Just wondering if anyone has any clue as to when computer prices will go down. It seems like the prices should be dropping every 2 or 3 months but there not. look at regular desktop computers, they are out of date not to long after you buy them so why not dive computers? ...My guess is that the dive industry is just to small for the tech to change that fast...
As several have suggested you have probably answered your own question. Unlike the PC market, the dive computer market simply isn't big enough to support the rapid innovation and price reduction that you see in with PCs, or even GPS units, and really isn't elastic enough to be expanded by low prices, to the extent that PC and GPS markets have been. The fixed costs of development are amortized over a substantially smaller number of units sold, and the price impact of changing variable costs through mass production or off-shoring, is modest at best. But, while prices may appear to be the same, 'value' has actually increased over time, as older, less 'featured' models have been discontinued, and newer models with more 'features' have been introduced at the same, or slightly higher, price. Whether those features represent useful additions or unnecessary 'bells and whistles' is an interesting issue, ideally addressed in a separate thread.
DiveGear4Less:
Dive computers will not go down in price. Actually, they will likely go up in price. ... What is sometimes possible is finding a discontinued model on discount somewhere.
Two good points! That is the best opportunity for a 'bargain' on price. You may get some good prices on new units of an older model that is being discontinued, as a newer more 'featured' model is introduced. A good example is the Dive Rite Nitek He - several years ago when DR was developing the Nitek X, they lowered the new unit price on the Nitek He, from $995 to $895 to $595, etc. in order to sell off remaining He inventory while there was still market demand. Of course, introduction of the Nitek X was then substantially delayed, and the price of used He units actually went back up for a while, and several competitors introduced alternative helium-capable units which captured market share that otherwise might have gone to DR. DR's strategy - get rid of the older He units while there was still a market - was good, they just hadn't anticipated the delays with the X. Look for a possibly similar situation with the Suunto Vytec DS. The Helo2 is out, admittedly at a higher price than the Vytec, with similar features but with the addition of helium capability. Divers that like the features of the Vytec DS are also, in many cases, people that will pay an extra $300-400 for the Helo2 to get the helium capability, while those that don't need the multiple gases, etc., may possibly look for a less expensive air-integrated model, and the Vytec will either go away or be substantially changed.
