Detailed Archos Gmini XS200 MP3 Player Description & Review

Archos: Gmini XS200 £199.00inc. VAT  &  Delivery

This model has been superceded by the Archos GMini XS202 20GB MP3 player.

The Archos Gmini XS200 is the perfect player if you aren't interested in the clever features the latest players have, like video playback or recording, but do want to carry a lot (and we mean a LOT) of music around with you in the smallest and easiest to use package possible.

The Archos Gmini XS (we guess this stands for eXtra Small) 200 has 20 Gigabytes of storage capacity but is not much bigger than most RAM players that can only store 128 - 256MB. Less than 3 inches tall, less than an inch thick and less than 2 and a half inches wide. Small.

Archos achieve this extreme capacity to size ratio by using the latest mini-HD (hard disk) technology. These tiny devices are also used in Creative's MuVo 2 and Apple's iPod Mini but Archos have really excelled in stuffing a huge capacity into such a small, palm-sized gadget.

It won't take us long to discuss this player's features, it has so few, but is that so bad if it means you can carry your entire music collection around in such a small device? It has just what is needed to do this with aplomb and no more.

It has a two inch greyscale screen with basic graphic capabilities. It uses Archos's ARCLibrary interface from their earlier models to enable you to create play lists and search for tracks using criteria such as genre and song title and, of course, you can rename, move, copy, delete files and folders or make playlists on the move - without a computer - using the Archos Browser. This edit on-the-fly feature is sorely missing in several other current players. Such edits are made with a virtual, on-screen keypad. Other great ARC library features are present too, such as resume, which allows you to stop playing, turn off and come back to the same spot at a later date. Exceptionally handy for spoken books.

The Gmini XS200 has no recording abilities though, so all musical content must be transferred from a computer, like most MP3players

The Gmini XS200 can play MP3, WMA and WAV audio files, but not ones using DRM. The XS200 is compatible with both PC and Mac, but currently only the Mac version works with iTunes. Music can be transferred to/from your computer using a fast USB2 connection. The GminiXS 200 is recognised as an external hard disk so you can use it to store and move around data files with the minimum of fuss. Attach to Computer A, transfer the files on, attach to Computer B, transfer the files off. This is also a feature missing from a lot of Jukebox models. The way the Archos does it is the way it should be done.

Simple but effective touches include the ability to lock the buttons, like on a mobile phone, so that you can carry it in your pocket without fear of setting it off. No line-in (used for recording) but there is a line-out, which means you can hook up your tiny device to amplifiers/ speakers and blast the neighbours into the next town.

Battery News

The Gmini XS200 has a built in rechargeable Li-Ion battery that lasts about 10 hours between charges. It comes with a mains adapter and charger. Unfortunately the battery is LOCKED in. This design flaw of yesteryear means that if there is any problem with the battery the entire unit has to be replaced. To their credit Archos have been good about doing this when problems have arisen, but you have to wonder at what point they will have the ingenious idea of making the batteries replaceable again?

This player's strengths are its huge capacity, tiny size and its simplicity. At a time when manufacturers are trying to include so many advanced features into their players that they are starting to resemble tiny computers, the Gmini XS200 goes back to basics and gives just what many people need - a straightforward, tiny-sized but large capacity MP3 Player: simple.

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