Mio 269+ satnav

Easy-to-use satnav that could do with going on a diet.

With this Windows-based satnav system, you should never have trouble finding people again - it syncs with Outlook, so you can plan a route directly to one of your contacts.

The process is simple - just plug it into your PC via the supplied USB cable, and the ActiveSync software loads all your contacts, and addresses, onto a memory card. Just tap in your mate's name and you get a map straight away. It's a great feature, but to use it you will need to buy an SD card.

Locating satellites is very quick at just a minute or two, and route calculation takes between ten and 20 seconds. The voice directions and crisp 3D maps on the 3.5-inch touchscreen are also particularly good for navigating city centres, while the built-in MP3 player makes motorway journeys fly by.

Design-wise, this unit is portable, but not necessarily that pocketable, with the large screen rendering it somewhat oversized and bloated.

This is a decent satnav device, but the cheaper Garmin i3 is a better choice if you prefer portability and don't need the syncing option.