Originally Posted by BikeIndustryGuy (Post 7944292)

I disagree, relative to every other bike computer, it is much better, and much more reliable (Polar is a serious joke), however, I was very disappointed with the firmware issues when I bought this 705 over the 305.
I still use my 305 after returning the 705.

Great customer service...whatever, Polar has great customer service, but that really doesn't help when they made poor products and keep replacing them.

I don't like Garmin's business plan of releasing a device too early and then dealing with customer issues in a touchy-feely way. I'd prefer they get it right from the beginning.

The 305 had early issues as well, and they finally dealt with them. So, while the 705 is cool, the 305 has almost all the same functionality, with greater reliability, at a fraction of the price.

Originally Posted by coldass (Post 7944418)

I can't believe that product development is so slow for bicycle GPS devices? Lack of competition I presume. Until value is represented I think the 705 is a huge ripoff at the price points and given the bug history. You only have to look at in-car GPS to reference this. Much better value. New products all the time (just look at Nuvi). A in-car GPS can't have bugs and survive.

I wish another company or two entered the market with a killer product to push Garmin along. It is obviously very early days for cycle GPS. I for one won't buy a 705 until it is half the price or twice the value.

I will buy a Garmin Nuvi (next week) over a TomTom (which I think is better) because of their cycling team sponsorship.

Originally Posted by umd (Post 7944437)

Again, the primary purpose of the Garmin Edge series is as a bicycle computer, not as a navigation device, otherwise what was the point of the 305? The 705 is an improvement over the 305 in many areas and one of them happens to be inclusion of maps and navigation, if somewhat limited. I just can't believe people expect the device to have the same features as a Nuvi considering how much smaller the units are. I'll bet if you opened an Edge up over half of it would be a battery. The Nuvi's are almost always plugged in, I know ours doesn't last very long on battery.

Originally Posted by coldass (Post 7944478)

Where did I say I'd use a Nuvi on my bike? It is going in my car...
I won't waste my money on a bike GPS until they work better - for nav/maps and computer functions.

Originally Posted by umd (Post 7944504)

You said "You only have to look at in-car GPS to reference this", I was just pointing out that the development of the Edge series and the Nuvi series is not comparable as they have different primary functions and limitations.

Originally Posted by coldass (Post 7944555)

You read me wrong I am with you on this.
The battery life of the in-car units sucks cause of their huge LCD and I'd never use one on a ride due to their lack of cycle specific features anyway. But bang-for-buck they make the Edge line a joke even given their obvious different primary functions and limitations. Competition is the difference (and volume sales no doubt). Garmin needs a foe in our market... Then see how good these things get and how fast.

Originally Posted by umd (Post 7944572)

I am sorry I misunderstood you then, but I still disagree that the Edge units are overpriced if you compare to other bike computers that have HR, cadence, altimeter, log data, transfer exercsise data to computer, have the ability to program in workouts and receive power data. There are Polar units that have similar features and are just as expensive.

Originally Posted by coldass (Post 7944622)

Polar cycle computers are also over priced and their reliability sucks (have a failed unit right here).

The Edge 305 is 'well priced' - but it is old tech. The 705 should be this price.

Originally Posted by umd (Post 7944642)

I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. The 705 is about the price that the 305 was when it was new. The 305 is much less money now because it is old. I'm sure that Garmin is in some back room working on a new version and when it's released the 705 will be cheaper and the new one will be the same price. FWIW, Quarq is working on a GPS-based bike computer/power head unit that's going to be $995, while Edge 705s can be had for about $400.

Originally Posted by btographer (Post 7960739)

I picked up a refurbished 305 on Ebay and absolutely love it. For all of the features, I think it is a bargin! I went through 3 different wired computers that only worked some of the time. No problems ever with the Garmin. I learned how to plot courses and explored a lot of new routes that I never would have tried without the Garmin. I like that when I travel and rent a bike, I can bring it along and just mount it on the bike and go.

Originally Posted by Hammer02 (Post 7961268)

What do you need to do to get power readings from a 705?

I wasn't aware that they offered power?

Originally Posted by umd (Post 7961398)

you need an ant+sport wireless power meter such as a quarq, srm, or powertap (updater shipping soon?). I have the quarq.