RMMJ

I started researching the Edge 500 and found this...

https://forums.garmin.com/forumdisplay.php?f=219

What a mess! One problem after another. I mean I can understand one or two bugs, but that's just inexcusable. Do people agree? How many of you are disappointed with it?

JonnyHK 

Mine has been fine for over a year (when it replaced a 2 year old 305 that died).

schaaf

vocal minority...

Most of their gripes have to do with advanced features and the latest firmware update. Nothing that cant be straightened out down the road.

If you are using it for Speed/cadence/HR/distance/time you'll be fine.
The issues are with courses and other things I have never used on mine so far...

RMMJ

It's those features you don't use that make the thing cost $350. You should have $40 on a Cateye.

BetweenRides

I've never had an issue in 20 months of use with the 500. Mine replaced a 2 year old 305 that I still use on an old bike. I did have a few issues on the 305 when it was new, but all were addressed by Garmin. One other friend has had similar experience with the 500/305 and 2 have had very positive experience with their 705's for well over 2 years. I've owned a Garmin Nuvi GPS for the car for many years, also with no issues. I agree on the vocal minority - I've read many posts on the Garmin forums. Some have legit complaints but they seem to start off with positions of anger and vengeance, which I don't understand. Any dealings I have had with Garmin have been very positive. I would hold them up as one of the best companies to deal with in terms of customer support and warranty. But that is just my experience.

BetweenRides

You might be right, but please provide a link to where someone can buy this $40 Cateye. And tell me it has 3 customizable screens for +75 different measures where all rides upload to mapping software on multiple websites. It must also have a removing head unit, double as a computer for a powertap or other ant+ power devices, have built in HR, wireless cadence etc., etc. If it is as you bill it for $40, I might just buy one.

hammond9705

Agree on the vocal minority. The only people who go to the garmin forums are people with problems. I've had mine since they were new, and if I lost my 500 I would buy a replacement tomorrow.

petrolhead

Mine's awesome. almost 3000kms, never lost a ride or had glitches with the data. It's an invaluable training tool, I use the audible alerts to remind me to fuel regularly, and another alert when my heart rate goes too high when doing base miles training. Totally recommend it.

twobadfish

What a mess?

I don't think owners would be very apt to seek out a Garmin forum and post gleaming reviews when really the forum is meant for help. I can already see the solution/problem with at least 3 of those threads and I haven't personally had any experience with other problems listed.

Help forums should be expected to be littered with problems.

I can't say much about the course function. I'll try it tomorrow though.

eja_ bottecchia

True that!

Looigi

I've used Garmin GPS products starting back in 1991 with an aviation unit. I've since owned and used auto, marine, and aviation Garmin products. I've also owned an Edge 705 for the past year. The cycling product have tremendous number of bugs and new software releases tend to introduce more bugs than they fix. They've even pulled releases and reverted to previous versions after users found them to be too buggy. Garmin must put their worst developers on the cycling products as a form of punishment or something. At any rate, some features are pretty solid, and others aren't, so whether you are satisfied or frustrated with the device depends a lot on how and why you use it.

I'm flabbergasted by how fouled up the 800 was when it was first released... and it is still plagued with major bugs and design flaws.

There is a new player in the market, Bryton, so it'll be interesting to see how things develop now that Garmin has some competition. Garmin is suing Bryton, BTW.

Phil85207

I had a few minor glitches with my 800 but after an update they were solved. Plagued with what"major bugs". I sure don't have them. I too have been a garmin user for years and have very few glitches and found there customer service to be more than satisfactory when inquiring about an issue. I sometimes wonder what people do to have "so many problems"??

znomit

I've lost two rides on my 500 (from 130 odd). Both times from rapid use of the start/stop button.
My only real gripe is I can't continue an activity after(or during) a battery recharge.