Archos 5 250 GB Internet Media Tablet

10 thoughts on “Archos 5 250 GB Internet Media Tablet”

1. Review by Alan E. Moore for Archos 5 250 GB Internet Media Tablet
   Rating:
   I purchased this as an upgrade to my beloved Archos 605 160GB. I actually purchased this directly from archos because I had trouble getting it through Amazon.

   First impressions: beautiful sleek design, love the rubbery backside and the enlarged screen! I find that the touch screen user interface is quite improved over the 605, the buttons all flash when you press them so that is a nice confirmation that you hit it. Also, play buttons and such seem to be bigger than before, easier to hit. Although the glossy, shiny look is pretty to look at, it also shows fingerprints (much like the Touch). Not a big deal to me, I’m used to wiping off my glossy surfaces regularly.

   So lets get into the nitty gritty, starting with the things I love about the new Archos 5. Just one caveat, I am using this primarily as a replacement media player for the Archos 605 so I won’t speak much to internet browsing issues. I will use as a basis of comparison my collection of MP3 players (ok I’m an addict so sue me!) which includes iPod Touch 2nd Gen 32GB, Creative Zen WiFi 16GB, iPod Classic 160GB, Archos 605 160GB, Archos 604 30GB, iRiver Clix2 8GB.

   *) 250GB: gotta love all that storage space, especially since the new Apple Classic tops out at 120GB now it seems Archos is in a class all to itself.
   
   *) Big beautiful glossy color screen, definitely an improvement over 605.
   
   *) Easily connected to my Wifi, browser is now free instead of costing extra like before. Upgrade to firmware was accomplished easily.
   
   *) Easy synchronization of my entire music library and playlists using Media Monkey in Windows Media Mode (605 had problems here, so glad Archos fixed this!)
   
   *) Beautiful full featured DVR dock available (apple doesn’t even make one as far as I can tell!)
   
   *) Esthetically the most appealing player I’ve seen yet from Archos.
   
   *) Nice context menus on most pages (tap upper right corner) that make it easy to get around.
   
   *) Love the ability to switch between hard drive mode and Windows Media Mode (something I do quite frequently). Also nice to be able to put a password on folders with sensitive or Adult content.
   
   *) Ability to play all kinds of audio/video files, although you do have to pay up to $40 for additional plugin firmware in order to play apple and cinema formats.
   
   *) On screen touch qwerty keyboard is really nice, easy to use — I found it much easier to type accurately than the Touch/iPhone onscreen keyboard.
   
   *) Browser supports flash controls, woohoo, welcome to the 21st century fercrissakes!
   
   *) That 250GB of data is readily available to the PC as a hard drive so I can use it for backups or whatever else I want to do with it. (unlike the Creative Zen for example).
   
   *) Convenient built-in speaker can be used in a pinch: everybody seems to have one of these now but as far as I can tell Archos did it first on the 605!
   
   *) Now Playing music screen is easier to use, volume, and play buttons are easier to use now and it displays the name of the next and previous songs: a feature that I don’t see on any of my other MP3 players.
   
   *) Nice dedicated volume and power buttons, the volume buttons are definitely easier to find and use than the 605.

   And now, my suggestions to Archos for how they could improve on what I think is a cutting edge beautiful product. Please understand, I’m a nitpicking software engineer so I give 5 stars even though I can find room for improvement!

   *) I miss the dedicated hold/tv-out button which has been removed. Not a big deal since can still be done through the context menu.
   
   *) Some of the text menus just look a little strange and seem to take a too much space on the screen. For example, I have to scroll down to get to the “Playlists”… at the very least “Playlists” should be on the first page as its the one I use the most. Really it seems like too many button presses are required to dig down and play a playlist, I wish “playlists” was available from a top level menu because I use it more than anything else…

   When all is said and done, I honestly believe that there is no comparable product with a big beautiful high resolution screen like this and a huge hard drive. This is it!

   Now if you are happy with a smaller screen and less storage, the iPod Touch is arguably a better product: my solution? Buy one of each!

   Update 12-31-2008: As of New Years Eve I am still quite happily using my Archos 5 as an entertainment center. It seems Archos heard me and they have made the album art a little bigger in firmware release 1.2.05!

   Update 1-24-2009: Firmware update 1.3.05 works great! Had to use my Touch for a few days and very happy to have my Archos back on the speakers, I do believe the sound is better through the same speakers.

