Better than I hoped, but not as good as it could be

I'd read on one of my websites that Amazon was having a major sale on the Garmin Forerunner 305. Since I took up walking as a way to lose weight, I figured I'd give it a shot.

Things I particularly like about the Garmin:

1. I already own a Garmin GPS, so I felt familiar with the way their products work.
2. The heart rate sensor is digital and therefore won't get your heart rate confused with everyone out there using a Polar.

Things I have learned I really, really dislike:

1. I work in downtown Indianapolis, which is not exactly known for skyscrapers. Despite this, it can take up to 20 minutes for the Forerunner to acquire a satellite signal, and I regularly lose the signal as I walk under the trees surrounding my building. Let me stress: at home, this is not a problem. I acquire a signal before I can get the thing strapped properly onto my wrist, although it does tend to lose signal on heavily wooded trails.
2. If you're losing signal a lot, the pace is virtually useless.
3. I am constantly pressing the wrong buttons and ending up with four views of my average pace on a walk or something, when I really want current time, distance walked, average pace and current pace.

Still, I love this little thing. First of all, I went ahead and upgraded with a footpod, so I don't have to rely on GPS. Yep, extra money, but, I think, totally worth it. The downside is that you actually have to calibrate the footpod to get anything resembling valuable information, but heck.

The size is bulky, but I have extremely small wrists, and it doesn't look all that awful. I certainly don't feel weighed down, and I at least look like I have a reason to keep looking at my wrist.

I love that I can automatically upload everything to my computer. I can download favored routes to it. I can check my splits.

When I was evaluating running computers, I was completely overwhelmed by Polar. Did I need a fitness test? A calorie counter? A customized zone for ensuring I only got my own stats? Should I spend a little more and get some amazing thing or stick with something basic for a while?

What finally decided me was someone writing that, eventually, your wonderful running computer will die a horrible death. If you're not well-off, how much can you afford to lose? I decided I couldn't afford to lose the amount I'd need to drop on a top-of-the-line Polar, but that the amount for this Forerunner was just about right.

Charging is a snap. I pop the watch onto a charging base which is plugged into a USB port on my computer. Same thing with uploading data.

I'd heard reports that people were having trouble getting consistent readings on the heart rate portion, but I haven't. A little spit on the contacts, and I'm good without buying electrode goo at the local running store.

I do feel completely plugged in with this thing, though. Got the running computer for my walking. Got the iPod for the music. Got the cellphone for any emergencies. I feel like I should have a Dilbert utility belt, or at least a target saying "Rob me! Rich, stupid person here!"

Basically, I get a lot more than I need from this gadget, but just about what I want.