Motorola MotoActv GPS Fitness Tracker and Music Player user reviews (8GB)

Pros Looks sleek.

Cons 1. Not durable. Dropped from 10-12 in off the ground and the face broke. 2. battery does not last very long. I can't get further than 17mi (running) until it runs out. 3. Can't use a universal wireless headset. Would write more, but ran out of rm

Summary I got this because they advertised that some Olympian was using it for the New York Marathon. This is NOT a good piece of workout equipment if you actually work out. I dropped it once and it broke. I have to recharge after every run as I can't get further than 17mi with the GPS and music going. (NO WAY a female runner could get through a full marathon unless she is a super fast runner.) It has no manual with it, and it is hard to use with the build in instructions. It causes a major distraction when you are running and trying to get it to work the way the directions describe on the watch. A friend got me a wireless headset (universal) and I was informed I can't use it on this product. The customer service sucks when you have a problem. They actually told me I would have to pay for the face to be fixed. (I could see this if it wasn't a pc of workout equipment or if I had been hard on it)
Hands down a poor choice if you actually want a durable pc of workout equipment that is easy to use. Now, I am told I can't return it because I have had it too long. (I have had it 4 months, but have used it for less than 3) I would NOT buy this product.

Pros I replaced a Garmin Forerunner 305 and my MP3 player with Motoactv back in November and it has worked pretty well for me. I less thing to travel and run with.

Cons Okay, battery life is an issue. Motorola has been working hard to get this resolved with software updates and it has definitely helped.

Summary I really like this unit. Has served me well. Battery issue hasn't really been that big of a deal for me since I usually run around an hour. It seems to use about 20% during that period using both heart monitor and audio.Motorola has been very good about sending free software updates that have only improved the unit. Not sure how well it is going to stand up to the moist summer climate here in Fla. Headphone jack seems to be a little sensitive to moisture, but I can usually clear it out and get a good uninterrupted connection throughout my run. A small issue is that if you use Bluetooth headsets FM will not work due to no antenna. The mapping is also nice when running in a new town, although working with the map on the watch is a little finicky. Notice in the Caribbean the maps just show the land and no roads. Would definitely buy it again and can't wait to see what they do with it next.

Pros Small size, easy to wear on your wrist or clip to your shirt.

Cons Poor execution and many short comings

Summary I was so excited about this unit. But that excitement quickly faded away when I actually started using it.

1) The average pace jumped all over the place. Every time I looked at the watch I saw an average pace ranging between 9:30 and 14:00. I know my pace was much more consistent than to have a range like that. My overall pace after I completed my run showed as 11:18. That seems about right and I'll give them that accuracy.

2) It was difficult to see the display as I was running. When looking for my overall mileage, I had to concentrate on the watch to see it.

3) Music synch is horrible. Apparently most of my music is protected and could not be transferred to the unit. Of 80+ songs I wanted to synch, only 38 made it.

4) The FM radio gets horrible reception. Who listens to the FM radio while running? I do. I like to listen to NPR. It helps me stay informed and keep my pace slow when necessary.

5) I could not get my wireless Jabra headphones to synch to the MotoActv unit. I'm sure the Motorola wireless headphones work fine, but I don't have those and do not want to go out and buy them since I already have a set that works with my iPhone.

Pros Love the touch screen, fairly easy to learn (I did not have to read much of the instructions to figure out basic features). I don't listen to music when I run, but I tried it out, kind of cool. It does have an FM Radio, that I can walk to work with.

Cons Thumbs down on the not-so-well protected GLASS face. It is very fragile. I knocked the watch out of my car doors map pocket (about a 12 in. drop and cracked it in two placed); my heart sank. Who makes a sports watch that is NOT durable?

Summary I had been waiting for my Garmin 305 to finally die so I could buy this watch that I had read and heard so much about. The 2nd day I owned it I dropped it on the pavement and to my surprise the face was cracked. I couldn't believe it. I have been wearing sports watches for decades and have never cracked the face, with WAY more abuse. I can't tell you how disappointing it is to have looked forward to getting this watch only to have it fail its first "real" test. If you're a trail runner or triathlete, think twice about buying this watch, it will not handle the "basic" rough and tumble test of moving your gear around...if you're a gym-tread mill runner,you'll love it. MOTOROLA needs to beef up the durability factor, then it will be a "real" sports watch.

Updated on Mar 27, 2012

PS: the battery life is weak. unless you go to minimum power use; but most mileage junkies like to see pace and mileage often without having to push an on button.