   Update 3-14-2009: Updated to firmware 1.5.08. Due to previous upgrade, the upgrade process is MUCH easier now because it doesn’t try to rebuild its library from scratch (this takes hours when you have a lot of files like I do). I’m also enjoying the “parental control” password which allows me to protect my data from unauthorized access. Still a happy customer 🙂

   Update 5-22-2009: Still very happy with my 5. Firmware version 1.6.53 now offers support for their GPS package and High Def. I tried the GPS package before and it was ok, my favorite thing about it was the windshield mount which really comes in handy on a long drive. The GPS itself is decent considering it doesn’t cost much, but can’t compare to Garmin. Still, how many MP3 players even offer a GPS option?

2. Review by Plantaganet for Archos 5 250 GB Internet Media Tablet
   Rating:
   First of all, I’d just like to provide some context. I first discovered Archos back in summer ’08 when my Elgato EyeHome died. For those of you who aren’t aware of this product, it was basically a device that could be used to watch computer files (avi, mp4, etc.) on an old school, standard-definition television. When my EyeHome went kaput I was very disappointed to discover that the product had been discontinued. The search for a similar product finally led me to the Archos TV. At this point I’ve had the Archos TV for more than a year now. It’s a fantastic product and, at least so far, has worked flawlessly – I couldn’t be happier with it. In fact, it was because of this good experience that I decided to invest in the Archos 5 Internet Media Tablet. I think it’s important to give this backstory because some of the more enthusiastic Archos fans on here and on certain internet forums seem to think that any criticism of their favorite company means that you’re nothing less than a drooling Apple fanboy – blinded to reality and incapable of giving a competing product a fair chance or accurate assessment.

   So, to continue, late last year I was in a situation that will probably be familiar to all of you. I was interested in buying a portable media player. Would it be an iPod Touch or… something else? Ultimately, I opted for the Archos 5 based on two main factors:

   1) Greater storage capacity – 250 GB as compared to the maximum 32 GB on an iPod Touch
   
   2) File flexibility – the Archos 5 can play just about anything, whereas the iPod Touch is restricted to the mp4 file format. This was an important consideration for me, since I already had a small library of avi files that I wanted to enjoy without having to convert to a different format.

   I read some bad reviews right here on Amazon and elsewhere, but, because of my good experience with the Archos TV, I still decided to invest in the Archos 5. HUGE mistake.

   To be fair, the Archos 5 worked just fine for the first few months. The problems seemed to begin after I installed the latest version of the firmware – 1.6.53. Basically, the unit seized up and became nothing more than an expensive paperweight. Pressing the power button would initiate the startup process, but, rather than going to the main menu, the introductory “Archos – Entertainment Your Way” screen would simply flash on an endless loop until all the battery power was drained.

   Now, I’m extremely capable when it comes to tech. I’m the guy that friends and family call to help with stuff like installing an additional internal hard drive, deciding between plasma or LCD, setting up their Blackberry to get email from home… you get the idea. The Archos 5 is equipped with some rudimentary built-in problem solving tricks. I tried these as the instruction manual advised – but nothing worked.

   At that point I went to Archos Customer Service – this, folks, is where things go really haywire. In a word, Archos’ customer service is appalling. If you don’t want to take my word for it, just read some of the other comments on here and take a look elsewhere on the net. Their sheer incompetence is legendary.

   My experience with them is hardly typical, but I’ll summarize here –
   
   Step One – Contact customer service. Explain problem. Obtain an RMA (Return to Manufacturer Authorization.)
   
   Step Two – Send unit in for repairs.
   
   Step Three – Wait expectantly.
   
   Step Four – Receive unit back from the RMA warehouse.
   
   Step Five – Unpack unit and test. Discover that nothing has been fixed. Repeat process beginning with Step One…

   My last round with Archos Customer Service ended when I received my unit back from the warehouse and found that they had simply given me another unit altogether. I knew this was the case because the new unit was mysteriously missing the sticker on the bottom that included the serial number. I’d also fitted the original unit with a Lexerd Screen Protector – something that was conspicuously absent from the new model.

