Archos announces 101 XS 2 10.1-inch Android tablet for $279

Despite its best intentions, French device manufacturer Archos is still probably known mostly for its MP3 players from way back when. Over the past couple of years, the company has tried to make a dent in the Android market, releasing a slew of tablets and smartphones, with limited success.

But Archos keeps trying. It's back again with the 101 XS 2, a 10.1-inch tablet running Android 4.2 Jelly Bean with an awkward name but a decent price ($279). The value price is thanks to middling specs: 1.6GHz quad-core Cortex-A9 ARM processor, 16GB of storage, 1,280x800 IPS display. It does include 2GB of RAM, dual-band Wi-Fi, and the Coverboard magnetic keyboard/kickstand/protective cover accessory, so it's not a total bargain-bin offering. 

In fact, ZDNet's own Sandra Vogel had nice things to say about the previous version of the 101 XS, praising the white chassis, keyboard add-on, and display. But will the improvements to the XS 2 be enough to set it apart when it's released in December amid an ever-more-crowded Android tablet marketplace? Do you own an Archos tablet or plan to buy one? Let us know in the Talkback section below.