Designed to be good not just for entertainment but also for productivity, the Archos 101 XS brings several interesting hardware and software features to the table. For something so sleek, it offers a decent list of hardware specs. And its usefulness can be stretched even further with a compatible keyboard that is included in every package.
The default operating system on this particular Archos tablet is Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich. A 1.5GHz dual-core ARMCortex A9 CPU handles processing duties and 1GB RAM makes sure that there aren’t any issues when it comes to multi-tasking. Internal storage is capped at 16GB but this can be easily expanded with the use of microSD cards.
As far as wireless features are concerned, it has GPS, Bluetooth 4.0, and 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi. And it offers up to 5 hours of non-stop Web surfing with Wi-Fi on. Viewing web pages should be an enjoyable experience on the 10.1-inch 1280x800 pixel resolution touchscreen display.
The main feature of note is its ability to pair with a hardware keyboard and turn it into a full-fledged mobile computer. It’s not a new concept, but it’s good to see other manufacturers trying to do their own version of such a useful concept. Unfortunately, most reviewers lament that the experience of actually using the 101 XS and keyboard combo is quite disappointing.
The bottom-line here is that for just a little more cash, you can get another tablet that offers a much superior typing experience or save yourself some money and get a different model paired with a Bluetooth keyboard instead.
Need to Know: Archos 101 XS
1. Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich is pre-installed as standard. (The Good)
2. Included keyboard dock makes it easy to do productive tasks on the go. (The Good)
3. 10.1-inch display quality is sub-par when compared with screens from other tablet models. (The Bad)
4. Actual keyboard usage shows that performance is dismal. (The Bad)
What the Critics Are Saying...
- Mike Jennings, PC ProThe Archos 101 XS is a tricky tablet to assess then. On the one hand the screen isn't bright, the build is plasticky and the keyboard is poor. On the other, the price is reasonable, it's powerful and very light. Rather than a direct competitor to the Transformer Pad 300, then, it's best to view this...
- Ron Amadeo, Android PoliceThe 101 XS is just full of quirks. The touchscreen flakes out and starts touching itself if you press too hard, it takes forever to wake up, and the ports are in the wrong spots. The keyboard is flat, and you can't angle the screen to your liking. The screen is grainy-looking, and covered in grippy...
- Sovan Mandal, Good E-ReaderWhat you are getting here is a tablet that does not promise you the moon while still being capable enough to not to leave you stranded and frustrated. It can well be adjudged the best tablet you can buy for less than $400 with equal measure of style and substance to add to its appeal. With the Cover...
- Chris Hall, Pocket-lintWe know how important desirability is to consumers. Although the Archos 101 XS is smart, is it going to be desirable enough to for the £299 asking price? For a 10-inch tablet, the price is pretty good, but it’s only £30 cheaper than an iPad 2 and those sell like hot cakes. It's al...
- Ardjuna Seghers, TrustedReviewsOnce, Archos was pretty much the main player in the media tablet game. Even as recently as the Archos 5 tablet, there simply wasn’t that much competition, and even less that offered the French company’s extensive native media playback. However, in these days of affordable yet powerful A...
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