Buy Online: Garmin Forerunner 205 Wrist-Mounted GPS Navigator and Personal Training Device

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Garmin Forerunner 205 Wrist-Mounted GPS Navigator and Personal Training Device

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On Sale Today!
30th of August 2008





Package Includes: Forerunner 205, docking cradle, expander strap, AC charger, PC/USB interface cable, fast start guide, Garmin Training Center CD &, owner's manual

With the Garmin Forerunner 205, form meets function with a sleek and stylish personal trainer. intended for athletes of all levels, this running partner and personal trainer tracks your every move with a super sensitive GPS. The GPS tool works on tree covered trails and near tall buildings. It continuously monitors your speed, distance, rate and calories burned so you may be able to train smarter, more effectively. do not let their good looks fool you these taskmasters will continually push you to do your personal best. Virtual Partner allows you to train against a digital person at particular time, distance or rate objectives AutoScroll cycles through data pages throughout a workout Auto Pause pauses and resumes training timer depending on a particular speed Easy to use No calibration obliged, just turn it on and go Multi sport capability allows you to transition between sports without resetting you may be able to use it for running, biking, and more Customizable screens let you view up to twelve data fields on three data screens for direct feedback Lap Memory 1,000 laps Rechargeable interior lithium ion battery life of ten hours typical use Waterproof Submersible in one meter of water for up to 30 mins. move data from Forerunner to your PC for a in depth analysis of your workout Create, schedule and download workouts to your Forerunner View data for each workout, as well as your heart rate, time, distance, speed, pat Display SizeWxH 1.3 x 0.8 33 x 20.3 mm Physical SizeWxHxD 2.1 x. seven x 2.7 53.3 x 17.8 x 68.6 mm Weight 2.72 oz. 77 g

Review:
Just when you thought Garmin had cornered the market on powerful, cheap, and efficient wrist mounted GPS devices, here comes the Forerunner 205. The release of this device is a big achievement from a design and technology perspective. This is not just marketing speak, the Forerunner 205 is the most correct, most dependable wrist mounted performance and GPS tracking tool we have ever tested. Yes, it is that good. While no device this compact can do everything yet, the 205 pushes the boundaries of what is possible from something strapped around your wrist. While the 205 does not offer heart rate monitoring, or connectivity with Garmin's wireless speed and cadence sensor for that, you will have to step up to the Forerunner 305 but it is a good way to get basic GPS place and performance data.

View Garmin's Forerunner demonstration video.

Choose from twelve data fields to display on the 305's screen. View bigger.

The design cleverly integrates the GPS antenna and aims it towards the sky when you are running or walking. View bigger.

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

Choose from three workout modes that assist you target your training objectives. View bigger.

The 305 features underlying mapping and place marking functions. View bigger.

Design
The 205's design is a radical departure from Garmin's last generation of wrist mounted GPS devices, which reached a pinnacle with the Garmin Forerunner 301. While the 301 delivered correct heart rate monitoring, good performance tracking, and decent GPS reception, it did not quite deliver in the design department. The form factor was bulky and wearing it was not much different than channel taping a full sized GPS device to your wrist.

Not so with the 205. Garmin's engineers clearly burned the midnight oil and have create a waterproof design that, while surely not as small as a sports watch, feels just as comfy. The curved casing lets the unit's antenna to face the sky when you are running, while the widescreen display is perfectly located for looking at when you need it. And the display surely deserves some kudos. While it is smaller than the display found on last Forerunners, its resolution is far higher, offering unbelievable clearness and crispness.

Garmin has smartly given the 205 a simple button layout and the buttons have a nice tactile feel with good pressure answer. 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 stylish solution is a big improvement over the on occasion confusing button functionality of last Forerunners. View button layout.

The bottom of the 205 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. also to data move with the USB cable, you may also charge the 205's implanted lithium ion battery via a powered USB connection from your computer.

GPS Performance
The big news about the Forerunner 205 is that it features an integrated, high sensitivity SiRFstar III GPS receiver. What does this mean? It means that the 205's capability to both track, and maintain a lock on, your position is better than anything before it. After an intial battery charge, our product tester had the 205 on his wrist and tracked speed and distance with GPS satellites inside three minutes. The next time we used the 205, satellite acquisition was almost instant. A run through concentrated trees did not faze the unit either, tracking stayed true and steady. Performance on a bike was equally remarkable. Whatever witchcraft was cooked up by the designers of the SiRF technology, we like it!

The simple docking cradle makes charging and data connectivity a snap Forerunner 305 model shown.

While the Forerunner 205 is not billed as a GPS navigation device, it does have some underlying mapping, waypoint marking, and routing potential. also to marking places along your journey, you may be able to zoom in or out of a simple map that displays your current direction and path. there is also a "go to location" feature that routes you back to your starting place, or to any place you defined. Once you defined some number of places, you may be able to save this info as a path, allowing you to travel the same path at some point. As you will see below, the 205's new "Courses" feature gives you new levels of control over how you define your beloved runs and rides.

