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Customers most agreed on the following attributes:
from A Shack in Indiana on 8/20/2008
Wow, guys, it isn't that bad.. The maps that came with the unit aren't 100% up to date, but you can EASILY obtain current maps if you look for them. The maps that I'm using right now are from March or April of 2008 - how much more current do you want?? The map companies, which are completely seperate from the GPS manufacturer, have to map everything themselves. It can take quite a while to get everything down the pipe and into the hands of the manufacturers. Again, that being said, if you cut out the middleman you can get the maps as up to date as they come..
The only complaint I have about the C320 is that the menus aren't quite as straightforward as they could be. Mio included some stuff (MP3 player, for example) that I'm not going to use. This creates some extra clutter that makes the GPS more complicated than it needs to be. Again, though, this guy can be cleaned up with a little bit of effort..
Out of the box, this is a decent GPS in my opinion. By the time the unit is manufacturered, shipped, placed on the shelf and then finally purchased, the maps age a little bit. This is going to happen with TomTom/Garmin/Magellan/etc in the same manner. With a little massaging of the software (which you can't do with the other brands, by the way) you can have a unit tailored to your desires.
If you want a GPS for a novice, I wouldn't recommend Mio. If you're technologically inclined, you can do all sorts of things with this guy.
The maps are so old that both my neighborhood and my job do not exist even though they have each existed for over 5 years. The map update costs[$] and Mio cannot tell me whether or not my frequent locations have been added. I contacted TeleAtlas, the map creator listed on the Mio 320 and on the map updates, and was told that they do not supply maps for this unit. Overall, I like the simplicity of the unit, but getting answers from customer service is impossible and frustrating.
from Westchester, NY on 8/5/2008
This will get you from A to B. The MP3 player isn't worth it and is too simplistic even for the most basic needs. It also CANNOT be used with the GPS function. The menus aren't that bad but compared to my Magellan Roadmate they can be annoying to navigate and unnecessarily so. The POI list is okay but could have more; it's fine if you are looking for hotel or restaurant but if you have a specific location in mind don't bet on it. The actual navigation is so-so. Most of the time it puts the address further or closer down the street then it really is but it will get you there. The routes however are not the fastest. They tend to be roundabout and confusing. A bear right sometime means exit and some times means stay in the right lane. It does quickly recalculate, however. At the end of the day you can get a much better GPS for the same money.
I purchased my c320 a few months ago and found out too late that the highway that I travel has been redone 2 years ago and the new route is not on the unit. [...]
sent me off highway on to county roads with a big truck. told me to turn around in a trailer park.
bad, bad, directions.
from New York on 7/23/2008
Piece of junk. Customer service is useless. I bought it new and tried it for months. Maps are flawed and customer service wants you to spend more money to update maps. Why would I spend more money on a flawed product. Buy it only if you want some major headaches. Customer service thinks it's good enough if it just gets you there even though it sends you off route to local roads just to get back on the original highway. It's neither fastest, nor efficient. Nothing good about the Mio. Stick with the others. Major disappointment.
from NYC, NY on 7/22/2008
I received the C310x as a Christmas 2006 gift and have since updated the map/pio using Mio's update. I have thus far loved this unit. It has not failed me and I've travelled to various areas from NYC, the Northeast, most of NYS, CT, MA, NJ, PA, OH, W.DC, VA, TN, DE, MD, and it always was on track. I am now looking for a TMC compatible unit and am considering the C720t, since I've tried the Garmin, TomTom, Navigon, and have not been pleased with their performance speed and ease of use when compared with the C310x. I would recomend this unit to anybody looking for a simple to unit with an MP3 player. Oh, by the way, I love the ability for me to change the system's language while also being to select a different voice language, ie, English text/menus with Spanish Voice direction! And the handy strap place holder makes it easy to carry around without the fear it will fall, especially when i use it in the Pedestrian mode. Fabulous! I only wish it would do three things, (1) have Traffic, and (2) Save Routes, and (3) Speak the street names. But other than that, it's a Perfect unit! You can even play your mp3's while being guided on your trip!
