Introducing the world’s first Network Blu-ray Disc Player that streams from Neflix instantly. Enjoy Blu-ray Discs in Full HD, watch standard DVDs in near-HD up-scaled to 1080p, gain access to over 12,000 select Netflix movies and TV episodes in standard definitions and take advantage of interactive experiences, exclusive downloads and tons of extra features with BD Live. That’s innovation. That’s LG.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Works great with Netflix!
I got this for Christmas 2008. Almost returned it until I read further along in these reviews. I could NOT get it to update and that is MANDATORY before it will go online to Netflix. I downloaded them manually and did the upgrade by USB flash drive thinking that would fix the network problem. It didn’t. So I read in here that the box has problems with DIR-655 router and the latest firmware on it. So the solution is to manually set a static IP on your network and assign a DNS server that is outside the router like the ISP’s. Once I did that Netflix came right up. Tried an HD stream and it was gorgeous. I could almost think it was OTA HD broadcast quality. Now I have to admit that when there is a lot of movement in the picture I can detect a slight lagging of frames. I’d rather it not be there but still it isn’t so bad as to make it a problem for me. The convenience of Netflix on demand is so nice as to make me think if the streaming version is available I wouldn’t bother to even rent the DVD version. I wish all titles were available. Even so, there is a tremendous amount available now.

As to Bluray playback I’ve only tried two titles so far. As expected they are incredible and almost 3D. Having less than perfect eyesight though it isn’t as big a “wow” factor as instant Netflix streaming.

Final verdict: Highly recommended.

4 Stars Great for Blu-Ray but missing WiFi and Netflix is not great
The quality of the Blu-Ray disks are great when played back and have played regular DVD’s and they are much improved over our older player. As with most any Blu-Ray, you will notice not only the improvement in video but was not expecting such a dramtic increase in sound.

I wish we could be more flexible in placement of the unit, but are stuck getting it close to the router as it needs an ethernet connection.

Also the Netflix movies that stream are very poor in quality, they tend to stop and buffer and are not much better than analog TV. I would expect that this is all based on internet connection speed, but since there is no buffering and just live streaming slow downs are very annoying.

5 Stars USB Functionality?
I would be interested to hear from any BD300 owners regarding the functionality of the USB port and Media files.

Some of the LG press releases I’ve seen clearly state that media files (d-pix, MP3/music, and VIDEO) can be played from an attached USB drive… though they state FLASH/thumb-drives.

I’d be interested in knowing if the VIDEO part is true, and (if anyone’s willing to experiment) what common CODEC’s and file types are supported… such as DVD “ISO” files, MPG2 video, VOB, DivX or XviD, MKV, etc.

I’d like to think the Engineers (or more likely, Marketing guys who drive the Engineering departments) were thinking at least a LITTLE bit when it was being designed. I have hoped to find a BD player that can play full resolution “rips” of my BD and DVD discs. I would use an external multi-TB USB drive array, sitting near the player. This way I can leave the original disc nearly “untouched” in my library (already have over 250 DVD’s), needed only if/when the USB drive dies or if I want to use the movie off-site.

Comments?

4 Stars Good Player, But Need More Netflix Programming
I had been tempted to order this player for quite a while, but the price and the limited availability of Netflix titles kept holding me back. Just in time for my birthday, however, the price dropped so I received the BD300 as a gift.

Overall, I like the simplicity of the unit. Pop in a DVD or CD and you are automatically taken to those features. If there’s no disc in the player, the easy on-screen menu lands on the Netflix streaming option. Click on it and you are presented with a list of the Netflix programs that you dropped in your queue (through a web browser on your computer). Just click on one to start the program.

The blu-ray playback is very good, but I wanted this unit for the Netflix streaming. Quality on that feature is good, about what you’d get with a VHS tape. I see a lot of promise with this feature but am absolutely frustrated with the limited number of streaming programs available. For instance, I’m watching the first season of MacGyver through streaming, but as I write this, the other seasons are not available through the streaming option. I have to order the DVDs.

In fact, very little of the Netflix library is available for instant play. I’m guessing maybe about 1% is. Most annoying. And, I would hope in future versions (if there are any) that there is some feature that allows browsing available programs from the unit. Currently, you have to go to the Netflix web site on your computer to select programs.

So, it’s a good blu-ray player for the money, but be prepared to be disappointed with Netflix as far as program availability for the streaming feature.

3 Stars “loading, please wait”
The good: network connection, solid audio (w/ fiber audio output), good video output w/ Blu-ray movies. Network connection makes firmware/software upgrades easy! USB port, I believe to add storage space (and to use for playing music/video via USB).

The bad: Netflix didn’t stream very well. Blu-ray Live did not work.

I had high hopes for this unit. My first dip into Blu-ray – I was lured in by the promise of playing Netflix on the thing. “Loading, Please Wait” and “retrieving” are the two most common things shown when trying to stream Netflix. I have this directly connected to my router with an Ethernet cable and my Internet connection is ~10Mbps.

What’s RIDICULOUSLY annoying is the length of time it takes to actually begin playing something from Netflix. It’ll start retrieving video at one quality and then start again when it detects the Internet speed has changed. Ultimately, you can wait up to 3 minutes before you get to see something. What’s just as annoying is when it continuously readjusts the quality in the middle of a movie or episode. Also, I’ve played about 5-6 things from Netflix so far and one episode’s audio was totally out of sync (about a 2-second lag).

If you’re purchasing this item and plan on using the Netflix streaming capabilities, you’ll need to be extremely patient! If it hones in on a mid-range video quality, the streaming appears to do well (at VHS quality levels).

Also, the Blu-ray Live didn’t work on the one disc that I tried (not enough disk space error).

Buy/More Info

The ultimate interactive experience is here. The Samsung BD-P2500 is BD-Live 2.0 Ready so you can enjoy special interactive features, download extra content from the internet and more. You’ll also enjoy bold color and crisp details with full 1080p resolution. Movie night just got even more exciting with the highest-quality audio and an incredible picture.Get ready for the ultimate interactive film experience. The Samsung BD-P2500 lets you take full advantage of interactive features like downloadable video content, ringtones, games and more. Download additional content from the internet or even chat with friends when watching the same movie.You’re in full command with the BD-P2500. Anynet+ delivers streamlined, one-touch control over all your Anynet+ compatible devices such as the TV, AV receiver, and home theater. You can operate all of them with a single remote control. A true “plug and play” product, it comes with a Consumer Electronics Control feature that lets you operate Samsung HDMI products with one remote control.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Excellent player for the money
I’ll keep this brief as there’s plenty of detail in others’ posts. Bought this player about a month ago and so far I’ve been more than satisfied.

As mentioned by a lot of people, the video quality for BR discs as well as standard DVDs (upscaling) is exceptional. I use it on a fairly old Sony Grand Vega 42″ LCD HDTV with no HDMI capability – so I’m limited to 1080i (with component video) – but it still blows me away, especially older DVDs. For instance, I’ve compared the standard “Planet Earth” DVDs that I have with someone else’s Blu-Ray version (using HDMI etc…) and can barely see any difference.

Haven’t used the Netflix feature or gone online yet but very happy so far. I haven’t seen any slow load times so far either.

4 Stars Yes, I bought this one.
I bought this player for the bedroom and it’s fine. I have this as the only stand alone and a Playstation 3 (better value, but a pain) as the player in the home theater. I like this player and give it 4 stars. Only 4 because of the trouble with the 2 year old Philips plasma and HDMI issue. I’m pretty happy with the quality of the Netflix download service on a 42″ screen. Falls apart in dark and high motion like most MPEG downloads.

