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However, people who want to play Android games will play them on their Android phones (if they have one)

Absolutely, and their tablets too. Ignoring the fact that they in themselves are pretty good game platforms. I have owned a Android console from Sony over 18Months http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xperia_Play. Right now the Ouya is not the only successful kick-starter Android console http://gamestick.tv/ or that there are gaming tablets from Archos http://www.archos.com/products/themed/gamepad/index.html?country=us&lang=en#a Wikipad’s and 7-inch Android gaming tablet called Wikipad http://www.wikipad.com/...or even that Sony have introduced native DUALSHOCK 3 controller support for Xperia phones http://techcrunch.com/2013/04/09/sony-adding-dualshock-3-controller-support-to-xperia-devices/ Android gaming as you can see is taking off right now...even with traditional controllers.

Then what's the Archos GamePad?

$70 more.

buttons, joysticks, and a touchpad - things you won't find on a tablet.

Then what's the Archos GamePad?

Or €150 for an Archos Gamepad, a pretty high-end 7" Android 4.1 tablet with game buttons - easily mappable for the tons of older games that lack button support. I couldn't really justify getting either a new handheld console or a tablet, but this is both, and it's cheaper than a Vita, so it's quite enticing. I'll keep an eye on this.

http://www.archos.com/

You got Win 7 to run on an ARM tablet? Yeah, I think maybe you got one of those "chinamart specials" running an android with a Windows skin, because according to the website of the company that makes it its running a TI OMAP quad, I don't think Win 7 ever supported ARM.

You can get this Archos Android tablet with 250GB of storage. Is that enough?

The new generation (G9) Archos tablets look promising for running a more GNU/Linux than Android distro on them.

KDEs Plasma Active, on top of MER is being worked on:

http://dot.kde.org/2011/11/30/plasma-active-archos-g9-tablet

And the general philosophy of Archos seems to be encouraging development of alternative firmwares (not without loosing warranty, though):

http://www.archos.com/support/support_tech/updates_dev.html?country=us&lang=en

Have a look at Archos tablets. They support Debian on their gen8 series, but those are still a bit slow. People are already running debian on their gen9 products, and official support for that is coming soon.

See also:
http://www.archos.com/support/support_tech/updates_dev.html?country=us&lang=en
http://dot.kde.org/2011/11/30/plasma-active-archos-g9-tablet
http://dev.openaos.org/wiki/Debian

They are most certainly not selling the fire at a loss. Archos have sold such tablets for years at around the same pricepoint, and believe me, they're making money out of them.

cnet might disagree with all their theoretical computations of course. But who cares?

Archos are releasing a 101 G9 model in September and it's looking extremely promising from the specs. It's even expandable to 3G via an inexpensive expansion that doubles up as a PC usb modem. If it sells well it might act as the cluebat to beat some sense into the other manufacturers.

Well, I don't find it a compelling device, but nonetheless I can think of a few uses for it. If someone gave me one, I'd be tempted to:

1. Use it as a portable media platform
2. Use it as a portable gaming device
3. The "Local copy of Wikipedia" thing others have mentioned certainly isn't a bad idea

Those are three applications it would appear to be more than adequate at. I wouldn't be inclined to use it as the eBook reader others have mentioned - the lack of an eInk screen and the poor resolution/size kinda works against that.

My major reservations are not your's. I don't think the "Costs the same as a smartphone on contract" thing is reasonable, given it clearly doesn't (unless the contract is for a dollar a month or something!) But, on the other hand, if you want an Android tablet, there are things like this that cost less than the device and are genuinely more capable. What would make me pick the NanoNote over the Archos? Well, in my case, I wouldn't buy either, which means I'm not really qualified to address the question. And I think the same applies to you too.

It's an inexpensive device, it appears to have a certain amount of flexibility, it's not ideal, but it's a form factor worth playing with. I'd give it a second look if:

1. The screen was high resolution eInk, and preferably touchscreen
2. The device has Ethernet
3. The device has a USB host controller

I think all of the above are quite possible, so I'll watch the platform with some interest.

Have a look at http://www.archos.com/

Archos very nice gen8 Android 2.2.1 tablets are $100 to $349, depending on screen size and features. That seems pretty reasonable to me. I have the 101, and I know four other people that own them as well. At the top end, they cost less than I paid for a Palm PDA seven years ago.

