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As a basis for my review: I'm someone who owns a 305, 705, 500 and 800 (and has the Cyclemeter iPhone app). I've ridden thousands of miles with all of them (well, not the iphone app and 800yet). I've owned polar watches in the past too. My current set-ups include bikes with a powertap and Quarq. My training rides during the winter include 5+ hour road ridesalthough this is nothing compared to what the rondo folks do. I'm also a Cat 2 road racer with experience in many many many races. (also race MTB and cyclocrossno track this year)
At first I was a little hesitant about the touchscreen having been so used to my iphone. Is it sensitive? Can I use it with gloves on? I will say for a fact that the touchscreen changes your entire interaction with the device. It does work with glovesand surprisingly well at that. Have you ever tried to enter data into the 705 using the little thumbstick? Hunt, click, hunt, click. It's a frustrating experience. With the touchscreen it's a snap. Tap, tap, tap. Done. Don't expect iPhone/Android phone screen qualityif you did, you'd be paying a couple hundred more for it (and probably wouldn't be able to use gloves with it)
Benefits over the iphone: screen works with gloves on. Don't need to worry about it getting wet. If I drop it, I don't need to worry about it as much. I still have navigational capability and maps if I'm out of cell range (happens a lot if I'm in the Cascades or the Oregon coastal range).
Another bonus over the 705the sheer number of screens and discrete informational elements. 3 data screens with a possible 10 fields per each. Plus more available data fields on the map, courses and workout pages. A bike geek's dream. If you want to change one of the data fieldsfor example, instead of power, you figure you need to see 3 second power, you hold your finger on the field and poof, you can select the field you'd like to change it to. Changing all the fields on the 800 is a much easier process too, and if you don't want a screen, you can turn it off. (most of them at least)
Another big improvementwriting speed compared to the 705. I plug the 705 in and if I have a lot of activities, it takes forever to mountif you have the 705, you know what I meanthat stinking green bar. The 800 mounts much quicker and the files are much smaller as .fit.
Compared to the 500it's a completely different unit made for different purposes. The 500 I use in race situations for data collection and I only have a few data fields shown. Distance, power, heart rate and time. I rarely look at it but it's nice to be able to know why I am about to blow at certain points. The 800 on the other hand is great for trainingthe ability to change fields on the fly, the maps are quite handy to see where roads go and having the navigational ability is handy too. 500 takes more steps to change fields too so I rarely like to change them. Other fields that are available on the 800 but not on the 705, temperature (is at freezingkinda important to know), watts/kg.
There's still some elements that need to be improved but given Garmin's track record for providing excellent updates, those should be fixed. For exampleduring workouts, using instantaneous power for narrow band workouts is not the best. If you're trying to work at threshold, instantaneous power tends to bounce around, and it really should have 3 second power as the basis. Otherwise the outside of zone alarm keeps on going off. The other piece I wish for is the ability to custom tailor fields to each bike. (So I choose my cross bike, it shows the appropriate screens since I don't have a power unit on that).
The other improvement over the 705 is the mounting system. It has the twist lock like the 500 instead of the 705 mount with the flimsy push down flap that breaks.
My summary? I for one love the 800and the linchpin is the touchscreen. It makes the unit much easier to work with over past units. I was a little jaded and didn't expect much from touchscreen but now that I've used it, it has made a world of difference. I would say this is a large step improvement, not incremental.
How would I compare these?
7052nd generation, good evolution from 305, data entry a chore, good navigation capabilities, limited screens
500minimalist, lightweightgreat for those who don't need to navigate but want enough info to train with.
8003rd generation, UI greatly improved, data entry a breeze, plenty of information available, flexible with potential for more improvements
Is it worth it? Yeah, in my opinion it is. For the amount of time I spend on the road, absolutely.
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