Archos 101 G9 review
The G9's bright screen, decent software and optional 3G dongle help make up for some slightly suspect build quality
Specifications
10.1 in 1,280×800 display, 649g, 1.5GHz ARM Cortex A9, 1.00GB RAM, 16GB disk, Android 4.0
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Archos has also installed its own music and video apps, which both have interfaces that use up the entire space available. Both have a carousel view on the left that you can swipe up and down to browse files or left or right to access favourites, recently added files or all files. There’s also a list view on the right – if you click on an item here, the interface expands to make a more detailed view for the current item. Both apps let you access SMB shares and media servers, too.
If you already have an Android phone, you can also download a remote control app that lets you control the G9 from your Android mobile. This means you can pull out the tablet’s kickstand, fire up a video and sit back and watch it while having full control over media playback. The internal speakers are quite loud but don’t have much bass, so for a more immersive movie night you should plug in a set of speakers via the headphone port.
Our main complaint about the G9 is its build quality. The tablet’s plastic case creaks if you flex it, and there’s a small gap in the join between the two halves of the case. We also noticed a bug with the touchscreen; if you touch the very left or right edge of the screen, it activates the button on that side – the Back button on the left, or the tray menu on the right. This can be annoying, especially pressing Back whilst reading a web page or watching a video.
Still, such faults are forgivable considering that the G9 has the latest version of Android, 16GB of internal storage and yet costs only £270. Archos’s light touch with the software, the bright screen and the option of 3G make the G9 a worthy Budget Buy winner.
Basic Specifications | |
---|---|
Rating | **** |
Processor | ARM Cortex A9 |
Processor clock speed | 1.5GHz |
Memory | 1.00GB |
Maximum memory | N/A |
Size | 167x176x13mm |
Weight | 649g |
Sound | N/A |
Pointing device | touchscreen |
Display | |
Viewable size | 10.1 in |
Native resolution | 1,280×800 |
Graphics Processor | N/A |
Graphics/video ports | mini-HDMI |
Graphics Memory | N/A |
Storage | |
Total storage capacity | 16GB |
Optical drive type | N/A |
Ports and Expansion | |
USB ports | 2 |
Bluetooth | yes |
Wired network ports | none |
Wireless networking support | 802.11n |
PC Card slots | none |
Supported memory cards | micro SDHC |
Other ports | none |
Miscellaneous | |
Carrying case | No |
Operating system | Android 4.0 |
Operating system restore option | restore partition |
Software included | none |
Optional extras | £50 |
Buying Information | |
Warranty | one year RTB |
Price | £268 |
Details | www.archos.com |
Supplier | http://www.ilgs.co.uk |