Quote Originally Posted by Jiffer View Post
Just curious ... how is it better? Dh and I have the 305. He upgraded to ... I think the 500 and decided it wasn't worth the extra money. It actually may have been the 705, I'm not sure now. Anyway, he only used it briefly and went back to the 305, which is pretty shocking since he usually has to have the latest and greatest of everything. He "intended" to sell the newer one on eBay, but apparently lost it!

Anywho, I'm just curious what's miles better about the 500 than the 305. As for mapping and/or finding a gas station, etc., we have an iPhone for the rare times we need that, but you don't even use the mapping.
The 500 is a completely different animal than the 305. If his new unit looked anything like the 305, then it is the 705 and not the 500. If you think you are able to use your Garmin for mapping then you also do not have the 500.

Why do I prefer the 500 to the 305? The 500 is smaller with a larger brighter display; the battery will last MUCH longer than the 305, which required me to run a battery pack for rides over 12 hours; it doesn't short out and completely shut down as the 305s were known to do (even my newer one started to do this); it is a better looking unit (IMHO).