   Mind you, replacing my unit with another model of the exact same type isn’t necessarily a bad thing – it might have worked out just fine. The only problem was, this replacement model has a damaged power button, and, on the rare occasions that I can turn the thing on, it has the exact same problem as my old unit – stuck in the “Entertainment Your Way” startup loop. When I called customer service to discuss these issues, they claimed that the unit was fine when it left the warehouse (big consolation, huh?) and that the broken power button was probably caused by someone at UPS unpacking the device and “messing around with it.” Say what?

   Now, to be fair, we all know that our electronic gizmos aren’t perfect. The Archos 5 certainly isn’t the first device I’ve had problems with and it won’t be the last. The big problem is that Archos simply doesn’t have the infrastructure to deal with issues like this when they occur. Just for comparison, I had some problems with my Mac G5 when I first got it – but a quick trip to the Apple Store for a tune-up solved everything. Archos isn’t like that. The company is based in France and, by virtue of necessity, their North American customer service is outsourced to a shoddy firm here in the U.S. staffed with reps who can do little more than tell you to try pressing the reset button again and/or make pathetic excuses.

   To all of those people who have a functional Archos 5 and enjoy it – terrific. I’m happy for you and I know from experience that when an Archos product does actually work, it’s brilliant. BUT – God help you if you run into trouble, because you’re basically screwed.

   I’m writing this in the hope of convincing some of you still on the fence that you really ought to go with another product altogether. Pick whatever you like – Cowon, iPod Touch, whatever. Just don’t get an Archos. Trust me on this, it’s basically a crap shoot. And, at the end of the day, do you want to gamble, or do you want a product that actually works?

3. Review by wehladky for Archos 5 250 GB Internet Media Tablet
   Rating:
   The first thing anyone should know about the Archos is that as of 10/5/08, the Archos 5 Firmware is still in beta. Beta means very different things for different products, but for the Archos 5 it means that some of the features are crippled, and that the firmware is still buggy. I have been using the 5 for about 2 weeks now, and during that time the device has crashed 6 times. Keep in mind this is only relevant if you want to purchase it right now. If you choose to wait, I think Archos will have the firmware finalized in a few months.

   I migrated to the Archos 5 from an iPod Touch, my main reasons for doing so being the significantly larger capacity and the larger screen. I use a mac, so it was quite jarring migrating out of the Apple universe. Some things you should know if you are coming to this device from an Apple product:

   1. The Archos will not sync with iTunes. This means that music you downloaded from the iTunes music store will be incompatible with the Archos. This also means that the playlists from your iTunes library will not natively work with the Archos. For many people this will not be an issue, but I have a rather large library (7000 songs), and depend on playlists to separate my music. The Archos uses the universal .m3u playlist format, so if you want to have your iTunes playlists on the Archos, you will need to find an iTunes playlist exporter.

   2. Even if your songs are not copy-protected, the Archos will not play AAC files without a $20 plugin. For some, this is a moot point, for others, it could be a deal-breaker.

   For the PC users: The Archos can either function as an external hard drive (very useful), or as a Windows Media Player Drive.

   Now, the device itself:

   HARDWARE:
   
   THe specs of the Archos are impressive, and best most other “IMT”s of its class. I have the 60GB version, however all models boast a 4.8” (Resistive, not capacitive) touch screen, Wi-Fi, a speaker, and a pull-out stand. But keep in mind that the Archos uses a proprietary USB connector, and that all previous Archos accessories (for the 605, 604, etc.) will not work with the 5. The back of the unit is mirrored, and scratches incredibly easily. The front screen is susceptible to glare, but this is not very noticeable unless viewed in direct sunlight. Keep in mind that all the models use hard drive based storage. This enables a large capacity for a cheap price, however, the unit will be slower because of this. The iPod Touch uses flash memory, which is very expensive and has a low capacity, but is less likely to break. The Touch is also thinner. (You wouldn’t think so, but the Archos is surprisingly pocketable) The speaker on the unit is small and tinny, but I am amazed on how many occasions I have found to use it. The 2nd gen. Touch also has a speaker, and I highly doubt it is much better than the one on the Archos. Something no one else has mentioned: The Wi-Fi antenna in the Archos is located on the right side, a place where you normally might hold the unit. It is very easy to accidentally block the Wi-Fi signal, and I have noticed that the connection can be tenuous (this might just be my network). The external volume control is very useful, but I wish the 5 also had a hold switch, as it can be annoying to have to find the “lock device” command throughout the menus. Also: on the original settings, the device will automatically power off after 5 minutes when locked (and when not in music mode). This can be very annoying if it is not changed.

