 |
Mio C310x 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator
By: Mio Average Rating: 3.5 Total Reviews: 133
More Information
 On: 2008-05-10
You get what you pay for they say: With the Mio C310x that is what you get... clumsy menus and the issue many are talking about: The voice is off by 100 yards which is not only confusing but DANGEROUS when driving because you constantly have to compare the voice to the display. The maps are from a European based company and are not as up to date as Navteq.
Last but not least, I put a 4 GB memory stick with MP3s on it and it does not allow sorting by folder... so you are stuck scrolling through 1000 songs! UNBELIEVABLE! SO BAD!
I give it 1 star - it works somewhat ok
 On: 2008-03-30
I like this GPS because it has all the features I need. Its maps are upgradable at a reasonable price. Its really compact, very portable, can play music through the SD card slot. All the maps are in its own memory (1 gig internal). It allows you to set wave points. Though I dont care to much for the mount because its bulky and it has limited freed to move it. All in all, its a great product that I would recommend. Cold Eyes
On: 2008-02-27
The price was the defining factor for me, I wasnt expecting anything amazing because it was so cheap but it came in handy many times. The accuracy is off by maybe a house or 2 in some cases but no biggie. The options of color scheme and views are good. It took me a little bit to figure out how to work the map but I didnt read the manual so what can I expect.
The mp3 player is nice and works fine with or without headphones. I use it at work (I dont have an IPod or anything else)and can charge it on the computer using the USB cord when I step away. The random mode doesnt seem to be too random, it picks the same random songs everytime unless you add or delete some songs...wierd but not terrible.
Overall, great for the money,most navigation systems dont even offer the added mp3 player so that counts for something.
On: 2008-02-27
2/26/08
The price was the defining factor for me, I wasnt expecting anything amazing because it was so cheap but it came in handy many times. The accuracy is off by maybe a house or 2 in some cases but no biggie. The options of color scheme and views are good. It took me a little bit to figure out how to work the map but I didnt read the manual so what can I expect.
The mp3 player is nice and works fine with or without headphones. I use it at work (I dont have an IPod or anything else)and can charge it on the computer using the USB cord when I step away. The random mode doesnt seem to be too random, it picks the same songs everytime unless you add or delete some songs...wierd but not terrible.
Overall, great for the money,most navigation systems dont even offer the added mp3 player so that counts for something.
On: 2008-02-27
Updated 4/5/08: It broke after a month and a half, it wont even turn on. I didnt do anything unusual to it to cause this to happen either. I guess it was just too good to be true....
2/26/08
The price was the defining factor for me, I wasnt expecting anything amazing because it was so cheap but it came in handy many times. The accuracy is off by maybe a house or 2 in some cases but no biggie. The options of color scheme and views are good. It took me a little bit to figure out how to work the map but I didnt read the manual so what can I expect.
The mp3 player is nice and works fine with or without headphones. I use it at work (I dont have an IPod or anything else)and can charge it on the computer using the USB cord when I step away. The random mode doesnt seem to be too random, it picks the same songs everytime unless you add or delete some songs...wierd but not terrible.
Overall, great for the money,most navigation systems dont even offer the added mp3 player so that counts for something.
On: 2008-02-10
very easy in use
comes without ac charger and no Canada maps inside. The Miomap v 3.2 is a an old version from 2006. You cant add any maps others than of USA
 On: 2008-02-08
This is very nice GPS. If you want very simple and essential GPS, this is what you need.
Except this has small LCD screen but this is fine for me. I do not use MP3 much, but if you do is will be even better.
On: 2008-02-08
Excellent product... Have not tried the MP3 player yet, but the side mounted buttons make the device especially easy to use... The only drawback to the device is the case color... The dark case makes the device harder to see from outside the vehicle... Otherwise, highly recommend the product, price was outstanding, delivery was very fast...
On: 2008-02-08
I have just moved from Washington DC to Southern California and bought a Mio C310X for only $150. Here is my review:
Pros: In a nutshell, its impressively resourceful for a $150 device. It can do as much as a Garmin can do for less than half the price. Instructions are detailed, loud and clear. It will take you wherever you want to go. I was in Los Angeles when I first tested this product. I had no problems driving in LA and other parts of Southern California so far. I live in an area that has been newly developed and even here maps seem to be fairly up-to-date. Its even got an Mp3 player, which I never bothered to use (I have an iPod to play my music). Volume buttons on the side are easy to use.
Cons: This is not a "cons" to me, but some people have complained about the C310x not having the Text-to-Speech feature (i.e. it says "turn right in 1000 yards" but doesnt say the name of the street). As much as I would love my Mio to say street names, I just dont think this feature is worth the extra $300 I would have paid for another GPS.
When you first turn the device on, it may take as long as 5 minutes to get a signal and calculate your position. However, the manual explains that the device has to learn satellites patterns, which change daily. After that, its much quicker and you wont have to wait that long for a signal.
There are three different setting menus and that might be a little bit confusing at the beginning. Im kind of computer savvy and did not have any problems learning my way thru, but I think other people may have a problem with this.
The number of points of interest have dropped from 3 million + to 1.5 million after the 2007 map update. I can care less about "yellow pages" services, but some people do.
By the way, I read some reviews from customers saying they couldnt get their C310X to work after a map update. Mine is working fine and the only inconvenience I had, per se, was that I wasnt able to get an activation # necessary for the completion of the update over the internet. But I called customer service and they were quick to email me the number and I had no further problems finishing the process.
On: 2008-02-07
The Mio Digiwalker product is ok but their support is non-existent. I have called them over 9 times, from Sep 2007 to Feb 2008, to get an RMA completed. Each call took an average of 1/2 hour. They have no idea how to treat customers and God forbid you ever want to return something.
Trust me! You will NEVER get your money refunded, even if they issue you an RMA. This is by far the WORST service I have ever experienced. This is not a crank review, it is the truth, HONEST!!! I guess I will have to take them to Small Claims Court to get my money refunded. Then I will try to get the Newspapers to recount my ordeal to warn others.
On: 2008-01-20
The Mio 310x GPS device comes with instructions on how to navigate menus, what buttons do, etc, but does not teach a beginner how to start and until this day I dont know how to only erase my last entry. I wrote to Customer Service and did not get an annser.
On: 2008-01-19
The Mio 310x GPS device comes with instructions on how to navigate menus, what buttons do, etc, but does not teach a beginner how to start and until this day I dont know how to only erase my last entry. I wrote to Customer Service and did not get an annser.
On: 2008-01-18
It delivers what have been promised. I have considered this GPS because it has 64Mb internal memory and more 1Gb flash memory for under 150USD. It has a bright screen, fast navigation and good sound. Unfortunately its USB is still not 2.0 and it takes forever if you want to update its internal flash memory.
It is my second MIO GPS and I definetely consider buying more products from them.
 On: 2008-01-13
The Mio 310x is OK, especially for the price paid.
The problem is not with the unit itself but rather
with the tech support. If you purchase an update
disc from Circuit City , you will have quite a
hassle in getting it to work. Took me numerous
emails and telephone calls before getting a person
who could help me.
On: 2008-01-05
Dont buy this! It takes forever to figure out where you are (and by that time youve driven by the turn you were supposed to take), and then it gives you the wrong directions -- I tested it out at home and it told me to travel in circles. Very difficult to enter addresses, and it doesnt have many points of interest near me. Plus it doesnt come with an AC adaptor or a stylus -- the only way to charge it is in the car. Very cheap of them not to include that. Im sending it back and getting a Garmin.
On: 2007-12-26
I was thinking about a GPS for a while now.. I wanted one for both road trips by car and motorcycle. The ones that are bike specific were a little too pricy. I started looking at reviews of all GPSs Garmin/ Tom Tom were top on my list but when I read about Mio I looked more and the Mio C310X sounded like it fit the bill.. I figured I can run a wired earpiece from a Tank bag up under my jacket would save me over $300 (not getting Blue Tooth or a Waterproof unit) For $179 shipped.. I figured thats worth it..And I wont cry much if it falls.
I have it now maybe 3 weeks, havent gotten much use out of it but what use I did it worked fine. You have to read the instruction manual (PDF) to understand all the extras..
This GPS DOES NOT come with an AC adapter .. just a USB and car plug... I have my concerns about battery life. Now that I bought a cheap ac/dc cigarette plug adapter ($6.99 compared to $14-$24) I put on for a long charge ..I get around 4-5 hrs of use.
I have more reading to understand more features or lack of... Im not sure if there is a way to get an alternative route to a destination, it does recalculate the route if you deviate but Im looking for a complete revision of the route..
I wasnt looking for a MP3 player so I havent picked up a card yet..
Now if it can only tell me where the potholes are Id be that much more pleased.
I have and will recommend the product to others. Im very much satisfied at this point.
Hope this helps...
On: 2007-12-25
I bought three of these, one for each of my parents and one for myself. It is a disposable unit because they do not offer map updates like other companies. As time passes, it becomes less and less useful. I could write about the pretty good UI and hardware, but the fact it is a throw-away unit makes all of that pale in usefulness.
I would have bought one for the other car, but the lack of map updates made me get a Garmin.
On: 2007-12-24
I bought three of these, one for each of my parents and one for myself. It is a disposable unit because they do not offer map updates like other companies. As time passes, it becomes less and less useful. I could write about the pretty good UI and hardware, but the fact it is a throw-away unit makes all of that pale in usefulness.
I would have bought one for the other car, but the lack of map updates made me get a Garmin.
On: 2007-12-17
This is the second c310x I have purchased. The first was for me - the second was a gift for my brother.
The unit is light, quick, and feature packed. The graphics are clean and crisp - with smooth scrolling.
Although the styling may be a little less sexy than other GPS units - it isnt ugly by any means.
Battery life is around 2 hours - but the unit is only used in the car so its not an issue for me.
If a few extra dollars are available opt for the next model up, which is very sleek and also has bluetooth.
On: 2007-12-17
I bought this a year ago. I never did like the way it would route me to some places. Then they offered a software and map update and I jumped at the opportunity...only to find out that it made things worse. Now a four lane road in my area is off limits. There is no way to get it to take the route I want (even when I tell it to take dirt roads) and the stupid thing routes me 4 miles out of the way because sees the road as inaccessible. More than once when trying to get out of an unfamiliar neighborhood it told me that roads went through to a main road and they were really dead ends. Good luck trying to tell it not to use a dead end road. Good luck trying to get a map updated. Also, after a year the battery wont hold a charge for more that 30 seconds. The MP3 player has a loud hum that makes it impossible to use a FM transmitter and play through the car radio. The only use the SD memory chip has is to play MP3s.