While I’ve got your attention, let’s get a few things straight:

1. Blu Ray is slow.

2. Blu Ray is very sensitive to dust,scratches, and fingerprints.

3. Your BluRay player may not play all BluRay discs. Sorry if you opened it before figuring this out.

4. If you have a TV that suuports HDMI but not BluRay, you may have to use Component cables. You did know that HDMI was cooked up for digital rights management, not quality, right? Apple had to have something to do with it . . .

5. The online update works fine on mine but takes forever. By forever I mean 10-15 minutes. This is on a internet connection that’s fast enough to not buffer video.

6. You can’t tell it’s in High Def on anything less than 50″.

7. They haven’t found a good use for BDLive(The internet tie in).

5 Stars Great Picture, Best Choice for Netflix Subscibers
This is a great machine at a great price for those looking to update to Blu-Ray and have Netflix. You need an USB wifi adapter or ethernet cable to update the firmware and use the Netflix features. Yes, it’s a pain to hook up initially (my firmware update took over an hour to download and install), but I couldn’t be happier now. Just be patient.

1) Blu-Ray discs look amazing – as they probably do with all players

2) DVD’s look unbelievable. Great upscaling!

3) Sound quality on movies is great , but you can’t expect everything from one machine. Audio CD’s and Audio DVD’s are pretty bad. I have a NAD cd-player also hooked up into my Denon receiver and the sound quality is not close to the sound on the Samsung. Music is important to me and this machine is NOT GOOD FOR AUDIO.

*AUDIO SIDE NOTE – If you like listening to music, spend $150-$300 and get yourself a Denon DCN-370 (5-disc changer, about $275) or any of the NAD CD Players (T-215BEE’s can be had for $150-$200).

4) NETFLIX is really, really fun. Much better quality video than on my laptop hooked up to the same internet connection. HD movies are DVD quality, normal movies are a little worse than DVD. It was easier to set-up and use than described by a lot of people and had a one-time set-up with the netflix website. The future of TV is right in front of our eyes.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

4 Stars Definitely worth the money if you have a Netflix subscription…
Although this is is my first Blu-ray player, the main reason why I purchased this was for Netflix streaming, which already being an avid Netflix lover, makes me love it even more. Being a huge film buff, always searching for new films/TV, this player is great because you can never run out of things to watch!

Although a lot of people have commented on the lengthy load time, it doesn’t seem to bother me, nor does the fact you have to add Netflix selections to your add instantly queue from your computer. I also think that the quality of regular DVDs is enhanced a bit on this player and I like the feature of it shutting off automatically after standing idol for a while because I’ve heard of these blu-ray/netflix players burning out (more specifically in the LG version, not the Samsung). Also, the pause/rewind/fastforward/resumeplay is a great feature on the watch instantly selections. Having all these films/TV shows at your fingertips is like owning them, at least for the period that they’re offered as watch instantly, plus Netflix is ALWAYS adding more stuff to watch, so it’s very difficult to run out of watching something new everyday.

The reasons why I rated this 4 stars and not 5 are:

- On some of the Netflix options, the syncing doesn’t match up. It may not bother some people, but I can’t watch something when the sound is a few seconds behind the picture.

- The first time I installed the firmware, it took over an hour, which was very discouraging seeing how excited I was to see how the player worked. It turns out that the system froze and being the first time it was ever used, made me a little weary, but it worked after rebooting and I haven’t had a firmware problem since.

- On certain Blu-rays, the sound is a little off. For instance, on Wall-e, the music was really loud compared to everything else and you couldn’t hear anything that Wall-e was saying. I messed with the sound options on the player and nothing seemed to work. I don’t think this problem, however, is the player’s fault seeing that I don’t have and HD tv nor do I have surround sound. I think this problem could be easily fixed with these things, which I am planning to get in the near future, but am pleased the Netflix and regular DVD player worked, for the most part, without them.

Overall, I’m so pleased with this player, and although it’s a little more pricey, it’s refreshing being able to watch something new everyday with Netflix streaming, play your DVDs, your Blu-rays (and more!) for just the price of this player and a Netflix subscription. Highly recommended!!

4 Stars Good Unit
I would recommend the BDP2500 because of the netflix compatability. The feature which allows you to instantly stream to your tv from netflix through the BD player is fantastic. And I haven’t compared first hand to other players, but the picture quality of BD’s and regular dvd’s(upconverted) seems to be very good.

Buy/More Info

TiVo HD is a smart addition to any high-definition TV, combining the clarity of high definition with the smart, easy-to-use TiVo Service. It works with any cable set-up. It connects to any home network, so you get access to the best of both broadcast and broadband content. It downloads the latest movies straight from the Internet to your living room. It can pause, rewind, and slow-motion your favorite moments with razor-sharp HD clarity. Plus, TiVo HD connects to virtually any cable service via CableCARDs1, so it replaces your existing cable box.

TiVo HD Features
Search for HD movies and sports: With our intelligent search features, you can easily find a specific director, actor, player, or team among the world of both broadcast and broadband content. Prefer to see a movie in high definition? Do a WishListTM search and the TiVo service will automatically record the HD version and place it in your Now Playing List.

Record movies in HD: When recording with TiVo HD, you have the option of capturing shows in standard or high definition. Plus, when you play them back, you can easily pause or rewind HD instant replays without ever sacrificing their original razor-sharp HD resolution.

Download movies from the Internet: Don’t see any great movies in your cable program guide? You can easily select a classic or new release from the world’s largest movie library, order them with a click of your remote control, and have them downloaded directly to your TiVo box.

Access your music library with the remote: When you connect your TiVo DVR to your home network, your HDTV can connect right to millions of songs and playlists available over the Internet. You can now enjoy digital music on the best sound system in the house.

Schedule an HD premiere: With TiVo, you can do your TV scheduling from any computer when you are away from home. Log onto TiVo.com, click on a show, and you’re done.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Good integration of home network, internet, and TV
I bought a refurb unit direct from Tivo with a one year subscription and the HDMI cable. It works great with my antenna only connection to my HDTV and a Cat5 wire from my router which I recommend for a fast internet connection.

The advantages over my old vcr are amazing since I could not find reliable TV guides on the web. The Tivo’s subcription price is well worth the advantage of the accurate schedule guide information for TV and internet video’s. I am finding more free antenna programming that I knew existed. The ease of recording one or a “season’s” supply of a program is such a joy.

Then I downloaded the Tivo “Desktop” (free) software which allows you to put nearly any photo and music files from your computer on your TV screen. This works so well that I later purchased the “Desktop Plus” version that adds video transfer. However I had to find a conversion program to mp4 for video files that are jpeg from my Cannon camera. With my wireless wifi laptop connection in my home it is so nice to throw any picture or video from my computer on the TV screen for the family to watch.

I must admit that I initially had problems getting the Tivo “Desktop” software to connect until I reset my Linksys WRT54G wireless router back to the original firmware. Then it connected via plug ‘n play with no special settings.

Tivo does connect direct to photo sharing web sites from Picasa and Photobucket. If others send you pictures on these photo services then you can view them easily on your TV. But if they use other photo services, most of them don’t allow batch downloading to photo files; I haven’t found a way to get their pictures on the TV via Tivo. I hope Tivo can add many more photo services soon.

The next big advantage is the Tivo internet connection to Netflix and Amazon Unbox for movies. I’ve used both and the picture quality and sound is as good as the average rental DVD. I tend to use my $8.95/mo Netflix subscription the most since I can download an unlimited number of movies (at no additional charge) for “instant watch” via the Tivo. With Netflix I select many more movies even if I’m unsure that I saw it before, or I can take more chances on unknown films since I can delete and move on to the next movie in a minute.

