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 RonK
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| Joined: 02 Jun 2003 |
| Total Posts: 715 |
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Mio Moov 200 GPS Navigator Review
Posted: 11 Jul 2008 08:50 AM |
I've been using my Palm IIIxe, in combination with the Rand McNally StreetfinderGPS and the MarcoSoft, "Quo Vadis" mapping system since the year 2000. It has served me well, and has gotten me out of many stressful situations on the road, when I had been totally lost. This happens quite a lot, and more so, now that I'm older.
The good part about Quo Vadis is that the maps are free to download. The bad part is that my palm has limited memory, so I can only download and store the local maps that I think I might need on a single trip. The maps consist of 2-D single black lines, with street or route names, and show up on my black and white Palm screen. There is a rudimentary directory, and the ability to insert waypoints. The user can switch from "North Up", to Track Up", and zoom in and out. A good bit of detailed GPS data is also available like compass, altitude, speed, satellites, etc.
Nonetheless, compared to modern day GPS systems for the car, my Palm kluge is a relic! Up until a few years ago, the only alternative was a $2000 in-dash console on a $29000 Acura- Not a good economic choice, although I WAS tempted!
These days, a small, intelligent, talking GPS system can be purchased for a little more than $100. I figured it was time to make my move, especially after my last trip, when I suddenly ran out of electronic mapping on my Palm- just at a very critical juncture.
I chose the Mio Moov 200 unit, mainly because Radio Shack had them on sale, it was within my budget, and I wanted a device with audio output. Having to watch the Palm, while driving, was really distracting (I hope GPS won't go the same route as cell phone safety). One nice thing about the audio announcements is that the female speaker states both a route number AND the street name, if applicable. Many times using my Palm, I was lost, because this dual information was unavailable (Not that my Palm could talk, anyway).
The Mio 200 has a nice feature set including:
Preloaded U.S. Maps
Text-to-speech With Voice Guidance
Over 3.5 Million Points of Interest
Sensitive GPS Receiver
SD/MMC Expansion Slot
The unit comes with a USB charger, mounting hardware and USB PC cable, and DVD.
I was impressed with the receiver's sensitivity. My old unit really needed to be pointed at the sky to pick up the satellites; the Mio can actually operate from inside my house! I was also amazed at the "Back-on-track" function. No matter how badly I messed up my route, the little machine continually reprogrammed itself, and made sure I knew how to find my destination.
The Mio screen has plenty of brightness, and lots of audio volume to be an effective driving tool in the car. The female voice is very natural sounding, so much so, that if she hasn't spoken in a while, it can be a little disconcerting when she pops up to give new instructions.
There are a few things, which need improvement. Mio provides a "Quick Start Guide", which basically includes some installation pictures, and instructions on how to start-up the unit. There is also a brief, on-screen tutorial. I thought that the included DVD would have the full-blown manual, but it did not. Neither does the Mio website. So to paraphrase the "Where's the Beef?" lady, "Where's the Book?" There was an FAQ on the Mio site that stated the book would be available in the summer of '08. Hey! That's now! The Mio 200 is not a toy! It is an intelligent, state-of-the art computing system! It deserves, and the user needs to have a full-blown manual to find and implement all the features.
Fortunately, I found a solution. Mio and Navman have merged to produce an excellent product. I looked on the NAVMAN site, and sure enough, their F-15 GPS had just about identical features to the Mio 200. There, I found a full operating manual.
The touch screen of the Mio is a little unresponsive at times. I sometimes hit the wrong keys on the on-screen keyboard. A stylus might help. I guess we've all become spoiled from the I-Phone's screen. :-)
Some of the features try to second-guess the user. Like, once you enter a city, it stays in memory, figuring you will probably use it again. This cannot be deleted- not with a RESET, not with a "Restore to Factory Defaults", not with nothing! I'd remove the battery, but the Lithium-ion rechargeable is not removable either.
Oh well, all in all, so far, I'm happy with the Mio 200, and hopefully, I won't get lost.
Ron K
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bitbyter
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| Joined: 24 May 2003 |
| Total Posts: 266 |
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Re: Mio Moov 200 GPS Navigator Review
Posted: 11 Jul 2008 08:52 PM |
Some people have all the toys.
I'm still using Streets 98 on a laptop running Windows 2000.
It doesn't fit in my shirt pocket.