On: 2007-12-04
Whatever you do, do not purchase the Mio Map Update on their website. It will cost you $69.99. You can purchase the exact same map update at Circuit City for $17.99 two days ago. I did just that. I then called Mio Customer Service and spoke with a representative that said he did not know why the price differential but that it was the exact same map update and they recommend customers to purchase from Circuit City.
On: 2007-12-02
I have owned this unit for a little over a year and have done some extensive traveling with it.
Pros - auto switch between day & night modes is awesome - tough to go back after having it.
Battery life is good & cordless option is great.
Cons - The mapping software is terrible! If you have any idea where you are going it will drive you nuts! If staying on the highway one more exit will save you time it does not recognize it. The directions it takes from my home to office are almost 20 minutes longer! Having said that, if you dont know where you are going it will get you there just the same!
Overall it is not a bad option & way better than a car load of maps. I just upgraded to a TomTom One & love it. The mapping is far more accurate but it takes navigating through several menus to switch the screen to night mode.
On: 2007-12-01
Maps are out of date and Mio does not have map updates. Mio has said they would have the updates for months now.
On: 2007-11-30
I feel these are the important things you should look for, in a GPS:
1) The Price: this is one of the cheapest GPS in the market with the best value for money.
2) The ease to operate: This is the feature I like the most about this GPS. This is my third MIO (I have already lost two). The reason I always buy this one is that even a novice can operate it very easily.
3) Maps: Now the most important part. I agree that the maps are nor updated. But if you go at 40 places, once or twice you will find that the MIO was not accurate. But still, with the quality of the maps, I will pass on that.
4) Show: I have seen many GPS of atleast 5-6 big companies and I feel that this is one of the best in its show. And in this regard specially the 310x is the best.
On: 2007-11-24
I received the product and it was in factory sealed condition , the price is still none can beat. Good service and support when there was a delay in shipping.
On: 2007-11-22
I was absolutely overjoyed when MY Mio GPS finally arrived in the mail. The unit is fairly easy to figure out and operate. There is a new map update available in many stores for only $15. The update is a must, and well worth the cost. This is a fantastic unit for the price!
On: 2007-11-18
When you buy a GPS solely for the price, you do not expect much. The Mio C310x is a pleasant surprise. It is full of features and is extremely accurate, something you really want in a GPS. That said, there are some drawbacks that preclude a five star rating.
On the plus side:
Accuracy. It is not just location, the unit accurately tracts your speed, even giving you if you want, warnings that you are speeding. I create track logs to monitor my bike exercise program, and get very accurate map, average speed, and distance data.
Portability. It fits easily in your pocket and comes with a windshield mount.
POIs: It has a huge database of points of interest, which is fully searchable.
The minuses:
Your favorites. Only two favorites Home and Work can be preprogramed.
Search functions. Searches are clunky, and it takes a while to learn how do searches efficiently.
 On: 2007-11-09
Ive had this for almost a year now so Ive got some experience using this in comparison to some of the other reviews after only a month or so of owning it. Plus my job consists of driving so I use this thing on a daily basis.
Pros:
Very nice looking piece of equipment and screen graphics.
Added mp3 player for extra uses. Decent job as a mp3 player (but if you want an mp3 player I suggest an ipod)
Cons:
The fact is this is a pretty poor "GPS" system. For what you buy a GPS system for this item is terrible.
I (and most people) will use a GPS unit for a few reasons. Primary among them I believe would be...
1. To find a specific place that we have PLANNED to travel to. Like a hotel or a mall when were on vacation. etc.
2. To find ON THE FLY a place we might need to go to. Like the nearest gas station when were low on gas on a trip.
3. To find the QUICKEST and most expedient route to a destination.
Now here is the problem with Mios GPS system...
Mios POI (points of interest) listing is very very limited in comparison to other systems out there, for example a Garmin i2 or i3, which are in its price class. The reason for this is Garmin has POI for REGIONS of the USA. That is if you are planning a trip to an area on the West Coast you download the POI for that region. If you are going to the East Coast you download that map file. This makes POI coverage extremely robust. Mio only has the option to download POI for the entire USA. The memory on the Mio 310x is not capable of storing the entire USAs points of interest so the actual listing is very limited. Many of the restaurants and other POIs in my home town are missing.
So with this in mind imagine how situations 1 and 2 are when you use the Mio. In the 1st situation its quite possible that the system does not even have your planned destination. Youll need to find out the actual coordinates of the destination and have to manually enter them if that is the case. In the 2nd situation it is very possible that the system would bypass the closest gas station or rest area because its just not in the map POI list. This actually happened to me a few times.
Now when it comes to the 3rd most important use of a GPS. That is, a quick and expedient route... the Mio once again fails. The pathing system of the Mio is unbelievably faulty. Ive tested this unit and entered in locations I am quite familiar with. Nearly half the time the route it suggests is just plain incorrect or is actually much longer.
Bottomline: When making a purchase we consumers want the best item for our money. The Mio isnt it. There are much better units out there for nearly the same price.
On: 2007-11-03
I have had a Mio 310x for about a year now. Ive never had any problem navigating with it. This past summer I went to Corpus Christi TX to see my Dad and used it from VA to there. On the way home we stayed in the French Quarter in New Orleans. Used it from TX to New Orleans and then home with many stops and vias in between with no problems. My kids jokingly inserted SEVERAL Starbucks stops along the way and we didnt miss a single one. Only downside I see is that the mp3 player is very basic. You cant navigate folders, (or at least I havent figured out how)and can only play them in the order that they come up. Besides that! I love this thing.
On: 2007-11-02
Be very careful about installing the mount on the windshield. Mine fell off, the screen impacted the gear shift and cracked. Mio is denying warranty repair. They tell me I installed it incorrectly. They are willing to spend $133 to send the suction cup mount to Germany for testing, but they are unwilling to make a customer happy.
I guess you get what you pay for.
On: 2007-11-01
Ive used this little unit for over a year now and I have to say that it works well as a gps unit. It has nothing fancy like bluetooth but in terms of getting you to the place you want to go it is highly effective. Rerouting is fast and it uses the Sirf III chip just like the top of the line Nuvis. The company itself is getting bigger by the day and their website is getting better, but support is definitely not as strong as that of bigger companies. The menu system is effective but does require a little getting used to. People new to GPS systems should check out the cheaper alternatives with garmin which is easier to use. If youre looking for an effective cheap GPS unit its hard to find anything better than this.
Overall I have been pleased with this device and would buy it again.
On: 2007-10-31
The mio c310x is cheap and reliable. Althought he POI is not updated with new developments and all POI out there, for a price of less than $200 you get a good deal and an MP3 player included.
On: 2007-10-22
This is a great little unit. I was really impressed with all the features, and yeah, it had a couple little quirks (like it doesnt read my SD card) but nothing that wasnt overridden by the rest of the units greatness....until I got the map upgrade a week after I had the unit and KABOOM...now the thing will not respond due to a limit in memory, at least that is what it is telling me. I have contacted support on numerous occations with no response (they say within one workday, but good luck). Now I am the proud owner of a really cool looking chunk of plastic that I can suction cup to my forehead and act like the jerk I am for buying this thing. All I need now is to return it and look for something that actually functions!!
On: 2007-10-19
I cant see mylself living without it for now on , everywhere i go i take my GPS with me , i live in Sao Paulo (Brazil), wich is the 2nd biggest city in the world , and it works perfect , I love everything about it . And it takes me wathever i want to go .
On: 2007-10-18
This is an excellent GPS for the price. The route recalculation is great and really quick on it. We have used it a lot! It has already paid for itself. I would highly recommend this if you are looking for a cheap affordable GPS.
On: 2007-10-17
In just 10 minutes out the box and my brand new Mio 310x was not working !!! I could check some functions and it was working well but suddenly, the screen froze and the device didnt answer my commands. I turned it off manually. When I turned it on again the navigation function was not working.
Apparently, the software that manages the US Map is corrupted (that what the FAQ into the Mios website says. I tried to reinstall it, but it is not a simple operation.)
Besides that, my Mio cannot read my SD Card (in spite of the fact that this latter is working properly in my computer and my dig. camera).....so, 2 big problems in just 10 minutes!
Well, I spent another 10 minutes writing an email to Mio and I hope that tomorrow they have a solution to my case and another 10 minutes writing this review .
So...all that happened just 30 minutes ago.....
Note: The seller was great ! Delivered in just 2 days !
On: 2007-10-10
This relatively inexpensive portable GPS navigator performs pretty well for the most part. I use it in the Los Angeles area, although I recently took it down to San Diego, where it performed very well in getting me to my destination. It sometimes takes a minute or two to find the GPS signal when first "firing it up," but works well once it does. I noticed that diamond lanes sometimes confuse it. Rarely, it makes an outright error as far as turning left or right. As other reviewers note, it does not voice the name of the streets, only the directions, but one has to spend a lot more to get this feature. Like computers, there is no doubt that better ones will appear on the market at comparatively lower prices; but for the time being, I can honestly say that I am satisfied with this device (which I nick-named "Max."
On: 2007-10-10
I am please with the Mio for the price. My first GPS and it gets me to my destination. It does take rather long for it to acquire the satellite, not sure why. You have to get used to distances as it calls out your distance to next turn. I have found myself turning early and late sometimes. Overall a good product.
On: 2007-10-10
Excellent Product and Price. Fast Shipping. A happy customer who will be shopping at Amazon !!! Thanks.
On: 2007-10-08
This may have been the first GPS that is priced cheaply enough that pretty much everyone can afford to have a GPS in their car. Note I didnt say a "good" GPS because the unit I had bought kept losing satellite signal in the middle of Seattle. I would ignore the directions and would take what I knew surely to be a shortcut and the GPS would be completely oblivious for a FEW minutes! It got to be so useless that I didnt keep it for more than 3 days. Back it went to the store.
Mio has brought back the old dictum that I thought no longer applied to commoditized technology, namely, you get what you pay for!
On: 2007-10-05
I will just mention problems I experienced during my trip from Philadelphia to LA.
Some of the roads are not real and recent road information is missing.
- I lost my way in Birmingham, Alabama to find 78 from I-20. Mio C310x directed a road that is not exist.
- The new road from Birmingham, Alabama to Memphis (future I-22?)is not updated yet. It mis-directed several times.
- Often the map shows a left turn sign but the voice directs right turn. This was found when I was changing from I-15 to I-10 (LA).
And, the most serious problem was when I missed the direction indicated by the map. Automatic re-directions always guided the original route even after passing quite a lot (go back or turn back). Finding alternative new routes were serious problems.
