Mio P550 3.5-Inch Bluetooth Portable GPS Navigator Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I don't recommend this item. There are a couple of pluses, but there are a number of problems:

First, the pluses--
--The price is good for a GPS unit and PDA.
--The SIRF III GPS received is responsive, receiving good reception even inside my house (except for the basement).
--The Wifi is fast.

Now the minuses:

--The battery life is poor.I ran through a fully charged battery in a little over an hour with the Wifi on.
--The screen is poor quality.There is bleeding of text and images and the resolution does not appear good.Possibly, this is because the screen is quite large for 320x240 resolution.
--The PDA functions are not integrated with the mapping and GPS functions. E.g., there does not appear to be a way to access your contacts list within the Mio Maps.
--Mio Maps is clunky software.It requires multiple taps and is not intuitive.
--There are typical Windows Mobile memory problems because applications do not shut down when closed.I guess I'll need to pursue the third party software route to address this problem.
--Internet Explorer is a dated and inconvenient browser for mobile devices.It doesn't format pages well and will not load secure sites such as Chase Banking.I downloaded Opera mobile but they want to charge $24 for a registered copy.
--The device is quite heavy.It is industrial in appearance; not attractive but not terribly ugly.It is a bit odd that the screen is so recessed.
--I was surprised that the device connects to ActiveSync via USB 1.1.This causes synchronization to be very slow.
--Skype did not work very well even though I have a very fast home Wifi network.
--Almost no software came with device (only Worldmate, Mio Mapping and the basic Windows Mobile).Outlook was not even included.This is a first, in my experience.

I haven't used the mapping software extensively.It's based on TeleAtlas.

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Product Description:
Perfect for any road trip, the Mio P550 Portable GPS Multimedia Navigation System is a versatile navigation device, providing full PDA capability, Internet access via built-in Wi-Fi, and wireless connectivity with Bluetooth. Both affordable and stylish, the Mio P550 makes it easier than ever to get where you are going, even when you aren't quite sure where that might be. And because the P550 is compatible with most Windows Mobile 5 software, you can use it for off-road navigation as well.
Since it runs on the Windows Mobile 5 operating platform, the Mio P550 can support the GPS software of your choice. This means you are not restricted as to where and when you can use GPS, nor do you need different devices depending on the activity you want to use them for, for ultimate flexibility. For the road, the manufacturer does recommend Mio Map software, which guides you to your destination with a seamless journey, and has maps of the US and 24 European countries available. However, the P550 is equally in its element if you want to go sailing, biking, or hiking, requiring you to just add the software and get going. The highly sensitive SirfStar III GPS chipset in the P550 can receive signals from up to 20 satellites for extremely accurate positioning, even in the toughest terrain. And when it comes to connecting the receiver, you don't have to worry about getting tangled up with external antenna and extra wires, because it is already built-in. Slim and sleek, the P550 has an ultra-compact design offering pocket-sized portability that's perfect whether you are traveling on foot, by bike or in your car. The Mio P550 even makes exchanging files quick and easy via reliable, high-speed Bluetooth connectivity for synchronizing your Outlook or calendar with your desktop computer.
More than a convenient navigator, the P550 can be used with SD/MMC cards to store pictures, MP3 files, videos, and eBooks, turning this unit into a multimedia entertainment center. Now you can always take a couple of eBooks, your favorite MP3s, a film or two, and your photo album along, in the convenience of a standard memory card. And since you are only limited by your number of SD/MMC cards, you can read on the train, show relatives your family snaps, or listen to music strolling around town, taking unlimited entertainment with you wherever you go. The Mio P550 also offers all the advantages a surprisingly powerful, incredibly versatile PDA running Windows Mobile. Providing access to all Microsoft Office Pocket applications, you can go through your PowerPoint presentation, edit Word documents or create an Excel spreadsheet any time you need to, so you'll always be prepared and up to speed. And when you've had enough of work, you can also use the P550 to play games to pass the time, or use the Wi-Fi to get online and surf the Internet.
The Mio Digiwalker P550 utilizes a 3.5-inch color resistive, anti-glare LCD touch-screen display with LED backlighting, 65,000 colors and 320 x 240 pixels of resolution. This unit includes 64 MB of on-board RAM, 128 MB of memory, and infinitely expandable memory via the built-in SD/MMC card slot that is SD/IO compatible. The P550 includes a USB 1.1 connector, a built-in speaker and mono microphone, a 3.5-millimeter headphone jack, and an internal rechargeable 1,200 mAh lithium-ion battery. This unit utilizes Bluetooth 1.2 wireless technology, and 802.11 b and g Wi-Fi connectivity. The included cradle doesn't just hold your navigator, but will also charge the battery while you drive when connected to the power cable. Combined with the windshield mount, this cradle forms a very solid device holder, providing investment security and preventing vibrations. The Mio Digiwalker P550 portable GPS multimedia navigator weighs six ounces, measures 2.8 x 4.5 x 0.7 inches (W x H x D), and is backed by a manufacturer's one-year warranty.
What's in the Box
Mio Digiwalker P550 portable PDA and navigator, device holder, windshield mount, AC power adapter, DC in-vehicle power adapter, USB cable, CD with user's manual, getting started CD, license agreement, windshield mount guide, quick start guide, Mio club registration card and warranty card.

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