Archos AV500 portable media player

An all-round entertainer that's got the X factor.

The AV400 has long been the best media jukebox you can buy, but now Archos is hoping this restyled model will make people forget the video iPod.

To get video onto the hard drive, you can either transfer it from a PC or use the device itself to record directly from a set-top box, video recorder or DVD player. We recorded an episode of Lost and found the quality was pretty impressive for such a small unit; pictures had vibrant colours and didn't suffer from the blocking effect that plagued older media jukeboxes.

The Archos also does an impressive job of playing back movies in DivX and WMV format transferred across from a PC. Good-quality files look especially nice on the excellent high-resolution screen. However, if you've already got a big digital video collection, watch out - it's a bit fussy about the types of files it'll play, and simply refused to show videos encoded with certain codecs.

There are no qualms on the music side, though. As well as playing MP3s, the device also supports WMA files and even works flawlessly with the Napster To Go subscription service. The sound is also very clean, and thanks to a bass-boost function, there's enough bottom end to keep even reggae fans happy.

The machine's only major weakness is its interface. There are simply too many different menu options and buttons to take in - for instance, you use the D-pad to enter certain menus, but then have to switch to the four buttons below it to change settings. Why not use the D-pad and select button for everything?

Nonetheless, this multi-talented player still performs very nicely, and it clearly beats the new iPod if your main concern is watching movies. Archos has easily retained the media-jukebox crown.