New Toy!
He-hey…. I finally received my new toy MIO 268+ today after all the hassle dealing with Parceline deliveries.
Also it was my first time buying stuffs over Ebay in UK which is quite cool actually with all the bidding fun; except that I missed both delivery attempts and had to pay extra to deliver on Saturday, bummer!
Anyway it’s a nice looking piece of toy, made in China (where else!). Satnav (or Satellite Navigator) has become increasingly common in UK. It is very common to see one of these gadgets sticks on the windscreen in moving cars on the street. It is so convenient whereby you will feel like you are travelling with a buddy who knows everywhere you want to go.
Since I arrived in the UK, I have been using www.theaa.com and maps.google.com to provide printed maps and directions for me. They are very reliable, accurate, but the main problem is that it is increasingly dangerous trying to read the instructions, reading road names, while at the same time looking out for driving hazards. Also if I miss a junction or turn, which I always do, I will have to work my way back to the same point and continue again. Adding to the pain is when driving in the city traffic especially in London city where you have bus lanes, congestion charge zones and one way streets. That’s why I usually decide to take the train or go for park and ride option.
Now, with this Mio 268+, if it is doing what it says on the review, it should solve all these problems. With the GPS capability, it will be in constant contact with satellites to get the current coordinates and produce all the directions I want to go. It will display instructions and speak out the direction as well so I can concentrate on driving and at the same time it will re-route to any new directions if I miss any turning/juctions. To be honest if I still miss turning/junctions even with the help of this gadget then I should book myself for a doctor’s appointment.
Do you know UK has a very well defined postcode system? Meaning a unique postcode is assigned to a very small area of addresses. Example is the flat where I am living has a postcode, while the opposite hospital (only 200 yards) has a different one. This allows satnavs to do a very precise destination search. Market leader Tom Tom provides full UK postcode search while this Mio 268+ only supports part of it. But I think it should be alright. Btw, I am going to test run this satnav tomorrow to Manchester and then to Preston hehe… Will kick it back to the seller if it turns out to be a lemon.
Also… it is my birthday present from my pregnant wife 
Man don’t always get upset with age during birthdays if there are good toys to play with.
hahaha… cool stuff. i saw recently selling this stuff in singapore. Ya! unique postcode. in singapore also applied the same, every building is different postcode. that is a embrassed story happened when i’m in singapore to fill up the form, in malaysia postcode is generic apply to area, but, in singapore, every building is different, i ask my frend who stay just next block from me, end up the letter is not success deliver to my house.
when i told my frend about it, then she only remend me that postcode is unique in singapore! gosh! that is really different. hahaha… but, learn from mistake, next time i will ask properly. what is the unique number for each information. hahaha…
I learnt something then, Sg is also similar that’s good. BTW the SATNAV worked well in Manchester and I am gonna keep it… ya hoooo…..!!
Comment by muimui — October 2, 2006 @ 10:12 am
errr SG so small also need satnav ar :p
Comment by mel — October 3, 2006 @ 8:15 pm