Garmin launch new Edge 540 and Edge 840 Series GPS cycling computers

[Eugene Oppelt]

44 minutes ago, Long Wheel Base said:

Thread revival. 
 

I will be upgrading from my very old and trusty 520 shortly. 
I am looking at either the 540 or the 840. From the specs and reviews I’ve read, seems the only difference is the touch screen. 

Is the extra couple grand worth it just for the touch screen?

Battery life on the 840 is quite a bit better too (40 hrs vs 26 hrs thereabouts), as well as double the internal storage.

Sterkte with the decision. Love mine.

 

[Long Wheel Base]

38 minutes ago, Michael S said:

If you  have learnt the ways of navigating a Garmin device woth buttons, no. If you have not, and are impatient with learning unintuitive UI, then yes

So I have had garmins since the very first edge, in fact I got it before it came here via a friend in the USA. Due to the longevity, my current 520 is only my 4th edge. I have only known buttons but you know how it was when we all went from button cell phones to touch screen, we never looked back. 

[cadenceblur]

7 minutes ago, Long Wheel Base said:

So I have had garmins since the very first edge, in fact I got it before it came here via a friend in the USA. Due to the longevity, my current 520 is only my 4th edge. I have only known buttons but you know how it was when we all went from button cell phones to touch screen, we never looked back. 

The 840 is a great unit and it actually has buttons as well should you be that way inclined , the touch screen is just so much so faster from a device navigation perspective though. 

[Long Wheel Base]

1 hour ago, Eugene Oppelt said:

Battery life on the 840 is quite a bit better too (40 hrs vs 26 hrs thereabouts), as well as double the internal storage.

Sterkte with the decision. Love mine.

 

Thanks for the info. I was hoping for some real world feedback because all the online claims are the battery life is about the same. My toppie has a 540 and he’s had it for a while now since just after they were launched and he says the battery life is really good so it’s good to hear the 840 is better. 

[Eugene Oppelt]

1 hour ago, Long Wheel Base said:

Thanks for the info. I was hoping for some real world feedback because all the online claims are the battery life is about the same. My toppie has a 540 and he’s had it for a while now since just after they were launched and he says the battery life is really good so it’s good to hear the 840 is better. 

The touchscreen is simply pain-free, intuitive, responsive and lekka especially while moving and in winter. 

[KingZA]

The touchscreens are great until it's raining. If they're wet it's a lottery to see if you can swipe to another data screen or not. I ride with a 1040 which doenst have any backup buttons that you can use instead.

My workaround thesedays is to have an aux shifter button programmed to go to the next data screen.

[wolver]

4 hours ago, Long Wheel Base said:

Thread revival. 
 

I will be upgrading from my very old and trusty 520 shortly. 
I am looking at either the 540 or the 840. From the specs and reviews I’ve read, seems the only difference is the touch screen. 

Is the extra couple grand worth it just for the touch screen?

Personally I find the touchscreen easier and simpler to use, more intuitive. 

[Long Wheel Base]

26 minutes ago, KingZA said:

The touchscreens are great until it's raining. If they're wet it's a lottery to see if you can swipe to another data screen or not. I ride with a 1040 which doenst have any backup buttons that you can use instead.

My workaround thesedays is to have an aux shifter button programmed to go to the next data screen.

So the same as my forerunner watch. In the shower or pool the screen does all sorts of funny things. I have since activated the lock on the screen so I need to swipe down to unlock the screen.
These days I try not get caught in any rain.

[BigDL]

I've had a 540 for a couple of months now. Upgraded from a 530. Love it, except for the buttons seeming to "protrude" a bit more or something. Whatever it is, I find myself pushing buttons unintentionally quite often. I'm sure I'll adjust but it is a ball ache at the moment.