Overall, Mio C310x looks fine for finding final destinations, but one should be careful when driving unfamiliar area. Recommend to have Google Maps directions too.
On: 2007-10-05
Simple to use, good device, very good for its money, the map is not very uptodate.
On: 2007-10-03
This Gps is outstanding. Its pinpoint accuracy and its so easy to use. It is my first GPS and I love it even thow I am using it strictly for directions and not the mps option. My friends are amazed about the price and how good of a gps it is for the money. I did my research before the purchase of this unit and every site I looked on it got a 4 or 5 star review which is top notch. I cant complain about anything on this it is perfect to get you where you want to go... :) I would reccomend it to anyone
On: 2007-09-24
I have only had the unit for a day, but so far I am very impressed. Attained a signal quickly, the address input was painless, and the unit makes sure you know when a turn is coming up.
The display is clear and crisp, and the tracking was accurate. For the price, it is very much a good investment.
On: 2007-09-24
This GPS is absolutely amazing in terms of features. It has all the points of interest around any given location, it will readjust heading and re-route if you go off track. You can zoom in/out, you can have the map rotate, you can even see which satellites are connected and what the signal strength is. Theres more features than that, but theres not enough space here to log them!
Now, the reason why this GPS doesnt get 5 stars for me is that it gives non-optimal routing. It will get you from point A to point B, but not very quickly, or efficiently. It seems to really like to take you through neighborhoods when large streets (though taking slightly longer distances) would be way faster. This happens even when you set it to the fastest route setting.
It also does not seem to comprehend that taking corners and going on streets with stoplights will drastically slow you down. So for example, if youre in downtown, it will do left->right->left->right, etc... instead of just left for a while, then right for a while. This can quadruple your time going through a city, and its unbelievably annoying.
On: 2007-09-13
While I have nothing to compare it to, this being my first GPS, I love it for several reasons. For its price, its more than I could ask for but then again, why not take it to next level?
First, with what I consider pros:
1. I love the touch screen.
2. Integrated mp3 player is a bonus.
3. Audio out lets me connect it to my car stereo for improved audibility. [I agree with the other users that by itself, its low on the volume, esp with road noise comming into play on interstates and if you roll your windows down, forget the c310x exists!]
4. Voice guidance
5. Night/Day Display changes
6. POIs
7. GPS mount
What I consider cons:
1. The c310x will get you from point A to point B. Reliable? Yes. Efficient - I doubt. It instructed me to make unlawful u-turns somewhere in IA.
2. The C310X offers simple left and right voice directions as opposed to TTS[text-to-speech] based GPS systems like streetpilot c340 that give out street names. So, while a streetpilot might say "Turn right on La fontane", the c310xs verison is "Take next right in 300 yards" .... "Take next right in 100 yards" ..."Take next right". I consider this both an advantage and a disadvantage. Its true that street names can be confusing. When youre in an unfamiliar territory, thats confusion enough without you having to decipher pronunciations. Simple "take next right/left" directions help here. However, when youre heading towards a concrete pile of endless and very closely spaced exits, "exit in next 300 yards" can confuse the heck out of you. It happened me to more than once. "100 yards!! What?? what do I exit on, gulf freeway? 610E? 610W? - They all seem like 100 yards to me!" I would prefer road names for highways probably but I realize I might be asking for too much at this price.
4. Ive noticed that it pauses between instructions and this can be very annoying. For ex: The I394-->169 exit in West Minneapolis immediately parts out into 169N and 169S. The c310x observes a code of silence until you chose your favorite direction and then lets you know youve made the wrong turn a little later.
3. I hate the random play mode for the mp3 player. There is nothing random about it. The only thing thats random is my frustration about it not being to play all those songs that I painstakingly copied into the SD card. I downloaded a 100. Why does it keep playing only 5 plus theres no easy way to skip to the next one if the maps are on.
That being said, I believe its benefits outweigh its cons. No more printed directions, McNally maps, scribbles or "Hey Mike, I just drove past a Wal-Mart. Rings a bell?" phone calls. It does its job faithfully to the best of its abilities and thats what I like about the c310x.
Bottom line: If youre on a budget and dont mind the c310xs occasional errors, go get it - you will be glad you did. If you insist on state-of-the-art intelligent mapping skills, skip this one.
On: 2007-09-12
I do not own a GPS unit, but will buy one soon. Ive had good experiences with this MIO, but the last time when I was in LA it had me totally lost when I was trying to get back to my friends house in South Gate (Downey). I was still on the damn highway and it kept telling me I have reached my destination. I was totally lost and didnt know how to get back to my friends house. I had to call him and luckily he answered the phone. So, I am not sure I will be buying this particular unit. I will be moving to LA and will have important appointments to keep & I cant afford to keep going in circles and being lost and being misdirected/misinformed by a GPS unit.
On: 2007-09-11
This is better then a Ipod (Ones you hack into it) Very Simple to hack into it by going to www.hugginsnet.com/ilovemymio.3.5" bright touch screen, 3D view, easy to use (after practices!), Plays MP3 while Mapping!
You could have a video Player (Watch Movies by using 1CLICK DVDTOIPOD(tm) Software) and even change the MP3 player. So far I had no problems with it. Battery life is short. Gives me 3 hours full charge. GPS takes around 3-5 minutes to find satelite signal. If you own a Razor phone you could charge it at home. Great Software easy to install music. Higly Recommended.
On: 2007-09-10
I love this thing..one of the cheapest GPS systems you can get and you would never know it. I borrowed a friends when I went apartment hunting and I could never hasve found my way from place to place in the strange city without it! I wanted it PRONTO and my moms was sold on it also. As soon as we got back from the trip we each bought ourselves one. I call him Roy and he works FANTASTICALLY.
Cons: Takes A SMALL bit of getting used to before you get REALLY comfortable with it. It is pretty horrible in Downtown S.F.
On: 2007-09-07
Am very satisfied with the Mio - works well and is compact and portable - could use a better more complete instruction manual.
On: 2007-09-07
By the look I thought it was Electronic Gadget at my friends place and realised it was GPS. Borrowed this unit and used between NH and MA, NY and NJ. It is pretty accurate and fast. You can use different modes like Car / Cycle / Walking. Night, 2D / 3D.. Powerfull and easy suction to hold GPS. It also displays the speed limit of Highways. When you select Satellite, it shows the speed, height travel and locations of satellites.
I love the unit and bought for my self and used for my travel from NH -> PY -> Columbus, OH -> Chicago, IL -> Detriot, MI -> Niagara -> NH. This unit takes you to the nearest possible address. It does not have address of new sub-divisions (understandable). I wish it would have canada address too. For starter, no need to look around. This is the best unit. Great job Mio...
On: 2007-09-04
First gps got it 2days befor taking a trip learned how to use in those two days, like the auto reroute made a wrong turn and befor I could say heck it was rerouting me
On: 2007-08-30
I have a purchase a Mio last year 2006,love it at first but some reason it nevers gives me the fastest route EVER. We always go to the longest and scenic views in new jersey. I was doubtful when we went to new york it work great there but not in jersey. It is very easy to use though. They have to update their maps to. I like the looks and thats it.
On: 2007-08-27
The only thing that makes this GPS stand out from the rest is its low price and hacking capability. It has its own flaws like all other GPSs. Bluetooth and Text-To-Speech is missing. But, still buy it and hack it to make it a world GPS and Video Player. Or, how about playing Sudoku on it!!
On: 2007-08-23
I like this product.However I have some problems with it.I send e-mail to mio-tech,but didnot receive answer.I have Windows Vista OS,so I cannot use my USB cable.I cannot use MP-3 neither.
On: 2007-08-08
Powerful window suction mount and good price, but outdated maps and poor routing make nav a challenge. Some appreciate the hackability (play video!) of this unit, but I just want a reliable GPS and this is not it.
On: 2007-08-02
Ive owned my Mio for about 2 weeks. So far I love it! Route recalculation is VERY fast. Some of the addresses are a little off, but close enough. I was surprised to find that my work address is not in the database! The address is a good 60 years old. Its a great GPS for the price!
On: 2007-08-01
I am buying this GPS again after having lost mine on the road,
in looking for a replacement for around the same price I quickly discovered that none of the other popular GPSs for around the same price point can do what I want them to do (or cant easily figure it out).
I am a motorcycle rider, and after mounting it with a RAM-Mount to my handle bars, it is very easy to read, hooking it up to my helmet speakers makes finding my way without looking at the device easy! "turn left in 1000 feet", I dont even have to try and figure out what street is coming up! Making riding much safer in my opinion. Having some tunes to listen to without having to fumble with a 2nd device is nice. Tunes simply fade out to hear the route announcements and continue playing afterwards.
Ill admit I have had some very minor issues and a very rare issue with it, such as having me get off of the FWY just to get right back on (due to FWY name change or FWY turning into a HWY). And one very rare occasion having me ride half a mile past an address due to the area being new or very rural. But they have since updated the software and I hope those minor/rare issues have been solved.
But the main reason why I love this device, its very easy to plan my route by simply touching the screen and adding destinations or viapoints, as well as tracking my route and being so very easy to understand and review later without the need to download to a computer first.
The issues Ive seen mentioned by others here is that they are expecting to be able to hike with this device. This is not what its meant for. Its meant to sit on its power supply in a car or on a motorcycle and maybe do some very light hiking.
On: 2007-07-24
This is really NOT GOOD compare to Magellan 3000T. But I went for this since it was much more cheaper and smaller.
Cons:
1) This MIO GPS is about 50-100 feet from the exact location which ends up to give you to the wrong turn.
2) Not easy to use at all even for me a GUI SW Engineer. It gives way too many features which confuses you even more.
3) Battery runs out pretty fast: less than an hour of use after fully charge.
4) Car charger kills this GPS several times. I had to reset several times.
5) Car charger can never charge this GPS fully.
6) Not easy to save your address book.
7) So many times it tells you to turn back (u-turns).
Pros:
1) Small and compact.
2) Nice 3D big screen and colorful.
3) Power up & down very fast.
4) Many features if you spend days to learn and figure them out (not very intuitive)
On: 2007-07-10
This GPS is a very good product for people that are electronic illiterate. Very easy to use, the speaker volume is good, very bright screen. I would definitely recommend this GPS.
On: 2007-07-09
Purchased my c310 this past December when shopping for Christmas presents. Works well and gets me where I need to go, but there is one very annoying and potentially dangerous problem. If the unit is not being used and is not plugged into an AC or DC charger, the battery life is about two days. When Im not using the GPS, I keep in my glove box rather than inviting someone to steal it by leaving it out in the open. After two or three days, when I go to use it again, I have to re-enter the date, time and time zone because once the batteries die, the unit loses this memory. I called tech support and all then could say was..."keep it on a charger". All I can say is, dont take it on a five day hiking/camping trip and expect to find your way out of the woods using this thing.