You might try the archos 70
its running 2.2 has hdmi out and apparently a full bluetooth stack and has usb if its the same as the 7 the usb can be host as well.

it does however lack gps or 3g but hopefully the gps functionality can be added in via a bluetooth gps unit. the 3g i don't particularly care to have since i can simply link with my android phone using barnacle.

price wise its pretty cheap around the same as a netbook i've seen them selling for 250 euro's
http://www.archos.com/products/ta/archos_70it/index.html?country=us&lang=en

Erm, the latest Archos products have capacitive screens or are the too new since they were released in the past few months? http://www.archos.com/products/ta/archos_101it/index.html?country=us&lang=en

Then you can make keeping the tablet customized and updated and flashed and jailbroken your new personal hobby for a few years.

Or you could buy from a decent company that dosen't think it owns your soul because you purchased one of their products.

http://www.archos.com/products/ta/archos_5it/dualos.html

Just like a PC, the ARCHOS 5 Internet Tablet can be freely programmed in alternative ways in addition to the applications that can be created for the Android platform. To have total control of your Internet Tablet, ARCHOS has opened up this device, thus allowing creative minds to program their own tablet, or create what could be the tablet of the future.

I currently have 3 OSes on my Archos - The original Archos software (based on Android 1.6), Angstrom Linux, and Android 2.2. And I can update any of them without having any impact on the other two.

I could go on for pages about how hackable Archos devices are. Every time I try to do something, I'm once again amazed at how simple it is.

What's so different about this Samsung compared to the range of Archos Android devices like the 43it (I don't care about Android myself so at a guess there are plenty of other devices out there)? Is the "virtually unchallenged" moniker in any way warranted?

I hate to be a troll, but this comment will inevitably be just that...

The reason why is:

Because Archos will forever be the Tech world's underdog

Because I have never seen Archos actually try and market a device (just their fan base)

Because Samsung's marketing department is undoubtedly superior.

If no one ever heard of it, no one will buy it. I constantly keep tabs on gadget/tech news and releases and I have never heard of this device. And trust me, I have been looking out for a device like this for a long time now. How would you expect the general public to ever find out. I've never used an Archos product myself, so I can't say anything either way. They could be some of the most amazing gadgets ever (and many have claimed they are). But they remain virtually unknown.

What's so different about this Samsung compared to the range of Archos Android devices like the 43it (I don't care about Android myself so at a guess there are plenty of other devices out there)? Is the "virtually unchallenged" moniker in any way warranted?

And actually Archos is working on a 10" tablet that will run Android. Only $300 for the 8GB version (once it is released) https://store.archos.com/archos-internet-tablet-p-5005.html

Believe it or not, you're wrong.

There are plenty of 10-inch Android tablets, almost all of which are cheaper than the iPad. The Archos 101, for example, is $299 for the 8GB version.

Whether it was Apple's doing or not, the rumors of the $999 iPad did a lot to make people think that the iPad was "cheap" at $499 and that somehow it was Apple's "sales volume" that allowed them to reach that "revolutionary price".

Of course all of that is BS. The 16GB iPad has the same ARM CPU and the same flash memory as the 16GB iPod Touch, which runs $275. And the 10" screen doesn't cost anywhere near $225, even if it is IPS. iSuppli estimates that the 16GB iPad costs $219 to make, which is not hard to believe considering that you can get a full netbook for around the same price.

There are a few of these on the market already. The Archos 70 has what you're looking for. There are other models that are differently sized so you even have the option there.

Most of the chinese knock-offs are 802.11g but the newer tablets coming out now are 802.11N like the Archos.

See Archos: Their tablets and media players run Android, some even include dual OS features to run Linux on them. They run on Cortex A8 processors.

Where did you get a $99 android phone?

Well, it's not a "phone", but it is $99. http://www.archos.com/products/ta/archos_28it/index.html?country=us&lang=en

But it's hard to install unless you know how to jailbreak your iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad. I'd prefer that people buy a less locked-down device in the first place, but there isn't really an "Android pod touch" in the United States yet.

Well, actually Archos is releasing Android based Media/Internet tablets, from 2.8" for $100, up to $300 for the 10" tablet. They already have released the 3.2" version for $150. I plan on buying the 4.3" one after it is released.

1) exactly what version of Android is it running (my guess 1.6) ?

2.2

Do you know of an "Android pod touch" for sale to the general public in the United States?

Archos 28, 32 or 43, starting at $99, all running Android 2.1 or greater, available from Sears.

I'd prefer that people buy a less locked-down device in the first place, but there isn't really an "Android pod touch" in the United States yet.

