Mio c230 DigiWalker Review

The Mio c230 Digiwalker is a budget GPS device that has text-to-speech directions, a premium feature rarely found on units in this class.

Good performance and a bright 3.5" touchscreen make it a very good entry-level unit for price-conscious consumers.

The Mio Digiwalker c230 is compact and very portable. An attractive charcoal and silver case surrounds the bright, readable 3.5" touchscreen.

Mio c230 3.5-Inch Portable GPS Navigator

There is a power on/off switch in the back and a "power suspend" button on top. A mini USB power connector and SD/MMC memory card slot line the bottom. The unit comes with a car charger cord and windshield/dashboard suction cup mount.

A high-sensitivity receiver does a good job of tracking satellite signals.

Maps of the 50 U.S. states and Puerto Rico are pre-loaded. Unfortunately, the maps have a paltry 1 million Points Of Interest--much less than other similar units.

The Mio c230 Digiwalker interface gives you a lot of information and the ability to customize onscreen data in many ways. This is a good thing for those who are familiar with GPS systems, but it entails a steeper learning curve for beginners.

Also, this can result in a somewhat crowded screen, with small menu buttons that are difficult to press while driving.

The feature which really makes the c230 stand out is text-to-speech, which speaks actual street names such as "turn right on Elm Street in 200 feet" instead of simply "turn right in 200 feet".

This is a nice capability--lacking in most units in this price range-- which makes navigation easier and reduces the need to look at the screen while driving.

Another premium feature not found in other budget models is multi-point routing.

This gives you the ability to specify a number of destinations and have the unit calculate one route that includes them all. People whose work requires travel with multiple stops will find this quite helpful.

Also, the device allows you to specify a route segment to avoid, giving you more control over your trip planning.

The Mio c230 DigiWalker is an excellent entry-level GPS device. Solid navigation and highly customizable information, along with spoken street names, raise this unit above others in the field.

Although it takes some time to learn and set up properly, the c230 will please both beginning and advanced budget-conscious users.



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