GPS what?!? - Nike+ SportWatch review

Now, I have had the Nike+ SportWatch GPS for three weeks now. What do I think about it? Well, it has definitely motivated me to run more days during the week. The whole idea behind the watch itself is really cool. I have not run using the 'interval' option yet, tapping the screen to mark laps, or setting alarms to remind me to run.

There are a few things that are not so great about the SportWatch. The watch screen - thing that bugs me about it is that tapping the screen doesn't always turn on the back screen light, but other things tapping it does. Weird. The GPS mapping feature - this is a real disappointment, and is the one thing that really bugs the crap out of me. WTF, Nike! Or maybe it should be WTF, TomTom. Of all the GPS runs I have done in the past three weeks, only two have been mapped properly on the Nike+ Maps Beta website. I generally end my runs where I start them, but on the Nike+ Maps website, most of the time, the location of my start is 50-100 feet  away from my end location. In addition to that, instead of running on streets or trails, the GPS has tracked me running through front yards, houses, a lake...and in most cases not anywhere close to where I was actually running. Apparently I am not the only user with this issue. Some users' GPS tracking is right on, but there are many others, like myself, that are having problems with it. There was a hardware update last weekend, but that did not fix GPS/mapping issue. Supposedly, Nike is working on this problem. But until they do, my pace, splits, and distance will be off.

Sadly, the GPS function was the main reason why I decided to upgrade from my Nike+ Sportband to the SportWatch, so among other things, I could see a map of where I ran, the pace, and the correct distance. Right now, I feel like I should have stuck to my sportband since the GPS on my SportWatch is seriously lacking. What I do not know is if any other GPS running watches have or have had the same issues - could this be the best that all GPS running watches do when tracking ones' runs?!? Anyway, I'm not completely giving up on my SportWatch, not yet. But if Nike doesn't fix this problem soon enough, I may have to return it.