On: 2007-06-27
This is got to be the worse GPS that I have ever own. First it did not work out of the box, tried top download the map-it did not work. I tried more then once to contact for customer support and did not receive any replies.
For those who rate this high, good luck to you, hopefully it will work and you will not need any support.
Finally decided to buy a Garmin 340 and it is terrific.
On: 2007-06-08
nice GPS, perfect for that price.
If you are looking for a good navigation system, you must get this one.
highly recommended
On: 2007-05-27
I purchased this a few months ago and have been satisfied with its performance. I rarely use the MP3 player but its loud enough to play music. Directions are very clear and the GPS is very accurate to with a few feet. The touchscreen is great and inputting street names and numbers is easy. Its also great that the unit comes preloaded with all the maps you need. It has three different settings for your trips "economical, shortest and fastest". It may take you sometimes odd back streets to save you a half a mile but youll always get to your destination. Also, if you do not follow the directions accidently, it will recalculate your directions quickly! It also comes with multiple views, the LCD adjusts for daytime mode and nighttime mode and multiple languages.
Overall its a great unit and in my opinion.... BUY IT.
On: 2007-05-21
I have been using the mio 310x since Dec 2006. It isnt perfect but gets me where I am going. Last week I put it side by side vs the Garmin (not sure which model) in a rental car. The Mio found the sky quicker and took me a better route. It also was easier to follow the directions and anticipate my turns. The battery life isnt great but I can use it while waiting for the bus from the car rental to get ready for my trip. All in all I have been very happy with it and have recommended it to several friends. The combination of price, size and functions make it great for someone who travels.
On: 2007-05-15
Bought this during the Winter holiday sale of 2006 for $199 at Staples.
The Good news...
- The pre-loaded maps are generally clear and easy to read.
- Display is bright and clear.
- Its relatively simple to operate.
- Turn on automatic night mode and the unit will display in blue at night and bright light for daylight.
Now the BAD news...
1. The maps are OUTDATED!! The GPS operating software is dated 2006 BUT the MAP software is dated 2005!!
2. MioTech tech support STINKS!! They dont answer email directly! Owners MUST register at Mio-tech.com and log on to ask questions which are usually answered in a "generally" manner within 2-3 days.
3. MioTech REFUSES to post any news on When the "new" map software updates will be available. TeleAtlas also REFUSES to answer anything except to contact MioTech!
4. Only a Male voice is available in English!
5. No text to speech for streets but thats fine since the voice and display will tell the driver when next to turn or distance left to travel.
6. Battery life STINKS! Battery charge is about 2 hours so keep the unit be plugged in at all times! Unit MUST be sent back to MioTech to have battery replaced, which is subject to a replacement fee!!
7. Suction cup adaptor works except during cold weather (i.e. winter when the windshield glass is frozen oven). Lick a finger and apply it to suction cup to make it work!
8. Hard to use the "search" feature to find addresses/POIs.
- Since the GPS system used is from TeleAtlas, the search begins with street number first then street name then town then state. This is the EUROPEAN method as TeleAtlas is a EUROPEAN Company!
- Since the unit is sold and used in the US, the GPS software SHOULD use the AMERICAN method: ZIP code FIRST, then street number and street name! MUCH easier for North Americans!!
9. TeleAtlas EUROPREAN mapping software is used. Prefer Navteq which is an AMERICAN-based map software! Still own Garmin StreetPilot III with mapping software thats Updated at least ANNUALLY!!
- TeleAtlas has a BAD reputation for NOT updating maps OUTSIDE of Europe (Its a EUROPEAN company so NO incentive/desire is present)! Online info from various online forums and news sources state that EUROPEAN maps are Already Updated by TeleAtlas!! How biased is that?!
- Unfortunately for N. Americans, US based GPS companies DO use TeleAtlas maps so those GPS owners MUST WAIT for the GPS companies to get Updated map info from TeleAtlas and make it available for the GPS owners!
-- TeleAtlas maps are nicely detailed BUT ONLY IF its UPDATED!!!
10. Time format is based on 24-hour setting only; 12-hour setting is NOT available (even though this is format used in North America)!!
After using this unit over the past few months, found MANY gaps in the map software of destinations that do NOT appear on the maps but actually DO exist! Obviously, this is due to the Outdated maps!
My first reaction when I bought the unit was "WOW!" but now .... I was probably Ripped-Off with a device thats ALMOST useless!!
- Many streets and places have changed in the New England area especially in the Big Dig state!!
Next time, Ill buy a "brand name" GPS unit from either such brands like TomTom or Garmin! At least those units UPDATE their map software, generally on an Annual basis!
For now, Ill have to bear using this unit until the map software is released. Heck, I still use the StreetPilot III as a backup since it was last updated in the Fall, 2006 so the maps are actually more current and accurate!!
On: 2007-05-15
Just took a road trip this GPS was great for the trip. I will tell all my friends all about it.
On: 2007-05-13
I love this GPS. I drive a lot for my job and it has shown me shortcuts that saves me miles and time.
On: 2007-05-12
this nav system is very easy to use and is extremly accurate,along with the great price and quick delivery it is well worth it. the portablity (battery use) is very good and can be used several times without recharging,I recommend this unit to the first time buyer/user or as anyones back up unit.
On: 2007-05-09
My brother recommended to me and I read some reviews before I purchased this unit. with no doubt, you dont have to pay much to get this incredible GPS. i have only used it for over a month and i love it so much. for only under $200, this is definitely more than a bargain for its price and features. I highly recommend it to anyone.
On: 2007-05-09
Bought MIO 310x in Feb 07. In two months, the screen start fading away. When starting overnight, the screen will be blank till next 30 minutes or so. Unit seems to be working but screen stays dead.
Tried calling 1866 MIO4GPS - multiple times, but never got any customer service representetive on phone. Emailed customer service -- no response.
WORST EVER EXPERIENCE....DO NOT BUY
On: 2007-05-08
I travel all over the U.S. for business and this unit has really helped me out! I have a friend who bought a Garmin Nuvi for around $600 and he actually preferred this unit over his! It is much smoother and there seems to be more POI in the database.
Its not perfect (I dont think there is a GPS on the market that is), but it WILL get you to your destination. One thing I noticed is some of the Points of Interest are a little off...but they get you close enough to see signs. For example, I just traveled to Gaithersburg, MD and my Holiday Inn on the GPS was about 300 yards from the actual location...but looking around I was able to see the Holiday Inn sign up the road.
Im looking forward to the new map updates coming sometime soon! The C220 has the updates, but I think the C310X has more "little" features that are preferable (for example, the C220 doesnt have a volume control on the side which is nice for quick volume changes).
Overall, I absolutely love this product and dont know what I would do without it (especially nowadays with the lower tolerance from people in some of these cities for newbies navigating their way around!)
On: 2007-05-08
The maps may be outdated but I have not had a single issue yet. Ive been traveling for work starting at the middle of the US, all the way up the west coast. Thousands of driven miles using this GPS unit in the window. Its been absolutly wonderfull. My wife is an expert at finding us a place to eat with it every night. Its completely worth the money, do not hesitate. Same as the expensive GPS units but half the price.
On: 2007-04-25
i got this device 2 weeks ago and it is hardly ever online.Im not even talking about buildings and bad weather im talking about clear blue sky. I am a sales man and always on the road got lost so many times with this device. I got this device after doing some extensive research and i am greatly disappointed. I will return this product and i do not recommend this device to anyone.
On: 2007-04-20
I purchased the Garmin Nuvi 350 when Amazon dropped the price to $390. This is the lowest price anywhere and free ship! Lower then any ebay auction.
Originally I was going to buy the Mio Digiwalker 310x from Circuit City for $150 after the TG holiday but they sold out.
However this did allow me to test the varios units and the Nuvi was the clear winner. So much so that I no longer wanted the Mio even though CC was selling the Nuvi for $600. Off sale, the Mio was $300 at CC. Half the price of the Nuvi! I asked the Circuit City rep what he thought of the two and the CC rep said you get what you pay for. So true! Keep in mind this Nuvi used to cost $1,000 when it was introduced.
Here are some important differences between the Nuvi and Mio.
-TOUCH SCREEN-no comparison here. Nuvi is far superior. The Mio was sloppy and often entered wrong info which I had to edit. Plus you had to push a little harder on the screen. Thus the included stylus.(Dont think I want to try that while driving.) The Garmin is perfect in this regard. I dont see how Garmin could improve on the data entry aspect of their GPS. The Nuvi is completly touch screen driven except the on/off button.
-MAPS-Nuvi uses Navteq. Mio uses Teleatlas. Do yourself a favor and stick with Navteq. I typed my home address and the Nuvi was dead-on accurate. Mio about 100 yards off. (I hear that everyone has complaints about Teleatlas. Nothing against them and maybe in the future they will be on par with their maps.) Keep in mind that map updates are expensive and you want a GPS with accurate maps to begin with.
So far the Nuvi and Navteq combination has been perfect map accuracy. And I mean perfect!
If Mio used Navteq instead, I probably would have never bought the Nuvi and would have given it 4 stars.
-SIZE & WEIGHT-Nuvi is smaller and lighter. You can fit the Nuvi in your shirt pocket, not so with the Mio.
-PRICE-Originally the Nuvi was twice as much. But the Nuvi price decreased since then. Now the Nuvi is about about 40% more and worth every penny.
-DESIGN, FIT & FINISH-Nuvi A++, Mio C+
The Nuvi suction cup was the best Ive ever used. (I was used to my radar detector falling off the glass and was expecting the same but tis not the case with the Nuvi.)
Nuvi has a nice leather carry case. Mio-no case
-COMPANY-Garmin has been making GPS units for aircraft, cars, military, etc. for years. I dont know anything about the Mio company.
-Shortcomings-The Mio, see above. Nuvi outclasses the Mio in every catagory except price. But her are some things I noticed.
The Nuvi, I wish had an altitude reading. Also I dont know if it was an oversite but I didnt get a user manual, just the quick guide. Had to look at the online manual to discover how to access the satellite tracking view.(push the green bars-upper left corner)
I took the Garmin on a commercial plane ride and it was fun to see how fast we were going and maps of the towns below. It registered 650 mph cruising speed at one point. Very cool way to pass the time on a plane. Note: unit must be turned on before takeoff b\\c moving GPS units have a difficult time locating satellites. Especially ones moving 650mph! Otherwise the Nuvi tracks quickly.
