CNET Editor's rating: 4.3 out of 10
Reviewed by
Rick Broida
Review date: 08/30/05
The good: Maps preloaded on hard drive; 1GB available for MP3s; touch screen; caters to walkers as well as drivers; includes windshield mount and car charger; fast start-up.
The bad: Difficult to use; slow screen refreshes; awkward POI database; can't play MP3s while navigating; USB 1.1.
The bottom line: Given the Mio 269's inconsistent performance and terrible interface, you can buy a much better GPS device.
Like the Lowrance iWay 500c, the $799 Mio 269 is an automotive GPS with a built-in hard drive, an MP3 player, and a touch screen. However, unlike the iWay, the Mio 269 makes a poor first impression. It's slow, unintuitive, and maddeningly difficult to use until you study the instruction manual. It employs a flaky points-of-interest (POI) database and provides a mere 1GB of dedicated MP3 storage--a far cry from the iWay's 10GB. The few bright spots include a smartly designed windshield mount and a special mode for walkers. And once you read the manual, the Mio is easier to operate. But there's absolutely no question that if you have $800 to invest in a GPS, the Lowrance iWay is the better buy.
(Originally posted on CNET Reviews)