Garmin vs shearwater

[stuartv]

Highly unlikely they sell a dive computer that you have to pay a subscription to dive with.

You mean, like Apple does?

 

[Nick_Radov]

Today Garmin has announced that they're going even further, and now putting out new AI features and hiding them behind a paywall in Garmin Connect.

A lot of Garmin users are angry because they rightly fear that Garmin will over time move the best connect features to the paywall. We've seen it from a dozen different companies. Once they start down this path they don't stop until all the value is gone.

For now, Garmin is still a great choice, but today's purchasers must be cautious because it's impossible to say what features will end up behind a future paywall.

I wouldn't worry about that. Garmin hasn't taken anything away, especially not anything dive related. The Garmin Connect+ subscription is only for new features related to endurance sports analytics and coaching. I won't subscribe myself but I can understand why Garmin charges for this given the additional operating costs for the necessary back end infrastructure.

Garmin Connect+ Paid Subscription: Hands-on Thoughts & Analysis

Garmin has announced that it is dipping its toe into the AI-powered paid insights subscription service business. While this is hardly the first subscription service that Garmin offers (more on that later), this is the first time they’ve charged

www.dcrainmaker.com

 

[Nick_Radov]

That isn't what @SKS22 said. He said Garmin has a habit of moving the best features behind a pay wall. Those would not be the basic, core features required to use the computer, but rather nice-to-have "delighter" type features.

I'm pretty sure that Garmin has never moved any features for their sports or outdoor products behind a paywall. Everything in the Connect+ subscription service is net new.

 

[coldwaterglutton]

My son has a Garmin and I have a Perdix. We both agree that for drysuit use the rectangular shape of the Perdix works better with a drysuit sleeve.

Other than that he swears his Garmin is better in every possible way.

 

[Frogman82]

My peregrine had issues with condensation and had to send it off to narked at 90. It's close to two years old. Got a brand new warranty replacement from shearwater. This type of customer service makes me choose shearwater for life

 

[brsnow]

Apple sold a watch with access to an app. Garmin sells a dive computer.

 

[brsnow]

You mean, like Apple does?

I don’t think apple sells a dive computer.

 

[SKS22]

I'm pretty sure that Garmin has never moved any features for their sports or outdoor products behind a paywall. Everything in the Connect+ subscription service is net new.

Not true. They took away most maps in Explore, as my original comment said. If you didn't use maps you didn't notice, which is fine, but I used them and I bought the computer even though it was more expensive than a Teric or Perdix in part because I liked that the purchase included access to them.

The hardware in a Garmin isn't worth the price. My thinking and that of most Garmin owners I know personally is that Garmin is nevertheless worth buying because of the software, updates, and support. The degree to which that is still true is in question. If you were there for the mapping on Explore, it stopped being true months ago. If you expected updates and improvement in return for paying more for the hardware than you would have with a competitor, the Connect plus move is a problem for you.

Obviously I can't predict the future, but we've seen many companies walk this path -- Fitbit, Whoop, etc. It has always ended with more and more features moving behind the paywall. It's not like I'm going to trash my mk2i due to speculation, but I'm a whole lot less likely to buy another Garmin in the short term.

This thread is about Garmin versus Shearwater. One of the big advantages of the Garmin is access to Connect, Explore, Dive, and other Garmin apps. I'm pointing out that this particular advantage is in flux. Given that the two were so closely matched before, I think that means Shearwater may now be the better choice to a new purchaser.

 

[pisauron]

Not true. They took away most maps in Explore, as my original comment said. If you didn't use maps you didn't notice, which is fine, but I used them and I bought the computer even though it was more expensive than a Teric or Perdix in part because I liked that the purchase included access to them.

The hardware in a Garmin isn't worth the price. My thinking and that of most Garmin owners I know personally is that Garmin is nevertheless worth buying because of the software, updates, and support. The degree to which that is still true is in question. If you were there for the mapping on Explore, it stopped being true months ago. If you expected updates and improvement in return for paying more for the hardware than you would have with a competitor, the Connect plus move is a problem for you.

Obviously I can't predict the future, but we've seen many companies walk this path -- Fitbit, Whoop, etc. It has always ended with more and more features moving behind the paywall. It's not like I'm going to trash my mk2i due to speculation, but I'm a whole lot less likely to buy another Garmin in the short term.

This thread is about Garmin versus Shearwater. One of the big advantages of the Garmin is access to Connect, Explore, Dive, and other Garmin apps. I'm pointing out that this particular advantage is in flux. Given that the two were so closely matched before, I think that means Shearwater may now be the better choice to a new purchaser.

There are ton of free map options for Garmin online. Check them out

 

[brsnow]

Not true. They took away most maps in Explore, as my original comment said. If you didn't use maps you didn't notice, which is fine, but I used them and I bought the computer even though it was more expensive than a Teric or Perdix in part because I liked that the purchase included access to them.

The hardware in a Garmin isn't worth the price. My thinking and that of most Garmin owners I know personally is that Garmin is nevertheless worth buying because of the software, updates, and support. The degree to which that is still true is in question. If you were there for the mapping on Explore, it stopped being true months ago. If you expected updates and improvement in return for paying more for the hardware than you would have with a competitor, the Connect plus move is a problem for you.

Obviously I can't predict the future, but we've seen many companies walk this path -- Fitbit, Whoop, etc. It has always ended with more and more features moving behind the paywall. It's not like I'm going to trash my mk2i due to speculation, but I'm a whole lot less likely to buy another Garmin in the short term.

This thread is about Garmin versus Shearwater. One of the big advantages of the Garmin is access to Connect, Explore, Dive, and other Garmin apps. I'm pointing out that this particular advantage is in flux. Given that the two were so closely matched before, I think that means Shearwater may now be the better choice to a new purchaser.

Shearwater was purchased recently and we will see what comes up