Archos will soon be adding a new budget-priced model to their line up, the 204. It hasn’t been announced on their website yet but GenerationMP3 is hosting a PDF of the press release HERE.
If it looks familiar, that’s because the 204 is using the same basic design as the Gmini XS 200 series from a couple of years ago. This time around it gets an OLED color screen instead of a greyscale LCD, but otherwise the feature-set is pretty much the same. The 204 plays your basic audio formats (MP3, WMA) and can display photos (JPEG). No FM radio, no video, and no WiFi. Just a very small and affordable digital audio player. As with the Gmini XS, the 204 is based on a 20gb Hitachi hard drive.
MSRP is expected to start at 179 Euro ($235 USD) – in Spain, at least (the press release is from Barcelona). That seems kind of pricey for those of us in the USA, where you can get an iPod Video, Zune, or Creative ZVM for the same amount. But we have it good here, as DAPs can be quite a bit more expensive in parts of the EU due to crazy VAT taxes. If Archos decides to bring the 204 to North America, the price would likely be under $200.
source: GenerationMP3