I love the hardware.
The map is at least 3 years old for areas of Florida. I have been told that map udates will cost me more money. I should have bought a TOM TOM.
from Vassar, MI. on 7/6/2008
There are a lot of roads that are not updated and roads that are no longer there. I don't know how to get this unit updated, but it is needed.
from Wichita Falls, Texas on 7/3/2008
the unit is decent, The Milo people suck, I've e-mailed them several times for an up date map with no responce what's so ever. I have had it 6 months it came with a 2006 map and I can't get it up dated. So don't buy a Milo product.
I can't find anything wrong with this unit, i uses the gadget, such as finding resturant, my mother have a garmin c550 which could not find poi less than 30 miles away my mio picked it up only using a few letter before it found it, my moms garmin never found it.My family went to a family reunion in Arkansas and the mio digiwalker directed my to the front door of the hotel. I have been looking for faults on this unit and i can honestly say i have not found one. Great unit, i would highly recommend it to anyone.
Advises taking Off Ramps and return to Highway via On Ramps instead of staying on highway. Occasionally the ON Ramp was inaccessible from Off Ramp and had to detour to get to it. Has directed taking alleys if they have a name. When electing fastest, will direct to Interstate miles away when a faster State Highway a few feet away going in the same direction is avaible, regardless of lenght of trip
I BOUGHT TWO OF THESE UNITS LAST OCTOBER AND WAS TOLD THAT EUROPEAN MAPS WHERE AVAILABLE BY RADIO SHACK, MIO SAID THEY WOULD BE AVAILABLE WITHIN 2 WEEKS, THEY ARENT AVAILABLE YET 1 YR LATER! NOT COOL, I RECOMEND SOMETHING THAT IS ADVERTISED HONESTLY
I like the design, it is easy enough to use. When I travel, it's "points of interest" help me find resturants easy, but they better be well established places, or you better have the address, since you can't find any map updates for the C320. No updates available are my biggest complaint My next GPS will have software updates available to me.
from Indianapolis, IN on 5/20/2008
Does not seem to be up-to-date, cannot find updates on the website. Not very specific when on the highway.
I bought the unit for use with travel but mainly to determine the coordinates of a location. I can manually enter in the correct coordinates. When the unit shows the location it might be 20 miles away. I talked with Mio. They said you have to convert the coordinates manually. The GPS unit should do that. Will not buy Mio again.
Help Desk - is no help
very inaccurate. It sent me to local roads when I should have stayed on highway ... added .5 hour to my trip. Also, should have sent me on non-toll roads because it would have been quicker. It didn't as a result it took longer and cost me $12.45 more in tolls. It's junk!
This would be a very nice unit if they would just get the accuracy of the map corrected. Another problem is that the time setting in the unit is not retained on power off. The unit needs a setting for day light savings time. The map in rural areas is very inaccurate.
from Pierre, SD on 4/21/2008
I got my Mio C320 as a Christmas gift and it is one of the best gifts I have ever received. I have used it twice, once to and around Denver and once to and around Minneapolis. It took me there and back and to every place I wanted to go in both cities! I would literally have been lost without it and would have had to resort to using the old fashioned paper maps! Thanks Mio!
This is a very nice product. Does not always give the best route, but has always gotten me where I need to go. It acquires satellites very quickly and next to never loses signal. The battery life is very short, but since it never leaves the car thats really not a problem.
We were on vacation and saw signs for a Sonic restaurant that we wanted to go to. We looked it up in the GPS and followed it's directions. We ended up on a country road next to a huge barn and it was telling us we were at our location? I didn't enter the address, the GPS supposedly "knew" where it was at. Then my husband & I were looking around as we were driving through St. Louis and missed the 70 E exit. We began looking for signs as to how to get back on 70 E and saw one pointing left, but the GPS was telling us to turn right. It probably would have taken us back to 70 E, but we wanted the most direct route, not to turn around and go back to where we missed our exit and get back on. We immediatly returned it when we came home, this is just a couple of examples in what seemed like a long aggrivating vacation with this thing.