Also there are a bunch of internet video programs that Tivo can connect to for special interests and you can schedule them for download just like TV programs. I expect this will expand greatly in the future.

The “365″ web radio programs was a disappointment since I like talk shows and none of my favorite national talk shows are available. I was hoping to listen to past shows on demand.

5 Stars Tivo- best DVR on the market… by far!
Tivo is leagues above your cable provider’s DVR box. It is really the little things that make Tivo better, a lot of little things. First off you have the great looking interface and audio feedback. The menu system is a pleasure to navigate compared to your cable provider’s DVR box. The TV Guide in Tivo is a great design providing the next 2 weeks of shows, updated nightly, to your screen. You can hook up your home computer to Tivo and have it play your home videos, pictures and music library and play them on your home theater system. Once you connect Tivo to the web, you get many more goodies such as Netflix “Instant Watch” movie downloads (if you are a Netflix member), you can browse for movie show times in your local area and buy movie tickets through Fandango. You can browse YouTube and watch the videos right on your TV. You can even order pizza off of your Tivo Series III. Another great feature is when you are going to record a live sporting event, Tivo will ask you if you want to add extra time to the recording so that you won’t miss the very end and you can record an unexpected overtime. Tivo has an 8 second jump back feature that works instantly without hesitation even when pressed multiple times. It has a jump forward 30 seconds feature to help skip annoying commercials. You can record non-copyrighted TV and movies and have them transferred to your home computer and converted then put on your iPod with Tivo To Go. You can also increase the hard drive size by connecting an eSATA external hard drive so you can store more gigabytes of HD movies and HD TV. You can’t go wrong with a Tivo Series III.

5 Stars TiVo Review
The TiVo was very difficult to set up. Took several hours and 2 trips to the store to pick up cables that didn’t come with the order… also, it should have come with at least 1 yr free service!

3 Stars Good for Tivo, but the OLD Tivo OS is frustrating
This is a good Tivo, but it is frustrating that Tivo preistalles ancient versions of their OS on these systems. I had to go through TWO upgrades over slow dial up lines before I could get the wireless option to show up. This is just silly. But once it is installed and running, this is a nice system.

5 Stars and now it works with Netflix? w00t!
Now TIVO can tie into your Netflix instant queue and stream movies directly to your TV!!!

I sent my Moxi DIVO (Dumb-TIVO) right back to the cable company in trade for a multi-stream cable card and never looked back.

Pros:

Tivo tapes things while I sleep!

Picture quality is great

records two channels at once

Works with Amazon UnBox and now Netflix!

Why would anyone watch live TV anymore?

Cons:

One drawback is that cable on-demand and pay-per-view won’t work with a cable card.

Your cable company will blame TIVO for any problems with your service.

Buy/More Info

The Slingbox SOLO allows you to watch and control your favorite TV source – including your HD content – from anywhere in the world on your laptop or cell phone. So now you can watch your DVR, digital cable, satellite receiver, or DVD player wherever you see fit. With the Slingbox SOLO, you can watch your favorite TV shows and sporting events from anywhere.

User Ratings and Reviews

2 Stars Slingbox and mobil device sound promissing; but…
I’ll be sincere; hopefully this will help somebody like myself struggling to find a solution. Anyway, it’s ony my taste.

I bought Slingbox Solo with the hope that I would be able to listen to(/watch) financial news (Bloomberg or CNBC) at work. My (new) company doesn’t allow employees to streemline audio/video. So, I can’t listen to free bloomberg TV or radio online. However, I soon recognized that the Solo is not the solution because it requires a lot of MB download.

My Solo is connected to a regular digital box (not HD box). To me the quality is very poor on a 15′ Dell Lattitude D630 laptop. It’s rainy (like you try to zoom in a low pixel picture). The color is dead. I wouldn’t use it around home and don’t need it for home. I have Verizon Fios service for my TVs. Verizon gave me enough boxes for all my TVs in different rooms. Even movie online (Netflix) on this same laptop or to 42′ TV is many times better.

One thing I hope to be able to make use is the Slingmedia Mobile. I’ve been searching for smartphones/PDA for this purpose. Disappointingly enough, the software don’t support iPod Touch, Blackberry Storms, Samsung Omnia, even Verizon Wireless XV6900 or XV6800 (it works on XV6700 though) and lot of other recent mobil devices. Well, I would get an Ipod touch and purchase SlingMobil sofware if the sofware support the device…

I didn’t test the quality on HD box, though.

1 Star Beware
Buyers Beware!! Ordered this and found it wouldn’t work with my Cable Box/DVR, a MOXI, provided by Charter, EVEN THOUGH THE BOX IS LISTED AS A SUPPORTED DEVICE. The MOXI box does not use IR technology for its remote control and that apparently is the problem. I returned to AMAZON for a refund.

4 Stars My Son Can’t Thank Me Enough
My son, who now lives in N.C, missed watching his favorite sport teams from New England, especially the Patriots. I purchased him a Slingbox for his birthday in Nov. He absolutely loves it. He has it connected from my TV in MA to his computer in NC to his TV in the ‘man’s room’. He said the picture clarity is terrific. This may be due to the fact that the TV at my house is in high definition, as well as his new computer. Last Sunday, the Patriots Club in Raleigh, NC was able to view the game thru my son’s laptop onto the Club’s TV!! (That particular game was not being televise last week in NC) You can just imagine how excited the fans were watching the game, as well as the New England commercials!!

Setting this up was relatively easy. But there are some things worth noting. Nowhere on the box or in the directions did it mention that the TV and computer (router) be in the same room. This did delay the set up since I did not want wires running from room to room. I purchased a Slinglink Turbo (about $80.00) and plugged it into a wall outlet in each room. It ‘bridged’ the connection without wires. Also, you must use a TV that has a receiver, not just a spare TV with a cable connection. While the Singbox is being used, I either watch the game, or watch another TV, since only one station can be watched while the Slingbox is in use. So far, this has not been a problem, but I did feel you should get the whole picture in this Slingbox review.

5 Stars Sling versatility
I just bought my son a Solo for Christmas and currently own an Slingbox AV unit. I bought the AV to be able to use the Wi-Fi when out of town and watch home TV through my Dish network DVR.

Keep in mind that the quality of the Slingbox video depends upon two things. First the upstream speed of your home Internet connection. Keep in mind that if you have DSL, speeds are always slower on the upstream side. I’ve had 1.5, 3.0 and now 6 meg DSL service. The faster your upstream side the better the picture on your PC or Mac can be. The other controlling point of quality is the Wi-Fi throughput at the site outside your home. Heavy usage of the access point you are connected to will also negatively affect picture quality. This is something you won’t know until you connect at the remote site.

The thing that I didn’t consider is that by connecting to my wireless router at home, the Slingbox streams at very high speed since it doesn’t have to negotiate through the Internet. Your laptop then becomes a very good quality TV. What we discovered is that we now use our Mac all over the house and outside on the deck. No wires, no moving TV’s or running cables. I want to work on the car in the garage? I take the Mac out with me and fire up the Sling software and watch the satellite receiver in the garage. Consider that when running through your home router, the Slingbox will be able to stream 8-15 times more bandwidth than what you will get in the real life world connecting through your Internet service. That translates into pretty good picture quality. Yes it’s not the quality of your big screen but it’s pretty good.

