Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I don't do many reviews, but I have been waiting for this watch forever and I am VERY PLEASED! UPDATE 4/3/15: Still very happy. See new photos. Have discovered the watch will charge faster when using a USB 3 port, 29% to 100% in under 90 mins. Took a little trial and error to work out which cycling data screens to select and use auto scroll while riding. Auto sync via Nexus 5 to Connect and auto sync to Strava is awesome, much better than using the Edge 500 and having to manually connect and sync. GPS and battery consumption is exactly as described. After 3 cycling sessions of 4 hours total, 1/2 hour of yard work GPS on, 24 hours of step and sleep tracking battery, lots of screen swiping and backlight use it was down from 100% to 32%. Display while riding was easily readable for the numbers like speed, HR etc, but the text description of the data line was tiny and for me unreadable while riding, luckily I know what they are eg. page 1 = HR, Speed, Distance, page 2 = Time, Elevation, Cadence, but Garmin should make the text bigger. Just like on the Edge 500, you have to remember to select your activity and also press start. Once you have started an activity, I don't believe you can use any of the watches other functions, so you should add whatever data you need to see to your visible / auto scrolling screens. (like time of day). I ran multiple comparison cycling GPS sessions with my Edge 500 (when the dodgy button worked) and my Virb Elite which also has GPS and ANT+ sensor recording and they all matched to within the second and a tenth of a mile which was probably down to my button pressing. Strava segment times were identical on every one. (I compared about 30 segment results). I did notice that after rides the step count had also gone up, not a big issue for me as I got my workout done so the step count was irrelevant, hopefully a software update will fix this. Reading some of the negative reviews make sure you update the software by registering with Garmin Connect and using the charger in a PC. I think mine went through 2 updates. Also I had installed a IQ watch face app BigTime that made the watch reset multiple times so uninstalled and installed ActiFace Blue which works great. Also make sure your phone is compatible. My Nexus 5 works flawlessly with it. Display indoors like at work or shopping is easily readable, at home in some of the darker rooms the time is easily readable, the smaller text or numbers on the more complex screens not so good, you have to use the back light. There is only one alarm, which in a dark room without my glasses on is a struggle to see how to turn it off (until it becomes muscle memory), but it does wake me up. The sleep analysis is only available if you sync to your phone or PC and Connect, the data as usual says I don't sleep enough, I move quite a lot in the night and I get up around 3 am to go to the bathroom ..... getting old sucks. The vibration alerts are gentle but noticeable, the "Move" vibration nudges are good for me, I sit at a PC a lot at work, so it encourages me to go talk to someone instead of emailing them or Lyncing / texting. The upcoming calendar events only display the current day events. Text, email and phone notifications are discreet, useful when in meetings etc. I don't really use the music control so no comment but it works with the native music app. I prefer to use my phone to check the weather, but the display on the watch is fairly good. Primary goal achieved, I already got rid of that hateful Polar Loop, I have an ALWAYS ON WATCH DISPLAY (after the Loop disaster this was a biggy for me) and can retire the semi broken Garmin Edge 500. Earlier Review: I already have a Polar Loop (which I now hate), Garmin Edge 500 (which I messed up the on/off switch and broke the ears off, the reason I wanted this watch) and have a Garmin Virb Elite. I considered replacing my Edge with a new one but it was too expensive and wanted to reduce the number of gadgets I have (plus I wanted to get rid of the Loop). IF you are already in the Garmin ecoverse and setup on Garmin Connect already, then getting going with this watch is fairly easy. IF you are NOT then you WILL have a leaning curve just like buying any new gadget. The transflective display is very good, easily readable in dim light (plus it has a back light) The functionality in this watch for $249 is very hard to beat. I would recommend everyone read DCrainmaker reviews on this watch. http://www.dcrainmaker.com/2015/01/vivoactive-smartwatch-vivofit2.html THE DISPLAY IS GREAT OUTDOORS, exactly what an outdoors person needs, not great indoors, what watch is? There's a backlight for indoors. There is only a quick start manual with links to websites for the latest setup data, and it was pretty easy to get setup. Garmin website works fine, I did all my setup on my Nexus 5 and it was just fine, maybe you if have a fruit product it may not go so well, heaven forbid one should think that there is any deliberate competitive product shenanigans going on. Downloaded the Connect and it works just fine, fruit phone or Samesung may have problems (competitive product?) Absolutely never crashed or any bugs for me. There is a watch specific magnetic charger (USB PORTS ARE NOT WATERPROOF) works as described, it charges the watch. My activities automatically sync to my Garmin Connect account and sync to Strava. It controls your default music app on your phone. It controls the Virb action cam remotely, useful if you don't want to use the phone app, however the phone app has much more control and more features. A $249 GPS, BT4, waterproof, running, golf, cycling, walking, treadmill, sleep tracking, HR monitoring (with strap/monitor), step tracking, vibration alerts, text alerts, email alerts, calendar, weather reports watch, with IQ apps being developed all the time is tough to beat. The battery life is incredible, up to 3 weeks between charges, real world active person up to 5-7 days, if you are doing the Tour de France then maybe you'd need to recharge every day, but $ for $, I challenge anyone to provide a device that beats the Vivoactive.