packrat12
Contributor
Scubadada - I think indirectly, you are hitting the nail on the head. Most computers are fairly reliable especially if treated right.
I still have computers in service since 1997, none of them have built in batteries. Keep in mind that built in batteries do have a limited lifespan. The manufacturer often works with the battery manufacturer to determine the proper number of cycles they want (yes I have had discussions with Gates battery about this when in college). I also can tell you that more then 1 person has forgotten to charge their system only to end up on site with a low battery. A charge of 30% would not be sufficient for any technical dive as has been sort of suggested above. The battery will also drop off faster as they age so a 100% charge will not last as long. Eventually, they will need to be replaced. At that point, the computer is probably best described and obsolete and not worth repairing. Say that to the guys still using Shearwater Predators and even the older ones. I will tell you that my daughter has a Hollis Explorer. The built in battery is my biggest issue with longevity. Having a full charge for each dive day is my second. I also have given spare batteries to divers with Shearwaters that were low. They now were 'fully charged' and ready to go. They even had changed this with the gear on their backs. As for having to have chargers, in my field engineering days, we would often blow chargers. This would really screw up your dive trip if you only have one. With a user replaceable battery, I can change it and get going again, even on a boat.
Shearwater's are, however used much more harshly than most recreational computers. Mine is slammed on the deck often, slammed into the wreck all the time. I have very deep gouges on the face and body of it. It goes deep often. It is treated poorly during transport. It gets dropped in the mud and sand. The one thing I do not worry about is whether it will work or not - it will. I also use at least 2 of them on each dive, so twice the rate of failure is expected.
My recreational gear lasts a long time. I still have recreational gear in service since the early 1990's and even the 1970's. My technical gear does not last near as long. It is not because it is poorly made but rather it is heavily abused. I have smashed a low pressure connector to a point it was bent as an example. I have seen tanks come out of a dive with handwheels ripped off and the shaft bent. We are abusive on technical gear.
What Shearwater has is a long standing reputation for high quality, reliable and great support. Some one earlier commented that this costs them money and I am sure it does but it helps with a great reputation.
Also, my Shearwater Petrel software looks nothing like it did when I bought it. I have lots of improvements and features including a recreational mode. That is support. None of my other computers has ever added even a feature to it. In fact most of them have only even had 1 or so updates and then are forgotten by the company. I seriously doubt that Scuba Pro will release updates that improve usability on the H3 or its successor. Rather, they will call it obsolete and recommend that you upgrade - at full cost. I doubt as Stuartv wishes, that they will give an 'early adopter' discount. Good luck getting that from Scuba Pro or more specifically Johnson Outdoors, a large company.
I find the technical mode is easy to use, even without the manual. My same computer works for OC, CCR and recreational diving. I often lend it to recreational divers without much more then a simple, follow what it says. My Oceanic Pro Plus 3 needs a small tutorial and careful monitoring by me for those I lend it to. The Shearwater is self explanatory to even the newest diver.
Yes there is fandom but it is because the product is that good. CCRs are going to it as a controller, not going away from it. My next CCR will have the Shearwater as a controller. I will not buy one that does not.
Not liking a product is a personal choice. A good technical diver will determine their requirements and make the best selection based on it. If it does not fit their requirements or they just do not like it, get a different product. But do not whine about how it did not do this or that. The quality of the Shearwater computer has been bourn out of years of usage and an excellent reputation. The idea of a Shearwater killer out there is fine, but that computer will have to demonstrate similar reliability, service and support standards over years of usage. Jumping on the H3 or other computer bandwagon is great but you are taking a chance that the computer will not meet the standards you are expecting. Also, constant whining about how the computer should be setup, configured or what options (such as wireless AI) it should have is just plain stupid. The computer was configured how you bought it. If you did not like the specs, don't buy it!
