Edge 500/Dakota 20 upgrade to Edge 800?

[chrisb7]

I've got both a Garmin Edge 500 and a Garmin Dakota 20. I use the Edge for cycling and the Dakota mainly for walking but occasionally for following a unknown route whilst cycling. I'm considering selling both and replacing with an Edge 800. Guessing I'd get about £150ish for both combined on eBay so it'd be about £150 to upgrade as I've already got sensors/hr/maps (assuming the OS maps I bought for my Dakota are compatible).

Advantages I can see of the 800 over the Dakota are...

- 800 is slightly smaller/lighter
- I'd always have it with me when cycling whereas I only take the Dakota on a route I've not done before.

- Dakota is a little slow when following a map so hoping 800 would be quicker
- Screen is hard to see whilst cycling especially on clear days. Not sure if 800 would be any better though?

Only disadvantage I can see is that the battery needs USB to charge and can't just replace AA's if away from PC for a few days.

Against the 500 there is the advantage of always having maps available without any real disadvantages (OK it's slightly larger/heavier).

Has anyone already got an Edge 800? What are your first impressions?

Anyone else considering upgrading from an Edge 500 and/or Dakota?

Is it worth waiting for a few firmware updates before upgrading?

Chris

 

[ianrauk]

Before taking the ebay option, how about offering for sale to fellow forumites here on Cycle Chat?

 

[chrisb7]

I hadn't considered that as an option but I'll give it a go if I decide to change....

 

[Tollers]

I had my Edge 800 delivered to work yesterday. Sadly my commute home is 50 miles of highway so not really cycleable. Anyway, i was playing with it through the traffic to SF and was pretty impressed. It picks up GPS sugnal easily, highly customisable with up to 3 pages of data fields, each able to hold up to 10 different metrics. Maps seemed decent. Heart rate monitor confirmed i wasn't dead or a timelord. Only critique so far is that the rubber cover for the USB socket seems a really crappy design. Im not convinced its secure enough to prevent water ingress in a storm.

Anyway, so I haven't been out on the bike yet (both bikes in peices until this weekend), but first impressions are good.

p.s....i could imagine 800 screen will be hard to read unless i touch it to trigger backlight for a few seconds.

Tollers

 

[chrisb7]

Thanks for you first impressions.

Do you know of you can configure the map/directions screen to overlay other information (I.e. Cadence, speed, hr,etc.) ? On the Dakota you can only 2 bits of information at the top of the screen which isn't enough

Chris

 

[Tollers]

Thanks for you first impressions.

Do you know of you can configure the map/directions screen to overlay other information (I.e. Cadence, speed, hr,etc.) ? On the Dakota you can only 2 bits of information at the top of the screen which isn't enough

Chris

I know there are options for 1, 2 or custom. Tried 2 so far, but turned it off for the map screen as it added too much detail on the screen for my taste. Let me have a play with 'custom' now........Nope. the custom option just lets you choose whether to show up to 2 either when navigating only, or not navigating. Seems same as the dakota.

Tollers

 

[zacklaws]

p.s....i could imagine 800 screen will be hard to read unless i touch it to trigger backlight for a few seconds.

Tollers

I too am looking at getting a 750 or an 800, but what you mention about it being hard to read is also mirrored in the bikeradar review, but there's was a preproduction model and that problem is supposed to have been sorted out when it goes on the market, if I recall by a firmware update so maybe logging onto the garmin website may have a download to update it.

 

[Tollers]

I too am looking at getting a 750 or an 800, but what you mention about it being hard to read is also mirrored in the bikeradar review, but there's was a preproduction model and that problem is supposed to have been sorted out when it goes on the market, if I recall by a firmware update so maybe logging onto the garmin website may have a download to update it.

Really, I don't think its a big deal, just could be better. Normally you can read it fine, but the screen is pretty glossy and the display is set back a bit within the device making it a bit dark in there.

Here's how it looks for me....

But when light catches it at wrong angle....

Or here's a more useful comparison....Comparing to my Cateye Strada

 

[zacklaws]

Ahh with you now, maybe the bikeradar review had a different problem with reading the menu as it stated that they had to put the backlight on to make the font clear.

The problem you mention I also get with my Edge 305 in brightlight, even if it is not directly on the Edge my own reflection of my clothing if its bright can make it hard to read, but as my eyesight is bad, I find it difficult to read anyway so also have to use a VDO computer alongside, and use the Edge mainly for navigation and data recording.

Perhaps its possible to buy a matt or non reflective screen protector cut to size to remedy the problem.

 

[Tollers]

Ahh with you now, maybe the bikeradar review had a different problem with reading the menu as it stated that they had to put the backlight on to make the font clear.


Perhaps its possible to buy a matt or non reflective screen protector cut to size to remedy the problem.

That too. edited my my last post to show comparison with a cateye. It's not bad at all really, but not as good as the cateye. If reflections cause a problem, i'll end up trying your advice and using an iphone glare protector thingy. Good idea.

Mark

 

[dodgy]

What's great about the Edge 800, even with the thickest winter gloves on that you own (I wear Sealskinz lobster gloves in the cold), a quick paw/dab of the screen and it lights up. I have no bother reading my display, I only dab the screen if I want to pay particular attention to the map screen, everything else is clear enough for me.