Entered CNET Catalog: 03/29/2005
SKU: 0841881000815
Manufacturer: MiTAC Industrial Corp.
Manufacturer description
MiTAC designs, builds and markets a diverse range of products like high-performance workstations, servers and motherboards, commercial and industrial notebook PCs, LCD PCs and LCD monitors. Starting out as an exclusive manufacturer of PCs, MiTAC now has grown to become a world-class global computer manufacturer and major OEM supplier. PRODUCT FEATURES: Global Positioning System - the satellite signals can be picked up by the Mio168RS to show your real-time location and guide you to your destination; Voice and Visual Guidance give you turn-by-turn directions to your destination; Automatic Route Recalculation - Mio168RS suggests an alternate route if you take a wrong turn; Trip Planning - plan trips and optimize routes with multi-point routing feature; Easy Map Installation - all it takes is two steps and a couple of minutes; Simple Operation - select item by Address, POI, Contacts, My favorites or History then go!; Full Featured PocketPC - Pocket Outlook, Word, Excel, Media Player and Internet Explorer included; Complete Mobile Solution - Mio168RS can hold all of your contacts, appointments and important files. It's portable and can be used in rental cars or walking through cities.Product summary
The good: Lots of included accessories; solid battery life; excellent mapping software; compact.
The bad: Still no Wi-Fi or Bluetooth; no synchronization cradle; few significant changes from original model; higher price tag; dull screen.
The bottom line: Though still a practical PDA/GPS combo, the Mio 168RS offers few compelling improvements over its predecessor.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 07/12/2005
Physically identical to its predecessor, the Mio 168RS sports compact, pocket-friendly proportions, save for the GPS antenna, which continues to add a 0.3-inch bump to the back when folded down. We remain impressed by how slim (4.4 by 2.7 by 0.6 inches) and light (5.4 ounces) this device is; that said, we're disappointed by its cumbersome four-way joystick and 2.5mm headphone jack, which doesn't accommodate standard connectors. At least Mio supplies compatible earbuds, which should satisfy most listeners. While Mio continues to be generous with accessories, one item that remains absent is a synchronization cradle. The 168RS includes only a USB cable, so if you want a cradle, you'll have to purchase it separately for $39.99. Thankfully, Mio has improved the design of its suction-cup windshield mount; it holds the PDA much more securely, though it still wobbles too much in some vehicles. The included cigarette-lighter charger means you'll never run out of power while traveling.
We had also hoped for a VGA screen, but the Mio 168RS retains its 320x240-pixel resolution and displays 65,000 colors. Curiously, the screen looked rather grainy and washed out compared to that of our old Mio 168--a step down in quality. It's not any better outdoors, either; we found visibility difficult even on cloudy days.
Like its predecessor, the Mio 168RS comes with a 300MHz Intel XScale processor, 32MB of ROM, and 64MB of SDRAM. Though we're eager for a faster processor and more RAM, Mio provides added storage in the form of a 256MB MMC memory card. You even get a USB SD/MMC reader for your PC, but because it's a USB 1.1 device, it doesn't necessarily speed up map downloads. You can just as easily copy maps to the card when it's inserted into the PDA.
Mio updated the PDA's operating system to Windows Mobile 2003 Second Edition, which means you not only get Pocket versions of Word, Excel, and Windows Media Player, but you now have support for Landscape mode and other minor improvements. Mio also throws in a few worthwhile extras, including eMenu, a tab-based program launcher, and eBackup, a rudimentary backup program.
As a navigation device, the Mio 168RS continues to excel. We had an easy time carving out maps to install from the desktop Mio Map software and an equally easy time routing to addresses in our PDA contact list. As before, you can choose between 2D, 3D, and bird's-eye views of your map. You also get text- and voice-guided directions, auto route recalculation if you veer off course, and a healthy points-of-interest database. For a full description of the mapping and navigation capabilities, check out our review of the original Mio 168.
One area that needed improvement was the antenna, which had difficulty locking onto GPS signals in high-rise downtown environments. According to a company representative, the Mio 168RS's antenna picks up signals faster and does a better job overcoming interference. Unfortunately, we didn't find this to be true in our real-world tests. In San Francisco, the Mio 168RS took about two minutes from a cold start to lock on to the required satellites and get a signal; subsequent starts required about 45 seconds or less. We also lost the signal as we drove between tall buildings and through tunnels. That said, this is a common problem with GPS devices, and the Mio 168RS always provided accurate and clear driving directions and got us back on track when we veered off course.