2 Stars Remote Control issues because of hardware
This could be a really great little device EXCEPT for the way they try to control your box. They use IR Blasters, which are these little wires that sticky tape to your box. I personally have never gotten these stupid little things to work with any device (tivo), maybe it’s me, but there were MANY questions about IR problems on their support blog. Tech support said “Should be working, good luck” and washed their hands of me. BTW I am a Computer Support Specialist so I am pretty tech savy. The sticky tape also ends up giving way too.

I really wanted this to work, setup was easy and fast. Support was adequate and I liked the technology they used, but you can only do so much with a lousy hardware setup/component.

Didn’t like the fact that you couldn’t view DVR recordings without changing the tv viewing as well. Could have used a dedicated box but that defeats the purpose doesn’t it.

They have been bought by Dish Network so maybe Dish will build the technology into future boxes, until then give it a try but without the remote functions you will not be able to use the full capabilites of the box!

Buy/More Info

Jump start your training with Forerunner 50. This sleek sport watch is ideal for running, cycling and other fitness activities, and is available with a wireless heart rate monitor or foot pod or both. Plus it automatically transmits workouts to your computer so you can analyze, store and share data using our online community, Garmin Connect.

Get the Data You Need
Train inside or outdoors. The affordable Forerunner 50 provides you with instant workout data including training time, pace, distance, lap pace, lap time, lap distance, average and best pace, calories, maximum and average heart rate. It also records both lap and detailed data. Available in 3 different versions (see versions tab), Forerunner 50 comes bundled with different accessories to help you track your progress for whatever moves you.

Listen to Your Heart
Forerunner 50 with wireless heart rate effectively tracks and records your heart rate while you work out, providing instant feedback about how hard your heart is working. The included digital heart rate monitor continuously tracks heart beats per minute which is wirelessly transmitted to the Forerunner 50. Even train in a certain heart rate zone to improve your fitness level. And well after your workout is done, Forerunner 50 is still working, wirelessly transmitting your training data to your PC.

Measure Speed and Distance
Forerunner 50 packaged with Garmin’s wireless foot pod lets you track your running speed, distance and calories burned while on the treadmill or pavement. Just snap the foot pod into a clip on your shoe laces, and it’s ready to send data to Forerunner 50 as soon as you start moving. After your workout, Forerunner 50 automatically transfers your data to your computer when within range.

Track Your Ride
When paired with an optional speed/cadence sensor, Forerunner 50 tracks the speed and distance of your cycling workouts. The wireless speed/cadence sensor attaches securely to your bike an

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Garmin Forerunner 50
I wanted a HRM and after looking at Polar and Suunto (too expensive) and Timex (Just did not like) I settled on the Forerunner 50. The first time I wore it I was walking my dog (80 lbs. Lab) and somehow my wrist hit the start/stop button, but that was the only time it has happened. The foot pod is secure and I have ran about 15 trail miles with no issues, I even played a game of flag football with it on my cleats, although I doubt it was very a very accurate distance. I have not calibrated the footpod, but it showed 3.6 miles after a 5K I did (with Course Markers). I also have the GSC 10 Speed/Cadence Sensor for my bike. There is a calibration for it, you have to download the Edge 605/705 owners manual and go to pager 77 and 78 for the calibration numbers. The owners manual’s are extremely basic. The bike sensor just shows how to install it! Garmin Tech support is ok, takes 3 days-ish to get an answer via email, but it has been accurate. I am getting back in to running and would like to do some triathalons, all pods on this watch are waterproof to 10 meters. I have not swam with the HRM belt, yet. I have showered with it and it worked flawlessly, no hiccups. As far as software, I was a bit excited and installed the Garmin Training Center before I got the Foreru

1 Star might be a good product…but software made me return it
Hey,

Just a quick review. i bought this for around 120 or so when the price dropped, thinking i would get a deal on a pedometer, with heart monitor system for running. I consider myself fairly “tech-ey” meaning i can figure most electronic things out around the house. But this devide still baffled and frustrated me, especially from someone comeing from using the nike system with ipod.

here are the negatives:

1. hard to use at night…i think there is a light, but when i went to use it, it got into some split timer mode, which i couldnt turn off. just beeped at me every 2 minutes on my 5 mile run…trust me, this gets annoying when you are out of gas and just want your eqipment to work.

2. bad button configuration. there seem to be not enough buttons on the watch, so certain buttons do double duty, have double features, light doubles with plit timer (see above). NOT for night runners.

3. software is SOOOOO confusing. When you download the software, garming gives youa choice of an online tracking system or a desktop tracking system. While this is fine, each doftware had their own look, so i was not sure of which one i shoudl download. I come from nike’s running community (with the ipod sensor in my nano) so i know those are usually useful, but Garmin’s just had so little participation. Their forums directed me to a second party site…not even at Garmin.com.

On top of this, as of last month, 11/08 they only support PC. No Mac.

Bottom line: this is an entry level watch to track your progress on runs or biking. For runners, i HIGHLY recommend sticking with the Nike system, where sending run data is no more complicated than starting up itunes. It took me buying the Garmin to truly appreciate the cross platform support (mac and PC), user participation, and intuitiveness of the nike device. Both are about the same in terms of accuracy, so why not go with the one which actually has developers writing useful software for it?

save the frustration and avoid this thing

5 Stars Makes you want to run!
For a beginner level runner, its more than enough. All of the features are very accurate and if anything they are easy to calibrate. Comfortable enough for every day wear also. if you wanna get a little bit more serious with training, i recommend more advanced models like the 301 or 401 which include the GPS and/or the training partner features.

5 Stars Garmin 50
If you need a training watch that measures heart rate, distance, pace, calories, and is inexpensive this is it. The chest strap and foot pod come pre-synched and work great right out of the box. The foot pod’s measurement was right on with my car’s odometer during my first 8.5 mile run. The watch is easy to use and looks like a watch. A solid 5 stars, way to go Garmin!

2 Stars The ant is not reliable
I have had the Garmin Forerunner 50 for 4 weeks now and have run with it 4-5x per week. The basic tools are very useful – speed, distance, etc. But my ant stick is very tempermental. One day it works, one day it doesn’t. Now it won’t show up at all on my computer and the product manual and website are not helpful. I have tried the basics to fix it but don’t know what else I can do. So I called Garmin. Their automated message told me that it was a 30-35 minute wait time for help. It should be just a quick install and never have to worry about it again.

Buy/More Info

Every Garmin product is designed to meet the most demanding standard: customers’ satisfaction. That’s why Garmin equipment is manufactured to give you reliable service for years to come, with intuitive features you can grow into over time – all at a price you can afford.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Garmin 305/205 Quick Release Kit
The Quick Release Kit (QRK) is a must have for cyclist, triathletes and runners using the Garmin 305/205 system. The QRK snaps connects to the bar mounted or wristband cradle in seconds. The QRK is great for triathletes! The QRKs Snap-on, Snap-off connector WILL save you significant time and headache in triathlon transition. Of note, I found the QRK design and material more comfortable and adjustable on the fly than the stock rubber wrist band. EASY install.

5 Stars Forerunner 305 quick release kit
Installed very easy. Haven’t had a chance to use it outdoors yet. It does seem to snap in hard so having it come off hitting bumps on the road seems very unlikely.

4 Stars Quick and easy
The strap conversion was quick and easy. I can now use my forerunner while biking, running and rowing. The instructions indicate a one handed release from the mount is possible, but I’ve found it sufficiently stiff as to require two.

