A good computer for a mac user?

[Kingpatzer]

I'm looking to upgrade my comp to a wrist computer that has solid dive softwater that runs well on a Mac.

The ability to do some deco diving is a plus but not necessary - I have v-planner for a reason after all.

Air integration is nice but not necessary.

 

[Takenumbrage]

I use MacDive to download my Suunto data. They support most Suunto dive computers and a smattering of others, check the site out for supported computers.

The software isn't officially supported by Suunto (no Apple support at all) but I've never had a problem. Be aware, that you still need the download cable for any dive computer you hook up.

 

[Hollywoodivers]

We have been running a Scubapro Galileo Sol through mac (intel) with windows side...ala bootcamp some functions not there but overall pretty good...it shouldn't be long before all these logbook issues with mac are solved...i hear some computer will be taking the logbooks online to allow for less issues in the setup and execution of their customers computers.
It would be cool if scubapro hosted the computer software for their computers and you could log onto their site and ftp your dives into that from anywhere. anyway all the guys that I dive with have mac and they all complain that no good solution exists ...it's close though only if you have intel mac

 

[Bubbletrubble]

My girlfriend and I are Mac users. Between the two of us, we have three different Suunto computers -- Gekko, Mosquito, and Vyper. If you don't mind the conservative deco algorithm, I can highly recommend them. Our dive buddies use Sherwood, Oceanic, and Cressy dive computers which are clearly more liberal than the Suunto RGBM algorithm. I don't mind it when my computer barely trips into deco mode, since I'm aware of the conservative algorithm. My buddies don't mind that we occasionally have to do an extended shallow safety stop -- probably better for them anyway.

If you're cutting tables with V-Planner, then you'll probably want a computer that has gauge mode. Of the three that we own, only the Vyper has a gauge mode. Even new, the Vyper is a very affordable computer (Leisurepro price of approx. $325). I think Scubastore.com sells the Vyper for $250. It is an easy-to-read, nitrox-capable computer with a push-button backlight, user-replaceable battery, and an intuitive interface. Deep Sea Supply sells a nice wrist bungee mount for the Vyper and Gekko. Personally, I prefer the Gekko's phosphorescent face which can easily be charged by a dive light...but that's just me. None of our Suunto computers have air-integration, but if you want an AI (wireless or "wired") computer, Suunto offers several more expensive models that have that feature.

With the appropriate Suunto PC download cable, we can download our dive profiles very easily from any of our Suunto computers. I bought a used Suunto serial download cable a few years ago that works with all of the computers we own. Combined with a USB-to-serial adapter (Prolific PL2303 chipset), the download cable works flawlessly in downloading profiles to my Mac. I highly recommend the donationware program called MacDive. The developer is very accessible, and the program works well with a variety of Suunto, Oceanic, Aeris, and Mares computers. Since I have an iPhone, I was happy to find out that the MacDive SQLite database file can be freely converted to a format easily transferrable to the iPhone app called Dive Log. Dive Log is a paid program, but it works well. Now a copy of my logbook lives on my iPhone. Very convenient.

If you're primarily interested in having a record of your dive profiles on your Mac, another option to consider is to go with a separate dive logging device. I own the Reefnet Sensus Ultra. It's very small, works great, and is very low-maintenance. It's not cheap ($175 including the download base), but consider that you'll be saving money by not having to purchase expensive download cables should you choose to upgrade your dive computer in the future. Reefnet offers free logbook software that works on all of the major system OSes: Mac, PC, and Linux. The software is simple but adequate for my needs. FWIW, in the past year, the MacDive developer began offering support for downloads from the Sensus Ultra.

Hope this info helps...

 

[ScubaSaipan]

MacDive is great. I have found it very easy to use, plus it is widely discussed here on Scubaboard. The one time I needed help (which resulted from user error), I used the developers
forum and easily took care of my problem.

 

[rongoodman]

If you have an Intel based Mac and other Windows based software that you need to run, you could run whatever computer you want under Parallels and Windows. I had to do this in order to support my Liquivision X1. Another thing you could do would be to buy a Sensus Ultra for data recording--it comes with OS X support--and not worry about having you dive computer talk to your Mac at all.

 

[Garrobo]

Still making Macs?

 

[Nemrod]

A good computer for a Mac user would be a PC (if only in Parallels). N

 

[FireInMyBones]

I have a Macbook and a Vyper 2. I didn't want to spend money on a data transfer cable so I just record my dives manually. I have heard good things about MacDive.

 

[Matt S.]

As an alternative to buying a copy of Windows and Parallels for your Mac, you can buy a complete Windows notebook at Costco for $300-350... it will run all the dive log stuff, and then you have a cheap computer to take on your next dive vacation, too. My little Acer craptop does shockingly well for something that is priced practically as an impulse buy, at least in scuba terms.

Of course, it takes a special kind of person to see buying another computer as the solution to a problem. That is why I have 6.