After resisting the installation of Garmin Express for so long and even stating I never intended to install it in past posts, I finally decided to install it to find out what all the other users are fussing about.
So far it's not too bad. It did not automatically update my device's firmware which was one of my fears. However in the updates section it listed the needed firmware update and also listed a update to the timezone file. Both had an install button next to them so I assumed I'd be able to install just the timezone update. Upon clicking the install button next to the timezone update, it showed a page that appeared to have both updates queued up for install and was beginning the install of the firmware, which I quickly cancelled. The timezone update was also cancelled as a result, so I guess I will not be able to install that separately through Garmin Express. I consider that bad planning/choice on the development teams part and/or their higher ups.
Also during the initial install it gets to the part where it asks if you want to create a new Garmin Connect account or sync to an existing account. I can see where some one in a hurry to install this and not too familiar with all the nuances of whether it's Garmin Connect, Garmin Communicator, Garmin Express, Garmin this or Garmin that, could mistakenly push the create new account. I ddn't but it might have been better to come to message that asks the question, "Do you already have a Garmin Connect account? Yes/No" Then if answered yes ask, "Do you wish to sync this device with this account? Yes/No". I think it obvious what you need to do if answered no.
Also, after I put in my correct account information for it to sync, it seemed to do nothing. I was not able to find any hidden message windows nor was there anything that told me it was syncing. I waited fifteen minutes before forcing the program to end. After restarting my computer and looking in Garmin Express I found there were more activities on my device and that it was finishing up that last of them. Maybe this is what it was doing when I thought it had frozen and I simply did not give it enough time to sync. However there certainly needs to be something to let the user know what's going on.
Anyway other than that, the world hasn't ended since I've installed Garmin Express. It's just not quite right by my thinking, but when you try to create one program to do all the things Garmin seems to want it to do, then it's going to have complications and not do many of those things very well. IMHO! But I'll persevere with it.