   I know that in the above paragraph I have criticized the Archos, but I cannot stress that the device itself is a beautiful, well made, piece of technology. Everything works very well, and most BIG problems with the device lie in the…

   SOFTWARE:
   
   The software is currently the Archos’ weak point. As I said before, the firmware is still in beta, and this means that a few of the features just don’t work. (A good example of this is the file sharing feature. When I select “file sharing”, a notice pops up telling that the feature will be enabled in a “future release”). The parts of the software that do work function adequately, but could be better. The Music menu is a good example. Scrolling through large lists is jerky, and I find the organization of the metadata perplexing. However, the Music section works.

   The Video section, on the other hand, is near perfect. Videos can be organized any way you want, and watching movies on the 4.8″ screen is enjoyable. I think that the software can be summarized by working, but having quirks. You might want to wait for the firmware to become more stable.

   A few more notes about the software:

   1. The Add-Ons section is just ADS for the optional add-ons. Yes, ADS. This is just a minor annoyance, but please, a major company should not put ads for other products in their flagship product.

   2. There is no way to directly skip tracks from other areas of the device (unlike, for example, the Touch, where you can tap the home button twice and control the music).

   3. The Archos takes about 20 secs. to boot, and, when the device is “locked”, the screen does not shut off for about 30 secs. (this can be changed)

   4. The Opera web browser is fast and, renders pages as well as the Touch. The Mail app is not as good as Apple’s, but if functions.

   5. Games cost $20 for 4, but you can load your own flash apps onto the device.

   6. One great addition to the Archos was internet radio and video. This is a feature I have seen in very few other devices, and the Archos implements it very well.

   Lastly: Should you buy the Archos?

   If you can escape the Apple universe, and don’t mind the beta firmware for a few months, then buy the Archos. If is truly a great piece of hardware. if you can’t stand betas, then wait a few months (the price will probably drop too).

   The Archos 5 blows the Touch right out of the water, but the software could use some work. By now the iPod had become so ubiquitous that it doesn’t really fit into Apple’s “Think Different” philosophy, as many of its features have been matched and transcended by other devices. I don’t mean to sound cliche, but if you truly want to think different, buy the Archos 5.

   UPDATE: As of firmware update 1.0.87 the “file sharing” feature mentioned above has been completely removed from the settings menu. I don’t know if this is because Archos has killed the feature or because they want to release it in a future release.

   Also, as of 1.0.87, the Archos no longer lists its firmware as beta. However, the firmware is still buggy. The Archos firmware is definitely a work in progress, but Archos seems to be updating the device frequently, so most of the bugs will eventually be ironed out.

   UPDATE 2: Windows users can sync their Archos with iTunes via “iTunes Agent”. Available here: […]. Obviously you can’t sync DRM tracks, but everything else works pretty well for me.

   UPDATE 3: I have had the Archos for about 1 year now, and I have to day that the real weak point of the device is the resistive touch screen. This is where Apple (also Samsung and Cowon) really got it right, and Archos has continued to get it wrong. The firmware updates have made scrolling more kinetic and less jerky, but the updates cannot fix the fact that the screen feels mushy and misses a *lot* of presses. I was actually considering getting the new “5 Internet Tablet”, but after finding out Archos was again using a resistive touch screen, I will look somewhere else. If I could change the star rating, I would downgrade this to a 3 or 2.5 star product. So much works really well on the 5, but until Archos puts a capacitive touch screen on their players, I will not get another one of their products.

4. Review by mblough for Archos 5 250 GB Internet Media Tablet
   Rating:
   Once again I fell for the bells, whistles, and advertising known as archos. My history started with the Archos 20mb recorder several years ago. It went and went until it didnt have no more to give. I then stepped up to the 605 which died after about 3 months. After a month of non returned phone calls & un returned emails I was able to get it RMA’s. A 3 month long RMA and I got a refurb (not the same one) finally in return, which died as well. Both units worked well for thier brief stint then went totally dead. They were kept in a home enviroment or a vehicle in motion (never left to bake with the windows up). Well the 605 went to ebay as I didnt have time to deal with it.
   
