How do you judge or form an opinion on gear you have not tried?

[vicdiver656]

Well first of all, I'm a new diver so my opinion will not be the best, but I really think it's impossible to gain a perspective on gear you have not tried, simply because each person has different tastes. It's similar to learning to dive. You have no idea what it's going to be like before you actually get into the water; and once you do, you form an opinion based on your experiences. For some, it isn't the best thing. For others (like me) it's AWESOME!!!!

Gombessa stated that he always asked himself if the product makes doing something easier. He is definitely right, however there is a fine line between making things easier and taking a shortcut. I always ask myself whether I'm making things easier, and if so, whether it's taking a shortcut around necessary experience, or simply making things safer and more enjoyable. Having a product opinion goes the same way. You can either choose to try the product and then form an opinion, or you can keep your mouth shut and let others form an opinion, then form an opinion later on when you get the chance to form the product. Either way, you cannot completely form an opinion of a product until you've tried it.

 

[RJP]

If it looks like something this guy would like...

...I probably won't.

 

[RJP]

Which makes ScubaBoard so stinking valuable. Unfortunately, we have a lot of "wannabes" taking potshots at gear they have never tried. They are as bad as the manufacturers with no substantiations to their claims.

Would you rather trust the people that have bought into the manufacturers claims and now have a vested financial and powerful emotional interest in perpetuating those same claims as being true?

Enquiring marketers want to know! (And trust me, are quite happy that the vast majority of people don't want to accept the implications of this idea.)

 

[beester]

I reserve the right to have a personal opinion on everything, from politics to scuba equipment. I also reserve the right to ventilate this opinion. Be it in a pub, on a board, whatever. You have the right to disregard my opinion.

Regarding scuba equipment. My personal evaluation goes as follows:

-Need:

Do I need this. Obviously need is subjective. Rationally I do not need an expensive watch... a cheap 1$ will do fine (even better if you look at the inaccuracy of mechanical watches). In the specific fin example... do I need it personnally? There is no rational need since I have no problem getting my fins on even in very difficult shore entry conditions. Do I have a subjective need (do I like it?). No... esthetically it is not that different from normal fins. It is new but unlike cars and ipods... having the latest, newest is not really an advantage in the relative conservative scuba world.

-Experience with this new equipment:

When I look at this equipment do I see perceived flaws for my goal? No... nex step... Do I know someone who I know will be more or less objective about his equipment that I trust and has used this equipment? Better even... do I know various people who do? If so and the general impression is positive I'll try to get my own experience.

However having experience with something doesn't necessary make you more objective in your opinion. Take the standard newbie question 'Please give advice on purchasing a regulator'. Some will ask what is your need... and will give general advice on regulators. Some will give advice on their personnal experience with their equipment (both good and bad)... but 95% will just say my x brand regulator rules.


In the end... if the need is there and/or the experience is there... I'll buy the good.

In certain sectors I'll have no reservations against being a trend setter... but with scuba gear I'm rather conservative.

 

[UncleJoes]

For those of you who worry about losing masks, I use a Quick Disconnect Lanyard (Innovative Scuba Concepts : Worldwide Distributor of Fine Diving Accessories...) with one end looped around my mask and the other looped around a D-ring on my high right shoulder. the length of this particular method allows me to still wear the mask and yet know that it is completely secure.

As to the OP,

I agree that an opinion is formed regardless of experience, and that in this melting pot those opinions will undoubtedly spew forth, whether praise or condemnation.

However, with regard to the previous thread mentioned, posters may want to proof read their content. The negative posts tend to come across to the reader as hateful, as though the poster is getting even with the product for personally insulting them. While this may not be the case phrases like "solution in search of a problem" are not only flawed statements to begin with, but paint an unhelpful tone.

While many innovations DO fit that description, the flip fins have many useful purposes. Though you may not feel a need for such "lazy man" or "unnecessary" technology, it would not have been invented or been so successful if someone didn't express their need. While inwater performance is top priority, it has been demonstrated that the fin works great by the way, above water performance is very impotant to others.


Bottom line, please give your opinion in a constructive way without the product bashing. Explain what you perceive to be its weaknesses without saying that the entire conception and ultimately the final product is "Crap"

 

[JeffG]

While this may not be the case phrases like "solution in search of a problem" are not only flawed statements to begin with, but paint an unhelpful tone.

Flawed? Unhelpful. Hardly. The truth is a stubborn thing.

Case in point. Your Quick Disconnect Lanyard for your mask.

Bottom line, please give your opinion in a constructive way without the product bashing. Explain what you perceive to be its weaknesses without saying that the entire conception and ultimately the final product is "Crap"

I call them like I see them.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I always ask myself "What problem are they trying to solve." If I see the "problem" as a non-issue, then the gear gets lumped into the gizmo POS category. Also...if it is meant to solve an above water issue, I would think twice before even trying it.

I dunno if that's a completely valid criteria ... BCD's and SPG's were a non-issue for people who were used to diving without them ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[perdidochas]

In a recent thread about the Omega Amphibian Flip Fin, there were some people who expressed opinions on the fins without ever using them. This seems to be a common occurrence and I’m not sure how effective or credible these opinions may be.

Well, in the case of the Flip Fin, the main criticisms are wondering if they might fail at the point of the mechanism. It's pretty much common sense.

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I heard recently about a mask with a digitial SPG in the bottom left of your vision that is wirelessly connected so you don't need to grab your conventional SPG to monitor your air. Now I can see a use for this in low-viz commercial diving, but I cannot imagine that this has any huge benefit to most sport divers who still have at least one functioning arm. I have never ever seen one of these masks, let alone used one, but I still feel comfortable expressing the view that it sounds like a gizmo that is of very limited practical use except to the laziest sport diver in the world.

I tried one on at the Scuba Expo on Saturday ... neat little gizmo, but I can think of better ways to spend $1,500.

On the other hand, for someone who has the money and just has to have the toy, I say go for it, and thanks for your contribution to the continued health of the scuba economy ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Do you really need to dive something to know it's crap?

Depends on what it is?

Oh ... Ron, is that a pun?

... Bob (Grateful Diver)