Electronics, Lighting, & Gadgets - Any Idea When the Garmin 705 Will Be Replaced?

Anybody hear any rumors on this? What is their normal new model cycle, or is there one?

Thanks in advance for any thoughts.

Glenn

I haven't heard any rumours but the signs of pending replacement are there. With the introduction of the new Garmin 500 available 4th Quarter 2009 which means by Christmas, I wouldnt buy a 705 now. The 500 has a new form factor and has a black and white screen like the 205 and 305. The next higher end version with a color screen, maybe the Garmin 800???, can't be far away. I would venture to guess that the announcement of the new version of the 705 is just around the new year corner. Team Garmin will probably be riding with them in the Spring. It's buyer's remorse waiting to happen.

Garmin 500 - https://buy.garmin.com/shop/shop.do?cID=160&pID=36728

that's my fear - buyer's remorse.

Thanks

Glenn

Today Google demo-ed Google Maps on Android 2.0 devices (specifically the Droid phone about to be put on the market by Motorola/Verizon). It not only features turn-by-turn navigation, it does "augmented reality" with the navigation path superimposed on Street View images and includes realtime traffic info where available. Currently their map data is US only, but no doubt they'll add other countries over time. This will be a FREE app/service on all Android 2.0 devices.

Following the announcement, the stock prices of both Garmin and TomTom dropped sharply.

Personally I think dedicated GPS devices currently still have better battery life than networked mobile phone devices, but for most people it may not matter if they're using their phone in a car for navigation: the phone can be plugged into a car charger for juice.

Personally I think dedicated GPS devices currently still have better battery life than networked mobile phone devices, but for most people it may not matter if they're using their phone in a car for navigation: the phone can be plugged into a car charger for juice.

I agree. phone's are great but they are not great GPS devices IMO.

my iPhone 3G GPS is sort of ok and sort of tracks your ride but my usual experience with it is that it skips around significantly. On a typical 10+ mile commute it might loose 2 miles and record 8 miles. Missing turns, entire sections of the route and making best guesses between signal loss points. I don't rely on it for this anymore. It looses signal too frequently to be anywhere near accurate. If I were driving and needed to know generally where i was that would be ok but for tracing my route for data purposes it is not a good solution.

I really want to know if dedicated GPS units are better than this or not? Any opinions on that?

I have an iPhone 3G - previously owned a Garmin Edge 305 and now own the Garmin Edge 705. The answer is that Edge device is still a lot better. Here's why:

1) Battery Life - The iPhone runs out in 2 hours on GPS, the Edge 305 and Edge 705 can run 6 hours or more. Get a Garmin eTrex handheld and they can run for days on rechargeable NiMH AA batteries.

2) Turn by Turn - the iPhone talks, the Edge and eTrex beep at you. Right now, I haven't seen any software on the iPhone that easily takes a GPX and navigates it for you.

3) Logging - The Edge can navigate and log your stats at the same time. I'm sure someone will develop an app that does both well, but haven't seen it yet.

4) Altitude - don't haven an altimeter on the car turn-by-turns and the iPhone - the Edge and the handhelds do.

Most people look at the Google Android as a threat to Tom-Tom and Garmin's bread and butter - the automobile Turn-by-Turn Navigation and points of interest. I don't see the smart phones as a threat (yet) to the portable GPS devices for biking, hiking, etc.

Plus, let's face it - I dropped $350 on the Edge 705. The handheld GPSs are cheaper. The iPhone is $80 a month, plus $200 to get the latest. If all you need a is a good GPS - don't bother with the phone.