PDA Buyer's Guide Talks to MiTAC About New Devices

[Pat Logsdon]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pdabuyersguide.com/interviews/mio.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.pdabuyersguide.com/interviews/mio.htm</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/logsdon_20040316_miologo.gif" /> <br /><br />"The MiTAC Mio line of PDAs and MS Smartphones have been a hit in Asia, but we in the US could only look and drool. That is, until March 2004 when the Mio 168 Pocket PC running Windows Mobile 2003 hit the US market. Not only is it a strong Pocket PC, but it's the first one to have an integrated GPS. The Mio 168 was released in mid-March, and interest and demand have been very strong. This is only the beginning: in the future we'll be seeing another Mio device in the US."<br /><br />PDA Buyer's Guide has just posted an excellent interview with David Lin, Senior Product Manager for MiTAC Mio Products. <br /><br />Of special interest is this quote from Mr Lin, "The Mio 558 will also be introduced in the US soon. The 558 is the first Pocket PC with dual slots (CF and SD/ MMC), WiFi, Bluetooth, and a mini-USB port." According to <a href="http://65.115.69.88/mio/products_mio558.asp">the specs</a> and a <a href="http://65.115.69.88/mio/news_010.asp">press release</a>, this unit is also SDIO compatible, has a removable battery, and has built in VOIP support. 8O <br /><br /> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/logsdon_20040316_mio558.jpg" /> <br /><br />Check out <a href="http://www.pdabuyersguide.com/interviews/mio.htm">the interview</a> and read what else Mr. Lin had to say!

[Jonathon Watkins]

8O Wow. :drool:

Integrated GPS - now *that* is impressive!

Forget the US - are these things going to be availible in Europe/UK? :wink:

[Anjuan Simmons]

. . . must . . . save . . . money . . . Motorola Mpx . . . coming . . . soon!

[Jonathon Watkins]

Mind you, 64MB SDRAM, 240X320, Intel Xscale - 400MHz. Hmmmmm...... :?

I vote 'nice, but.......'

[jgoodman]

Mind you, 64MB SDRAM, 240X320, Intel Xscale - 400MHz. Hmmmmm...... :?

I vote 'nice, but.......'

Yeah...I was waiting for one of these but got the A716 instead.
Kind of glad I did too.

Asus's presence and tech support might be lacking somewhat in the states, but Mitac makes Asus look like Microsoft in that dept. Mitac needs to have some awesome support and US presence to make this work outside of the Asian market IMHO.

[ctitanic]

. . . must . . . save . . . money . . . Motorola Mpx . . . coming . . . soon!

I like the mio, dual slot, wifi/bt, replaceable battery. 0X

The MPx is good, no doubt about it but the screen is to small I think.

[rock]

No VGA = No sale.

I look forward to the next 558.

[bjornkeizers]

Wow, those are some nice specs! 8O

If they ever sell these over here, you bet your ass I'm first in line! *drools*

[kanoswrx]

I like it, and if I needed a PPC today I would strongly consider this one. But I too will wait and see what the next version has, new 520 mhz intel processor and VGA 4" screen with 128 megs built in would be perfect.

[MikkoG]

I know some people who have the MIO 558 and report that it is a very good device. The only problem with it is that the BT and WIFI can't work at the same time and that there are some minor problem with the its BT.

About the 168, I have heard that it is also a good device, but you should know that if you own a European car you might have some problem with the reception because the front glass in those car contains metal.

[Jonathon Watkins]

Welcome MikkoG, good to see you! 8)

The only problem with it is that the BT and WIFI can't work at the same time...

That does not sound so bad - I think I would only want one at a time anyway.... probably...

...but you should know that if you own a European car you might have some problem with the reception because the front glass in those car contains metal.

So other counties cars don't? Why is that then?

[ctmagnus]

There have been a few occasions when I've used BT and WiFi at the same time.