It saved the day driving around St. Louis, MO. It made getting places almost too easy.
On: 2007-04-07
I do not have extensive experience with GPS systems and this was my first purchase. Having seen and played with many OEM in-car systems and Garmin/Tom Tom systems I was surprised to see many retail stores advertising this for $200. I decided to take it for a test drive since we were hitting the road for a mini vacation. The kids were entertained but I was not as enthusiastic about the device. The price is very very good so no complaints there. A comparable Tom Tom device without Text-To-Speech will cost $100 more. The device is light and compact, smaller than a PDA. The buttons on the side for volume and menu functions are very welcome. The screen is bright and the voice prompts are very loud and clear; remember, no street names are pronounced! If you really want the street names pronounced you are going to step up to something in the $400 price range. The case is white with gray accents so be aware that it is not the silver color that the photos portray! The kit includes a USB cable and car charger cable. The window suction mount and adhesive mounts are also included and work great. No AC adapter but the USB cable has a standard mini USB plug so it can be charged from computer. I have a Motorola RAZR and the AC charger seems to work on the MIO. The MP3 player is OK but but I have an iPOD so what is the point?
The positives include the price of admission. It is CHEAP! It responds quickly and finds your location within a second. It you take a wrong turn it recalculates in an instant. The Windows CE system can be hacked and there are quite a few available...I dont need another PDA. The screen is bright and clear and the maps are very easy to read. The basic functions are good and the machine does the job.
The negatives....the maps are a little outdated. On my vacation it made quite a few mistakes and wanted me to get off the freeway and then to get back on the same freeway. That was wierd. I worry that in an unfamiliar place this could be really confusing. It does not like parts of Washington DC and Virginia and seems to make lots of mistakes. This may be due to the maps. The menus are pretty to look at but are ultra confusing! I am quite tech-savy, or so I thought. This device pushed my patience to the limit. I could not figure out any of the menus without scrolling through multiple icons and drop downs. Even after a week the interface was not intuitive. I would be willing to overlook this major flaw since its so darn CHEAP! But the real problem is that I cant give it to my directionally challenged familly members and trust them to use it correctly. What worries me is that my wife will get lost in the boonies and wont be able to figure out how to use the MIO to find her way home. The menus are really cryptic and require an hieroglyphics consult!!! The other problem is accuracy. The voice prompt repeatedly will instruct you to turn right/left in 100 yards when the turn is ten feet away. It does warn you that the turn is coming but when you are in the wrong lane in an unfamiliar town just watch out!!!
In summary, the device is compact and inexpensive. It gets the job done but the maps are old and many exit ramps and streets have been moved around. The user interface is the biggest drawback and that makes the whole experience less friendly. You cant beat he price so ask yourself if you really need a GPS. If the answer is yes then this is a very affordable solution...with some caveats ofcourse. I returned mine.
by: Anonymous On: 2007-04-03
I am very happy with this GPS unit. I could not see spending a bunch of money on a unit. This works perfect for me. It does give me wrong directions (tells me to make a left where there is now a concrete barrier but 5 years ago you could go left there) and it has taken me the long way a few times when it said it was the fastest way. When I travel somewhere that I am unfamiliar in, it works to get me to places, even if it does take me the long way. It has told me to get off the highway only to tell me to get back on at the next on ramp. It could have more points of interest but the ones that it does have are sufficient. It doesnt have a way to search for a POI along a route though and that can be frustrating. If you need to find a gas station you might pick one that you have turn around and backtrack to get to. Mine has survived being thrown to the ground by a "friend" in a fit of rage. The estimated time of arrival is pretty precise. I would recommend this to friends. I dont think the more expensive units are any better.
On: 2007-04-01
I admit this GPS works well when its functional, but mine turned out to be defective. It broke down after 2 months and would not switch on at all. Tried reset and charging for a day, but the power just completely died.
I had Frys send it back to the Manufacturer and the typical repair time is 6-8 weeks, worst case 14 weeks. Its annoying that the product fails something so simple, and its disappointing the repair process is so long.
On: 2007-03-26
I just bought the Mio C310x from Circuit City today and paid to have them hardwire the power to my cars battery. I really think for the money you cant beat this little Mio GPS unit. The only reason I am not giving it 5 out of 5 stars is that it doesnt have text-to speech functions.
Ive only messed around with this thing for 1 day, but so far it is super quick, has a ton of point of interest locations in the area I live in (Rhode Island and New England), and speaks to you in a clear sharp voice. The screen is also super bright so it is easy to read in bright sunlight. Plus it is a good looking little unit, much better than the bulky Garmin units I was looking at. For $199 I dont see why anyone would spend $250 on a TomTom One or $350 for a basic Garmin or Magellin unit.
Good job Mio!!!
On: 2007-03-25
I did a lot (and I mean a lot!) of research before buying this GPS. My number one choice was the Garmin Nuvi 350, but its price was far more than what I wanted to spend for a GPS. The c310x is a fabulous unit, though. Ive found its maps to be up to date and its location accuracy to be outstanding. Its seek time on power-on is nil: I get in the car, turn it on and by the time Ive buckled the seat belt and put the car into gear, the GPS is ready to go.
The only reason I gave it four stars is that it lacks text to speech, but its accuracy is so good that I havent really wished for it so far. Also, it displays the name of your next street at the top of the screen in 3D mode.
As for the units voice, in either American English of British English you only get a male voice. Female voices are found in other languages, none of which I speak except German, which is male only. I guess I could get by with Esmereldas female Spanish voice if I wanted, though.
The voice is clear and plenty loud enough for me, and I have a significant hearing loss. But no problems.
I cant review the MP3 and picture viewer. I didnt buy it for that and am uninterested in non-mapping features.
The interface is fairly intuitive, but even though Im kind of a techno-geek, I still had to play around with it more than I would have like in order to figure out the customizations. But once I got them, they made sense.
The automatic switch from day to night mode is handy. I like the night mode better than the day mode, which is still excellent even so. The day mode is completely readable inside my car in direct sunlight. For some reason, when I use it in the open air, direct sunlight washes it out. Maybe the tinted glass of the car helps retain readability?
The ability to customize the left side of the display in 3D mode is good. I set it to display my speed and use it to check my speedometer. You can also set two more displays. You can set the GPS to warn you when you exceed the speed limit by a certain percentage or a certain number of mph. I dont know how complete its speed limit database is, though.
I havent used the POI feature very much, but from my limited experience it seems reasonably complete.
No wall-plug charger is included. You can charge it only using the car adapter. No, it does not charge using the USB connector to your PC. That connection is to transfer data only. Correction, Mar. 28: I was in error. The PC USB connection does recharge the unit.
Speaking of data, Mio promises a map update soon; so far I have not wished for it. But updates are always nice.
Im very pleased with this GPS. As my first, I originally thought I would learn to use a GPS with this fairly inexpensive unit ($199 at Staples), then eBay it out to replace it with a Nuvi. But so far I dont see the point. Except for TTS, this thing is doing fine, and as I said, its so accurate that Im not wishing for TTS.
On: 2007-03-19
The C310x is much better than other GPS units in this price category. It beats units such as the Navman PIN 100 hands down. I like features such as "via points" and the extensive list of points of interest. The unit is easy to use and so far I was able to find all my destinations. I can only recommend the Mio C310x.
On: 2007-03-18
One of my friends let me borrow this spiffy device for a week, in return for a review. Ive never used GPS before, although Ive been intrigued for a while. He bought it from Circuit Citys Black Friday sale last year for only $150, which is quite a steal. Prices seem to be around $200-$300 currently. It comes with a suction cup mount (I didnt get to test this), car and home chargers, CD and instructions. The unit is very portable and easily transported.
I rigged a mount near the center console of my car. Satellite connection only takes a few seconds initially and is pretty accurate. Only when you enter a parking structure or long tunnel is the signal lost. It also had a little trouble with my exact location during a foggy morning. Even in bright daylight the display is clearly readable. Color & contrast are great. The left side displays the next turn & distance to it.
Learning how to use this GPS is pretty straightforward. Menus are clear and easy to use. It has a history of previously used addresses. However, inputting the addresses is a bit of a pain. You have to know the exact address or cross streets. Some cities have streets with very similar names, like 10th Street and 10th Avenue or S. Main Street and N. Main Street. I felt the Points-Of-Interest information could have been better. A lot of gas stations & restaurants werent listed. Also, there is no "search" function for a particular store...you have to scroll through a lot of entries if youre looking for a store near the end of the alphabet. Independent (non-chain) stores are listed under "other".
There are several settings for route calculation, including fastest, closest, and to avoid certain routes. Some routes are not what you would normally take. This one DOES NOT have traffic info. You can set it to notify you when youre above the speed limit. I turned this function off. ;) In terms of mapping accuracy, its pretty good in established areas. In the San Francisco/Berkeley/Oakland areas, it was very accurate. In certain parts of Orange County/Long Beach/Los Angeles, its somewhat off due to recent road construction. Also, accuracy is off if youre inside a shopping center parking lot...it will think youre on the street outside and give you some wonky directions. Most of the time, if youre in a place with lots of close turns & freeway merges, its better to pay close attention to the actual SIGNS. The unit will tell you to "keep left", however, in a place with a 3-way freeway split, you might actually want to be in the 2nd lane from the left. Fortunately, if you miss a turn or get mislead, it re-routes within seconds so you can get back on track. When my dad was testing this unit, he took a whole bunch of wrong turns trying to confuse it (at least thats what he says). The unit gave us a new route almost instantly & he was rather impressed.
I thought the volume wasnt loud enough, even when set at maximum, although the inside of my car is pretty noisy & I like my music loud. =) Fortunately, it gives you several warnings as you approach a turn. It does NOT read the street names, just tells you to "turn left in 1000 feet", etc. The display DOES have the name of the street on the top so you can read it. It dims after a minute if its not plugged it, to save battery life. It lasts several hours after a full charge...plenty for most trips. The display brightens again when a turn is approaching.
Overall, I am VERY impressed by this unit and GPS technology in general. Just waiting for another sale so I can pick up one of my own. =)
On: 2007-03-10
I bought this item because I heard from two other owners that they really liked the features and performance of this model.
I have used it as a new resident in the area and it is very helpful for finding my way around.
I find the storage limited for MP3 files.
On: 2007-02-28
I was a little worried about this purchase because of people constantly complaining about the maps and other problems, but Ive had it for a couple months and Im really happy with it, especially for the price.