5 Stars Forerunner 305 Bike and Wrist Quick Release Strap
Five Stars are well earned for a well designed product. The delivery was easily within two days. The wrist strap is much better than the original plastic strap that came with my Forerunner 305. The strap removal tool makes the removal of the original strap a breeze. (It can also be used for any other watch band removals) The Forerunner 305 is then easily installed and removed from the quick release wrist strap. The Bike Strap is even easier and requires no tools. Works great and is very secure on the bike. Instructions included were perfect and accurate.

4 Stars Good concept – but can pop out unintentionally
After years of problem free riding with my 305 attached using the original wrist strap and pipe foam, I finally broke down and got a pair of these quick release mounts. While I love the concept, I wish they had made the bar clip more secure. During the first two rides I managed to lose the GPS twice, both times I was lucky enough to find it after retracing my path, but it was a huge waste of time and effort. To be fair, the first loss occurred during a crash and I suppose it’s possible something pressed on the clip just right to disengage it. However, the second loss happened when I simply dropped the bike on its side. I eventually found the 305 a couple feet away in the bushes.

During each ride I had double checked to make sure the unit was completely secured in the clip and each time it came lose the strap pins remained in place. I’ve since tried various approaches to jarring it loose with no success; however I’m still paranoid about losing it yet again. My solution for now is simply to run a cable tie through the bar mount and around the strap pin as an unobtrusive safety tether. Although it kind of defeats the purpose of a quick release, at least it reduces the risk of losing it yet again.

Buy/More Info

Garmin International is pleased to announce the Forerunner 405 GPS-enabled sport watch. During a run, this slim, sleek watch accurately tracks distance, pace, calories, and displays it all on the easy-to-read screen. Tap or slide a finger around the innovative touch bezel to change information without fumbling for a button. The optional foot pod can also be used to gather speed and distance information indoors. ANT+Sport wireless technology automatically transfers workout data to and from your computer when your device is within range. No cables, no hookups, the data’s just there. Users can upload data to Garmin Connect, a web-based application that lets them analyze, share and store workouts. Zone training, heart rate zone training, supports 5 heart rate zones Compatible with GSC 10 speed/cadence bike sensor – monitor pedaling cadence and wheel speed Compatible with foot pod – measures speed and distance and runners cadence when indoors Watch features – time of day (12/24h), dual time zone, (day/date), daily alarm Training and motivational features – Virtual Partner, courses, workouts, goals GPS features – mark waypoints, back to start, save location ANT+Sport wireless technology lets you automatically transfer information back and forth between the watch and the PC Unit-to-unit – transfer workouts and locations to other Forerunner 405’s Dimensions – 45.75mm x 70.5mm x 16.4mm Weight – 2.11 ounces (60 grams)

User Ratings and Reviews

3 Stars Minor tweaks would go a long way
This product has so much potential. As far as I know, it is the only one with built-in GPS (no extra device required like polar) and HRM and all the stuff you would need. I continue to use it even though there are two pretty major issues that need to be addressed.

1) Battery Life. I do long distance triathlons including ironman and the watch just does not have the battery life to go the distance. It should easily be able to do 12-16 hours and it does not even come close. I have had it die during a sub 5 hour 1/2 ironman which is beyond frustrating.

2) The user interface is horrible. Sure, it is elegant, but it is not usuable. It is very difficult to do the scrolling around and you always accidentally select something. Luckily you dont need that mid-workout, but in order to get battery life you need the GPS off when not using – trying to do that between swim, bike and run (GPS ON, GPS OFF, GPS ON) is impossible. The interface also does not work AT ALL when wet or you fingers are cold and/or sweaty. I dont know why they dont have simple buttons with a little scroll dial.

Too bad since the device is almost perfect.

5 Stars I actually read the instructions…
When I was trying to decide between the 305 and the 405, I read every single review from a couple of different websites…it seemed that there was a lot of negative reviews on the 405, but also some hidden gems that make regular use of the watch a pleasure. I was shocked by how much Mac users seemed to hate the thing…since I own a Mac I knew I was going to have to work a bit harder to get the data to my Mac. For me, the deciding factor for the 405 ended up being the usability of the watch as an actual watch….it does look pretty sharp…and for $350 it better get more use than for an hour a day on a run…

Here is what I’ve seen with my own use over the last couple of weeks:

The set up on my Vista PC was actually pretty simple…I followed the directions to the letter and went to the[...] site which helped me get everything set up pretty quickly. There are some pretty good directions there…I can’t see how anyone could screw this up honestly…but it seems that some folks have had trouble with it…I was able to update the firmware right then and that went well also (just be patient as it seems to update one firmware version at a time and not all at once)…

Once I got my PC all set up, I downloaded Trailrunner on my Mac…which supports the .tcx files of your runs that you can export out of the Garmin Training Center software (which really isn’t good)…I don’t know if there is a similar software package for the PC, but since I rarely use my PC, I really didn’t take the time to look…

After I got done with some runs, I came home and was amazed at how easily the Ant+ stick picked up my watch…it even picked it up once when I left the watch downstairs…which I thought was pretty cool (but I haven’t tried to see if I could do it again, I just bring my watch upstairs)…I would assume that if you have your watch in the same room as your computer it would pick it up pretty easily…

From this point I really wanted to get the data back on my Mac and into Trailrunner…and this seems to be the difficult part for most Mac users (the Garmin site says to get VMware and run it through that way-which is insane, but some might not have a PC box in their house like I do, so it would be the only way at this point)…What I end up doing is importing the data wirelessly, then pull it into Garmin Training Center…then export it as a .tcx file which I email to myself and pull up from my Mac…then save it to a folder and “open” into Trailrunner from there…sounds like a lot, but takes maybe 5 minutes at the most…and the newest version of Trailrunner is awesome…

I also have seen some reviews where the watch is not responsive to the bezel touching…what I ended up figuring out after watching the video on the Garmin site, is that when the watch is in powersave mode you actually have to wake it up before it will respond…which can be done by clicking either side button…then the bezel responds to touch etc…this is really a much cooler feature than you would think…it really helps avoid draining the battery during regular “watch” use…

As far as getting going on runs and using the HRM…it picks the HRM and Satellites up really quickly…which is surprising based on what I’ve seen in some reviews…it actually picked them up while I was in my house…and as of yet, I haven’t had any trouble with using it on my runs…it shows my Heart Rate in huge numbers and the first screen shows pace/total time/total distance big enough that I can see it while on the move…I don’t really need it to do much more than that as I am not what you would consider a fancy runner at this point with sprints or crazy heart rate work…I just have it auto-lap my time at a mile and call it good…

The GPS has been darn near 100% accurate so far (I live in Houston TX)…and everything that comes through on Trailrunner is also within 1%…

I took the advice of one of the reviewers and bought it from a running store in our area that is known for good customer service (Luke’s Locker in Houston) and they have a 30 day no questions asked return policy that covered me in case anything crazy happened…I was nervous with all of the complaints about it not working when wet…but that hasn’t happened to me yet (I even licked my fingers to see if anything strange would happen and nothing did)…

I really like the watch and would hope anyone considering it would really do their homework…I really like the watch and give it a huge thumbs up!

3 Stars Works grreat, no support for Mac
I bought the watch on July and although it works great I have experienced software problems such as it freezing up. Garmin told me the problem could be fixed by upgrading the software. They promised to have software available for the Macintosh Computer by this Fall and now say Winter 2009. If you use a Mac DON’T buy the 405 until they have the software for the Mac which might be never. Also if you call Garmin Support plan on being on hold for at least 30 minutes.

