The Archos 101 internet media tablet has arrived in the office, and our first impressions suggest that the upcoming iPad 2 and numerous Android Honeycomb devices have nothing to worry about.

Initial impressions are mixed as the tablet offers decent connectivity, but an inconsistent user experience.

The device feels sturdy, but it's not much of a looker. The tablet is distinctly bland compared to high-profile rivals including the iPad and Samsung Galaxy Tab.

With a 10.1in screen, the Archos 101 has a similar form factor to the iPad, and weighs 480g, exactly 200g less than Apple's equivalent Wi-Fi-only device.

There are a number of intersecting lines on the front of the touch screen that are visible to the eye. Archos confirmed that they are in fact 'g-sensors' put in place to respond to finger input and, while they do not interfere with the display, it does seem strange that they are present.

Unfortunately, pixilation is prominent on the display almost everywhere from the home screen to web pages. When reading articles on the internet, words appear pixellated before any zooming has taken place. This lets the device down and makes it look dated when compared to leading tablets on the market.

Overall performance isn't the smoothest either, even though the tablet is equipped with an ARM Cortex A8 1GHz processor. When carrying out basic functions such as swiping between home screens or scrolling on web pages, there is a split-second lag, which is noticeable.

On the positive side, Archos has made sure that connectivity is not going to be a problem by including micro and standard USB, micro-SD card and mini HDMI ports. There is also a front-facing webcam to allow for video calling over Wi-Fi.

The kickstand is also a unique feature, which allows users to position the device on a flat surface at a variety of angles. The stand can be positioned to comfortably watch videos or type on the device, although the on-screen keyboard is basic and hasn't been designed for prolonged text input.

The 101 ships with Android 2.2 Froyo, which is soon to be surpassed by Honeycomb 3.0 in devices such as the Motorola Xoom and Galaxy Tab 10.1. While Archos could perhaps have opted for a Windows platform to make the 101 more appealing to business users, this would likely have made the device cost considerably more than £250.

Archos has put 20 basic applications on the tablet, and it ships with a number of extra apps, the most exciting of which are Wikipedia, Fring and the Aldiko e-reader service.

Unfortunately users are not granted access to the official Android Market although Archos attempts to compensate by offering access to 30,000 applications in the AppsLib store. Many users will be pleased to know that this does stock Angry Birds.

V3.co.uk will post a full review of the Archos 101 and a video review soon.

10 Mar 2011