Garmin 010-00679-05 Forerunner 50 Sports Watch with Heart Rate Monitor and USB ANT Stick
by Garmin
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Our Price: $129.95 Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $81.97 (click here) Category: GPS or Navigation System See more product details |
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Garmin 010-00679-05 Forerunner 50 Sports Watch with Heart Rate Monitor and USB ANT Stick
Customer Review: Multiple options for losing your workout data
Summary: 3 Stars
First, some good things. I like Garmin in general. I use their GPS products and they're up to par. But let me describe several incidents with this particular product to give you an idea whether you should get it for yourself.
* It took me multiple attempts to pair the watch with the foot pod. Only after I swapped the batteries between the heart rate monitor and the foot pod did I find out that it came with a dead battery. Not a good out-of-box experience, Garmin.
* The software comes with warnings to NOT insert the USB stick prior to installation. Unfortunately, that is exactly what I did, and it later took me several reboots, and an uninstall-reinstall cycle to get it to work.
* The program for monitoring the USB stick runs continuously after you install it. It eats a good portion of your CPU (I watched it using a special tool and it continuously polls for USB stick data instead). When you exit it, the option "run when Windows starts" is always pre-selected for you. It's as if a web site offered to subscribe you to unwanted e-mails every time you logged out. Is it proper etiquette?
* After a 1.5 hour run, I pressed the Stop button on the watch, which printed the word "stop" on the screen. I didn't exactly have their manual stuffed in my pocket. But with this watch, "stop" is not the right button to press. Instead, I you should hold down the Lap/Reset button for 3 seconds, then press View. If you don't, you will lose your workout data.
* At another time, I ran the Garmin training manager software prior to uploading data. Unfortunately, if you do that, an error message comes up "Since the training manager software is running, your data cannot be imported". And you'll never see your workout again, since it's been deleted from the watch during the download.
After this, ahem, miserable experience, I put the Forerunner 50 away and bought a Suunto T3C. It cost me 3 times as much (they charge $99 just for the PC pod, sold separately), and it only keeps average workout data (it doesn't have a detailed log). And yet, I'm happy with it. Their software is a pleasure to use. It worked straight out of the box, and it doesn't come with a separate "ant monitor". You start up Suunto Training Manager lite, press a button on your watch, and your data is downloaded and displayed.
Customer Review: Good for HR monitoring, kind of annoying as a watch
Summary: 3 Stars
Been using this sucker with HR strap and footpod for about 6 months now, running a LOT.
Pros:
*I had never used a HR monitor before. Fantastic training method. Can't compare it to any other HR monitors (e.g. Polar), but compared to NOT using a HR monitor for training, it gets five stars.
*Small, lightweight, waterproof.
*Got the entire set (watch, HR monitor, and foot pod) for $120.
Cons:
*Having used many other regular watches, from Casio to Timex's Ironman, as a basic watch, or even a workout watch, it's crappy. First of all, the light from the light button does NOT stay on long enough. Some of us actually exercise at night, you know? Ironman watch: much better.
*Effectively non-standard start/stop/save button functionality. That face button for lap is just plain annoying. The buttons in general I don't find that good. And, if I'm trying to time many short events (sprint times of other people) it's a total pain and slow to be able to start, stop, clear, and restart. I realize that's not what it's necessarily made for, but it's annoying.
*Battery life is marginal. My footpod battery was dead out of the box when new. That was annoying. Had the system 6 months, and changed the watch battery twice now and the footpod once (total of four batteries in six months if you count the DOA footpod). Glad I'm comfortable doing so myself, as paying someone to do it would be annoying. That said, I do like replaceable better than a rechargeable watch itself as sometimes you're just not near power. Best would be if I felt comfortable enough to try out the RCR-2032 batteries (rechargeable versions; they're out there) but am worried that the higher voltage will kill it.
Overall, if you've never used a HR monitor system, I think it's just dandy. But, I wish the watch were as functional and high quality as the Ironman series, the light stayed on longer, the buttons were better, and DEFINITELY wish that it took a velcro sports watch band.
Customer Review: poor product
Summary: 3 Stars
The monitor did not read my heart rate. I tried all the suggested solutions except electrode gel. When I emailed the support address, I was told to call. When I called, there was a message saying that I would have to listen to elevator music for 45 minutes before anyone could help me. I emailed that this was not acceptable. They ignored me.
Someone I know told me I could use KY gel instead of electrode. This seemed to help but next time I used the watch, it gave completely inaccurate readings.
Not Mac compatible.
Large wrist strap. I have trouble finding large enough bands.
Documentation so so. Not as bad as most.
Customer Review: This is not a GPS device.
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought this to wear while running, thinking I was getting a device which would use GPS to track my distance and pace.
This is not a GPS device. It's a sports watch.
Unless you plan to use this with the foot pod, the device will not help you track distance. The package includes the ANT stick (for transferring data to your PC), and a heart rate monitor. The package does NOT include the foot pod. The foot pod is an additional eighty dollars.
I am returning this Forerunner 50 and buying the 205 (currently the same price as the 50 and the foot pod combined), which I believe has the GPS feature that I want.
Customer Review: Heartrate Monitor Only
Summary: 3 Stars
I bought this item because I was impressed with the Garmin Connect program that it interfaces with. The device wirelessly syncs with your computer to upload your workout information.
I was under the assumption that this device also uploads GPS position and tracking information. This model DOES NOT do so. It only allows you to track your workout time, heart rate and pace (with the optional foot pod). That may be useful to some, but was not for me. Ultimately, I returned to device and bought a Forerunner 301. This, I believe is the first model that allows you to upload GPS information. It is bulkier, but just fine for biking and boating.