Mio's Knight Rider GPS gets reviewed, high-fived

Sure, we've been totally into Mio's Knight Rider GPS, but how does it really stack up? PC Magazine took it out for a test drive and found that the device is essentially a Moov 300, which they say has solid route calculation times and a straightforward menu system. The Knight Rider version comes pre-loaded with maps for the US, Canada and Puerto Rico -- an improvement over typical Mio US-only map packs -- and the reviewer likes the device's 58 POI categories (compared to the Moov 310's paltry 35). The biggest knock on the unit is the lack of live traffic on-board; you have to purchase a subscription and a separate receiver (not yet available on Mio's web site). Of course, you could always go for the aforementioned 310 with a built-in traffic receiver (and $20 lower price tag), but how cool would that be? Not cool at all. Don't take our word for it, though, hit the read link and check out the whole review for yourself.

[Homeboy @ Sep 30th 2008 3:20PM]

Not impressed. Still waiting for my Soulja Boy, T-pain or Mr.T GPS.

[From My Cube @ Sep 30th 2008 3:23PM]

Id prefer the lil John GPS personally

[Shoumik @ Sep 30th 2008 3:30PM]

might as well sneak in a steve jobs edition.

[blevay @ Sep 30th 2008 3:34PM]

You can get Mr T on a Tom Tom....

[xcrunk @ Sep 30th 2008 3:48PM]

Don't forget the Steve Ballmer edition. It screams out the directions and simulates sweating.

Pocket PC format, of course.

[OneDollarBill @ Sep 30th 2008 4:15PM]

@From My Cube

LOL@lil John GPS

Driver: "route home"
lil John GPS: "WHAAAT?!"
Driver: "ROUTE home"
lil John GPS: "WHAAAT?!"
Driver: "ROUTE HOME!!"
lil John GPS: "OKAY!"

[avester @ Sep 30th 2008 3:20PM]

Why on earth would you need a traffic reciever? You have TURBO BUTTON.

[webon @ Sep 30th 2008 3:32PM]

who'll buy this crap? really who?

[Rogue_Genius @ Sep 30th 2008 4:25PM]

People who like gadgets, I'm assuming.

[coffee @ Sep 30th 2008 3:47PM]

only if it comes with a liter of vodka and a floor cheeseburger

[steveo @ Sep 30th 2008 4:16PM]

I am the Night Rider

HEHAHAHAWHAHAEHWHWHAH

[EskimoPie @ Sep 30th 2008 4:19PM]

Why don't you guys just get a room with the damn thing and get it over with... the infatuation is getting a little weird...

[Snowizfun @ Sep 30th 2008 4:33PM]

Does the GPS come with sarcastic remarks or a mode where you fight crime?

[strider_mt2k @ Sep 30th 2008 5:42PM]

No text to speech and Mr. Feeny make Homer something something...

[Super Geeky @ Sep 30th 2008 6:13PM]

D'oh! God love Homer J. Simpson.

FYI: TTS is available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Polish among others...English is preloaded on the unit with Samantha's voice...(not my favorite)...download the other TTS languages from the DVD.

[Rick wilson @ Sep 30th 2008 5:42PM]

Does anyone know the list of names it says?

[Allen Jazeera @ Sep 30th 2008 6:17PM]

I'm not sure I'd like a nav that keeps calling me Michael.

[Super Geeky @ Sep 30th 2008 6:45PM]

I haven't seen an official list, but Richard is in there...sorry no Rick.

(I have a feeling since the character's name is Michael and not Mike, most of the "proper" spellings are on there instead...like Kathleen instead of Kathy; Stephen instead of Steve; Deborah instead of Debbie...etc...)

However Amelie, Ewan, Freya, Imogen, Isla, Kian, Maisie, Poppy, Rhys and Reece, Sky, Zara are also on the unit and those are not very "common" names.

(...If you want to know more, let me know I'll just turn it on...I certainly don't feel like typing them all out. Ha!)

[Slipstream @ Sep 30th 2008 8:30PM]

I love the Knight Rider GPS. For Homeboy at the top, you can get Mr. T from www.navtones.com. They have Mr. T, Kim Cattrall, Dennis Hopper, Gary Busey... And they are the one's behind the Knight Rider GPS. They provided the voice, K.I.T.T., so you know it's the real deal.
"Homeboy, where can I take you today?"

[reisa @ Sep 30th 2008 9:00PM]

GPS fans help me out ... I get the novelty of the Knight Rider theme here -- but the unit looked and sounded cheap when I played with it at Radio Shack. I have GPS in my LG Voyager (Verizon). What options does this KR unit have that mine wouldn't? I haven't played with many other GPS devices, as I've been happy with what's built into my phone. It has traffic, multiple viewing angles, it speaks the directions, etc. I can't give it voice commands, but that's the only knock I have on it. Anybody familiar with the differences?

[Will @ Oct 1st 2008 7:31PM]

reisa:

if you're not into ridiculously awesome 80's TV shows, the Knight Rider GPS isn't for you. If you ARE into aforementioned entertainment: get one, kevlar your Hyundai, and go eliminate some villains.

[Super Geeky @ Oct 2nd 2008 9:52AM]

VZ Nav has pedestrian mode, that ability to search for restaurants by type (American, Italian etc.) and traffic updates however the acquisition time is much slower than the aforementioned Knight Rider.

Knight Rider offers TTS in a variety of languages, WAAS, pre-loaded Canadian Map, less than 10 second recalculation time, has the ability to create a multi-stop trip, can monitor your speed, auto day to night screen color change to lessen glare and also has screen brightness controls.

Of course it has the LED lights, the voice guidance from William Daniels, aka K.I.T.T....but that goes without saying.

I use VZ Nav as well as my Knight Rider when I'm in a pinch, however I can't use my phone as a phone entirely when VZ Nav is running. Although I have the unlimited service that includes VZ Nav, you do pay for the service monthly. With the Knight Rider you buy the unit and pay no more after that...VZ Nav costs $9.99 a month so after almost a year and a half you would be up to the current price of the unit at $269. Also the map update from Mio for 2009 is now free for a few units; Knight Rider is one of them, just go to their website for more details.

It comes down to how much you travel, if you dig the nostalgia of Knight Rider and if you have the cash to spend...
Hope that helped a little!

[lucid66 @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:42PM]

Hi have a MIO GPS and like the maps.. very clean.. so it will still be good.

[mrs clause @ Nov 11th 2008 1:07PM]

does anyone know if the knight rider gps systen can load topographical maps? As well as traveling, we like to take the logging roads and check out the lakes.

[Tom W @ Dec 19th 2008 3:00PM]

We've got this Model at RadioShack, and It actually has a Quite Extensive list of Preloaded Greeting Names, But When It Says, "I'm really going to Enjoy this, Tom!" It's quite Creepy =/