Training Functions
The 205 is 1st and primary a training tool, and its capability to manage a ton of data types into a user experience that's intuitive and simple is no small feat. Whiz bang technology on the side, if you can not use it and make it a natural part of your exercise routine, it is worthless. When it comes to these factors and here is the take home message on the 205 this device is successful where many other devices fail.

The heart and soul of the 205 may be found on the data screens, which give you real time info about all parts of your workout. In fact, the 305 can display a dizzying array of data, like calories burned, distance, elevation, grade, and heading, also as many lap and rate modes.

Thankfully, the device makes it simple to define how much or how little data you want to view throughout a workout. you may be able to arrange the data that is most important to you , then make that data appear front and center on the device. Indeed, inside some minutes of skimming the manual and fiddling with the device setup, you will have your most important data showing just the way you like it.

Garmin's Virtual Partner function was cool feature of last Forerunners and they have decided to keep a good thing going with the 205. If you are the type that performs best when you have got a competitor egging you on, you will love this function, as it lets you to set up virtual running or biking companions that compete against you.

If you are looking for an complex workout with a range of intervals and intensity levels, or just a fast three mile jog against your best time last week, the 205 has you covered. Navigating to the Workouts menu on the device yields three options: fast Workouts, Interval, and Advanced Workout. A fast workout is just that, set the distance and time, distance and rate, or time and rate of your planned workout and off you go. Interval workouts are just the same, but they let you to add repetitions and rest between them. When you really want to get cool with your exercise, you may be able to step up to advanced workouts, which include objectives for each workout step, also as varied distances, times, and rest periods. you may be able to use the Garmin Training Center software to set up these workouts , then upload them to the device.

PC Connectivity and Software
Garmin was outfitting their devices with USB connectivity for some time now a welcome move for those who fought with serial port connections in the days of yore. Thanks to USB, the 205 integrates seamlessly with the Training Center software and we quickly had workout history uploaded and stored on the PC Sadly, Training Center isn't Mac compatible.

In a 1st for the Forerunner series, the Training Center software also allows you to define courses on your PC that you may upload to the device. When course info is joint with uploaded workout info, 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 are on the road or path. Back on the PC, the software's capability to overlay workout data on maps of the course makes it simple to see where the course offers up the tough hills and the easy recuperation spots. Plus, the capability to track historical performance on a given course is a good way to measure your improvement.

The 205 is completely matched with Garmin's MotionBased service, which takes your training to another level by connecting your data with the Internet. While we were not able to use the service, the promise of sharing courses, maps, workouts, and performance data with other users is intriguing. And if you are a serious endurance athlete, you will be happy to know that the 205 is matched with TrainingPeaks.com, an easy to use web established training system intended to help athletes train for any event.

Pros

• Radically new design is better in every way
• Amazing accuracy and fast satellite acquisition time
• So easy to set up and use, you'll really use it

Cons

• No Mac OS compatibility
• Okay, it is bigger than a sport's watch but so more powerful

What's in the Box
Forerunner 205, Garmin Training Center CD ROM, docking cradle, expander strap, A/C charger, USB cable, owner's manual, fast start guide.


Just when you thought Garmin had cornered the market on powerful, cheap, and efficient wrist mounted GPS devices, here comes the Forerunner 205. The release of this device is a big achievement from a design and technology perspective. This is not just marketing speak, the Forerunner 205 is the most correct, most dependable wrist mounted performance and GPS tracking tool we have ever tested. Yes, it is that good. While no device this compact can do everything yet, the 205 pushes the boundaries of what is possible from something strapped around your wrist. While the 205 does not offer heart rate monitoring, or connectivity with Garmin's wireless speed and cadence sensor for that, you will have to step up to the Forerunner 305 but it is a good way to get basic GPS place and performance data.

View Garmin's Forerunner demonstration video.

Choose from twelve data fields to display on the 305's screen. View bigger.

The design cleverly integrates the GPS antenna and aims it towards the sky when you are running or walking. View bigger.

The simple docking cradle makes charging and data connectivity a snap Forerunner 305 model shown.

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

Choose from three workout modes that assist you target your training objectives. View bigger.

The 305 features underlying mapping and place marking functions. View bigger.

Design
The 205's design is a radical departure from Garmin's last generation of wrist mounted GPS devices, which reached a pinnacle with the Garmin Forerunner 301. While the 301 delivered correct heart rate monitoring, good performance tracking, and decent GPS reception, it did not quite deliver in the design department. The form factor was bulky and wearing it was not much different than channel taping a full sized GPS device to your wrist.