4 Stars Nice device! Glad I switched from the 305
I originally ordered the 305, but it was so big and awkward looking I returned it. Against some of the less than stellar reviews of the 405, I bought it anyhow. I love it. It just looks better, is lighter, and does not feel like a PDA on your wrist. Granted, the touch dial takes some getting used to, but chances are you are a gadget person like I am, and once you get it wired, it’s pretty user friendly. I am bummed that the MAC compatibility is not handled yet, and their support team is fairly unresponsive on this point. When I asked about it their website’s statement that the mac software would be out in 4th Q 2008, they simply apologized that they did have a firm date for this. When I asked for clarification as to if they would meet the 12/31 deadline, they had no response.

Overall, I’m glad I bought it. I have had no accuracy problems with GPS and the battery life is better than my iPhone. As long as I do not do any 40 hour runs I should be fine, and there is no risk of that happening.

3 Stars Love it, but quirks a plenty
I recently got into jogging and decided I need a new watch to time how long my laps are taking. Being the nerd I am, I went hog wild and ended up with a full blown HRM, GPS and stop watch. Overkill? Certainly! Do I love it though? Of course! That said, I have a number of reservations that keep me from giving it 5 stars.

The bezel is finicky, requiring very exacting presses. When I’m at rest I don’t always get it to behave as I would like. When I’m running or biking, forget about it. How can I be expected to subtlely press the bezel? Some times I’ll touch the bezel and nothing will happen, other times it’ll take the wrong action. For example, I wear a biking jacket that seems to trigger the watch to think I hit the bezel when I didn’t. Work around is to lock out the bezel while riding. UGH! A similar problem with pressing the lap button. I thought the lap button didn’t work for the longest time, until I realized I was touching the bezel then the lap button. Silly me. The bezel is a neat idea, but it doesn’t work for something you need when exercising. I think Garmin should replace it with a button or two.

Transferring data to the PC is extremely slow too. Data from a 40 minute bike ride took 2 minutes to download. Come on! And where’s the Mac support? Having to use boot camp or Parallels/Fusion isn’t a real option.

Buy/More Info

Get results in a heartbeat with the Forerunner 301. This training partner continuously monitors your heart rate, speed, distance, pace and calories burned so you can train smarter, more effectively. The Forerunner 301 combines the popular features of the Forerunner 201 with a proven heart rate monitor and Training Center software to create a highly integrated personal training system.Whether you are a triathlete in training or just want to see tangible results, the Forerunner 301 sets the pace with innovative features: Compact, lightweight and waterproof with an easy-to-read display on an ergonomic wristband; Embedded GPS sensor provides basic navigation capabilities to tell you how far, how fast, even how to get home; Digital coded heart rate monitor so you can see whether you are training too hard or not enough; Training Center software, a powerful PC-based application that lets you analyze and create workouts; Highly flexible – offers multiple sports profiles so you can use it for running, biking and other sports; Easy to use – no calibration required, just turn it on and go.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars Great Product so far!
I’ve only had it for a bit over a month, but it’s been great so far! I love the results it gives me (Avg. HR, HR over time, Pace, etc); it’s just what I wanted. The GPS map on the computer can be a little off (it can show your path as being in a river if you’re close to one), but it records the actual path well, with respect to turns, etc. I have seen that some people have troubles getting the HR monitor to work (no HR shows up). This has happened to me twice, but by wetting the contacts on the inside of the chest strap and/or readjusting my strap (placing it lower or higher), I got the HR to show up again.

4 Stars Tighten the chest strap
I got a 301 when they first came out. I’ve used it for hiking, running and bicycling. Most of the time it works great. The heart rate monitor works for me only if the chest strap is really tight. And you must keep checking it every day. It loosens up constantly. It must be slightly uncomfortable to reduce the erratic readings. The pace read out is no good, so I just ignore it. I get better GPS results when I wear the 301 on top of my hat. Then I cannot see the pace number. I just set the unit to beep every mile and look at my stop watch. That’s good enough for me. I live in the south SF Bay area and the only place I’ve been where trees are a problem is Uvas County Park. There are steep canyons there too. I’ve had great success transferring data to my computer. Nearly everybody says the Garmin Training Center software is unsatisfactory. Well, it’s not great, but it works. I started running in 1969 and if I thought then I would have the function this unit provides in the future, my friends would have thought I was crazy. Of course, back then I had no such ridiculous thoughts…

5 Stars My running+biking companion
I was looking for a bike monitor that could analyze my speed and distance. Went for a lookout of Polar products but they where just too expensive.

Found this alternative with gps tracking that not only gives you speed, distance but also elevation and hear rate monitoring.

When I took up running this was it, it has presets for both sports, counts your calories burned based on your age, height and weight profile nd gives you detalied info when you plug it on your PC.

ADVICE: If you use a Mac try using TrailRunner, it’s a free app thet integrates with Google maps to give you a detail on your routes and keeps a log of your workouts.

5 Stars I love my garmin 301 forerunner wrist
Thank you for alowing me to share my joy with this unit. I love the garmin 301 forerunner wrist GPS. It has alot of features and not difficult to program. I choose this unit for the window size so I can see the information quickly. I use garmin forerunner 301 for a multiple of functions. First, I utilize the miles per hour to increase my speed in walking and running. It has a virtual runner in the window which will pass you up if you are not maintaining your speed. I also used the unit while I trail ride on my horse in the deep woods. It not only allows me to mark a spot, after riding some 15 miles, I then can re locate my original mark spot and it will direct me to the exact location. In addition it has a bread crumb picture that you can also follow. I had return from a ride just as it got dark and I used both functions to find my way in the dark and in the woods. Plus you always have the compass of north, south east and west. I love it and I use it a few times a day. It is true that the heart rate sometimes does not pick up. Just make sure the placement is correct and good contact. If you are active, you will love this. thank you.

4 Stars Nice GPS for the price
The Forerunner 301 is a nice GPS unit for the price. It’s fairly simple to use, but has a variety of functions for geeks who like to play with such toys.

A few issues that I have had with this unit though is the heart-rate monitor is a bit finicky and depending on where you are the GPS signal isn’t the best, but these problems rarely occur. Overall a great buy!

Buy/More Info

Just when you thought Garmin had cornered the market on powerful, affordable, and effective wrist-mounted GPS devices, here comes the Forerunner 305. The release of this device is a major achievement from a design and technology perspective. This isn’t just marketing-speak; the Forerunner 305 is the most accurate, most reliable wrist-mounted performance and GPS tracking tool we’ve ever tested. Yes, it’s that good. While no device this compact can do everything (yet), the 305 pushes the boundaries of what is possible from something strapped around your wrist. The 305 model includes wireless heartrate monitoring and it can also be connected to Garmin’s wireless bicycle speed and cadence sensor. If you don’t need these features, consider the lower-priced Forerunner 205.

View Garmin’s Forerunner demonstration video.

Choose from 12 data fields to display on the 305’s screen. View larger.

The design cleverly integrates the GPS antenna and aims it towards the sky when you’re running or walking. View larger.

The Virtual Partner function makes your workouts more competitive. View larger.

Choose from three workout modes that help you target your training goals. View larger.

The 305 features rudimentary mapping and location marking functions. View larger.

Design
The 305’s design is a radical departure from Garmin’s previous generation of wrist mounted GPS devices, which reached a pinnacle with the Garmin Forerunner 301. While the 301 delivered accurate heart rate monitoring, good performance tracking, and decent GPS reception, it didn’t quite deliver in the design department. The form factor was bulky and wearing it wasn’t much different than duct taping a full-sized GPS device to your wrist.

