Archos TV+ 250GB

The next holy grail for hardware manufacturers is to link your computer and internet connection to your home-entertainment system. Archos is best known for its portable media players but it isn’t a giant leap of logic for the company to make a unit that will sit permanently under your TV, network to your PC and record your favourite TV programmes.

Features
The device is designed to do most of the things you might wish for from a box under your TV, with two main functions. The first is to record TV programmes on its hard disk so you can watch them later or transfer them via USB to another device. The second is its network capability, which lets you stream or download files from computers on your home network, watch online content (including full-screen YouTube videos) and browse the internet.

Performance
The device is a mixed bag, as is often the case with gadgets that perform multiple tasks. The internet connection brings the web to your TV, providing stunning results. With a good TV screen, websites are surprisingly readable. The network connection also lets you stream pictures, music and video from your computer, and you can copy files onto the Archos TV+ hard disk. This is particularly handy if you’re using Wi-Fi and not getting great results from streaming decent-quality video.


The weakest link is the recorder function. Because the device doesn’t have a tuner of its own, it relies on the output from your existing set-top box. The TV signal passes through the Archos so recording TV programmes on the fly is easy enough. However, timer recording is more complex. A TV guide can be downloaded but you have to update it manually. You can also set up the device to control your existing set-top box via infrared, letting it turn it on and flip channels if it needs to. Although this makes it compatible with a broad range of equipment, it’s something of a fiddle.

Ease of use
Setting the device up is quick and intuitive. All the SCART cables you’ll need are provided and the Wi-Fi element (included in the box) is easy to set up. The remote control is a square unit you hold with both hands. You use your thumbs to type and there’s a qwerty keyboard for tapping in web addresses.
Navigation is very simple, even through complex file structures on remote PCs, while surfing the web isn’t as good as with a mouse but is still perfectly functional. However, having to set the device to record TV programmes drags the ease-of-use score right down.

Value for money
Those looking for only part of the device’s functionality could find it elsewhere for less. Media streamers, for example, are widely available but the inclusion of a hard disk on the Archos is notably handy. Less complex hard-disk-based TV recorders are also available, but if you want to combine these options, along with web browsing, the Archos constitutes an excellent deal. If you can handle a smaller hard disk, there’s an 80GB model for £179 (sadly, the web browser is an option and will set you back another £20). Archos will also try and flog you movies, games and other content for your box via an online portal.