This GPS is the best thing that ever happen to me, now I'll never get lost again.(smile) You really need to get yourself one. I love the fact that it lets me know at all times where I'm going without getting lost. I AM SO HAPPY AND PLEASED.
My ONLY complaints about this unit is that it has very short battery life, GPS cannot be used when plugged into a 12v power source, & does not maintain current time when turned off.
Got this to replace a TomTom One that was stolen. We live in Houston, and the directions it gives us to get downtown from Cypress were ridiculous. Set to fastest route, it was taking us through back roads and tollways for what it had calculated to be 1 1/2 hours. We went the highway and got there in 30 mins. Never had this problem with our TomTom. Returning for a TomTom.
from North Carolina on 3/24/2008
Just got mine today. Perfect so far...
I got this for my birthday and so far I like it a lot better than the last one I had, the screen is larger, the maps seem to be about the same and like any new toys it takes a while to learn how to navigate around the menu but I'm sure I'll get the hang of it. I did not like the mount that came with it so I just used velcro tape to mount it where I wanted it.. I love it!
why is it that mio poi has shopping locations listed 2 to 4 times in the map.another thing when u reach your destination it doesnt tell you if its on your left or on your right.Needs some improvement.
This device works quickly but the routes it chooses are extremely strange. It always sends me through residential streets with many many many curves and stop signs rather than through the arterials (no matter what setting I choose "fast" "shortest" or "economical"). Very strange.
this is a good buy you just have to use the right settings for yourself
I must be the only person who does not like this devise.My husband and I used it in familar areas it told us to turn left off a cliff!!!!![...]Good luck to me,I.in AZ
from New Mexico on 3/16/2008
Purchased on sale. Only 4.3 inch screen for under $200 makes it a best buy. Quick and easy to set up, good strong cradle secures it to the windshield, and it can be quickly removed if required.
Images shared by: ke5pjzC320 mounted in my 1999 Grand CHerokee
Tags: Using Product, Picture of Product
from Dubuque Co. Iowa on 3/14/2008
Was able to find AC. adapter, USB Cable, and a "AA" Battery extender on line, [...] The C320 is all I need and ever expected to have for my Disaster work. Bought my C320 at my local Radio Shack[...].
We recently vacationed in Florida and are very familiar with the Orlando area and know things continually change there. The Mio was great to aid us in manuevering throughout Florida as well. We loved it!
from Indianapolis, IN on 3/6/2008
Great product for the money. Wanted a unit that would do the job but being my first I did not want to spend several hundred dollars. Some directions are off by 1/8 of a mile but it always gets me very close. Some areas need updating. Great on locating restraunts and hotels. Has about every restraunt and hotel already stored in the device. Highly recommend for introductory device.
I purchased this GPS for my Dad as a christmas gift, since the first time he began playing with it, he loved it. It's slim, fits easily in your shirt pocket, easy to use, amazing since my Dad is not used to operate this devices, and one thing we never thought is once we took the wrong way, this little thing recalculated the map. That was the most amazing thing, it was like living the Star Treek TV Show. Since then I always recommend it, instead of the price too, hehe.
from Miami Valley, Ohio on 3/1/2008
For the money it is above any other. I almost think when I read a negative comment I think it could be written from someone from another company. What is there not to like? Once you figure out the set up, it is pretty easy to understand and use.
Great buy, just bought a second one last week.
from Sterling heights, MI on 2/25/2008
The thing is that this GPS unit may have some deficiencies that other expensive ones dont, but the key is expensive, its inexpensive, has a huge screen, takes you from A to B without any malfunctions, what else do you want.
But if you're passing this one because it doesnt have Text to speech feature, well, dont, you can get text to speech feature on this unit in less than an hour's work. Yes, by yourself, just google "mio c320 TTS" the first page will take you to a forum where there are simple steps to download updates and install them to get TTS on your Mio c320.
