Archos Gen9 Hardware Modding - Gen8, Gen9, Gen10 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi folks. Firstly, could some kind mod please create an Archos Gen9 category, and move this thread into it? You will then be beyond wonderful...
I've been looking at potential tablets for awhile, and am attracted to the Archos Gen9 devices coming out for their potential modability. I'm keen for feedback on this, and to start a discussion thread. Please post for your ideas and comments.
What interests me most:
1. They run an omap4 chipset, which is well supported (with graphics acceleration) under Ubuntu's arm port. Also, Texa Instruments, the makers of the omap chips, have a great linux community around them.
2. They have 2 x 1.5 ghz processors, along with a myriad of other goodies in their chips
3. Both the 80 and 101 models have options for a hard drive. The hard drive interests me less than the space put aside to put one in, and the sata conector that goes along with it. My hopes are it's relatively easy to open up the tablet, then switch out the drive for a fast ssd. Toshiba has a 7mm ssd drive coming out that works with a sata connection. Otherwise, a 5mm 1.8inch mini-sata drive might work, if it was packed out.
4. The last couple versions of the Archos system seem to have a developers version with it, so (hopefully) one could replace Armstrong with Ubuntu's arm port with minimal hassle. Regardless, a modified Ubuntu image should work fine with this device.
Anyone keen on this? I'd like to know your thoughts on hardware modability, and alternative software that can load on these devices. I'm looking at replacing my netbook with a tablet, and seems these upcoming Archos devices might be just the ticket. Lastly, does anyone know if the 16gb solid state drives shipping with the lighter models are likely to be soldiered onto the board, or is it possible to swap them with something else, like the ssd drives included in the eepc's and acer netbooks. Cheers.

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Its way to early to create a Gen9 Forum
The Gen8ers released Early November here and the forum started december

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tillum said:
2. They have 2 x 1.5 ghz processors, along with a myriad of other goodies in their chips
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, one processor, but 2x 1.5GHz cores.
Apparently the G9 101 flash versions will only have a 1GHz chip (probably the OMAP 4430), as well as the G9 80 8GB model. The other models will be clocked at 1.5GHz, running the OMAP 4460.
Code:
80 G9 8GB: 1.0GHz 299$
80 G9 16GB: 1.5GHz 329$
80 G9 250GB: 1.5GHz 369$
101 G9 8GB: 1.0GHz 369$
101 G9 16GB: 1.0GHz 399$
101 G9 250GB: 1.5GHz 469$
Source: https://store.archos.com/archos-p-5016.html
https://store.archos.com/archos-p-5017.html
tillum said:
4. The last couple versions of the Archos system seem to have a developers version with it, so (hopefully) one could replace Armstrong with Ubuntu's arm port with minimal hassle. Regardless, a modified Ubuntu image should work fine with this device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really any reason for Archos to not include an SDE like they have been for the last two generations.
tillum said:
does anyone know if the 16gb solid state drives shipping with the lighter models are likely to be soldiered onto the board, or is it possible to swap them with something else, like the ssd drives included in the eepc's and acer netbooks. Cheers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They aren't solid state drives. Theyr'e flash memory chips, and yes they are soldered on the board. They will likely operate the exact same way as last generation's chip, where they hosted the OS and the app storage, so they won't be replacable.
Also, it isn't way too early to start a G9 section. Most major hyped phones that come out get a section a month or so before they come out. Around next month would be a good time to start a G9 section (or start it now and have the mod for it make an announcement, and then only make a "General" section until they actually come out). People will continually post about the G9 devices here in the G8 section, because this is the only Archos section on XDA. If there were a G9 section, we could keep things separated.

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Thanks for that Harfainx. Of course, that makes more sense about the flash memory chips. I still wonder how modable the rest of ths flash based units are, but think I'll be going for the hard drive versions, and pulling them apart. I'm still stoked Archos is putting in a sata hard disk to begin with, hers should be heaps more options for hacking it.
And yes, if this is the only place for people to post on XDA about the gen9 devices, this is where they will go. The fact that people are already posting means thaf we should have an area setup for gen9. Or at least have and archos area, with gen 8 and 9 under it. Cheers.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

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http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=17763739
for the new g9 forum