Yes there is. Archos 28, 32 or 43, starting at $99, all running Android 2.1 or greater, available from Sears.

Further, where is the cheap Linux iPod touch after 3 years?

Here. Starting at $99.

Motion has 3 models available:

http://www.motioncomputing.com/

There's the Archos 9:

http://www.archos.com/products/tw/archos_9/index.html?country=us&lang=en

and the Samsung Q1EX:

http://www.samsung.com/us/computer/laptops/NP-Q1EX-FA01US

and the Panasonic Toughbook is available as a slate.

Sadly, Fujitsy quit making slates though (perhaps they'll go back to making them?) --- interestingly the selection of Windows slates has gotten so low that some people who want a larger format slate are purchasing the Axiotron Modbook (a converted Mac laptop) and installing Windows on it.

William

I'm not aware of one Android device without a cellular radio that Google has officially approved for use with its store.

The Creative Zii Egg

I didn't see any mention of Android Market on the page you cited. As I understand the ordering page, one must order on behalf of a company that will be branding the Zii EGG as its own product. Or do I misunderstand it? Does it have any substantial advantage over Archos 43?

The Archos 70 (not expected to be available until October 2010) has an option for an internal HDD with 250GB of storage. My wife was looking for something in this form factor to be a high-capacity portable media player; getting a device with additional capabilities will be a bonus. http://www.archos.com/products/ta/archos_70it/specs.html?country=us&lang=en

Of course, since it's not available yet, we haven't played with it. Hopefully we'll buy one after giving them a little while to work out the bugs.

Actually I like 7". I think 5" is too big for a phone and too small for a tablet. 7" is the smallest I'd go for a tablet. For me anything between 7 an 13" is ideal. The Tab looks good for carrying around innocuously, using on the plane or train without interfering with other passengers and just being an alternative to the laptop in meetings or when I'm working at someone else's desk (Sysadmin, this happens quite a bit so I currently use my Milestone (3.7") for this purpose).

That being said, 10" would be better for general use and 600 Euro is a bit rich so I'll be looking to see what happens with the Archos 10i which has similar specs but a 10" screen and an announced price point of US$300 (also seen "under 300 Euro") which makes it quite a bargain for an Australian at the moment. There is no Android marketplace on the 10i so well have to see what Google or the Modding community do.

The Archos 7 was released in September of last year (why its specs are bad for today). And without digging too far, the Android market in China (in Chinese) is quite large. And here is a video (surprisingly in English) of another Android 7 inch tablet in China only by Camangi.

As a FOSS geek I'm not interested in apple and have identified a bunch of really nice looking alternatives to the iPad. It's just a shame none of them seem to quite make it to market!

Eh, there were several `iPad alternatives' on the market before the iPad even existed.

Archos was selling their Android tablets 7 months before the iPad, and Archos first published an `actual Linux' firmware (using OpenEmbedded) and started contributing to upstream some 4 months before the iPad hit the market.

AlwaysInnovating started selling Touchbook beta units a month before Archos introduced their tablets--8 months before the iPad came to market.

And there were/are numerous others, too. I'm not sure whether it makes sense to compare the Nokia N-series tablets, since they're smaller, but they've been on the market for *years*, and they're not the end of the list.

Of course, that's not even counting the `iPad alternatives' that came to market *after* the iPad.

I'm having trouble understanding your "shame none of them seem to quite make it to market" comment--and even more trouble making sense out of others' comments to the effect of `if only there were any other tablet computers other than the iPad'....

As a FOSS geek I'm not interested in apple and have identified a bunch of really nice looking alternatives to the iPad. It's just a shame none of them seem to quite make it to market!

Eh, there were several `iPad alternatives' on the market before the iPad even existed.

Archos was selling their Android tablets 7 months before the iPad, and Archos first published an `actual Linux' firmware (using OpenEmbedded) and started contributing to upstream some 4 months before the iPad hit the market.

AlwaysInnovating started selling Touchbook beta units a month before Archos introduced their tablets--8 months before the iPad came to market.

And there were/are numerous others, too. I'm not sure whether it makes sense to compare the Nokia N-series tablets, since they're smaller, but they've been on the market for *years*, and they're not the end of the list.

Of course, that's not even counting the `iPad alternatives' that came to market *after* the iPad.

I'm having trouble understanding your "shame none of them seem to quite make it to market" comment--and even more trouble making sense out of others' comments to the effect of `if only there were any other tablet computers other than the iPad'....