I have noticed a few things that arent perfect, occasionally it gives a voice command of "1 mile" when it really says "1.5 miles" but that isnt consistent. I havent had any major routing problems- I now work as a delivery driver and it has helped a lot with that. In my area, which probably isnt extrememly fast growing, the maps havent given me any problems... I live on a new street that took forever to show up on the online maps and it was on the Mio maps. The only things that are out of date are the POIs, but I still find them to be pretty useful. By no means are they so out of date that they are useless.
Ive never used another GPS product, and maybe there are big differences between this one and a very expensive one, but if youre on a budget especially I dont think you should have major reservations about buying.
On: 2007-02-19
I bought this unit two weeks ago and here is my experince.
Pros
1. It works and shows where you are most of the time.
2. Re-routes in case you get off the planned route
Cons
1. The POI list is very-very old. I could not find a old park in it.
2. Maps are very old.
3. Menu is very confusing and cannot be dealt with while driving.
4. The worst thing is it gives wrong voice command. For example the route on screen shows that you need to go straigt from a street light, the voice command will say take right. The route on screen and the voice command them self dont agree. I tried it in a known city, but I am afraid if I take it to a un-known place it can get me trouble.
I think it is good for knowing where you are and may be route to a place (in case the place is on its map) and not trust the voice commands.
GPS is supposed to be life / time saver not waster.
I returned the unit and paid 15% re-stocking plus the time wastage and gas wastage etc. I would advice to save bit more money and get the right thing.
On: 2007-02-19
Fist time have a GPS, love it. If you dont Expect too much,it will bring you a lot of convenience. TeleAtla map show every detail in my neighborhood(orange county ,CA), may be a little out of date, but you can easy get over it. The equipment is design to help you find a destination ,not for you to justfy how many wrong it got. Mio in my fist day test just working perfect. I also found nightview function is very helpful. I drive a economy car, occasionally travel 600 miles away,for the money I spent($215) and function that I got, I am satisfy.
On: 2007-02-11
I bought this unit for my wife, since I already had a PDA with bluetooth GPS setup running iGuidance v3, and she needed something that would be a bit simpler. This unit seemed to have the most capability/performance relative to price.
However, after purchasing this for $200 (currently not the price at Amazon) w/ free shipping I discovered that you can freely customize the device in a WinCE 4.2 environment using a easily found hack. You can basically instally any winCE or PocketPC application you would like.
I love the mioMap software. It has all the features that Ive wished for in other packages, with full routing options (including optimization), dynamic zoom, speedcams, etc, etc. It has a very "organic" look and feel, which is refreshing compared to some of the other GPS software out there. The POI database seems to be adequate for the area Fairbanks, AK and I imagine it will perform just as well in Anchorage.
That said, the map data (courtesy of TeleAtlas)is a bit flaky, outdated, and sometimes just plain wrong. For instance, driving last night, about 30 miles out of Fairbanks, the roads lost all their curves, and become long, incredibly inaccurate line segments. At least according to the Mio they did. So it appears that Im out of luck for anything not within near vicinity of a major city out here. This map data is bad, and Im not sure AK will be included in any updates.
However, since I had already had a copy of iGuidance v3 (with NavTech maps) on hand, I installed it on the Mio via ActiveSync 4.2. There are a few glitches here and there but it is 99% functional, and gives me the awesome capability of having both TeleAtlas and NavTech full North American mapsets on the same device. So if mioMap isnt working out for me, I switch to iGuidance and vice versa. Even my wife can do this!!!
Finally, as the coup de tat, the c310x bracket (part of the mount) is compatible with the "Garmin Portable Friction Mount" (available on Amazon). I bought this "sandbag" dash mount years ago to use with the eTrex Vista, but since those devices arent very highway friendly, the dash had been relegated to the basement for years. I simply unscrewed the etrex bracket, attached the mio bracket, and we were back in business. Dash mounts are essential when youre in -30 weather, where suctions cups seem to stop working at all.
Anyway, with all these little extras this was the perfect GPS for me.
On: 2007-02-08
Im very bad with directions and my pet peeve with printing out directions is that you really cant read them turn by turn while your driving. This little gadget is very useful and simple to use and nowadays, Im not as scared to venture out for a little or even a long road trip.
On: 2007-02-07
Got in less that 2 hundred so it was difficult decision on whether to keep or return.
Pros:
Vey fast and wonderful reception
Mp3 player
Great featues like see itenary, avoid any road you want
Very portable
Good interface
SD card
Hackable
great touch screen
Cons:
Maps and POIs seems to be not accurate/sufficient . Found a situation when it was telling to take left while it should be right.
Dashmount not included. In CA you can not mount on Windshield.
Thinking to put little extra and buy Garmin C320. Though concerned with satelite reception as that does not have Sirf
On: 2007-02-06
I wanted to get a Garmin Nuvi but ended up with a Mio 310x. Its does what its supposed to do- get you from point A to B. Ive tried using map-point on my laptop with a USB GPS unit- that was bad.
This thing is portable, useful, fairly simple and cost me $400 less than a NUVI! No its not as good but it costs less!
The dashboard mount works great. The media player is loud. The announcements are good.
One useful thing it has that I dont think the Garmin has is an optional speed WARNING if you are going too fast.
On: 2007-02-05
Ive used GPSs for the past five years and this is by far my worst experience.
I purchased this based on what I read in the MIO website. This GPS looks nice but after making three road trips, Ive decided to leave it at home since it gives me so many problems. The maps on this are about 5 - 6 years old...which means it gives you directions based on outdated information. When the voice prompts will tell you to turn, it cant be trusted. Multiple times it told me make a turn when there was no street to turn on. It especially has trouble around airports where traffic lanes are change a lot. Its even told be to drive the wrong way down a one-way road. It will tell you to exit the interstate AFTER you pass up the exit. I ignore it more than I trust it.
The user interface is messed up, i.e. to switch from 2D to 3D you press two buttons, but to switch back you have to exit to the main menu and press 3 different buttons. Hint to MIO...make a single button that toggles between 2D & 3D. Almost every feature has this same problem.
I travelled international with this, once I drove over the border this thing acted like a "windows 95" computer that was heavily infected with viruses. Whatever you do, dont travel international with this.
Finally, when you talk with MIO about the problems, they say you can purchase a new map database, but it will cost $200. Save yourself the headache and get a Garmin or Magellan, in the long run theyll be cheaper. I regret buying this GPS!
Pros:
Looks nice from the outside
Has a battery
Teaches you to use paper maps
Cons:
It will cause you to get lost
Horrible user interface
Youll wind up buying another GPS
On: 2007-02-04
This was my first GPS I purchased, due to the many good reviews. For the money, ($ 229 Staples) , it was a good deal.
I travel a bit now (domestic) and used it in Maine, Ct, and Florida over the past week. The unit performed well, except for my Florida trip. It seemed to struggle with the gps signal at times, and a few times it was off accuracy to my destination by sometime about a mile. (this also happened in Maine one time).
Also noticed the voice was many times too late when it warned you to make a turn, and it only tells you "turn left" "turn right" in .... Yards. (this mio unit does not speak street names)
Also a con, it does NOT have many POIs in it, and you have to search a lot. If you do not know addresses, you are out of luck. (also got a lot of (unnamed roads at times).
Bottom line. I found this unit OK for the money, but I am returning it to get a different unit. Next time will get a unit that speaks the actual roads, and has more maps and pois. Hope this helps all !
On: 2007-02-01
Bought it for $199 at circuit city two days back.
Pros:
Nice interface
you can drag the map(like google maps)using touch screen
very compact
runs on windows ce(mobile) you can extend its fuctionality by hacking
good battery life
recalcullation is fast
cons
Out dated maps and POI
some menu items are confusing
On: 2007-01-31
Review: I was excited by the many features of this MIO C310X at first. The hardware looks stylish and compact but the software is another story. I need to carry a menu and a FAQ forever in order to do simple things such as storing an address or program a destination. If I need to modify or correct an address entry, God, please help me. I still cant do it. If you cant program a VCR on a fly, dont buy this product. Also, Florida has hundreds of number roads such as State Road 19 or County Road 454 covering many thousands of miles. This device has none of those streets name. I cant use this GPS on any of those streets. Try to program this business address: 3001 State Road 19 Tavares FL 32778 and see for yourself
On: 2007-01-27
Ok, I tried to like this product, and it has some nice features, but in the end, it is has faulty maps.
All has been said about this and since this review will get lost in the others, Ill be concise.
This does have some nice features that some others may not. However, the best features dont have a lot to do with GPS. One that is nice is Via points which allows you to enter several travel points and the MIO finds the best route for you. That is a nice feature.
However, the maps are so bad that they ruin the GPS feature of this product--the main reason one buys a product of this type. Several places I traveled were off by 1 mile. I "arrived at destination" with the location nowhere to be found.
The worst part about the maps is that the 2005 maps (which are installed) are out of date, even for 2005. What does this mean for the updated maps supposedly coming in 2007. I decided not to risk maps forever out of date and returned my copy. If we could have hope that the new maps would be good, this GPS might be ok. Its a roll of the dice.
Bottom Line: If you are very gadget oriented and dont mind a clumbsy interface for the price, if you can get this for around $150 or less and if your are patient, you may be happy with this GPS.
However, if you want a GPS that really wows you and that gets you places w/o much hassle, buy some other brand. Seriously, you will waste a week of your life with this one.
On: 2007-01-26
There are a whole bunch of presumptions about this GPS and GPS systems in general. Dont let them get in the way of your buying this system. This is what Ive found from using the Mio:
(1) Just about any GPS is better than no GPS.
(2) This isnt a device to check the "rightness" of the routes you travel regularly. Its best when it gives you directions when you dont know where youre going.
(3) No GPS will have 100 percent correct maps. One day, youll have the worst map, and the next day, when you get the update, youll have the best. So dont compare the maps with those of other companies.
(4) What the Mio has is sufficient. You have things that some other GPSs dont have, like the whole road system of the U.S. already installed, rather than having to buy a flash card and load the info yourself.
(5) The voice in the Mio wont tell you the names of the roads. Id rather have something that told you to turn right at the next junction rather than something that told you to turn onto "Shubablub Street," which is spelled completely differently to how it sounds, and you have to look for the name sign on the street.
(6) The screen is small compared to original equipment navigation systems, but in fact its large enough for whats needed. The backlight makes it easy to understand. And the fact that it cost you well over $1,000 less than the car manufacturers version is a pretty good thing, too.
(7) Also, unlike those expensive built-in navigation systems, you can use it in any car that you own and any one that you dont own, like a rental car, or a friends car. And when you replace your car you can easily transfer it to the new one that you buy.
Its very easy to become a GPS dweeb, because many are based on Windows CE PDAs, and people want to do things that are astounding because theyre done on a GPS system, but they arent very useful.
