MioTech today unveiled two of their latest handheld GPS navigation systems, the Mitac Mio268 and the Mio269, the first harddrive based handheld GPS system. Both powered by the Intel PXA-255 300 MHz, a sharp 3.5-inch 320 x 240 65K TFT Touchscreen LCD, 32MB ROM, 64MB SDRAM, built-in loud speaker and SD/MMC expansion slots. The Mio269 will come with a 1”, 2.5 GB Hard Disk Drive loaded with maps of Europe (500MB free for MP3 files), both players come with MP3 player software for some entertainment once your each your final destination.

The Mio’s are powered by a 1350 mAh rechargeable L-ion battery that will give you around 4.3 hours of full GPS usage with the LCD set at about half brightness, standby is estimated to last 21 days while charging is said to take only 2.5 hours.

They measure 138 mm (Length) × 72~78 mm (Width) × 26mm (Height) and weigh a mere 232g. With Microsoft Windows CE .Net 4.2 Core version being the backbone of the system, MioMap CE Version 1.0 based on Navigon’s Personal Navigator 4.2 is what will actually keep you on track.

The Mio268 (black and metallic colour) costs EUR 449; the Mio269 (charcoal grey and dark silver colour) with a 2GB hard disk costs EUR 649 and will be available from Mio’s website starting February.