Oregon 650 - first impressions after nearly two weeks

I have the Oregon 650 now for almost 2 weeks and would like to share first impressions here. Main fields of application are cycling and caching. So far, here came an Oregon 450 is used, so that I will mainly focus on the differences, in order of perceived importance.

Touchscreen / display:
WOW! Finally as it should be! The new glass surface responds quickly and accurately, (almost) as one is so accustomed from an iPhone or Android. The new touch screen is the "killing feature" of the 650th
The brightness has been improved remarkably in 650, it may "turn into the light" when the sun without backlight and without now be used.
The screen is however now no longer "deepened" as the 450, but almost flat at the top. That although presumably increases the scratch resistance, but is due to the new Gestures "wiping" otherwise feasible. A screen protector is certainly more necessary as the 450 at 650. This arrangement also leads to frequent unwanted clicks (esp. In the case), you have more frequently / always set the screen lock. But that I may live because of the much better operability like.
One disadvantage is the reflective surface. Matt would be "nice". That may have technical reasons, there is certainly no Smartphone with matte display.

Software:
The operating concept has been changed from the ground up - and that's a good thing. It is now very "smartphone-like", and, with few exceptions much more intuitive than before. Currently (02.07.2013) is partly filled with version 2.70, a separate GPS firmware like the 450 does not appear. However, it also noted that is not yet fully developed the new software - but the experience with the Oregon 450 shows the Garmin nachbessert here constantly ...
Here is a short list of improvements and bugs (certainly not complete):
+ Smartphone-like concept, intuitive, faster
+ Many settings are now directly accessible from the respective indicator, for example, map settings, reset the trip odometer (YES!) And much more
- Geocaches found are no longer displayed (myfinds.gpx not)
- Grey screen when the battery is weak, you have to actively click away (was the 450 also). AAAAARGH! Who programmed so what? When I grade downshifts a mountain or raufradle I want to know the way and not click away any stupid warning screens! Why is there not a small red battery icon in the corner? Because of me, it may also blink! Man over so I can get upset (as you noted :-) OK. beruuuuuhigen.
- In "play around" I have the original profile "Geocaching" cleared first thing, or replaced by the parameters of "standard". OK, could / should have been their own stupidity, but a successful reset method does not seem to be.
- Automatic switching from portrait to landscape is rather annoying. If the GPS is on wheel mounted to horizontal, on the 650 when setting down the wheel to landscape to, and remains at the Continue like this. Well, that you can turn off this automatic!
- The representation of pictures is "rotated" so that a landscape photograph is shown in portrait mode, which 2/3 of the screen remain black -> Update please!
Crashes and "freezing" I have not yet been observed.
Note: I am running both devices "in English". Already at the Oregon 450 the German translation has long been flawed, which according to previous reviews of the 600 with the new generation is also the case.

Zooming / scrolling on the map:
I have the speed of the shot composition measured (with the zoom level at which the system of the rough "World Map" switches to a detailed OSM card), there was no difference on the 450th Evt. This is due to the slow and Oregon between 450 and 650 almost identical reading speed of the memory, su
"Chill" but you can zoom faster, scrolling, etc. This should / could of the new touchscreen (and processor) are.

Bluetooth:
Great potential if the Garmin interface "opens". Currently, only (?) Used with the Garmin iPhone app, with which you can demonstrate his tracks, not really more. Conceivable esp. Connection to geocaching apps like L4C would (so that, for example dissolved Mysteries and multinationals appear with other symbol), or navigation via iPad or iPod touch and and and