I think i dont need to say much about it, its my first GPS and i like it, and i think its going to stay with me for a very long time.
from Tustin, CA on 2/25/2008
Bought this for [$] a month ago... and I love it. I've added TTS, newer maps, and additional navigation software to it. With some simple hacking, this is as good as the C520, minus the bluetooth and some minor software.My only compliants are that the battery life on this thing is bad, it doesn't come with the power TMC bracket like the European version and the fact that is now on sale for [$]... Too bad the fiancee doesn't think we should have two...
I like that its slim and u can play mp3 through your car stereo because it don't sound as good otherwise.I recently recommend to my friend and he bouhgt 2 units.
If you are looking for a basic GPS device this is it. The initial advertisement about what came in the box was misleading. I noticed Radio Shack updated this section. In the box is the receiver, mounting brackets and DC charger. In the instruction manual MIO apologizes for not including the AC charger as initially advetised. Radio Shack will not give you one either. This will be corrected in the future with a class action suit. The maps are 2006 and you will have to purchase a cord to down load the new maps when they are available. The GPS is ready to use right out of the box. If you read the instruction and owners manual the company suggests charging the device for eight (8) hours prior to initial use. When I first used the GPS is was very accurate for local points of interest (POI). However, if you are looking for short cuts this is not the device for you. Contact NASA and get a direct link. The C320 keeps you on the main routes and streets. If you are from out of town this may be the easiest and safest way to go. Keeping in mind the maps are 2006 there were several businesses ommited from the POI section. A phone call ahead of time for the address fixed this short coming. Every address I've typed in new or old was calculated and found by the device. The controls can be challenging. Practice with the GPS before actually going on a trip. Once you get the hang of it operation is easy. The battery life is good. The company advertises four (4) hours I have averaged about 5-6 hours depending on use. I read in one review the writer said the charger drained his car battery within 5 minutes. I have not experienced this yet. The longest charge was eight (8) hours and my car started okay. As said you get what you pay for. If you are looking for a basic device with 2006 maps this is for you. I spoke with the comapny "rep" and was told updated maps for the C320 would be released soon. I'm not holding my breath. Overall this is a good product.
I'm a telecommunications tech. and have to find about 15-20 addresses a day. The mio puts me at the driveway everytime. I rely on it for my job and it hasn't let me down yet. The menus are a little tricky to navigate but with a little practice you can get use to them.
this unit is way better than any garmin unit.
I now own 2 of these gps systems and wouldnt do without them,1 in the semi and 1 in my car.Mio has never got me lost and 99% of the time ,has found the address that i was going to. this unit gives you a 1-1/2 miles on screen viewing to the next road that you need to turn on. Ive had tom-tom and garmin,Mio has far better mapping the the other 2.
This product is not foolproof. Obviously it will not have new developments, but if you know what is close it will get you there. The verbal directions are easy to follow. If you use a little common sense, this is a great tool.
from Pittsburgh, PA on 2/18/2008
I received the GPS as a Christmas gift this past year, just to give you an idea of how long I've had it. I've gone thru 2 since that time. I did keep the box and everything so returning was no problem. On the first unit, the sound went out on it. It would not give turn by turn directions via voice anymore. When used as an MP3 player, the speaker in the back didn't work, nor did sound coming thru the head phone jack.
The second unit I had after returning it the first time lasted a week, before the mapping feature wouldn't come on. The MP3 player worked, as well as everything else, except getting into the maps.
When it worked, it was pretty cool. It did give me some off the wall directions and was really bad with giving a direct route, but over all, it was so-so.
I would not recommend the unit. Yes its cheap and has plenty of options, its really not worth the hassle. Save your money and get a better one.
I had been thinking about buying a GPS unit for travel. I did a little research and was considering the TomTom One. I saw the C320 and the price and decided to get it for the larger screen. The clerk said that I only need to turn it on and start using it. I tried that and was a little confused with the operation. Once I read the manual(about 10 mins.) I understood it completely. Some of the roads were out of date in the area where I live, but other makers are out of date as well. I know this from talking to people who owned GPS units and had to ask for directions. I checked the website to see if maps had been updated and they had not. The mount that comes with it is very sturdy. There is no USB cable in the box, but I already have several.