Not so with the 305. Garmin’s engineers obviously burned the midnight oil and have come up with a waterproof design that, while certainly not as small as a sports watch, feels just as comfortable. The curved casing allows the unit’s antenna to face the sky when you’re running, while the widescreen display is perfectly positioned for viewing when you need it. And the display certainly deserves a few kudos. While it’s smaller than the display found on previous Forerunners, its resolution is far higher, offering incredible clarity and crispness.

Garmin has smartly given the 305 a simple button layout and the buttons have a nice tactile feel with good pressure response. The right side houses the menu selection and enter buttons, while the left houses a power/backlight button and a mode button. This simple and elegant solution is a big improvement over the sometimes confusing button functionality of previous Forerunners. View button layout.

The underside of the 305 is pretty nondescript, except for a row of contacts that interface with the included charging and data cradle. The cradle is small and unobtrusive and its single mini-USB port connects to either an included AC adapter, or a USB cable that connects to your PC. In addition to data transfer with the USB cable, you can also charge the 305’s embedded lithium-ion battery via a powered USB connection from your computer.

GPS Performance
The big news about the Forerunner 305 is that it features an integrated, high-sensitivity SiRFstar III GPS receiver. What does this mean? It means that the 305’s ability to both track, and maintain a lock on, your position is better than anything before it. After an intial battery charge, the tester had the 305 on his wrist and was tracking speed and distance with GPS satellites within 3 minutes. The next time we used the 305, satellite acquisition was nearly instantaneous. A run through dense trees didn’t faze the unit either; tracking remained true and steady. Performance on a bike was equally impressive. Whatever witchcraft has been cooked up by the designers of the SiRF technology, we like it!

The simple docking cradle makes charging and data connectivity a snap.

While the Forerunner 305 isn’t billed as a GPS navigation device, it does have some rudimentary mapping, waypoint marking, and routing capabilities. In addition to marking locations along your journey, you can zoom in or out of a simple map that displays your current direction and path. There’s also a “go to location” feature that routes you back to your starting location, or to any location you have defined. Once you have defined several locations, you can save this information as a route, allowing you to travel the same path in the future. As you’ll see below, the 305’s new “Courses” feature gives you new levels of control over how you define your favorite runs and rides.

Training Functions
The 305 is first and foremost a training tool, and its ability to organize a ton of data types into a user experience that is intuitive and simple is no small feat. Whiz-bang technology aside, if you can’t use it and make it a natural part of your exercise routine, it’s worthless. When it comes to these factors — and here’s the take home message on the 305 — this device is successful where many other devices fail.

The heart and soul of the 305 can be found on the data screens, which give you real-time information about all aspects of your workout. In fact, the 305 can display a dizzying array of data, such as calories burned, distance, elevation, grade, and heading, as well as multiple lap and pace modes. The 305 adds the ability to track heartrate, lap heartrate, average heartrate, and heartrate zones via the included coded heartrate chest strap. With the purchase of a separate wireless cadence and speed meter, you can also track bike performance data.

Thankfully, the device makes it easy to define how much or how little data you want to view during a workout. You can arrange the data that’s most important to you and then make that data appear front and center on the device. Indeed, within a few minutes of skimming the manual and fiddling with the device setup, you’ll have your most important data displaying just the way you like it. The ability to display heartrate is a big plus, too, as it’s a fairly good indicator of excercise output, fatigue, and fitness level. The 305 has all the heartrate functions you’d expect from a full-function monitor, including the ability to set target zones and alerts to maximize the effectiveness of your workouts.

Garmin’s Virtual Partner function was cool feature of previous Forerunners and they’ve decided to keep a good thing going with the 305. If you’re the type that performs best when you’ve got a competitor egging you on, you’ll love this function, as it allows you to set up virtual running or biking companions that compete against you.

If you’re looking for an complicated workout with a variety of intervals and intensity levels, or just a quick three-mile jog against your best time last week, the 305 has you covered. Navigating to the Workouts menu on the device yields three options: Quick Workouts, Interval, and Advanced Workout. A quick workout is just that; set the distance and time, distance and pace, or time and pace of your planned workout and off you go. Interval workouts are just the same, but they allow you to add repetitions and rest between them. When you really want to get fancy with your exercise, you can step up to advanced workouts, which include goals for each workout step, as well as varied distances, times, and rest periods. You can use the Garmin Training Center software to set up these workouts and then upload them to the device.

PC Connectivity and Software
Garmin has been outfitting their devices with USB connectivity for some time now — a welcome move for those who struggled with serial port connections in the days of yore. Thanks to USB, the 305 integrates seamlessly with the Training Center software and we quickly had workout history uploaded and stored on the PC (Sadly, Training Center is not Mac-compatible). Not only does Training Center make it easy to track your performance, you can graph data such as heartrate alongside your speed and distance. Over time, this is a great way to view your fitness levels increase, and it also helps you see what types of workouts are necessary to strengthen your weaknesses. For instance, if you see your heartrate begin to spike after a certain distance, you know you need to increase your endurance workouts to train that area of fitness.

In a first for the Forerunner series, the Training Center software also lets you define courses on your PC that you can upload to the device. When course information is combined with uploaded workout information, the Forerunner becomes a complete guide, telling you where to go, when to make a turn, and what kind of workout to do when you’re on the road or path. Back on the PC, the software’s ability to overlay workout data on maps of the course makes it easy to see where the course offers up the tough hills and the easy recovery spots. Plus, the ability to track historical performance on a given course is a great way to measure your improvement.

The 305 is also fully compatible with Garmin’s MotionBased service, which takes your training to another level by connecting your data with the Internet. While we weren’t able to use the service, the promise of sharing courses, maps, workouts, and performance data with other users is intriguing. And if you’re a serious endurance athlete, you’ll be glad to know that the 305 is also compatible with TrainingPeaks.com, an easy-to-use web based training system designed to help athletes train for any event.

Pros

• Radically new design is better in every way
• Amazing accuracy and fast satellite acquisition time
• So simple to set up and use, you will actually use it

Cons

• No Mac OS compatibility
• Okay, it’s bigger than a sport’s watch — but so much more powerful

What’s in the Box
Forerunner 305, Garmin Training Center CD-ROM, heart rate monitor, docking cradle, expander strap, A/C charger, USB cable, owner’s manual, quick start guide.

User Ratings and Reviews

5 Stars I love it!
All I can say is I should have bought it sooner. I wanted this watch now for over a year and the price kept me from buying because I wasn’t sure if it would be worth it. Now I can’t imagine doing a run with out it. My only advice to anyone that’s into running or any sport that tracks mileage is BUY one you are going to love it.

5 Stars better than previous model
The Forerunner is great. Compared to model 301, this model has a better heart rate monitor, locks on to satellite quicker, and is more accurate in measuring location and speed.

5 Stars Awesome
Love having the freedom to run anywhere that I want and not having to worry about distance,pace, time. It keeps up with everything for you. My favorite things is knowing the elevations, grades, and weather (including wind speeds, temps – highs, lows, avg). My only negative is that it’s so big on my wrist that it hurts my wrist bone. However, bought a wrist band and I put the watch on top of it. No more problems.

5 Stars great gadget for running and biking
Works great. Great for showing your pace, distance, and heart rate, while you are running. Good to see where you went when you return. The included Software that you use to download the data is not that great and has poor export capabilities, if you want to share your runs with your friends. I think that this is available for and extra fee to upgrade.