   Still resisting falling into the realm of the ip*d, and the love of my old archos I shucked out the big dollars for the archos 5. For the first month and a half this thing was wonderful, I thought this will be the thing to de-throne apple. Much like the ones I previously owned one day it up and DIED. Back to the non-existant Archos tech support. Two weeks of unreturned emails. After I was finally able to get a guy on the line to listen and not transfer or hang up, I was treated so rudely and horribly I wanted to hang up. It it wasnt for the high end price tag I would’ve. I was drilled like a criminal with every possible attempt to make it sound to be neglect on my behalf. I dont think it would be possible to treat some one so rude face to face. I get my RMA and send it out. Two weeks after I call for a update (4 days to get ahold of a person this time), I am told that my 5 wasnt received. After spitting out a mail confirmation number I get put on hold for 45 minutes. At least I got some pc gaming in. Well low and behold it was received and I would get a phone call within two weeks of the phone call. 3 weeks later I’m on the phone again with them chasing my tail. A month and a half after I finally get yet another refurb on the mail. I can guarentee it was a refurb as it had family pictures and XXX videos on it. Very nice and professional. It screams quality control
   
   All in all this will be the last Archos I ever purchase. I am 0 for 4. I say 0 for 4 based on the last one having someone elses stuff and adult material. This one is going to ebay before it dies again. I also give this a one star based on the non-existant, rude, and unprofessional customer service. Looking at other reviews and around the net I see there are many DOA’s and dead units out there. Maybe that is the cause, they are just worked too hard. Avoid this one, and avoid the archos name in general.

5. Review by Certified Gadget Engineer for Archos 5 250 GB Internet Media Tablet
   Rating:
   My Archos products:
   
   – Jukebox Recorder 20 (purchased 10 years ago)
   
   – AV500 (purchased 5 years ago)
   
   – Archos 5 Media Tablet (purchased 1year ago)

   I have had a long relationship with Archos (since they started their business in 1988) buying three of their products over the past 11 years. I have been in a highly technical computer field over 20 years and an avid gadget person. Combined with my experience with Archos, I think I am well qualified to advise on this product.

   History:
   
   My first purchase with Archos was shortly after they started the company. The Archos Jukebox (early mp3 player) was a good product (one of their first) but had some usability quirks. Despite this, it was a decent product for its time. The technical support, which I used on several occasions, was very good as well. When they got into AV, it seemed they hit their sweet spot. In 2005 I was so pleased with the Jukebox’s quality, I bought a AV500. The AV500 is a very good product, one that I still use today. The AV500 demonstrated quality hardware with good solid coding. Over the years, unfortunately, Archos has dramatically changed as a company. It seems if they have lost leadership internally that drove them in providing solid products and support.

   The A5:
   
   The Archos 5, on the other hand, is quite frankly a mess. It’s usable, but the annoyances far outweigh the good things it offers. Like other Archos fans, I too ignored the many negative reviews, basing my purchase decision on the good experiences I had with past products. Looking at some of the 5 star reviews, many of these are written after only a few hours or days of use. No doubt, the A5 is very appealing at first, but quickly wears off once it reboots for no apparent reason. Don’t get me wrong; I have tried very hard to like this unit (mostly because of the money I invested in it). The single biggest issue I have is its instability. Even when fully patched, the A5 crashes at least every 5 to 10 minutes of use. It just takes away from the pleasure of using the device. Just think if your laptop performed like that. Very very annoying to say the least, particularly when using the Internet browser although movies will suddenly crash as well. Frequent Flash 9 errors pop up as well (a known issue with Archos)… their answer; wait for Flash 10 and maybe it will work better. The sad part about this is Archos could easily fix most of these software issues if they took the time to invest in their product. It’s a slap in the face to customers. I suppose they are avoiding spending funds on fixing their OS because of their plans to move to Texas Instruments Android OS in future products. Can we hope that the new OS will port over to their legacy products? In summary, Archos has become extremely defiant and indifferent to their customers needs which signals to me they will not be in business much longer unless they change. It saddens me to write these things because I was a huge Archos fan until I purchased the A5.

   My suggestion is to wait for Archos to come out with the next generation of AV players (if Archos is still around). It may be that the new round of products using Texas Instrument’s android OS (rather than their in-house proprietary OS) will make all the difference. In the mean time, check out their earlier products which are much more solid (and will keep them in business so they can fix mine). Try the ipod touch or iphone (which I have as well), however be aware that they don’t have any flash support. With all this said, I really hope Archos will get their act together.

   Pros:
   
   – Very nice screen image. Very bright and sharp.
   