My advice is to get the Mio, or if theres a comparable GPS that costs less, get that one. You wont like everything about it, but thats true of any GPS I know about.
On: 2007-01-23
I have got to agree with most of what Ive read for reviews here. Yes the logic on route finding can be a bit odd at times. Yes the maps are a bit dated. I have used this and the NUVI and I really cant see spending an extra $200-$300 on the Garmin. You just cant justify the price difference. So:
Cons:
1. Ive found a few instances where the route planning is just dumb, but I think thats a result of Con number 2.
2. The maps are great but not totally current or complete. But! Keep reading the anecdote below before I go to the Pros.
3. User Interface (UI) is a little bit clumsier for how things are organized but still not worth the price difference for the Garmin.
I got the Mio unit for Christmas as an office gift and I used it extensively around town to get used to how to work it. Then I took my first trip to Boston.
I get off the plane at Logan and hop the rental car bus. The crusty old driver asked "Have yah evah been tah Bahstan befah". I answered "Not in my adult life". To which he replied "Prepare to get lahst, not even a map is gonnah help yah". I didnt tell him about my secret weapon.
I fired up the GPS and it took me from Logan to my hotel in Cambridge without a single bum turn. IT WAS GREAT!! Better yet, since a chunk of the trip was tunnels I lost the signal. I quickly navigated to the turn-by-turn direction screen and the descriptions for exits and routes were spot on! Each time I popped above ground I reacquired signal instantly and kept my confidence going. Made my way around the dreaded city of Boston without a problem for two days.
Pros:
1. The price, yes mine was free, but if it were my money I would buy the Mio. As a matter of fact my wife bought me the NUVI for Christmas after I had told her how much I liked using my bosses on a previous trip. We returned it because I liked the Mio better.
2. The cockpit view and free tilting of the map view is very nice.
3. Sturdy unit. Its actually easier to hold than the Garmin.
4. Bigger screen is easier to see.
On: 2007-01-17
I really wanted this to work well for me, and Im envious of those who are enjoying their Mio problem-free. I wish I could say I loved it--but all its really done for me is cause a lot of headaches.
I just moved to Los Angeles last month, and bought the Mio and a Garmin Nuvi 350 to compare the two. The Mio is a LOT faster, and has a lot of cool features, as other reviewers have described.
But..even though the option apparently exists, I was unable to figure out how to save new addresses to the "My POI" section. Im sure the user manual explains how, but I think it is a major oversight that Mio did not make this feature readily accessible.
What really killed it for me, though, is that at least for the Los Angeles area and the Valley, the maps really sucked.
1. The Van Nuys train station is not listed in the POI at all (what kind of GPS system misses an entire train station??) and when I tried to enter in the address, it told me that that address does not exist! Yes, I triple and quadruple checked the address. The Garmin had the train station in the POI, and the address worked there too. Im not sure when the Van Nuys station was built, but it doesnt look that new to me, so I now have serious doubts as to how up-to-date the mapping software is if it doesnt even recognize this address. The train station is in the middle of a well-established busy street with buildings around it that look at least 30 years old. Since I travel to that train station every week, this was unacceptable.
2. The unit frequently got confused in downtown LA, especially around freeway interchanges, which is the last place I want to be misdirected. When you get onto the wrong freeway, it can take you quite awhile to get back on the right track when there is traffic.
The Garmin is a whole lot slower and more than twice the price, and it bothers me how slow it is--but I would rather have a slow unit that works than a fast unit that is useless at getting me where I need to go. I would have kept the Mio if I could find any justification for doing so. Unfortunately, using this unit has made me waste hours of my time in the past several weeks (in one case I missed my train and ended up having to drive 6 hours roundtrip). So Im returning it.
On: 2007-01-15
I bought this unit from Circuit City during the Thanksgiving Sale in Nov. I thought that it was a great deal but I havent really figured out how to use it well. The interface isnt intituitive and I consider myself tech-savvy. I have used Garmin a few times in rental cars and I didnt have to read user manuals. For the MIO I had to download the user manual (they dont supply it with the unit) but even then it isnt easy to use.
Additionally, what prompted me to write this review is that it has inaccurate maps. I had trouble in Arlington, Mass (near Boston) yesterday when the map had a stream and kept asking me to take that and sent me in circles when the street didnt exist on the map.
Also, there website is really basic and doesnt provide any good technical support. For example, one cant ask questions over email or get technical support. Can you beat that in todays age?
Gaurav
On: 2007-01-13
I wont waste time reiterating all the great features. Others have already pointed out the benefits of the SirF III chipset, iGO software, etc. I will say that 99% of the shortcomings on this unit are due to the TeleAtlas maps. Just because they are dated 2005 doesnt mean that they are accurate up to that time. Ive found several errors/omissions in areas that have not changed in five years. Other features which changed little more than two years ago ARE correct. Go figure.
It was initially rumored that the TeleAtlas updates scheduled for release in Spring 2007 would be free. It now appears that may not be true. Either way, Ill be getting the updates. The Mio C310x is a great value now. With better maps, it will be an awesome value - basically untouchable by anything else in its price range.
On: 2007-01-12
I dont know how Mio can do it for such a low cost but they have made a great GPS device. I have used TomTom, Magellan, and Garmin and this one beats them all. I live a big city and this unit always sync instantly and works better than units which cost twice as much. I am impressed.
On: 2007-01-08
Im writing this review after getting the unit for Christmas at a steal price (200 bucks - 50 mail in rebate), using it for 2 weeks in both familiar and unfamiliar areas, loving it, and then reading negative reviews that are just plain wrong on features etc that people say are missing.
A) My unit included ac adapter, car adapter, usb cable, 1GB memory, suction cup window holder as well as piece that allows you to attach the suction cup to a dash board. I have heard that some newer units may no longer include an ac adapter because this was a mistake. The suction cup holds VERY tightly yet somehow by pressing a button on the holder is also incredibly easy to transfer between vehicles. I have already done this.
B) The unit does come with short initial documentation to get you started but a full manual completely explaining every feature comes on the included DVD. It is easy to use and understand.
C) You CAN save your own points of interest, you CAN create POI subgroups in the MY POI folder (I have my gf, friends, and "favorite fun places" for example). If there is an existing POI that you want even more easily accessible by putting it in one of your groups (thats what my "favorite fun places" created group is for), you can find that POI, then click the POI menu, click "New" and create a "new" POI at the very same location and put it in your list. YOu can even name it the same as the existing one if you want (i.e. you find an existing Wawa and want to put it in your own group you find the Wawa and create a new place called "My favorite Wawa" at the address and put it in your group). Easy enough. Could have had a feature that just said "add to my x group" but this isnt much harder. Also, two destinations (Preset as "Home" and "work" but readily customizable) are always super-accessible from the first screen.
D) You CAN play the MP3 player and listen to navigation at the same time; it pauses the music to give commands.
E) You CAN route from any address to any other address for trip plannings sake. just find the starting address, click "Start" find the other address and click "Route to". Then you go to your itinerary and can see the whole route, and do any other routing options (changing paramerters, fitting the whole route to screen, seeing the ETA, distance, turn by turn, etc)
F) Once you route to a destination, if the cursor is still at the destination start driving and wait a few seconds, after a bit, the screen will go back to your current position. YOu dont have to "Lock" or "Unlock" or anythying like that. Ive done this numerous times.
G) The unit is VERY quick at rerouting/recalculating. I cant imagine faster. I used this feature recently when there was traffic on the highway, pulled off, this thing got me back on the highway easily and past the traffic even though I was unfamiliar with the area.
H)The automatic night colors/day colors feature is very cool.
I) The fast flyby feature is in fact broken or something. That is one annoying thing, you have to do the slow flyby (or not do it at all). I do hope they fix taht. Still you can do essentially teh same thing by going to itinerary and "show"ing each step.
J) The Unit DOES have a "History" feature unlike what one person said. You DONT have to keep retyping the same city in if you have put it in the past five times. Go to "Menu," "History." Viola. Moreover, if you go to the "Address" menu, the first step is choosing a city. The most recent cities you have chosen are also already displayed there.
K) I havent tried windows down yet but the volume to me is very loud if you want it to be. Ive been what I consider to be blasting my music on my cars cd player and could hear the unit just fine over the music.
L) The fact that the unit does not pronounce the street name to me is insignificant. The unit always tells you very clearly on the top of the screen the next road you will be turning on. All it takes is a glance. Plus I have heard that many units that speak names frequently butcher them. Id rather have an accurate name right there on the screen. If anything, I do not find it to be a negative. It is certainly not a feature worth an extra 300 bucks.
Overall I have been truly impressed with the unit. There were a ton of features on it I didnt even expect or know about. It has been very accurate, and Im sure will get evenmore accurate with the map updates coming up. I live in NJ. I couldnt be happier, and knowing that I got all of the features of a 500 dollar unit for 150 makes me even happier. I would buy this unit over others unless youve actually compared another unit to this one head to head using them (for instance having friends with them) and can actually justify the other units higher price for some reason.
On: 2007-01-07
Great first time unit for those new to GPS devices, particularly if you can get it for $200 or less. Small, can be put in pocket, has a rechargeable battery included and for $200, if you get a few good years service out if it, you cant ask for much more.
I have found it to be highly accurate in suburban settings, though it is a bit off in New York City where it may think youre on 41st street, when you are in fact on 40th street and Washington, DC where it gives turn directions after the cutoff a bit too often which gets annoying. I dont know if its a software issue or an interference issue in the city setting, but it needs some work.
There are probably more accurate and user friendly units out there at several times the cost, but this unit is darn good and a terrific value.
On: 2007-01-06
First Get One of this Beautiful Technology Mio c310x. You will have a Guide all your Time. It has Wounderful Features especially the CockPit Settings and Automatic Naviagation. The Same Instrument with GARMIN will Cost around $600.00 but you are getting here for Under $250.00....Trust my word you will amazed by its performance.
On: 2007-01-06
I picked up this unit at Staples during the Boxing Day sale; I also bought another, more expensive unit in order to compare the two. After several days of driving in, around and outside the city, reading the manuals, speaking with tech support, etc, I returned the more expensive GPS unit and kept this one. There is NO DOUBT that I made the correct decision as this is a great little unit.
PROS
(1) Quickly acquires GPS signal.
(2) Signal is not lost in downtown areas with tall buildings, in the mountains, etc.
(3) Good maps with accurate directions.
(4) There is a basic paper manual included, and the manuals on the included DVD are easy to read and accurate.
(5) The system has a neat, easy to use MP3 player.
(6) You can listen to music on the MP3 player AND navigate at the same time. The music will stop when a voice direction is given; after the direction is given, the music plays again.