5 Stars Fantastic training watch
Pros: Mac and PC compatible (despite what the description says), excellent features, easy to configure if you read the manual, good user interface

Cons: Mac users should run the software update, elevation tracking not perfect near sea level, watch battery is rechargeable but not replaceable, watch is big

As a runner, I am thrilled with this watch after using it for a week now. In addition to heart rate, it accurately tracks pace, calories, distance, and multiple other data points. Its three data screens are totally customizable. The GPS signal is accurate as long as you’re not between tall buildings or in a tunnel (I use it in NYC parks with no problems). The included Garmin Training Center (which IS fully Mac compatible on PPC and Intel, despite what you’ll see in descriptions of the watch online) is decent, not great, but you can download a free web utility to upload your stats to motionbased.com to perform much more detailed analyses. (Mac users: be sure to also download the update to Garmin Training Center from Garmin’s website.)

The watch comes with built-in workouts in which it prompts you to speed up/slow down/etc. You can add your own custom workouts on your computer or (with a little patience) on the watch. You can also customize a workout easily on the fly. You can use its included heart rate zones (auto-calculated based on your age) and pace zones or customize your own (I’m totally happy with the built-ins). And of course you can just hit the “Start” button and start running, to let the watch track your time, distance, pace, heart rate, and plot your path.

Plus, if you’re exercising in an unfamiliar area, it even has a mode where it’ll guide you back to your starting point.

I was very reluctant to spend more than $50 on a watch of any sort — I’m the type who shops at Filene’s Basement and Costco — but made the plunge after reading its nearly all positive reviews here. So totally happy that I did.

Someone previously mentioned that negative reviewers had stated problems (e.g. small heart rate readout, difficulty customizing, etc) that could be resolved by reading the manual. This is absolutely true. This watch is the most customizable I’ve ever owned, including where and how large the heart rate readout should appear. With a little patience, it’ll do exactly what you need. Don’t be turned away by the negative reviewers.

The only really accurate negative I’ve read about is its size. Yes, it’s big. Think G-Shock, but larger. The two included straps help in finding the right size, but it’s not going to fit like your Swatch does. But that’s a small negative to a really excellent product.

So a word to the wise: read the manual! The watch is easy to use if you read how first. It’s not a simple heart rate monitor, though, and you may not figure it out on your own. Give it a little time and it’ll be very good to you.

I really can’t recommend it highly enough!

Buy/More Info

Get more from your sport with precise speed, distance and pace data.

• Precise GPS training device for multiple sports
• Ideal for running, cycling, cross-country skiing, windsurfing and more
• High-sensitivity GPS receiver with exceptional reception
• Calculates and displays accurate time, distance and pace information
• Virtual Partner feature shows progress measured against a specified pace
• Stores and reviews up to 1,000 laps
• 10 hours of use between charges
• Training Center software stores and analyzes data
• No calibration required
• Course feature creates races against previous workouts
• Mark and find locations, and navigate routes
• Underwriters Laboratories (UL) approved. UL is the worldwide trusted source for product compliance
• 1-year manufacturer’s warranty

You train better when you train smarter. This innovative GPS system gives you an edge over competitors with a wealth of training tools – right on your wrist.

System requirements: Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP.

User Ratings and Reviews

4 Stars Garmin forrunner 205
The unit is easy to set-up, easy to use and easy to download the data to whatever site you wish to use. It’s basic, but so is the price. I think it’s great to have around to help set goals and see how your progressing. I’d recommend it for the casual to more-interested runner or cyclist.

4 Stars Hindsight better for the future Forerunner
Garmin Forerunner 205 is one of the best gadgets for the health & fitness, it is also an excellent entry level gps with applications for hiking.

Previously having owned the Forerunner 101 I was excited to get my hands on the next generation of forerunner Fitness watches.

The Good: this rugged GPS fitness watch tracks time, distance, pace, elevation gain more accuratly than previous models. very intuitive user friendly GUI. quick to learn. the redesign in shape seems to make picking up sattelite signals quicker and more efficient than older models. still needs a good line of site for initial signal. standing in my living room near a window it was able to get a full Signal. display is big and easy to read. Tactile feedback is intuitive when operating without looking directly at the watch. The main menu preferences allow user settings. Nice new additon of compass is a nice added feature although I don’t use too often it is a cool show off feature. It still stores history of workouts AVG speed,elevation gain/loss, distance & Calories burned. Even provides basic mapping and location marking,.

There is a built in Workout companion with pace alarm or distance alarm.

USB or Wall charge options are a huge plus! and who can argue with BLUE!

The Software interface is an excellent inproved feature.

Overall as with previous models this is a msut have for any fitness enthusiast, actve indivdual or weekend warrior adds motivation, quantifiable data in an intelligent design with excelent support software to keep up to date history on workouts.

The not so Good: Garmin innovation in GPS with a fitness watch was Smart and foreward thinking. However, with the upgrades of better sattelite receiver and design features Garmin givieth & taketh away, in previous Model Forerunner 201 the battery was a good 12-15 hours, Garmin 205 is at best 10 hours lithIon battery. Also, the battery indicator is an icon with 4 bars not an accurate way to tell exactly how much battery life you have left ( Older model would tell you exactly how many minutes you have everytime you power it on!

It does a good job of little idle battery weeping, but lacks the capacity of older model.

If I could change anything about the garmin it would be the battery life or power options all together.

I owne the original forerunner 101 although it was a bit bulkier, was less accurate in obtaining the sat signal it did have replaceable AAA battery for power, this feature was nice when I went on a day hike and wanted to track my distance ., elevation gain, and my route in avery simple light weight gadget. Forerunner 205 has although the capabilities of tracking distance, time, elevation gain/loss without the battery logevity to support those applications that would be used while hiking.

Conclusion: Keeping in mind that this is Garmins GPS designed fore Fitness applications not tracking, orany real in delth navigation, I like products that can be used for many applications, Garmin hit a Homerun with the Fitness application of this intelligent product, I highly reccomend this and think every runner, cyclist even recreational walkers, hikers and joggers should own one. it drives, motivates and will improve your performance. the redisgn looks different but functions better.

If it had a better long lasting power source I wouldn’t be so reluctant to keep my old garmin 201 which is still working Great!

4 Stars Great basic functionality. One glitch that doesn’t bother me.
I’ve had my Garmin for a little over a month and have loved using it every run. I use it primarily for pacing, but also to record my workouts so I can compare them. It is easy to use and is light enough that I don’t even notice it while I run. I have not tried the more advanced features, but I know people who have used them for some time.

The only problem I have noticed is that the altitude feature seems to be off — it really is not that hilly where I live. If that does not matter to you, I would highly recommend this as a tool for anyone serious about distance running. I have used it in one half marathon so far and it really helped level my split times.

5 Stars Forerunner is all it promises
I’m not much of a “techie”, but I was able with very little reading to set up my Garmin 205 in a matter of minutes and use it flawlessly. I run both on city streets and on trails and the Garmin performed perfectly. I’m finally able to guage how far I run on trails and at the same time get a pretty good read on how many calories I’ve burned! I recommend this to anyone who is looking for this same info.

5 Stars For Any Runner who wants to get faster and run longer
No more guessing on distance or pace. Gives you the freedom to just go run without a mapping out a route. The battery lasts FOREVER. I run 3 to 4 times a week at least an hour each time (I run at night so the backlight is always on too). I only have to recharge about once a month. I had an issue with my 205 a few months ago and Garmin tech support was amazing. I’ve had it for 2.5 years and have trained for and run three marathons with it. The ability to customize the data fields is an excellent feature. Easy to navigate screens etc…while in motion (large easy to find buttons that are laid out intuitively)

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