Today, Garmin official unveiled the next generation Forerunner at the Consumer Electronics Show. Images and chatter of the new sleek design have been on the message boards for more than a month. The word was out when CES blessed it as an honoree for their 2006 Innovation Award.
Now that we are part of the Garmin machine it goes without saying and we’d be crazy not to, but we might as well make it official and spell it out, MotionBased will support the Forerunner 205 & 305. Garmin says units will be available in February, MB support will immediately follow.
We got our first prototypes a few weeks ago, and have been testing in earnest since. Our initial impressions are strong. While most will be struck by the new body style, it’s what’s under the hood that impresses us. After all, it’s all about the data. Right? Like the Edge, Forerunner 205 & 305 have SiRFstarIIITM architecture. That means dramatically improved GPS reception. We’ve subjected our prototypes to GPS torture – Muir Woods tree cover, Skeggs Point canyons, and downtown skyscrapers – and they’ve performed like a champs. We were blown away to see our route up-and-down the isles of our local Best Buy. Check out this run though Muir Woods - the tallest trees on earth
We’ve also been pleased with the heart rate monitor, improved accuracy and softer material than its predecessor. Both the Edge and Forerunner 305’s use the new HRM. The course feature is also new to the Forerunner, (read more about couses - Edge post). Courses enable users to download activities form the MotionBased TrailNetwork or your personal Digest for real time Dot Racing on the device. That’s right, you can race yourself or challenge your friends. Don’t forget, safety first. We don’t need anyone getting hurt our there…
Do yourself a favor, step into the next generation of GPS.
PG, what we call our era pre-Garmin, we hadn’t spent much time with talking GPS units. Now we can’t go anywhere without one. My girlfriend says I’m obsessed with Betsy and Points of Interests. 