Read / write speed:
So now it's getting serious. I have 2 μSD cards tested (h2testw), which in a fast system following characteristics:
- 16GB Sandisk Class4: 4.45 MB / s write, 20MB / s read
- Samsung 16GB Class10: 18 MB / s write, 20MB / s read
Connection via USB - Oregon 450 (each in MB / s; L = Read / Write S =)
- Internal memory: S 1.18 / 3.33 L
- ΜSD Class4: S 1.27 / 3.25 L
- ΜSD Class10: S 1.22 / 2.51 L
Connection via USB - Oregon 650 (each in MB / s; L = Read / Write S =)
- Internal memory: 2,18 S / L 3.5
- ΜSD Class4: S 1.13 / 2.56 L
- ΜSD Class10: S 1.08 / 2.25 L
This is disappointing! The already lame in Oregon 450 S / L-rates were not improved, quite the contrary. OK, Garmin wants us to buy their cards - and then to play it only once in a blue moon to new - and then perhaps it does not matter. For me as an OSM users (and mapper) that is out of the question slowly. Point. OK, map out and describe an adapter with 18MB / s is also - but would not be necessary.
It is also - as the Oregon 450 - bringing the fast μSD cards nothing, a Class-4 is enough. Only those who often strikes up great new card, the purchase of a faster card and an SD adapter should consider.
(Do not ask why the class 4 card is slower than the Class-10 - no idea but it is reproducible and they were formatted equal)

Start times:
So, as a cacher I (yes, unnecessarily) 6 GPX files with. At the 5000 caches on the GPS The first reading of a new set (first start by copying the files) takes this usually very long. As has been done as described above to the read and write rates anything I think this is a test of the processor. In addition to the GPX-Files (40,3MB) is located on the map each more than 9 GB of OSM maps.
Start time with "new" GPX, Oregon 450
- ΜSD Class4: 175 s
- ΜSD Class10: 181 s
Start time with "new" GPX, Oregon 650
- ΜSD Class4: 66 s
- ΜSD Class10: 69 s
Normal start: Oregon 450
- ΜSD Class4: 17 s
- ΜSD Class10: 17 s
Normal start: Oregon 650
- ΜSD Class4: 14 s
- ΜSD Class10: 14 s
If this can actually serve as a processor test here has done a lot, but is supported by the above-mentioned improvement in the perceived speed. An interpretation of the start times with no new GPX files is due to the entirely different software relatively sinnfrei.

GPS reception / accuracy:
In addition to the GPS is now the Russian Glonass system "on board", which could in theory increase the accuracy / should. Unfortunately, there is no reliable test methodology for "mere mortals", the accuracy displayed by the instrument is necessary, rather than the marketing department of art attributed. So there remains a "perceived accuracy".
The observed by some critics at the Oregon 600 variations I can not confirm at least. I go on working days 2x10km with cycling to work (little country, a lot of forest, a little town, factory premises), and the tracks are within the usual range of 450cc. When caching (previously 12) fit the coordinates also very good. Conclusion: "Chill" no difference.

Camera:
It is' ne cell phone camera, more there is not really to say ('m SLR usual :-). There is a 4.1mm f / 2.7 lens with AF but without zoom (only "digital"), by the crop factor of 7.75 results in a "35mm focal length" of 31mm. For geocache Logphotos, TB tracking codes etc. perfectly adequate and with plenty of light even perfectly usable. The LED flash can function as a flashlight - useful.

Battery Life:
Here I did not test, which was at the Oregon 600 already sufficiently discussed (with the tenor that was better the 450). For me, a rather secondary factor. One more comment on the attached battery pack at 650: These are just 2 AA batteries jointed bungalows and thus completely pointlessly. The charging function in the device should use their support, because it does not shut down (info from the Garmin forum link I do not even). It would make sense a LiPol battery, which fully exploits the available space and for 3x (or so) are more maturity.

OK, that's it as far. I know I have a lot of grumbling - and what is now the bottom line?

BUY! But the new touch screen, it is value! The software bugs will place and things have not improved - well, who at least not deteriorated
Without software bugs and with faster USB data transfer, it would be 5 star, so there is a star deduction.

Summary:
+ TOUCH SCREEN
+ New, intuitive software
+ MUCH felt faster
o Battery life (neutral because not tested myself)
- Bugs
- Read / write speeds