Mio DigiWalker C230 review

There is also a database of more than 3.5 million points of interest (POI) for making pit stops along the way, and the C230 can do multistop trips so you can add these POI to your route. Categories include all the basics--gas stations, ATMs, lodging, and restaurants--as well as more specialized interests, such as concert halls and amusement parks.

Navigation guidance comes by way of text- and voice-guided turn-by-turn directions. And much to our delight, the C230 supports text-to-speech functionality. This means the system will speak actual street names, allowing you to pay more attention to the road rather than the map screen, because you get more precise audible prompts. Typically, this is a feature that's found in pricier and more advanced, systems, so it's great to find it in an entry-level device such as the C230. We hope this becomes an increasing trend.

You can view a detailed list of instructions before you head out under Itinerary or get a running demo of the route with the Fly Over function. If you want to steer clear of a certain portion of the route because you happen to know there's road construction or it's known for heavy traffic, just hit the Avoid button and choose from a list of options. The system also supports automatic route recalculations if you get off course.

Maps are presented in 2D or 3D mode, and a Night Mode changes the color scheme of the maps for better nighttime viewing. There is a Cockpit tool that shows you the direction of your next turn, distance to your destination, estimated time of arrival, and more. Finally, there are a number of safety options, including speeding alerts, a screen lock that prevents you from using the touch screen when the car is in motion, and safety camera information.

Performance
We tested the Mio DigiWalker C230 in San Francisco, and from a cold start, it took the unit about two minutes to acquire a satellite fix. Subsequent starts varied from just a few seconds to a few minutes, so the inconsistency was a bit frustrating. Once locked on, the C230 held a steady lock except when we drove through a tunnel (a normal occurrence with GPS), but it was able to immediately find our position again. We entered our standard trip from the Marina District to CNET's downtown headquarters, and the system swiftly calculated a route. A quick glance at the list of text-based directions showed that the directions were accurate, and we set off on our trip. Text-to-speech audio prompts sounded slightly robotic, but we were still able to understand them all. We also missed several turns to test the route recalculation rate, which was satisfactory as it was able to get us back on track in a timely manner.