   – Good mp3 sound (although fast forwarding songs skips ahead way too fast)

   Cons:
   
   – Very buggy. Even when keeping up with patches, the device keeps crashing. Very frustrating to be browsing the Internet and crash once every 10 min.
   
   – Even though it claims it works with Flash 9, it only does 50% of the time. This is a known issue with Archos. Their response; wait until Flash 10.
   
   – Metallic finish wears off (where your thumbs hold the unit) after about 3 months of use.
   
   – Have to buy media plug ins (that don’t work well either)

   Peripherals:
   
   Battery: If you do buy one of these units (which I highly suggest you don’t) battery life is about 2.5 hours. After a year, mine gets 2 hours. The external battery is a good investment.

   Docking station: the docking station design is incredibly misleading and useless (unless you like to look at the wires coming out of the back and have it blocking your view of the tv). The infra-red sensor is located on the front of the dock (see for yourself on the web site). That sensor has to be lined up within a 20 degree angle with your tv’s infrared sensor so that it can change the channels (DVR function). The marketing materials show the dock neatly to the side of the tv (as it should be). In real life, you have to turn the unit backwards to face the tv exposing the back of the dock ( wires and all) not to mention the challenge of putting the unit in front of the TV. Do they expect us to put it on the floor in front of the tv stand? Why they did not allow for a tethered sensor (like Tivo) is beyond me. The dock is useless.

   Given all these issues, the price, the other options available, bad support, the company etc. I unfortunately have to give this product one star. Archos, please wake up.

6. Review by William Timothy Lukeman for The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains
   Rating:
   In this short but informative, thought-provoking book, Nicholas Carr presents an argument I’ve long felt to be true on a humanist level, but supports it with considerable scientific research. In fact, he speaks as a longtime computer enthusiast, one who’s come to question what he once wholeheartedly embraced … and even now, he takes care to distinguish between the beneficial & detrimental aspects of the Internet.

   The argument in question?

   – Greater access to knowledge is not the same as greater knowledge.

   – An ever-increasing plethora of facts & data is not the same as wisdom.

   – Breadth of knowledge is not the same as depth of knowledge.

   – Multitasking is not the same as complexity.

   The studies that Carr presents are troubling, to say the least. From what has been gleaned to date, it’s clear that the brain retains a certain amount of plasticity throughout life — that is, it can be reshaped, and the way that we think can be reshaped, for good or for ill. Thus, if the brain is trained to respond to & take pleasure in the faster pace of the digital world, it is reshaped to favor that approach to experiencing the world as a whole. More, it comes to crave that experience, as the body increasingly craves more of anything it’s trained to respond to pleasurably & positively. The more you use a drug, the more you need to sustain even the basic rush.

   And where does that leave the mind shaped by deep reading? The mind that immerses itself in the universe of a book, rather than simply looking for a few key phrases & paragraphs? The mind that develops through slow, quiet contemplation, mulling over ideas in their entirety, and growing as a result? The mature mind that ponders possibilities & consequences, rather than simply going with the bright, dazzling, digital flow?

   Nowhere, it seems.

   Carr makes it clear that the digital world, like any other technology that undeniably makes parts of life so much easier, is here to stay. All the more reason, then, to approach it warily, suspiciously, and limit its use whenever possible, since it is so ubiquitous. “Yes, but,” many will say, “everything is moving so fast that we’ve got to adapt to it, keep up with it!” Not unlike the Red Queen commenting that it takes all of one’s energy & speed to simply remain in one place while running. But what sort of life is that? How much depth does it really have?

   Because some aspects of life — often the most meaningful & rewarding aspects — require time & depth. Yet the digital world constantly makes us break it into discrete, interchangeable bits that hurtle us forward so rapidly & inexorably that we simply don’t have time to stop & think. And before we know it, we’re unwilling & even unable to think. Not in any way that allows true self-awareness in any real context.

   Emerson once said (as aptly quoted by Carr), “Things are in the saddle / And ride mankind.” The danger is that we’ll not only willingly, even eagerly, wear those saddles, but that we’ll come to desire them & buckle them on ever more tightly, until we feel naked without them. And we’ll gladly pay anything to keep them there, even as we lose the capacity to wonder why we ever put them on in the first place.

   Most highly recommended!
   

