Motion Lingo Adeo Fitness Companion

CNET editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 3.0 stars Good
  Detailed editors' rating
  Design : 0.0
  Features : 0.0
  Performance : 0.0
  Overall score: 6.5 (3.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Troy Dreier
• Edited by:
  Jasmine France
• Reviewed on: 06/01/2006

All you need for a good run is a quality pair of sneakers, a dog by your side, and an MP3 player. Now add one more thing: The Motion Lingo Adeo Fitness Companion. This small device (3.0 by 2.0 by 0.6 inches; 2.1 ounces) works with any portable music player or by itself to deliver audio information as you run. With its GPS receiver, it keeps track of where you are, then computes how fast you're going, in addition to other useful information.

You start by loading the included MotionTrak software on your computer; the software keeps a record of your sessions. MotionTrak works on both Windows (2000 or XP) and Mac (OS X 10.2 or higher) systems, but the Windows version has more features, such as a shoe log to keep track of wear and tear. In Windows, you'll also need to load the driver for the device and the Microsoft.Net framework, if you don't already have it. In our testing, the computer still couldn't recognize the Adeo when we connected it, so we had to reinsert the installation disc and let the wizard find the right driver.

The Adeo software main screen gives you a summary of your workouts.

Once the Motion Lingo Adeo is installed, you can create up to three workout plans with the software and load them on to the device. You can create plans with time cues (information is given to you at set time intervals) or distance cues (given at set distance intervals) or with those that alert you when you've accomplished a certain goal. You can also create different user accounts so that people can share one Adeo and load their information separately. Unfortunately, the software is more challenging than it needs to be and would benefit from some interface tweaking. It uses unnecessary jargon, such as update mode, and confuses with a dull multipage interface. You should have the user manual nearby to answer any questions. Another bummer: The product doesn't come with a printed manual, so you'll have to download the electronic version from the CD.

Once you hit the pavement with your Motion Lingo Adeo, it needs to lock on to GPS satellites. This took us more than a half hour the first time and varying amounts of time after that (from 2 to 20 minutes). It works faster in clear surroundings, but any wait is a nuisance when you're ready to run.

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Recent user reviews

• Average user rating: 3.0 stars out of 4 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars Write review

• Showing 3 of 4 user reviews

• 3.0 stars

  "Is Motionlingo.com a short lived company?"

  by BobRaisler on May 12, 2009

• 2.0 stars

  "The Adeo is a cool idea, but ..."

  by larryshort on August 21, 2008

• 3.5 stars

  "Great addition to runs"

  by Stanks on July 7, 2007

• See all 4 user reviews Write review