi and a N800.

For playing media, the archos is much, much better.

For browsing the web, the archos is slow, cumbersome, and poor all around.

I hope the 605 is better.

My biggest gripe though about archos in general is the way they make their device appear so capable, but everything costs extra. I don't have too much of a problem with the plugins costing extra, there's probably a fee for licensing anyway.

It should have come with the dvr station and neither my 604 nor my dvr station came with a cable to play back media on a tv.

I tried using a standard tv out cable, and it didn't work either. No, theirs is proprietary. Not even proprietary like apple's where they switched the colors of the adapter ends, a regular cable (or apple cable) wouldn't work in any configuration that I found.

So that was yet another purchase.

But for it's primary function, it works great.

I do recommend it, but only as a portable video player, not as a dvr, and certainly not as an internet device.

But, maybe the 605 will be an evolutionary leap.

Response to coheed22

1. For those that want a camera, I could see the advantage of the N800. For others, though, this might not be important nor necessary

2. I didn't mention the price of the DVR station since the N800 can't hook up to the TV and record from it. This is just a bonus feature for those who want the feature. Indeed, the DVR station isn't necessary for those who strictly want a Internet tablet.

3. It's true that the video and audio codecs are extra. Included, though, are Divx, Xvid, MP3, WMV. MPEG2, AC3, VOB, H264, and others are extra. For many, DivX, Xvid, MP3, and WMV will be sufficient. I also don't think (and maybe I'm wrong) that N800 can play back MPEG2, AC3, or H264.

4. N800: 144 x 75 x 13 mm, weight is 206 gm
___605: 122 x 82 x 15 mm, weight is 190 gm for 30GB

It's not that much thicker than the 605 30GB model (in inches it's about .1 inch thicker). It also weighs slightly less and its length is smaller as well (although its width is a bit longer). Size comparisons can be found here:

http://www.sizeasy.com/page/size_com...-vs-Nokia-N800

For me, being able to play flash videos at its normal speed as well as not having to convert my Divx/Xvid videos for the device is crucial as a mobile internet/media gadget. This may not be possible with the N800 and I suspect won't be possible until the N900 comes out.

I agree about the 604 wifi being slow and cumbersome. I bought it when it first came out and didn't like the fact that it was slow for surfing and that the screen wasn't 800 x 480 pixels. In the end, I returned the 604 back to Sam's Club.

Now, then, one of my main concerns has been addressed with the 605. Let's see if the speed has been increased as well. If it has, then that's where I will go. Otherwise, I will have to wait for the N900 or the next generation of UMPCs (the Menlow platform)!

Well, I just looked at the Archos 605 Wifi and it disappoints me that Nokia is unable to get us full speed YouTube playback and proper video support from the tablet.... a PMP has a better implementation of Flash and Opera?

Hi Sherifnix,

Be careful... based on some of the posts in the other threads, you'll get people telling you that you cannot compare because one is a PMP and the other is an IT.

But seriously, I find all these comparisons very useful. The fact that some people DO compare say iPhone vs N800 already shows that there ARE people who will compare them, simply because that is the way they perceive the devices' use. All valid if what they say is truly what they perceive.