The 168RS performed well on CNET Labs' performance tests, more than holding its own against other 300MHz Pocket PCs such as the Mio 168 and the Navman PiN. Its overall hardware performance and graphics tests scores were slightly better than the Mio 168's and the Navman PiN's, and its ActiveSync index and battery life were significantly better.
In our battery tests, where we looped a video clip and set the screen brightness to 50 percent, the Mio 168RS ran for an average of 4.31 hours before running out of juice--a full hour more than the original Mio 168. It's important to remember that the device will run for much longer under normal operating conditions. What's more, the inclusion of a car charger makes battery life a nonissue where navigation is concerned.
CNET Labs technician Jeffrey Fuchs contributed to the performance analysis.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3out of 3 user reviews
Excellent GPS/PDA combo.
Pros: portable, easy to use, great functionality
Cons: no Wi-Fi, maps require 2.0 GB SD card
MIO lets me keep track of all my appointments, reminds me of an upcoming appointment, allows me to run applications like Word, Excel, Internet Explorer, Outlook, play all my MP3's, and still provide me with GPS navigation. I had to buy a Wi-Fi card for $65, to have Internet access and to be able to receive my emails at various wireless hot spots.
GPS.
Pro's: I really like being able to add my current location to the FAVORITES with a tap of a pen. The Destinate button is so easy to use. View -> SHOW Route -> summarizes the trip with distance, arrival time, and trip time. View -> Driving Directions - summarizes the trip "turn by turn", giving you the option to AVOID certain roads the GPS picks for you. Voice prompts are very good and clear. I know the road names are not announced but a quick glance at the display reveals the road name. The screen is legible even on a bright day, and provides Night Color skin for driving in the evening. There are 2D, 3D, Bird's Eye display views. 3D and Bird's Eye displays don't show street names. Alert settings let you customize GPS Voice Prompts and Visual Notifications. The Automatic Zoom is an excellent function. While in the city you're zoomed in, but as soon as you hit the highway the GPS zooms out of the map to show you a larger area. You can also set up your units of measurement as MPH/KM. On map info can be customized to display LAT/LONG, Velocity/Altitude, ETA/ETR, Distance.
Cons: More POI's are needed; the current location marker should not snap to the nearest road when entering a parking lot or driving on a new road not shown on the map. There is not ability to trace the route and save it for later use. Mapping updates are impossible to get. Supposedly maps can be bought through Destinator, but I got lost on their website in a matter of a few clicks. A 2GB SD card is required to load all the maps of Canada and USA (1.5GB) for and additional cost of $50-$100. Maps are divided into segments and I would much rather prefer a seamless map for North America built into the unit. This would leave the card slot open for the Wi-Fi card.
The unit has excellent battery life so long as you remember to unload programs from the memory. Start->Settings->System->Memory->"stop all" will do it and preserve your battery.
Overall I really like the unit and I would recommend it to anyone who wants to have a PDA/GPS. Like all other GPS products, there are flaws, lengthy wish lists for options, but at the end of the day I am able to find my way around an unfamiliar city, know when and where my next meeting is, have my complete list of contacts at my finger tips, and I carry it all with me in a small package. All that for $399 US + $69 WiFi card. Other units are much more and don't offer as many features. I am giving this one 8/10.
out of 3 user reviews
Not a bad unit for not being a dedicated GPS unit.
Pros: Strong Signal, nice display. Loud speaker.
Cons: Software was just OK. If battery completely dies you will lose the GPS software.
One mans opinion. While I was looking for a GPS unit I came across the Mio. I bought it for the multiple functionality it provides. Not only and GPS but it runs a Win CE app. You get the comforts of having a PDA as well a GPS. Once connected signal will stand strong. I wasn’t quite impressed with the software it came with, so I wiped it out and loaded one I already had. It works fine with new software. Price range was fairly good.
Biggest draw back I find is that if the battery completely runs out you might lose the GPS software, thus leaving you GPSless until you reinstalled it back. They could have beefed up the memory (only 32 mb) you would need to buy an additional memory card to support more mapping. In a nut shell, if you are looking for a dedicated GPS unit this one is not for you. What I’m saying is that the next one I buy will be something like a Tom Tom or Garmin unit. They came with the map of the US pre-installed and the software won’t wipe out if battery goes dead.
out of 3 user reviews
Great little device!
