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  #1  
Old 08-26-2010, 11:05 AM
mandasol mandasol is offline
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Garmin Edge 800

I'm pretty happy with my Edge 500 (after the latest firmware update). Don't know if I need any extra functionality or even the touch screen of the 800. Kinda seems like it would be tough to use with full fingered gloves.



http://garmin.blogs.com/my_weblog/20...ng-easier.html


http://www.bikeradar.com/news/articl...e-review-27494
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  #2  
Old 08-26-2010, 11:22 AM
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MattTuck MattTuck is offline
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If anything, it will hopefully reduce the prices of the rest of the Edge line up. Maybe I'll be able to afford the 705.
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  #3  
Old 08-26-2010, 11:43 AM
EastCoastRoadie EastCoastRoadie is offline
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Garmin Edge 800

I have had the 705 since it came out. While all of the GPS features are nice, I really don't use them at all despite logging thousands of miles on my bike every year. The 500 seems like the way to go right now. While the 800 looks really cool, it seems to be all about the "prettiness" of the interface (bigger screen, everything in color, etc.). I am sure you can't go wrong no matter which one you get, but can't imagine you will lust for features on the 800 if you buy the 500.
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  #4  
Old 08-26-2010, 11:46 AM
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norcalbiker norcalbiker is offline
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I have the 500 and it is really more than I need right now and very happy with it except the battery. It doesn't seems to last long 2 or 3 of ride at the most.
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  #5  
Old 08-26-2010, 11:53 AM
RADaines RADaines is offline
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Lots of info here:

http://www.dcrainmaker.com/
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  #6  
Old 08-26-2010, 12:05 PM
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znfdl znfdl is offline
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I really wish that Garmin would create a device that has atleast 24 hours of battery life.

Looks great for people who just want to go out and ride and explore.
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  #7  
Old 08-27-2010, 11:58 AM
bozman bozman is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by znfdl
I really wish that Garmin would create a device that has atleast 24 hours of battery life.

Looks great for people who just want to go out and ride and explore.
+1

the 800 is huge. like strapping my ipod touch to the bars.
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  #8  
Old 08-27-2010, 01:34 PM
mandasol mandasol is offline
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For my 500 I find the battery left percentage indicator to be pretty accurate. On mine it uses up about 8% of the battery for every hour of use from full charge to near empty.
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  #9  
Old 08-27-2010, 02:29 PM
mgm777 mgm777 is offline
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Question for 500 users.

Can you store more than one ride on the 500? Also, how does the upload process work? Occassionaly, I use my wife's 405 (running GPS watch) for riding and it seems the upload interface to that USB receiver can be somewhat finicky. Is the 500's process similiar? Thanks in advance. I am considering the 500.
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  #10  
Old 08-28-2010, 03:22 PM
djg21 djg21 is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bozman
+1

the 800 is huge. like strapping my ipod touch to the bars.

It's actually 1/2" shorter than the 705, and the 705 was not excessively oversized. From the Garmin website:

705: 2" x 4.3" x 1" (5.1 x 10.9 x 2.5 cm)
800: 2" x 3.7" x 1" (5.1 x 9.3 x 2.5 cm)

On the other hand, the 800 screen is significantly larger, which makes a difference on any GPS:

705: 1.37" x 1.71" (3.48 x 4.36 cm); 2.2" diag (5.6 cm)
805: 1.4" x 2.2" (3.8 x 5.6 cm); 2.6" diag (6.6 cm)

The one thing the 800 does not appear able to do is exchange info with other devices wirelessly. I actually used this feature when going on pre-planned group rides where I was unfamiliar with the terrain. It was nice to be able to have someone send me a pre-loaded course that I could follow.

I'm also curious to see how the touchscreen will work with sweaty hands, and if the screen will remain readable when covered with greasy fingerprints.
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  #11  
Old 08-26-2010, 12:13 PM
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MattTuck MattTuck is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastRoadie
I have had the 705 since it came out. While all of the GPS features are nice, I really don't use them at all despite logging thousands of miles on my bike every year. The 500 seems like the way to go right now. While the 800 looks really cool, it seems to be all about the "prettiness" of the interface (bigger screen, everything in color, etc.). I am sure you can't go wrong no matter which one you get, but can't imagine you will lust for features on the 800 if you buy the 500.

I tend to agree with you if you know the roads you ride pretty well. I can tell you (being a temporary resident of the fine state of Washington), the 705 would be damn useful to plan routes and download the routes the locals use.
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  #12  
Old 08-26-2010, 12:30 PM
roydyates roydyates is offline
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Opposite reaction

I guess I don't care too much about the training features. I can estimate my heart rate pretty well from how hard I'm breathing.

The best thing about the 705 is the ability to explore new areas without getting lost or wasting time to stop and study the map. Also, if you're into randonneuring, you can mostly put aay the cue sheet. The next best thing is the barometric altimeter so you get a good estimate of your suffering in vertical feet.

I'd be happy with a unit with the 705 mapping and the barometric altimeter but without the fitness extras.
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  #13  
Old 08-26-2010, 12:44 PM
srice srice is offline
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I am happy to see that Garmin has now added satellite imagery. I purchased a DeLorme unit for this purpose and while I was pleased with the images, I was very disappointed with the battery life and readability of the text. When my current Edge 605 dies again - I'll probably pick one of these up.
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  #14  
Old 08-26-2010, 01:36 PM
bocarider bocarider is offline
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I think the 705 is great

I love my 705. The training features are excellent as it pairs with my power meter and I can create then upload interval workouts in Garmin Training Center and download results into WKO+. The fact that I can run an interval workout without having to touch a button, except the start button, is a super nice feature. The ability to program so many data screens (power, heart rate, speed, cadence, time, lap average power, max power) lets me see how badly I suck in multiple ways in real time on the bike.

The mapping to me is also super functional and one of the best features. When my wife and I have travelled with our bikes to places we have never been before, I have mapped out routes in both MapSourse and on ridewithgps.com and downloaded them onto the 705. It works really well. Plus, if you want to deviate from the plotted route because you see a nice road you want to explore, the unit recalculates to get you back on track. We also use it driving in the rental car and walking around cities as well.

My experience is that both the fitness, mapping, uploading and downloading features of the 705 work really well. I am always surprised at people’s complaints that it is not functional or it is too big and clunky to have on their stem.
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  #15  
Old 08-26-2010, 07:41 PM
mtb_frk mtb_frk is offline
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I wonder if the screen is anything like the one on the Oregon series. It looked nice but was quite dim in full sunlight. Adding the touch screen degrades the optical quality, so it will be interesting to see how this unit performs. I am quite happy with my 500 now that the firmware patch has fixed the locking up "feature".
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