In small form - and this is an understatement - in the first half of 2012, the French challenger in touch, Archos, back on the market with not a slate, but a range of touch tablets composed of three products price reasonable, the XS series. Just formalized and available for sale in the month of September, the Archos 101 XS is the spearhead of the range, it offers the performance of the more upscale of the trio, a format comfortable (10.1 inches) when it comes to the keyboard. We were able to test our premises: verdict!

Package Contents

This is one of the main strengths of Archos XS: be supplied with a complete accessory pack. Well, almost, except for some minor details. The 101 XS, like its counterparts in smaller sizes, is supplied with the Dell 312-0079 Battery accessory essential that the purchase price of the tablet could suggest optional: the keyboard, which is also shell protection for display. Although a HDMI port is associated with the tablet, no ad hoc cable is not provided, but we still find a USB / micro USB and a charger which is attached another micro USB cable. Good news for travelers: games international plug (UKandU.S.) are an appearance in this pack. The whole is adorned with white, the color of the tablet. Archos would not want to read it, but one can not help but think of Apple accessories immaculate ... It's pretty anyway, and harmonized with the tablet can not appreciate.

Design

The Archos 101 XS displays dimensions of 273 x 170 x 8 mm to about 600 grams, which is quite suitable for this type of product, compared to the competition. This is of course the design itself has relied Archios, combining a white hull with a metallic gray and keyboard of the same color, both very smooth, in the absence of sensor at the rear (to Actually, that is not lacking, as taking pictures with a tablet is mission impossible) and with slightly recessed side buttons (power and volume, right). If the Dell Y085C Battery set has a sleek design, we regret finishing slightly below our expectations, the fault including a coating that is scratch quickly ... and white, hard to be discreet. Damage, especially as the presence of Coverboard we hope we did spend a protective cover. More subjective, all leaves us skeptical about its overall strength, even if we can not appreciate the connection between the magnetic keyboard and tablet, and the presence of a crutch integrated keyboard.

To return to this Coverboard, several comments are in order: during our test, we enjoyed the format, complete with all the keys of a computer keyboard, plus some shortcuts Android: Back, Search, Access to Settings, Multitasking, Home, and adjust the volume or brightness. Although the keys are small, and the rubber edge not the most comfortable, but after all, he is not here a real netbook. One can not help but look for a wrist rest worthy of the name or a touchpad, but Dell XX337 Battery better eventually leave more space for keys, sensitive enough to be pleasant to use ... Especially for small hands. Note that it is possible to charge the tablet via the keyboard (itself without battery) via its micro USB port, and hold the tablet screen without it disengages said keyboard. Better still do not go too hard, or lose a few pieces on the road, which is a globally Coverboard its promises.

General use

As a definition of 1280 x 800 pixels on a 10.1-inch screen, the Archos 101 XS stands in the middle of the shelves mid-ranges, except the iPad. Its MVA offers a detailed and good viewing angles. It may, however, blamed an average brightness (in the absence of light sensor, we appreciate even more the possibility to adjust this setting as needed from the keyboard) and a frame slightly visible. Nothing really handicapping however, the HD being put on a slab quite correct.

As for performance, Archos has not gone on the side of the quad-core power, preferring to equip its tablet chip dual-cpre (ARM Cortex A9) clocked at 1.5 GHz associated with a 1 GB RAM standard on Android : It is not here a racing competition for scanning benchmarks, or to turn into tablet hard gamer. Android Ice Cream Sandwich without overlay, the X595C Battery provides access to most features, and does so without difficulty. Google certified (unlike Arnova brand), she embarks native applications flagship Google (Gmail Maps, Navigation, Google+, etc..), And we also found a pack office "OfficeSuite" to create documents , convenient for users who will use the tablet semi-professional. A pause by the browser, not the fastest in the latest versions of Archos tablets: here, the application knows a marked improvement, with a display of pages fast and efficient multitouch zoom.

It is at the Archos multimedia brings home his touch to the tablet, since the brand's hexagonal slate includes a package of applications dedicated to lovers of music and videos. We forget the capture side, since the 101 XS is satisfied with a webcam, although HD, facade, to proceed to the reading. Formats are automatically included many, since in the audio world, you will find MP3, WAV, the AAC, AAC + 5.13, OGG Vorbis and FLAC same. For more demanding, it will put the WU946 Battery hand holding to get the plug-in vested in AC3 5.1. In video playback application Archos offers a search tool subtitle data or videos (casting, release date, etc.).. Something to avoid tedious search, again with formats compatible enough: AVI, MP4, MOV, 3GP, MGP, PS, TS, VOB, MKV, FLV, RM, RMVB, ASF, H.264 HD, mpeg4. Only thing that comes complete package of features stain: a range of 6 to 7 hours video or WiFi. Nothing unusual about that.

Finally, note a full pack of connectors, including in particular a microSD slot, a mini HDMI output, but also and especially a USB host port, convenient for unloading on the shelf a memory card, for example.

Conclusion

Unfortunately pursued by a brand to lag behind its competitors, Archos has clearly provided an extra effort with his tablet 101 XS. If it is regrettable finish or average range, we can appreciate a complete product offering the advantages of a tablet / netbook for a fee of € 379 associated with a 16 GB tablet Not as W341C Battery qualitative its competitors (Asus Transformer, to name it), but offset by a software interesting and the promise of an update to Android Jelly Bean, the latest Archos offers an attractive price. Maybe even enough to be forgiven its shortcomings.