Pros: Atrtactive, portable, loads of features
Cons: Needs improvment in a few areas
After receiving the unit and unpacking everything (including many accessories and four CDs), some dedicated time and effort was required to set up the system, load the maps, set up synchronization, etc. Once it was set up, the unit was ready to go. Battery life is more in line with a laptop than say, a cell phone. New owners will have to get used to charging the unit frequently.
Getting the navigation down took practice and some consultation with the manual. Dial in the correct map (you only need to do this once), flip up the antenna, and the unit will usually lock onto your present location within 30-45 seconds. To navigate to another location, you select the address, press Navigate, and off you go – most of the time. To pick up the satellite signal, you must be outdoors or in the car with the unit very close to a window.
Would I recommend the unit? Overall, Yes. Its an amazing piece of technology, although it is a device that is better suited for a tech-savvy owner than a novice.
Some pluses and minuses.......
The good.....
Great little tech toy, combining turn-by-turn navigation with a personal organizer and a pocket PC. Wonderful for people involved in Real Estate.
Attractive, portable, and handy. Lots of accessories. Easily synchronizes with the Outlook database on your desktop.
Navigation usually works well. Turn-by-turn commands lead you right to your destination.
The bad....
On/off power is controlled by a delicate pushbutton rather than a more secure toggle switch. Sliding the unit into its case causes the button to be depressed nearly every time, powering the unit back up and draining the battery. I’ve resorted to sliding the unit in backwards to reduce the pressure on the power button.
The sync port is rather flimsy - could spell trouble if handled roughly. A solid, robust connector would be very welcome on a future model.
I would have liked the device to consistently boot into the "Today" screen. Most of the time the unit boots into Mio Map, after which you are issued the audible warning "signal too low – check antenna" - quite annoying in the office when you only wish to view your calendar or contacts.
To start Mio map, you must always agree to a list of terms like "don’t operate the controls while driving", etc. I think agreeing to this one time only would have been sufficient (imagine having to agree to terms every time you start Word or Excel).
It might be me, but navigation programming frequently seems to fail. To begin navigating, you enter the address sequence (city, street, number), then press Navigate. Roughly half the time I have done this, the unit never begins navigating to the address.
The map is practically invisible in bright daylight, leaving you to depend largely on the turn-by-turn voice commands.
The suction cup window holder is practical and universal, but is an eye-sore. The large, coiled DC power cable only adds to the clutzy appearance. Makes you long for the neat, in-dash navigation unit in your friend’s car.
Keywords
mio | mio gps | mio navigation | mitac gps | GPS | personal navigation | car | SiRFstar | portable GPS | mio gps |About CNET Archive
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Mio 168RS (GPS/PDA combo) specifications
- General
- Product Type Handheld
- Operating System Microsoft Windows Mobile for Pocket PC 2003 Second Edition
- Display
- Type 3.5 in Color TFT active matrix ( Transflective )
- Display Resolution 240 x 320
- Color Depth 16-bit (64K colors)
- Memory
- RAM 64.0 MB - SDRAM
- ROM 32.0 MB - Flash
- Supported Flash Memory Cards SD Memory Card , MultiMediaCard
- Compatibility SDIO
- Processor
- Processor Intel XScale
- Processor Clock Speed 300.0 MHz
- Location
- GPS Navigation GPS receiver
- Multimedia
- Audio Microphone , Speaker
- Supported Digital Audio Formats MP3
- Software
- Preloaded Software Utilities
- Input Device
- Type Touch-screen
- Expansion and Connectivity
- Expansion Slot(s) 1.0 x SD Memory Card
- Interfaces 1.0 x USB - Sub-mini phone stereo 2.5 mm , 1.0 x Headphones
- Battery
- Technology / Form Factor Lithium ion
- Capacity 1350.0 mAh
- Run Time (Up To) 12.0 hour(s)
- Miscellaneous
- Included Accessories Power adapter , Stylus
- Power
- Voltage Required AC 120/230 V
- Dimensions & Weight
- Width 4.4 in
- Depth 0.9 in
- Height 2.8 in
- Weight 5.2 oz
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