The old saying goes "Even a blind squirrel picks up an acorn once in a while." Since I'm in the computer business, I get a few opportunities to snag a component or device at a good price. That's how I found out about fairly new French company named Archos.

About a month ago, an item called a mobile DVR popped up in an email from an outfit that holds weekly auctions for computer dealers. The company specializes in overstocked items, remaining stocks of old models, refurbished returns, and RMA's. Some are sold in big lots, others as individual items. There was just one of the mobile DVR's. It was a customer return that had been opened but not used and it had been tested after the return. It is an older model but it originally listed for $700.00 and is still available for just under $400.00. It was very pricey and that is the first reason that the word "nearly" was used in the title of this article. The bid at 9:00 in the morning was about $120.00. I bought it at noon for $175.00.

I was really intrigued by the brief description for the auction. It is about the size of a VHS tape. Inside is a 40GB hard drive to store video, music, and photos. (There is also a 100GB version available.) It has a built-in scheduler for unattended recording. Sound cool? There's just one more little feature. It has a 7" widescreen LCD screen and stereo speakers. That's right, you can set this little guy up to record The Amazing Race while you're packing your bag and grab it as you head to the airport so you have something to watch on the way to the airport. A nice padded purse-like carrying case is included.

Reviewers weren't awed by the picture quality, but I didn't particularly care. I'm a Slinger and I wanted to see how the Archos AV-700 would work as a companion to my Slingbox. Connections on the AV-700 itself are few. There are 2 USB connectors, one for a camera and one to connect it to a computer for uploading and downloading files. Actually, uploading and downloading don't really describe it because the AV-700 functions exactly like an external hard drive when it is connected to a computer so you just copy files back and forth. If you want to store a couple of big spreadsheets on it, it doesn't care. There is also a DC in connector for running with an A/C adapter. It's battery is a removable lithium-ion. The only other connector is a proprietary one to connect it to the included TV docking pod. The docking pod is small, not quite an inch thick and about 4 inches in diameter. Its connectors are A/V in, A/V out, S-video in, DC in, and IR out. Also in the box are A/V connecting cables, the proprietary cable for the docking pod, Two USB cables, an A/C adapter, stereo headphones, and - get this - a remote control. But wait, the center hole of the proprietary connector can also take an A/V out cable so you don't really need to use the docking station to watch the AV-700's videos on a TV. An optional proprietary cable is available to effectively replace the TV docking pod for recording.

In case you didn't notice, you really wouldn't need to pick up the AV-700 as you rush out to the airport. If you hook it up to a Slingbox's A/V connection, you'll be able to watch your recording in your hotel room via Slingbox when you reach your destination. That is if Sling Media comes up with a remote to control the AV-700 in the SlingPlayer software or the proper signals can be figured out. I just haven't had the time or the inclination to figure it out. Read the next paragraph to learn why I haven't had the inclination. But that is the second reason that the word "nearly" is in the title of this article.

Let's go back to the first scenario where you took the AV-700 on the plane with you and watched The Amazing Race en route. The next evening, the big game back home is on a local channel but it won't be carried on a channel at your hotel. You could watch it on your laptop via your Slingbox back home, but there's a business dinner that you really have to attend during the game. But you have your AV-700 with you and your laptop just happens to have A/V out. So just before you leave for dinner, you start SlingPlayer and tune to the proper channel. Then you hook up the AV-700 to your laptop, schedule it to start recording at game time, and leave to attend the dinner. When you return to your room, you hook up the A/V cable to the TV in your room and watch the game while you browse the Internet on your laptop.

Other than the price and the issue with the remote, what could be better? Well, there are a couple of things. First of all, Archos has introduced a few new products that are a little smaller in size and lower in price. Check out the Archos website at archos.com. But there is also a new model that has built-in wi-fi. It can browse the Internet without the use of a PC. The list price without the recording feature for that unit is $349.00. (The recording dock is another $99.00.) But if Sling Media would see fit to partner with Archos and introduce SlingPlayer for Archos, the world's first SlingCatcher would be born. Probably a little pricey for the masses at more than $300.00, but I'm sure there are those who would spring for it and fork over the extra hundred for the ability to record.

In the meantime, besides a half a dozen episodes of Monty Python's Flying Circus, a few movies, and more pictures of my new grandson than I care to disclose, I carry with me the ability to place shift and time shift the TV content that I have paid for without compromising the encrypted transmission over the Internet thanks to my Slingbox and my Archos AV-700.