... My more recent internet search for the Archos AV560 didn't bring up horrible stories from owners hating the device, although some were complaining about the device locking up and needing a reset. I decided to take the plunge and buy one from Dixons - Great news, the offer was still on. I asked Mr Dixon about what the device will play , obviously I will be using it to play my "Legally owned" DVD backups, ripped to Divx and Xvid , as well as my TV downloads and MP3s. He reliably informed me that it "should" play anything, but if it didn't, I can take it back for a full refund.

I wasnt conviced about this however and asked him to mark the receipt that I can take it back. Although he couldn't do this, he said the store policy is a "14 day money back guarantee" - "Argos Stylee"

Got it home, and spent 15 minutes trying to figure out how to get the PC to recognise the device without RTFM, then had to do an IT workers no no and opened the book... Of course, I needed Windows Media Player 10.

After the download and install I was ready to dump everything onto my brand new PMP.

B*ll*cks - It wouldn't copy 24 (Season 5), or any other TV program for that matter, in fact none of the film files I have stored in my "backed up" folder. Music, photos would copy ok, tried the firmware upgrade and still nothing.

Another search on the interweb and I found the bitrate of my files was too high, as well as the Archos not having the correct codecs, I could convert the files to play on the Archos, but this would take hours for each file. I THINK NOT !!

Back in the box it went and back to Dixons and I am back at the drawing board unless Archos AV440 owning Mr Moss can convince me to go and buy one again.

EDIT: CONVICED
Well Mr Moss brought his Archos AV440 round tonight and I have copied the same files to his..... It bloody works, He got his as a 2nd user model from Ebuyer, it seems this model is being phased out, but you can get it from several places, or ebay