update review 12\/10\/2004 : First , I guess I can not lower the star ranking from the original review . otherwise , after 6 + month use I would now give this a 3 instead of 4 . after many run and race with this , I have now get 3 main complaint : 1 . as many other reviewer have note , it do not work under tree . I have be surprise that even now in the fall and winter , with all the leaf off of tree , bare leafless tree limb can still block out the signal . if you run a route that go anywhere near tree for more than 50 yard , you can count on the signal get lose and the distance be off . 2 . apparently the display be suppose to have a backlight . I just notice that in read a review elsewhere . the backlight on mine have never work . 3 . so , I go to garmin 's tech support site last week to fill in a support query about the backlight . it be be a full week since I submit my question and I have not receive even a acknowledgement of the question , let alone a answer or help . that be inexcusable . original review from May , 2004 follow : I have the Timex speed and Distance system before this and use it for about 18 month . I have have my Garmin for a week now . the Timex seem to be very accurate and consistent . if I run the same course , the Timex always measure a 3-7 mile run to within a few foot of the same distance time after time . when run in a race , the Timex seem to be within 1 % of the measure distance all the time . give that I might not always be run the shortest distance , I think that be great . the downfall of the Timex be the bulky 2 piece system , the lack of pc connectivity -lrb- at least with the older one I have -rrb- , and it eat AAA battery like a elephant . the Garmin be nice because it be smaller , one piece , and rechargable . the big screen be also configurable and let I see more datum at a glance . it also give I automatic mile split -lrb- have to do that manually on the Timex - easy to miss one or forget -rrb- . the 5000 lap , 2 year history be a godsend . I can not count the number of time I get out with my Timex to start a new run only to realize that I have not log the previous day 's run and have to wipe it out to start today 's . the history feature on the Garmin save that . I do not have any problem get the Garmin to find the satellite the first time as have be report by other user . however , in the first week I have have it , I would say so far it be less consistent in measure than the Timex be . I run the same course yesterday as today and have to run about 50 yard further to make 2 mile than yesterday . that be a bigger margin of error than I would like . the software and pc connectivity be great . I love be able to automatically download my run to the pc . but , as other people have point out , the serial connection be slow and a stunningly bad choice instead of usb . also , it be disappointing that you can not manually enter a run into the log book - if you run on a treadmill for example and want to keep all of you run in one log book . a shoe mileage tracker would also be a great addition for the software . the true measure of the Garmin 's accuracy will come after a few race . if it be way off then , I may change my tune but for now , it be good enough to be well worth the investment of replace the old Timex . and , a much better deal than the way overprice new Timex .