cool gadget, OK operation

The thing that attracted me to the Mio 168 is the fact that is a fully-functional PDA with a built-in GPS receiver, making it completely mobile. Prior to using the Mio 168 I used a Dell Axim X3i PDA and I had a GPS attachment that had to be wired-in and therefore could only be used in the car.

The Mio has similar specs to the Axim X3i (with the exception of wi-fi), but that's where the comparison ends. The Dell X3i, even though they use the same processor kicks the butt of the Mio in terms of user feel.

My Mio feels "cheap" in my hand and the buttons just don't have the "quality" tactile feel that my Dell has. The battery level indicator is not very accurate either.

Don't get me wrong, the Mio can do everything the Dell can (Word, XL, picture viewer, etc.), it just doesn't feel the same. And for me that "feeling" means a lot. So much in fact that I am considering retiring the Mio and purchasing a new Dell.

The Mio's processor is a 400MHz XScale processor. Newer PDAs have processors of 500MHz and up. This should be considered if you are considering purchasing one.

The GPS receiver is a nice touch. It's the reason I purchaed the Mio (because I get lost all the time). It works fine in the car and while walking, although it loses reception in downtown areas when there are lots of highrise buildings around. But to be fair my old wired GPS did the same thing. So, the bottom line is that the GPS receiver works pretty good, although newer receivers are much more sensitive so keep that in mind if you are considering purchasing one of these units. In fact a colleage of mine purchased a new GPS unit and said he could "see" satellites from his basement. Now that's good.

To charge the Mio you must plug it into a USB cable and then that USB cable connects into a power cable. You cannot chrge the Mio directly from your computer's USB port which is unfortunate. My old Axim was able to do that.

I cannot comment on the MioMap software that came bundled with the PDA because I do not use it. I use a third-party package called iGuidance which I owned prior to me purchasing the Mio.

In conclusion, the Mio is a dual-purpose PDA and GPS receiver. It does both tasks adequately, but not great, especially when you consider technology currently available. If you are a considering purchasing a PDA and also wish to get a GPS then this unit may be for you, but not if you are a "power user".