It pretty much gets me everywhere except in Boston.
...but then, there's no hope for Boston.
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RonK
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| Joined: 02 Jun 2003 |
| Total Posts: 715 |
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RonK
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| Joined: 02 Jun 2003 |
| Total Posts: 715 |
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Re: Mio Moov 200 GPS Navigator Review
Posted: 04 Aug 2008 03:34 PM |
We just completed our first long distance trip using the Mio Moov 200 GPS device. WOW! Were we impressed!
The portable GPS device HAS to be right up there with the microwave oven, the Internet, and the Cell phone as one of the most useful consumer products EVER!
Over the highways and through the urban streets, the female voice on the Mio never let us down. Our granddaughters, who were riding with us, decided on a “Name the Navigator” contest. They came up with “Mapsie”, which seemed appropriate and very cute. This confirmed my assertion that my grandkids are the smartest and most wonderful in the world…although I may be somewhat biased. :-)
The use of verbal street names and turn-warnings definitely added to the system’s utility and safety. The driver should try to avoid looking at the screen for more than 3 seconds at a time, and even that, may prove to be too distracting.
The ancillary information on the Mio's screen, includes upcoming turns, Estimated Time of Arrival, Distance to GO, Time to GO, Speed, and the current time.
Even my wife, who is my co-pilot, and sometimes “reluctant navigator”, marveled at the Mio’s accuracy, and seemingly “intelligent” verbal directions, including, “Make a U-turn!”
WOW! When technology works, it’s really something!
Ron K
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bitbyter
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| Joined: 24 May 2003 |
| Total Posts: 266 |
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Re: Mio Moov 200 GPS Navigator Review
Posted: 12 Aug 2008 11:49 PM |
A GPS is on my list, but I tend to go looking for one (...and at them...) a few days before a long trip, end up not having the time to get the one in which I have interest, at the price I'd like, take the trip without the benefit, and then procrastinate...
Meanwhile, a relative has one and I thoroughly approve his purchase at any cost because he travels in Boston a lot. His GPS will plot a course to local attractions by business name, a very nifty feature.
So, a date was arranged for him with an eligible lady, doubling with the arranger and her date, and the rendevous was schedule for 7:30 in the evening at the "Boat House Restaurant." When he got to the "Boat House Restaurant" exactly on time, thanks to his slick GPS, he sat down and waited for two hours before heading home. Nobody showed. ...or so he thought...
It turned out that 30 miles away, there was another "Boat House Restaurant" (unassociated with the first). Had he asked for directions instead of relying on his GPS, his evening may have been more eventful.
:-)
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RonK
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| Joined: 02 Jun 2003 |
| Total Posts: 715 |
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Re: Mio Moov 200 GPS Navigator Review
Posted: 13 Aug 2008 07:57 AM |
Funny Story!
Just for the heck of it, I looked up the ""Boat House Restaurant" in Boston on my GPS. It wasn't listed.
Oh Well. I guess life still takes some planning. Check out Plan ahead
Maybe your relative should have used the second greatest modern invention, "The Cell Phone".
Just a note on POI's (Points of Interest). My friend has a four year old Lexus with built-in GPS..slick! He inquired about buying an updated DVD map for it. The dealer wanted $325.
You can now buy one of the best portable GPS units available, for less than the cost of that disc! But, then again, that's only the cost of four fill-ups... Modern problems.
Ron K
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RonK
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| Joined: 02 Jun 2003 |
| Total Posts: 715 |
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Re: Mio Moov 200 GPS Navigator Review
Posted: 16 Oct 2008 03:33 PM |
To paraphrase the Duracell TV commercial, you know, the one that says, "Inside every thingamajig, there's a battery", well inside every GPS device there's a WINDOWS CE computer.
And, thanks to a few great websites and some nifty freeware, the Mio Moov can be unlocked and turned into some really neat devices. I basically wanted the ability to use my GPS as an e-book reader, a digital picture frame, and an MP3 player. Believe it or not, it CAN be done!
Now it doesn't turn into an "IPod Touch", but it is useful.
If your GPS device has an external memory card slot, all the software can be downloaded onto the card, and the original GPS functions remain untouched. It is also possible to download the software directly into the memory of the internal FLASH drive.
The two sites which help you accomplish all this are:
GPS Passion See Forums
kombitz.com
RonK |
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