Not so with the 205. Garmin's engineers clearly burned the midnight oil and have create a waterproof design that, while surely not as small as a sports watch, feels just as comfy. The curved casing lets the unit's antenna to face the sky when you are running, while the widescreen display is perfectly located for looking at when you need it. And the display surely deserves some kudos. While it is smaller than the display found on last Forerunners, its resolution is far higher, offering unbelievable clearness and crispness.

Garmin has smartly given the 205 a simple button layout and the buttons have a nice tactile feel with good pressure answer. 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 stylish solution is a big improvement over the on occasion confusing button functionality of last Forerunners. View button layout.

The bottom of the 205 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. also to data move with the USB cable, you may also charge the 205's implanted lithium ion battery via a powered USB connection from your computer.

GPS Performance
The big news about the Forerunner 205 is that it features an integrated, high sensitivity SiRFstar III GPS receiver. What does this mean? It means that the 205's capability to both track, and maintain a lock on, your position is better than anything before it. After an intial battery charge, our product tester had the 205 on his wrist and tracked speed and distance with GPS satellites inside three minutes. The next time we used the 205, satellite acquisition was almost instant. A run through concentrated trees did not faze the unit either, tracking stayed true and steady. Performance on a bike was equally remarkable. Whatever witchcraft was cooked up by the designers of the SiRF technology, we like it!

While the Forerunner 205 is not billed as a GPS navigation device, it does have some underlying mapping, waypoint marking, and routing potential. also to marking places along your journey, you may be able to zoom in or out of a simple map that displays your current direction and path. there is also a "go to location" feature that routes you back to your starting place, or to any place you defined. Once you defined some number of places, you may be able to save this info as a path, allowing you to travel the same path at some point. As you will see below, the 205's new "Courses" feature gives you new levels of control over how you define your beloved runs and rides.

Training Functions
The 205 is 1st and primary a training tool, and its capability to manage a ton of data types into a user experience that's intuitive and simple is no small feat. Whiz bang technology on the side, if you can not use it and make it a natural part of your exercise routine, it is worthless. When it comes to these factors and here is the take home message on the 205 this device is successful where many other devices fail.

The heart and soul of the 205 may be found on the data screens, which give you real time info about all parts of your workout. In fact, the 305 can display a dizzying array of data, like calories burned, distance, elevation, grade, and heading, also as many lap and rate modes.

Thankfully, the device makes it simple to define how much or how little data you want to view throughout a workout. you may be able to arrange the data that is most important to you , then make that data appear front and center on the device. Indeed, inside some minutes of skimming the manual and fiddling with the device setup, you will have your most important data showing just the way you like it.

Garmin's Virtual Partner function was cool feature of last Forerunners and they have decided to keep a good thing going with the 205. If you are the type that performs best when you have got a competitor egging you on, you will love this function, as it lets you to set up virtual running or biking companions that compete against you.

If you are looking for an complex workout with a range of intervals and intensity levels, or just a fast three mile jog against your best time last week, the 205 has you covered. Navigating to the Workouts menu on the device yields three options: fast Workouts, Interval, and Advanced Workout. A fast workout is just that, set the distance and time, distance and rate, or time and rate of your planned workout and off you go. Interval workouts are just the same, but they let you to add repetitions and rest between them. When you really want to get cool with your exercise, you may be able to step up to advanced workouts, which include objectives for each workout step, also as varied distances, times, and rest periods. you may be able to use the Garmin Training Center software to set up these workouts , then upload them to the device.

PC Connectivity and Software
Garmin was outfitting their devices with USB connectivity for some time now a welcome move for those who fought with serial port connections in the days of yore. Thanks to USB, the 205 integrates seamlessly with the Training Center software and we quickly had workout history uploaded and stored on the PC Sadly, Training Center isn't Mac compatible.

In a 1st for the Forerunner series, the Training Center software also allows you to define courses on your PC that you may upload to the device. When course info is joint with uploaded workout info, 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 are on the road or path. Back on the PC, the software's capability to overlay workout data on maps of the course makes it simple to see where the course offers up the tough hills and the easy recuperation spots. Plus, the capability to track historical performance on a given course is a good way to measure your improvement.

The 205 is completely matched with Garmin's MotionBased service, which takes your training to another level by connecting your data with the Internet. While we were not able to use the service, the promise of sharing courses, maps, workouts, and performance data with other users is intriguing. And if you are a serious endurance athlete, you will be happy to know that the 205 is matched with TrainingPeaks.com, an easy to use web established training system intended to help athletes train for any event.

Pros

• Radically new design is better in every way
• Amazing accuracy and fast satellite acquisition time
• So easy to set up and use, you'll really use it

Cons

• No Mac OS compatibility
• Okay, it is bigger than a sport's watch but so more powerful

What's in the Box
Forerunner 205, Garmin Training Center CD ROM, docking cradle, expander strap, A/C charger, USB cable, owner's manual, fast start guide.





Garmin Forerunner 205