Review of Mitac Mio 558 -- In French

[Brad Adrian]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.ppcreviews.net/revue_246.html' target='_blank'>http://www.ppcreviews.net/revue_246.html</a><br /><br /></div>I don't speak or read French, but this review on <a href="http://www.ppcreviews.net">PPCReviews.net</a> of the new Mitac Mio 558 makes me really wish I could. It includes TONS of photos and some very exciting stuff!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/adrian/mio558.jpg" /><br /><br />For something really interesting, take a look about halfway through the article. There's a photo that shows -- what's this? -- a flash disk attached to the Mio 558 via the synch port! I'll need a translation from somebody who reads French, but wouldn't it be GREAT to be able to connect various storage devices to your Pocket PC like that?<br /><br />The rest of the article is filled with a lot of additional info on the 558, even if you don't read French. Be sure to read the benchmark comparisons with the iPAQ 2215 and 4150 devices.

[torgamm]

Here comes a quick translation of these paragraphs near the picture of the USB key (note that I am french and many mistakes may remain but I think you can understand it nevertheless)

If you should remember only one thing from this PDA, it would be its extension ports: CF, SD I/O, and USB host. The CF port accepts Type II (like Microdrive) and is protected by a small plastic door. It is located on top, while the SD port is on the side.

The USB host is the most interesting. Mitac is not the first OEM to offer this option but it is the first one to turn it really usable: you don't need any accessory. Of course, it is a mini-USB connector, and if your device has USB, you'll need an adaptor. There is one in the box. Here I go, I plug an USB key in it and it works: a new unitcalled "Hard Disk" appears. In fact, the Mio 558 has in ROM a generic driver for USB mass storage. Wonderful. A driver for Bluetooth keyboard is available on the site Justmio (http://www.justmio.com/) !

For automatic translation, I suggest you use this page because it has no limitation in the number of characters unlike Babelfish:
http://tr.voila.fr/
On the right you'll see a box "traduire une page web" (translate a web page), "français vers anglais" (french to english) and you just need to enter the URL.

[popabawa]

Thanks for the translation!

Wow! That really looks like it does something useful.

Looks like I need to update my PPC dream specifications once again :wink:

[Anthony Caruana]

I've been playing with the 558 for the last week and think it's pretty good. It pretty much has everything that most other PPCs have but manage to do it in a single package.

The Mio I'm really impressed with is the 168. It's a pretty basic PPC but an inbuilt GPS receiver - very cool.

[msprague]

In the U.S.
http://shop.store.yahoo.com/shopnetlux/mitacmio558.html
For $449 it seems like a good buy. Has anyone dealt with Netlux before?

[cwacker]

Just to complete the translation. The last sentences are missing and somewhat important:

On the other hand attention with consumption, and the flow. Indeed, we are far from the 1.5Mo/s which standard USB manages, here one approaches more 50ko/s. But let us not be sulky the initiative of the manufacturer: on the contrary if the idea is not new, the implementation is quite simply brilliant!

[crasher]

I'm working on a full translation. Should be up by tomorrow...

[johncruise]

that will be my next Pocket PC. Built-in BT, USB Host and Dual slot (SD+CF)... wow! Can't wait for the tax rebate! I wish I can see this first hand on retail store. I don't make big purchase anymore at online store.

[ziad]

Ok so :

The Mio 558 has a MiniUSB slot, and an adapter is available. What's more interesting is that there is in the ROM memory a driver that can see the USB keys as Hard Disks, and you can view/modify/access to the content of the USB storage key in the File Explorer.

Voilà :D !

[iPAQ_ace]

I guess this is one spot where growing up in Quebec City pays off! :)

Le port USB maître est le plus intéressant. Mitac n'est pas le premier constructeur à proposer cette option mais il est le premier à le rendre réellement exploitable : ici pas besoin d'accessoire supplémentaire. Alors bien sûr, le port est au format mini-USB, donc si votre périphérique ne gère pas ce format, il vous faudra un adaptateur. Il y en a d'ailleurs un de disponible dans la boîte. Hop je branche une clef USB et ça marche : une unité nommée "Hard Disk" fait son apparition. En effet, le Mio558 possède en ROM un driver pour les stockages de masse en USB

The USB Host port is the most interesting. Mitac is not the first Pocket PC manufacturer to offer this option, but the first to really take advantage of it: no need for additional accessories. The USB port is mini-USB, so if your accessory is not mini-USB, you will need an adapter which is included in the box. Plug in a USB key and a hard disk option will show up in the memory settings menu. The Mio558 has a built-in USB storage driver built into the ROM.

Man, I only wish HP offered an option like this in the iPAQ's!

[Kowalski]

i am sooo jealousy now :| i think this is the best device around. better than e805. i want usb host capability too :(