There are announcements of Windows Embedded Compact (AKD Win CE) 7 tablets:
http://wmpoweruser.com/asus-eee-pad-ep101tc-first-windows-ce-7-tablet-announced/
(yes I know there was announcement dumping WinCE for Android, but there was a counter saying it was still going ahead).

There exist Windows 7 tablets:
http://www.archos.com/products/nb/archos_9/design.html?country=us&lang=en

So is this yet another previously unknown flavor to further muddy the waters?

Read that as "non-3G" and "non-Android" (not an Android device without 3G...for that probably the only one really out there yet is the Archos 7 --not recommending, just saying that you can buy them--more expensive than you want, too).

For an easy-to-get non-Android platform, the PSP does Skype and WiFi pretty good, and you can spin some Ratchet and Clank between calls... in about your price range.

http://wetab.mobi/en
http://www.archos.com/products/imt/archos_5it/
http://www.slashgear.com/dell-streak-5-inch-3g-android-mid-leaks-2161220/
http://mashable.com/2009/11/12/vega-android-tablet/
http://www.slashgear.com/icd-vega-and-ultra-android-tablets-hands-on-video-0869180/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4OCItW6ecc
http://www.viddler.com/simple_on_site/4d5337e2
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/08/quanta-tegra-2-prototype-hands-on/
http://www.engadget.com/2010/01/28/msis-10-inch-tablet-launching-this-year-at-500-patently-ignor/

Yeah, I to wouldn't want to run my whole desktop on a smartphone... and not on an iPad either. Probably better to design an UI which work well on the smaller screen ..

Depending on what it is.

How about this Android tablet? Or this soon to be released Android tablet? Or many android prototype tablets to peek at.

I like Archos alot.

Archos is already doing it and doing it well. First time using one was today, actually. Pretty damned swanky, imo.

How about >5 hours battery and does things the iPad 3 won't be able to do? All for $550.

http://store.archos.com/archos-p-96.html

Would the Archos 7 with an MSRP of $199 be considered a non-vaporware tablet? You can buy it from Amazon.

Here's one for $80. And here's one for $90. And another for $130. And of course there is the Archos 7 tablet which runs Android, and has an MSRP of $199.

someone will sell a mobile device in 5-10 years that will run a real OS and not the dumbed down iphone OS that's locked to apple or google.

Has anyone every seen the Archos line of Tablets? They have been around a lot longer than the iPud! And you have a choice of OS's http://www.archos.com/ Disclaimer: I own one but do not work for them!

He is just an Apple hater but frankly a dumb one.
There are reasons to not like the closed nature of the iPad but just using a netbook as a replacement will not work in this case.
So for all the Apple haters and Linux fans "I do like and use Linux" here are what you can use as a replacemnt.
http://www.archos.com/products/imt/archos_5it/index.html?country=us&lang=en Runs Android
And
http://www.nokiausa.com/find-products/phones/nokia-n800-r6 runs Linux.
There you go. Something for everybody.

At that point, it would become more effective to use cross-platform tools to target everything else at the same time.

To do performance testing of your apps on various devices, as well as compatibility testing with various defective driver implementations on various devices, you have to buy one of each handset that you plan to support. In the case of iPhone OS, you can get an iPod Touch version 2 (same HW as iPhone 3G), an iPod Touch version 3 (same HW as iPhone 3GS), and an iPad, and cover everything. But in the case of Android, there aren't a lot of iPod Touch equivalents other than the Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet. Most are phones, and unlocked phone handsets aren't exactly easy to buy in the United States.

archos. http://www.archos.com/ The 9 in particular can run a complete desktop os (it ships with Windows7). But they have scaled down versions that run android and linux. The 9 can be had in its basic configuration for $550. It's stock configuration is on par with the iPad processing wise and blows it away on the openness and additional features front. Built in web cam, standard usb ports, 60gb hd.

Not only is just a big iPod touch...it's been done before by someone else.

http://www.archos.com/products/imt/archos_7/index.html?country=mz&lang=en

Archos has had these little multi-media things going for a couple years now. That one isn't quite as big as the iPad and it's probably short a few features here and there on things like Multi-touch...but it has wifi, hd video, hd sound..and it costs 350 instead of (what I'm hearing) 800 for this thing.

It wouldn't be an Apple product if it didn't cost way more than comprable hardware though.

For those unfamiliar with it, here is the Archos 5 home page, and the Wikipedia page. Hmm.. what's this about Amazon stopping sales?