7. Review by Shalom Freedman for The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains
   Rating:
   The Internet has made the information- universes of all of us much larger. At the same time it has altered the way we read, and the way we pay attention. The major thesis of this work is that it has made us shallower creatures. In Carr’s words,” We want to be interrupted, because each interruption brings us a valuable piece of information… And so we ask the Internet to keep interrupting us, in ever more and different ways. We willingly accept the loss of concentration and focus, the division of our attention and the fragmentation of our thoughts, in return for the wealth of compelling or at least diverting information we receive. Tuning out is not an option many of us would consider. (p. 133-4)” This means in effect that our powers of concentration and contemplation, if not diminished all at once, are nonetheless put less to use. It means that we do not really take in much of what we read and see, but rather let it pass by as something new comes to attract and distract us. It too means according to Carr transformations in actual brain- structure. And he uses the results of cognitive brain studies to point out how excessive use of the Internet reshapes our brain- structure.

   Carr argues that with the advent of reading humanity developed a different kind of neural structure. Reading which was an extension of story- telling enabled us to begin to speak to ourselves, to contemplate reality in deeper ways. The bookman mind is a deeper mind than the electronic – mind , despite MacLuhan’s contrary take.

   Still one might argue that we need not be the slaves of the predominant technology. It all depends upon the will, decision, determination of the individual. The horde may decide to operate in a certain way, but one has the power to shut the machine off. Or one has the power to turn away from the Net, and focus only on one text one wants to work with. Many of us are engaged in making these decisions all the time.
   
   Still I would say that my own experience substantiates Carr’s main thesis. I have wasted in the past few years far too much time, jumping from one thing to another.
   
   Nonetheless there is no turning back from the Revolution which Carr considers to be certainly the greatest since the introduction of the Printing press, and perhaps greatest since the introduction of the Alphabet and the Number System.

   Perhaps what is truly required is a ‘proper mix of both ways of ‘reading and seeing’ of both ‘modes of being’ i.e. the short- term internet attention mode, and the longer book- concentration mode. And this as I sense that when many begin to feel an exhaustion from the jumping around, come to understand it does not really help them in pursuit of their main goal, there will be some reaction in the other direction.

8. Review by A. A. Nikolov for The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains
   Rating:
   I familiarized myself with the work of Mr. Carr after I read his Does IT Matter? article for one of my graduate business classes. Since 2007, I am a regular reader of his blog, and I eagerly anticipated his previous book The Big Switch.

   His latest effort is another worthwhile read with important insights into what is happening to our minds in the age of the Internet. I, myself, have struggled with the same ideas and issues described in The Shallows and found it very relevant. The book provides great examples and scientific explanations about memory, brain plasticity, and recent advances in cognitive science. Maybe some of the examples and topics from the book would be familiar to followers of his blog, but now they are laid out in such a way, that larger implication emerge from the text.

9. Review by Winston Smith for The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains
   Rating:
   If you truly want to know how technology (the Web in particular) is literally altering the functionality of our brains, buy this book. If not, go back to skimming webpages and pretend like nothing is happening.

   Some great quotes from the book (if you still have the ability to concentrate long enough to comprehend them):

   “Imagine filling a bathtub with a thimble; that’s the challenge involved in transferring information from working memory into long-term memory. By regulating the velocity and intensity of information flow, media exert a strong influence on this process. When we read a book, the information faucet provides a steady drip, which we can control by the pace of our reading. Through our single-minded concentration on the text, we can transfer all or most of the information, thimbleful by thimbleful, into long-term memory and forge the rich associations essential to the creation of schemas. With the Net, we face many information faucets, all going full blast. Our little thimble overflows as we rush from one faucet to the next. We’re able to transfer only a small portion of the information to long-term memory, and what we do transfer is a jumble of drops from different faucets, not a continuous, coherent stream from one source.”- The Shallows (page 125)

   “We can assume that the neural circuits devoted to scanning, skimming, and multitasking are expanding and strengthening while those used for reading and thinking deeply, with sustained concentration, are weakening or eroding. In 2009, researchers from Stanford University found signs that this shift may already be well underway. They gave a battery of cognitive tests to a group of heavy media multitaskers as well as a group of relatively light multitaskers. They found that heavy multitaskers were much more easily distracted by irrelevant environmental stimuli,” had significantly less control over the contents of their working memory, and we in general much less able to maintain their concentration on a particular task. Whereas the infrequent multitaskers exhibited relatively strong “top-down attentional control,” the habitual multitaskers showed “a greater tendency for bottom-up attentional control, ” suggesting that “they are sacrificing performance on the primary task to let in other sources of information.” Intensive multitaskers are suckers for irrelevancy,” commented Clifford Nass, the Stanford professor who led the research. “Everything distracts them.”- The Shallows (page 142)