For what I need, I believe that this unit is just right. I am glad I stopped at Radio Shack.
Not totally accurate, but our area is constantly adding new sub-divisions and streets/avenues. Price was excellent,......fun to play with. Like ability to track speed.
from olympia wa on 2/11/2008
i want my money back as it does not have all the streets in OLYMPIA wA.told to me by mio tech support. i work 3.2 miles from and it takes me thru a subdivision for no reason and out a road that is a dead end.to go to the main road itake two left turns in .3 of a mile and it has me turn left in to the a sub division for no reason.i can not return it because i failed to keep the box.
from Long Island on 2/10/2008
I use this GPS system on my normal routes that I know all the in's and out's of already on eastern Long Island. I'm still trying to fathom how this unit comes up with the directions it gives. It adds completely unnecessary turns and routes for what should be simple directions.
Other than this, the GPS works pretty well. The menu is fairly simple and there are a decent amount of POI's.
Great directions
Tags: Using Product, Picture of Product, Made with Product
from Allentown, PA on 2/4/2008
I bought this on black friday for half price, it works well there are a few streets in my area that it cant find. Battery life sucks my car battery died because i left the car charger in for 5 minutes while the mio was still attached.
from Reno,Nv on 2/2/2008
I was looking for a portable GPS to take on my trip to Bakersfield,Ca. Saw this unit in the store on sale. Well after comparing it to the others I bought it. This thing was dead on most of the trip from Reno to Bakersfield.. The auto re-calculation feature works very well. I purposely took a few wrong exits to see what would happen. And this GPS automatically got me back on the right course.
It just needs a small protective case to store it in when not in use.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Central Minnesota on 1/29/2008
The C320 compares well to Magellan 1000 and 2000 models. The product is in a different category from the Garman Street Pilots. I like the size and the operating functions. On the negative side, There are some functions that do not work as stated in the manual. But, the biggest drawback is that technical support for the product is non-existant unless, you sign up for receiving e-mails, promotional material, notices of new products,etc. from various vendors. You have to sign the agreement to accept this before you can even register the product. I chose not to register and to purchase from other sources in the future.
from Granbury,Tx on 1/28/2008
I got this for 1/2 price after thanksgiving. Works great for putting in an address and going there,or points of interest(poi) - where you are. Big screen, multiple displays are great. BUT, very difficult to find alternate route, poi for a places you are not presently in, and other advanced features,its just not user friendly. There are no snow ski resorts in poi. This thing has a 90+ page instruction manual thats only on disc and not printable.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from Franklin, VA on 1/26/2008
I bought this on black friday for the price and size. The [...]clerk lied to by telling me that it could be updated using an sd card. I e-mailed MIO and they stated that the unit is not updatable at all. The maps are old. Roads that have been built for at least ten years are not in the unit. The battery life sucks. It will last 1-1 1/2 hours at the most. The color is good and the screen size is nice, but I would not buy this again. If someone knows how to update the maps, please let me know.
I have had this receiver for about a week and it's my first one so I don't have much to compare it with. I have found this to be a pretty good reciever. However there are some drawbacks. e.g. You can't play the MP3 player while using the GPS. The modes of "fast" "economical" and "short" are dubious - have found better routs using via points which are shorter and/or faster. There is conflicting information as to whether it is TMC (trafic management channel) compatible. The manual, and unit indicates it is and the website says it's not. The unit does have a pannel for TMC settings. I'm still waiting for an e-mail for clarification. I don't think it's to complacated to use but wish it had text-to-speech.
[1 of 1 customers found this review helpful]
from new york city on 1/25/2008
i bought it and returned it[...]. i live in nyc, and it couldnt find streets that i knew existed, for example, there is a street named broadway in all 5 boroughs in the city, but this unit only thinks broadway exists in brooklyn
from Virginia Beach, VA on 1/17/2008