Just two months after the launch of the AV400, the first audio player / DVR, say hello to the Gmini 400. Archos' goal: to redefine the portable media player sector with a device that represents an ambitious assault on the iPod's stranglehold on market share.

First and foremost, Archos has ensured that its player is as small as the iPod and other competing portable media players. The Gmini 400 weighs in at 158 grams (5.64 oz.) and measures 106 x 60 x 18 mm (4.17 x 2.37 x 0.69 in.) - pretty much the same measurements as the latest iPod. It contains a very fast 20 GB Toshiba hard disk. The MK-2004GAL has a 2MB buffer, spins at 4,200 rpm, and has an average access time of 15 milliseconds. Yet it weighs only 51 grams. Our 100 MB set of 30 files transferred to the device's hard drive in only 14 seconds.

The player's finish is just as impressive. The slightly ovoid shape fits nicely in your hand. The front and rear panels are silver metal and the edges black plastic. The unit conveys a feeling of robustness that suggests it should be able to handle slight bumps without getting too scratched or dented up. Indeed, the Gmini 400 is no ugly duckling, even compared to the iPod. It's just as good-looking, just less trendy.