   “Considering how much easier it is to search digital text than printed text, the common assumption has been that making journals available on the net would significantly broaden the scope of scholarly research, leading to a much more diverse set of citations. But that’s not at all what Evans [Sociologist of the University of Chicago] discovered. As more journals moved online, scholars actually cited fewer articles that they had before. And as old issues of printed journals were digitized and uploaded to the Web, scholars cited more recent articles with increasing frequency. A broadening of available information led as Evans described it to a “narrowing of science and scholarship.” In explaining the counter intuitive findings in a 2008 `Science’ article, Evans noted that automated information-filtering tools, such as search engines, tend to serve as amplifiers of popularity, quickly establishing and then continually reinforcing a consensus about what information is important and what isn’t. “The ease of following hyperlinks, moreover, leads online researchers to “bypass many of the marginally related articles that print researchers” would routinely skim as they flip through the pages of a journal or book. The quicker that scholars are able to “find prevailing opinion,” wrote Evans, the more likely they are “to follow it, leading to more citations referencing fewer articles.” Though much less efficient than searching the Web, old-fashioned library research probably served to widen scholars horizons: “By drawing researchers through unrelated articles, print browsing and perusal may have facilitated broader comparisons and led researchers into the past.” – The Shallows (page 217)

   “Spending time in the park, the researchers found, “significantly improved” people’s performance on the cognitive tests, indicating a substantial increase in attentiveness. Walking in the city, by contrast, led to no improvement in test results.”- The Shallows (page 219)

   “In sum,” concluded the researches, “simple and brief interactions with nature can produce marked increases in cognitive control.” Spending time in the natural world seems to be of “vital importance” to “effective cognitive functioning.”- The Shallows (page 220)

10. Review by Adam Thierer for The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains
    Rating:
    Rich with historical anecdotes and replete with scientific surveys and evidence, “The Shallows” is a book that demands your respect whether you are comfortable giving it or not. And many people won’t be. After all, Carr is a bit of a skunk at the cyber-garden party. I mean, how dare he suggest that all is not wine and roses with our glorious new world of instantaneous connectivity, abundant information flows, and cheap (often free) media content! Obviously, most of us want to believe that all adds up to a more well-rounded worldview and greater wisdom about the world around us. Carr is skeptical of those claims and “The Shallows” is his latest effort to poke a hole in the cyber-utopian claims that sometimes pervade discussions about Internet. Although, ultimately, he doesn’t quite convinced me that “The Web is a technology of forgetfulness,” he has made a powerful case that its effects may not be as salubrious as many of us have assumed.

    But the ultimate question is: Do the costs really outweigh the benefits? Is it the case that these technologies “turn numb the most intimate, the most human, of our natural capacities — those for reason, perception, memory, emotion”? I think that goes a bit too far, however. Importantly, Carr doesn’t really ever answer the crucial question here: Were we really better off in the decades prior to the rise of the Net? Did we really read more and engage in the more contemplative deep-reading and thinking he Carr fears we are losing because of the Net? Count me among those who think that — whatever most of us are doing in front our our computers most nights, and no matter how distracting it is — it has to be better than much of the crap we wasted our spare time on in the past!

    It would have also been nice to have seen Carr offer up some personal suggestions for how we each might better manage cognitive overload, which can be a real problem. In a brief “digression” chapter entitled “On the Writing of This Book,” Carr does mention some of the steps he took personally to make sure he could complete “The Shallows” without being driven to distraction by the Web and digital technologies. But he doesn’t dwell on that much, which is a shame. A bit of a self-help can go a long way toward alleviating the worst forms of cognitive overload, although it will continue to be a struggle for many of us.

    Despite the reservations I’ve raised here, Nick Carr’s “The Shallows” is beautifully written and is my early favorite for the most important info-tech book of the year. It will be required reading in this field for many years to come. [You can find my complete review of Carr’s “The Shallows” over at the Technology Liberation Front blog.]
    

Comments are closed.