Good budget portable media player

[darkgen]

If you exclude the iPad, what is currently the best portable media player type device? I'm specifically after a device which will play movies (and support most formats) with a decent screen (does not necessarilly have to be HD) between 5-10".

This needs to be as simple as it gets and it will be used by mother while she spends several long episodes in hospital.

I recall devices by Archos and iRiver once upon a time but it appears the iPad market has prety much killed all the competition. Costs also need to be around the 100 pound mark, if possible.

Cheers, Paul.

 

[richthomuk]

The Samsung Galaxy Media Player?? goes for £99.99 in Currys and PC World. Its only 3.6" so a bit smaller than you wanted with a 480 x 320 multitouch display, 8gb storage, wifi, Supported video formats MPEG4, H.263, H.264, WMV (VC-1), DivX/XviD (Up to HD).

Or ARCHOS Archos 5 Internet Tablet, £94.53 - 16 GB, 4.8", 800 x 400, supported video formats MPEG-4, Motion JPEG, WMV, H.264, MKV
http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/5957337/art/archos/archos-5-internet-tablet.html

Id go for this though I think. the screen isnt that great, though and viewing angles arnt great but I would be happy with it if i was stuck in a hospital bed.
Archos 7 Home Tablet V2, £75.51 - 8 GB, 7", 800 x 480
http://www.pixmania.co.uk/uk/uk/8758119/art/archos/7-home-tablet-v2-8-gb.html

 

[darkgen]

Thanks for your comments. I actually decided bumping the budget from 100>200 which brought in a few later models of the Archos, specifically the 80 g9, but build quality isn't brilliant it seems.

EDIT - I think I may opt for the Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 8GB with a 32Gb micro SD card.

 

[LostCorpse]

i'd suggest the : Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0

i've the slightly older model Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 and so far think its great. decent battery life, good screen viewing angles, 16gb internal storage, light and thin not to heavy or uncomfatable to hold. i'm hoping the Tab 2 follows suit..
you might need to install something like Rockplayer, xmplayer or mobo player depending on what shes watching.
Its nice and responsive to with the honeycomb 3.2 installed.

another options for cost cutting is looking at ex-display models might find a good deal that way..

 

[Macky]

Could get a decent Android phone. Android can probably play almost any format with various video players etc. SGSII is probably do-able for £200 second-hand and is arguably one of the best portable media devices around.

 

[darkgen]

Thanks for the comments. Since mother certainly does not need all the bells and whistles I think the SGT2 7.0 is the way to go to provide a decent size screen with the added bonus it has ICS so can always introduce her to the Play store for odds and sods.

Cheers, Paul.