Originally Posted by
gregf83
Why did you buy an Edge if your smartphone is better? My android smartphone wouldn't work as a bike computer - Abysmal battery life, no ANT+ support, not waterproof. Not even close to being a functional bike computer for me.
It's unlikely mainstream cellphones are going to ever be made as rugged and with as long a battery life as a dedicated bike computer. Life if full of compromises and Garmin has a decent niche providing devices dedicated to fitness activities. There are niche cellphones now which are rugged and have longer battery life but they are lousy cell phones so few people buy them.
I've been able to navigate routes with the 500 or the 800 so I think I'll manage with the 520. I don't use that feature very often so it's not a deal breaker either way for me.
Because back then I didn't realize that Garmin became another pump-and-dump device manufacturer...they used to "only" take a year to fix them, but they did.
ANT+ support doesn't matter anymore. Companies like 4iiii make an HRM strap that will pair with ANT+ sensors and relay all the data in Bluetooth Smart protocol...something Garmins still do not support, not even the 520. ANT+ is going the way of the parallel port on computers.