What the hell. I can't believe Mares. I went to their website today and under wrist computers found no ICON HD computer at all. I see some 15 year throw back, called the Quad with air integration.
I felt the same way - at first. I took some time and read the Quad manual, took a close look at the display and am no longer so adamant. 1st the Quad is an Icon without the color. Display of information is the nearly the same with some improvements. They got rid of the tank with the color display and increased the size of the air pressure to easily readable. They fixed the displayed information so that every numeric is easily readable with old eyes. I applaude this.
As far as color goes, I have to set my Icon to
night display anyway (mostly black & white) because the color washes out in bright sunlight. The mono doesn't. I hate that the color is totally gone because the ascent alarm and others in yellow and red are important to me. They convey information immediately without having to interpret displayed numbers or words.
I hate the buttons on each corner. Better in a line on the bottom - but not a total deal breaker. I could get used to it.
The transmitter with the LED is hokey as hell. If I want a light on my tank I've got a couple in different colors. I hate it -
but the Icon transmitter wil work with the Quad. Since I dive solo I have no need of someone else seeing that the transmitter changed to red and I'm low on air. Yeah, right. Someone's going to pay that much attention to a little led on my tank in sunlight so you can't see it anyway. Besides, I carry a pony.
I love my HD and I never understood why it was so poorly marketed by Mares. It remains my #1 AI computer. If it dies, I'll be looking for a used one to replace it.
No need to buy a used one. Amazon has them - at least for now.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00LUWK9N...olid=19NL59QH7TP3H&psc=0&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
I just replaced the battery myself, since the warrenty is long gone and I don't believe its rocket science since I service my own regs, etc. If it floods I'm going to be
torn.
The Quad sans transmitter (I can use the Icon transmitter) is new and will be supported into the future. The Icon will not.
I like the information layout of the Quad better but would
hate to give up the color alarms.
The Quad has a user replaceable battery with any flooding causing damage only to the (inexpensive) battery. And you don't have to charge the battery every night when doing 4 dives a day. That's why no color.
The Quad is less expensive ($450) than the Icon ($600). Although they don't include the data cable. That's another $50. So only $100 difference.
I think the Quad might be a tiny bit less clunky.
If it weren't for the gouge of an extra $50 for the data cable I'd probably go for the Quad if I need to replace my Icon. I'm just hoping that the Icon doesn't flood after I changed the battery. I really doubt it will. I don't want to make a choice.