Secret new tech! Garmin set to release solar-powered Edge 540 and 840 bike computers

Capt Sisko wrote:

Technoligy is supposed to get cheaper every year, right? TVs, Phones, Watches, you name it that's basically a mobile computer are all now cheaper, better, more reliable than they used to be, despite increases in demands of what what they do and what's into them. Why are Garmin & co still so expensive?

One would have to ask Garmin about their pricing strategy and how it is made up, but in terms of better/cheaper, the head unit I had in 2015, a Garmin Edge 520 IIRC I paid around £280 for it at launch. The upcoming 540 was leaked at £285. In terms of performance and functionality, it is vastly improved, and taking 8 years of inflation into consideration, much cheaper.

Some years back companies [a big wave to Apple here] realised that they didn't have to make newer versions of products cheaper, despite tech costs dropping and folk would still buy them. This applies to premium brand name companies. 
Replacing my £2k MacBook Pro, with an equivalent Apple model 10 years later would cost 2.5 times as much. Costs for desktop Mac Pros also skyrocketed. Wages haven't gone up at all for many folk in that time, particularly in the creative industires. For a long time £2k got you a pretty much top of range computer from companies and with each passing year that same £2k got you a much better computer. Now base Apple models can cost more than that. Their iPhones increased in price too. 
 

Xenophon2 wrote:

My 1030 is on its 5th year and the battery's on its way out but swappping it out is not approved and looks like a perilous exercise.

I replaced the battery in my 520 but you're right, it's a fiddly job. I wasn't relishing doing the same for an 820, then I found the site http://satnavspecialist.co.uk/product-category/garmin-repairs/  who among other things do Garmin battery replacement for a very reasonable price.

Yes, I wish the solar technology went to the Explore model because all I am looking for is mapping for multi-day long-distance touring and the rest of the features are just hogging memory & power. 

My ancient Garmin eTrex Legend used AA batteries (so old it had a NiCd setting). You could use rechargeable batteries.

It would cut out every now and again due to the batteries losing connection when jolted.

But, it isn't so long ago we had cellphones with robustly connected batteries that were replaceable. If argue it was waterproofing, but phones aren't particularly any more waterproof with non-replaceable batteries. The eTrex was rainproof, good clamping closure.

My 800 is on its 4th battery. No bin

I totally agree with you.  I can't believe that manufacturers today still produce technology that is sealed for life and doesn't allow for user-changeable rechargeable cells.  I've got a perfectly functional pair of Bluetooth headphones that sound as great as the day I bought them.  But because I can't change the battery, they work for no more than 25 minutes before they give up the ghost.  Guaranteed landfill for the worst possible reason.

It's all down to cutting costs at manufacture to maximise profits and then guaranteeing future sales when the batteries are no longer capable of holding a charge.

I'm impressed you've got a Garmin which lives long enough for the battery to deteriorate. I've had an 800, 1000, 8x0, 530, 530, 530. All but the 1000 and most recent 530 died before the end of the warranty.

I'd love to leave Garmin and I liked the Hammerhead 2 unit but Garmin's battery (and rechargability on the go) is next-level and the Garmin Connect site saves me $125 a year on third party analysis tools which Hammerhead obligates if you want more than speed and distance metrics.

If the 540 Solar is $450 and it lasts 3 years (assuming a warranty replacement around 18 months) im basically subscribing to Garmin Connect at the same price as TP with a free head unit. On that basis if its a bit rubbish, it is at least justifiable (even if environmentally questionable).

I swapped to Wahoo years back. Like many others mainly because it wasn't a Garmin. 
The original Elemnt had better battery life and display, but more importantly vastly superior interface and usability. Bought two Garmins since as backups and returned both because going back to Garmins horribly clunky interfaces and buggy software was just too painful. 

jaymack wrote:

I'd settle for replaceable batteries. If Garmin can make the unit solar powered they can manufacture units which utilise consumer replaceable batteries. This product is just green-wash 'cos the unit will still be destined for the bin when it no longer holds a charge.

There's a host of people on the internet offering to replace batteries in Garmins of all sorts. Perhaps not quite 'user-replaceable', but then there are also how-to videos of how to replace the battery if you feel up to the challenge.