(7) The unit can be used while walking, biking or riding a motorcycle. Further, there is an earphone jack to listen to directions when cruising on the motorcycle.
(8) Bright, easy-to-follow screen with night and day functions that switch automatically.
(9) Millions and millions of Points of Interest (POIs), including an individual listing of every Tim Hortons coffee shop near and far (a real plus for Canadians!!).
(10) If you turn the unit off during your trip (ie. if you stop for supper or for a night in a hotel), the unit maintains your navigation schedule; when you turn it back on, you dont need to re-enter your destination points, etc.
(11) 2-D and 3-D maps.
(12) Tech support was decent to deal with; advised that map updates will be available in April 2007.
(13) Sharp-looking unit.
(14) Comes with USB plug so that you can directly connect the unit to your computer for updates.
(15) There are North American websites and support for the unit, which wasnt available on the other unit.
(16) I have to attend several addresses, all over the city, every day with my job. I just enter the addresses in the unit (with one destination and several "via points") and the GPS does the rest... I just spend the day following the directions of the unit from address to address. I can also enter new "via points", such a nearby coffee shop, gas station, etc. during my trip.
(17) This unit will advise of your speed and let you know if you are over the speed limit (if you want this feature activated). You can also add areas with stop-light cameras, photo-radar cameras, etc; the system will warn you when approaching these areas in order to remind you to be "extra dilligent".
(18) THE PRICE! I picked this up for $229 Canadian!
CONS:
(1) Only available in white... would have been much more sleek-looking in black colour.
(2) There is no included adaptor to plug it into the wall... though the USB does allow the unit to be charged via your computer. (Of note, if you want to buy an adaptor for the unit, buy an adaptor for a PALM or a RAZR cell phone as they have the same unit input.)
(3) The maps really need to be updated. I live in a VERY fast-growing city, where several new roads, overpasses and communities are being created every year. Some of the newer communities, roads and ramps are not included on the maps... which means that some local knowledge really helps while navigating. (I believe that several of these issues will be corrected with the new map updates). Otherwise the maps and navigation are fantastic.
(4) You dont need a stylus to operate the unit, but it does help at times when entering addresses. And if you have bigger hands/fingers, then the stylus would be very handy. However no stylus is included with the unit.
(5) There is no included SD card, which you will need to buy if you want any amount of MP3s or maps for other countries.
(6) English-voiced directions are only available via an American male or a British male... the other unit had a British female voice included (which was AWESOME!).
(7) If youre looking at paying $450-$500 for the unit, you may be best served to get a different model.
OVERALL, I GIVE THIS UNIT A 4 OUT OF 5. I HAVE BEEN VERY PLEASED AND IMPRESSED, AND WILL SAY THAT THIS UNIT HAS BEEN WORTH EVERY PENNY THAT I PAID FOR IT. THIS IS UNDOUBTEDLY THE BEST UNIT ON THE MARKET FOR THE ENTRY LEVEL GPS/NAVIGATION SYSTEM.
On: 2007-01-04
Mio 310x review:
OK, heres my background. I have a Palm 72 Zire with the Tom Tom GPS system. This unit let me down on Kona, Hawaii in July 2005 - it thought Hawaii and Oahu were connected by roads at times and really screwed up the routing. I was hoping the Mio would be better, but I was wrong...
The Mio 310x was on sale under $200 and I picked it up just before a vacation to Oahu, Hawaii in December 2006.
Just in case, I brought the Palm 72/Tom Tom unit as backup. Alas, as other reviewers mentioned, the Tom Tom license key was broken (I let the Palm 72 run down and it forgot the code). Since I didnt have the laptop with the proper sync software, the Tom Tom was dead for my vacation.
Out comes the Mio 310x in Oahu - absolutely HORRIBLE accuracy. This is NOT an exaggeration.
The whole point of a GPS is to help you find places, in particular NEW places that you dont know. Its useless if it directs you to a place you already know.
Heres some examples of disasters in Oahu:
1. Honolulu airport - Talk about BAD first impression. I got lost leaving the car rental site. I whipped out the Mio to get me back to the airport and it proceeded to direct me in a 360 turn (when a simple RIGHT turn would have worked). It had no clue about a ramp that I passed that was marked HONOLULU and proceeded to direct me to not only a NON-existent street, but I would have gone the WRONG WAY if there WAS a street there. Every GPS has some of these, but the first one in the first 10 minutes?
2. Waikiki - I set the Mio to go to Ocean Resort Hotel on Paoakalani Avenue. It doesnt accept Pao.. - it does not have the street in its navigation map. So we program a nearby street (using a paper map). When I get within 1/2 mile of the hotel, the Paoakalani Avenue shows up on the map! The street is in the database, but apparently not in the Search navigation function. Completely brain-dead useless. But it gets WORSE. While driving on H1 from the airport, the unit kept trying to route me BACKWARDS every 2-3 miles, then at the last minute, would recalculate and route me correctly FORWARDs to Waikiki. It did get me to Waikiki, but not without telling me (audio) that it was recalculating and telling me to to a U-turn no less than 5 times.
3. It cant navigate to the USS Arizona Memorial (land-based museum). It knows about the harbor-based memorial structure and tells you it is not accessible (of course; its in the WATER without a road!). For a tourist, this makes this GPS unit ABSOLUTELY USELESS - if you cant trust it to go to a MAJOR tourist site such as this one, what about other places? I tried working around by specifying Pearl City and it says the entire city is unreachable, yet will go ahead and route to the various streets in Pearl City! - talk about confusing.
4. Kailua Beach - I knew where this place was EXACTLY from the day before. The Mio was programmed to go there. When I was within 300 yards of the RIGHT TURN to the beach,the Mio told me to turn LEFT in the OPPOSITE direction.
5. POIs - Points of Interest - vastly underpopulated compared to my Tom Tom GPS. And worse - even though I am on Oahu, it still finds POIs for places on Maui, Hawaii, Kauai which can not be reached by road - completely brain dead. At least it will tell you its unreachable if you accidentally try to route, but it should NOT offer it as a choice.
6. General problems - the turn distances (e.g. 75 yards to turn...) were randomly wrong - it told me several times a turn was 100 yards away when it was actually 35 yards away - common to overshoot a turn at times.
Im not even going to waste my time trying this in San Jose, CA where I live. It might be OK in a non-island environment. It is possible Hawaii (being a group of islands) is a corner case of errors. However, even that is unacceptable.
It is worse than my Tom Tom unit (and that one aint all that hot in Hawaii either - the Tom Tom is OK in San Jose/San Francisco area). Its going to be returned even though I pay a 15% restock fee - its inexpensive, nice form factor, bright screen, but the high percentage of map inaccuracies make it unusable for me.
END
On: 2006-12-31
I compared the Mio C310X and Garmin Nuvi 350 head to head (my Brother has the Garmin).
Heres my plain and simple observation:
The Mio C310x is a very good unit with good route accuracy overall but not as accurate as the Garmin 350. (e.g. plugged in Newark Airport, NJ and the Mio routed me to the back of the airport and announced that I have arrived at my destination - I was closer to the runway than any terminal).
The Mio was accurate with home addresses and I find there maps and route path clear with very nice graphics. The Garmin has nice graphics as well.
However, the Garmin unit has text to speech readout which is VERY important that the Mio does not have at this time (i.e. Garmin will read out "turn left at ABC Street" whereas the Mio will read out " turn left in 100 yards." This is a BIG difference for people who want to listen to voice directions instead of viewing the GPS route and map. Otherwise, the Mio has accurate routes and maps as well.
Garmin is more updated than Mio when it comes to POIs and maps. Mio is not far behind however.
Conclusion:
If you are on a budget get the Mio C310x. It does the job very well and new updates coming this Spring may make it even better. I like my system and am very pleased with it.
If you have a bigger budget get the Garmin Nuvi 350 (or 360 or even the 660). Its probably one of best systems on the market to date.
On: 2006-12-31
I bought this for $150 from Staples on black friday. Ive been thrilled with the quality and accuracy. Ive used this in southern CA where I live and in Houston, TX where I travel for business. The unit has worked beautifully in both places. The database of "POI" or points of interest is very good. My only criticism is that the unit can sometimes be a little confusing when approaching a split in the highway. Otherwise, Ive been very pleased with its directions. The speaker is plenty loud and its adjustable. The built in MP3 player is fine but I rarely use it because it plays through 1 speaker. There is a headphone jack but I havent tried it yet. I highly recommend this product!
On: 2006-12-31
I own a high-end (i.e., high-priced) Garmin and then purchased this Mio when it was on sale at Staples. Its an excellent GPS and has MANY features that the Garmin unit (which I also like a lot) does not have... e.g., personal POI subgroups, more loaded POIs, recently used cities (a huge benefit... why do I have to keep typing "schaumburg" into my Garmin when Ive typed it in the last 5 times?!). The GUI is not as immediately user-friendly as the Garmin and there is, effectively, no documentation with the unit. However, just Google "mio gps" and youll find many forums that will help. Also, Google "i-go manual," to find an extensive manual for the software. Youll be very, very happy you did. One other tip -- use a stylus (or a closed pen) instead of your fingers. The accuracy is better. Great unit, youll be happy with the purchase.
On: 2006-12-31
I own a Garmin GPSmap 60C. But on Black Friday I decided to try this unit because staples had a good price for this unit. The screen is clear and visible while driving. But I have come across some issues with the unit I do not care for. First the documentation is well, lacking. If you have never owned or used a GPS before you will find the docs leave you with little information.
The first thing I did when I got the unit was look to see if the maker had any updates for the maps and/or POIs. I was disappointed to find the site was down for the weekend. I kept getting the MS SQL Server Errors. It was not working until the following day. Once the site was up, I never found any updates. I wrote to the support e-mail. NEVER GOT A REPLY!
I used the unit to plot a course from my home to work. I can not figure out what algorithm the unit uses but it did not plot the shortest or fastest route. I believe the Garmin routed better.
After using the unit to plot 5 different locations (both built in POIs and addresses I requested) I found the unit is off. For example, I was headed to an address I had never been to before. The unit told me I had arrived at my destination. Ah, no, once I found the address the 310x had me a quarter mile past the address. While it got me to the area but I spent another 10 minutes trying to figure out why I was not finding what I was looking for.
Another issue I have with the routing is the poor verbal directional commands. For example, one path I have had the unit plot 3 times now takes me down a road that forks. The path I want forks left. 4 lane road, 2 go left, 2 go right. The units voice commands are to keep going straight. Well if I did that I would be in the river. The graphic on the screen WAS correct showing me to go left. But the in | | |
