Mio DigiWalker C220s Portable Car Navigation System with GPS: Any advice?

[Soleil24]

http://www.staples.ca/ENG/Catalog/ca...73EB038F9954D2

With coupons, I could bring down the price to 40$ less.

Is it a good device? a good price?

Any comment will be appreciated.

Thanks

[Aske001]

Reviews: http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/t...TOPIC_ID=83867
Unlocking: http://www.gpspassion.com/forumsen/t...TOPIC_ID=84734

[splee99]

I'm thinking to get a GPS too and never played it before. The Mio C220s looks like a good deal, but there seems to be only detailed map of Canada. For the US there is only major high ways. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[willy]

It has SiRFstarIII and it should be pretty good. It has only 256MB onboard flash and this is why it can only fit Canadian maps. You can add US detail maps via optical SD card.

Spec-wise, it looks very similar to Mio C310SX ...

[Aske001]

Detailed US maps were included with previous Canadian Mio units, but there's no mention of detailed US maps being included with the Canadian Mio 220, either on the Staples web site or on the box. I've seen a boxed unit in the store, but they did not have a functioning demo unit on hand. Mio has been playing a lot of games with the availability and pricing of maps lately, so you might want to hold off purchasing one until it's confirmed what their policy is.

You might also want to consider how they end up treating recent Mio 310 purchasers:

- In the USA Mio advertised the C310 as "including Canada map", but failed to provide one initially. They promised it would be available later as a free upgrade. They briefly made it available on their web site, then they withdrew it. Currently there's no legal way for US Mio owners to get the Canada map, although it's widely available illegally since it's included with every Canadian unit.

- In Canada Mio supplied the C310 with outdated and defective maps from early 2005. They promised a free upgrade to the current TeleAtlas map database by Feb 2007. So far Feb has slipped to June with no sign of the update, and they keep changing their minds about how much it will cost. Currently there's no way to get a legal map upgrade, although again it's widely available illegally since it has already been included on this year's new models.

As for the Mio C220 itself, it appears to be very similar to the C310, except they made it slightly cheaper by not including the buttons on the side.

[ihatelogins]

I have this unit. It has good detailed Canadian maps (teleatlis 2006.10). It also have major US roadways. It has a good selection of POIs and again major POIs for the US. It has a specific POI catagory for Tim Hortons.

When the settings are adjusted properly, it performes well. I can read the display in direct sunlight (some reviews have clamed that it has a britness issue, but they must not have turned up the brightness), and it is pleanty loude. With my music loud, and the windows down on the hyway, it starts to become a problem, but otherwise, it wakes up the kids.

Like all GPS units, sometimes it suggests strange routes, but overall, it is quite good at picking routs (if you have it set for fastest, not shortest).

My beef is that the Canadian 'dumbed down' (C220s) version is $100 more than the American version (C220). That pisses me off. Also, I have been trying to figure out how to purchase the detailed American maps, but so far, have not figured out how. Seems rather silly, but the mio store only ships to western europe, and the teleatlas site does not have maps for the C220 yet.

[scookie]

FYI, this is back down to $250 again (~$210+tax using coupons)...probably due to BB's current price.