I don't like ANY of them!

[aa777888]

Wow. This newbie is so underwhelmed by everything out there. I guess I expected to find F22 glass cockpit technology, but to me it looks like old F15 stuff. The algorithms are clearly there, but the user interface execution just seems so weak. Hell, everyone is still using custom LCDs. Where are the pixels, man?

I've got it narrowed down to two choices: the Aladin Air Z Nitrox, and the Oceanic VT Pro. I'm not happy with either of them, they each seem to lack a substantial amount of stuff I'd like to have.

The VT Pro has a lot of stuff the Aladin doesn't

1. It's got lots of alarms and reminders you can set.
2. The display never changes context (i.e. a particular number doesn't change meaning automatically requiring you to check the annunciator to see what it means right now).
3. You can always find out your air time remaining.
4. It uses OTU to figure remaining dive time.
5. It displays pO2.
6. It warns you before you violate it.
7. It's got lots of convenience features (time, temp, etc.)

The Aladin has a lot of stuff the Oceanic doesn't

1. It gives you "remaining bottom time".
2. It has a very advanced air time and deco algorithms that take into account temperature and work rate.
3. It has superior displays for OTU and ascent rate (I prefer numbers to graphs).
4. It has better dive planning.

Damn, why can't someone put the great Oceanic warning and convenience features together with the Aladin algorithms and wrap them in a half descent user interface?

Well, I guess it's the lessor of two evils. Which one to buy? Part of me says go with the Aladin deco algorithms and deal with everything else. Another part of me says dive a bit more conservative and get the convenience of the Oceanic. What to do, what to do?

aa

 

[Kim]

Use tables and a dive plan?

 

[armyscuba]

Use tables and a dive plan?

Yeah, What He Said...

 

[glbirch]

Give more detail?

You've narrowed to two, but don't say from how many, or why you've settled on these two. No idea from your profile about what experience you have, what kind of diving you do, or what you are looking at doing in the future. There's no suggestion about what you're willing to spend, the needed capabilities you are looking for in a computer or why you've decided that you want/need one.

 

[Snowbear]

1. It's got lots of alarms and reminders you can set.
3. You can always find out your air time remaining.
5. . displays pO2...
6. . warns you ...
7. . lots of convenience features (time, temp, etc.)

Huh - I've actually found that since I learned to create my own profile rather than do what the computer wants me to do has allowed me to enjoy my dives without all that infernal racket

 

[glbirch]

Huh - I've actually found that since I learned to create my own profile rather than do what the computer wants me to do has allowed me to enjoy my dives without all that infernal racket

I think there's potential that the alarm and reminder setting can be useful. I've got them all set on my computer, and if one ever goes off I'll know I'm somewhere I shouldn't be doing something I shouldn't be doing.

 

[aa777888]

I've got the tables, hell I've got the wheel, too. And I'd never dive without a plan, you've got to have something to back-up the computer (never use a single means of navigation, right?) But that does not decrease my desire for the advantages of technology. I use a fancy schmancy GPS when I fly (private pilot), and when I drive somewhere new. And I also carry charts or maps. But the technology you choose must be value added. I have no desire to become an acolyte serving at the feet of my dive computer.

Either of those computers would seem to be able to support just about any kind of diving I'm likely to ever do, which is just plain old recreational stuff. No caves, wrecks, multiple gases or anything else.

Another nice thing about the Oceanic is you can pick and choose the alarms you want, and shut them up at the push of a button. With the Aladin you can only choose all of it's few beeps or nothing, and if you leave them on you have to hear them for as long as they feel like beeping.

I'm so disappointed in these things that I've started to sketch out the user interface of a new dive computer, pulling various cool bits from many of the computers I've looked at. There's not too many people building these things, though, and none of them are probably interested. It's been an good academic exercise for me nevertheless. If anybody was interested I could provide hardware designs, too (I'm an engineer with 20 years experience in military electronics), but don't ask me to provide algorithms or software.

 

[Kim]

I've got the tables, hell I've got the wheel, too. And I'd never dive without a plan, you've got to have something to back-up the computer (never use a single means of navigation, right?) But that does not decrease my desire for the advantages of technology. I use a fancy schmancy GPS when I fly (private pilot), and when I drive somewhere new. And I also carry charts or maps. But the technology you choose must be value added. I have no desire to become an acolyte serving at the feet of my dive computer.

Either of those computers would seem to be able to support just about any kind of diving I'm likely to ever do, which is just plain old recreational stuff. No caves, wrecks, multiple gases or anything else.

Another nice thing about the Oceanic is you can pick and choose the alarms you want, and shut them up at the push of a button. With the Aladin you can only choose all of it's few beeps or nothing, and if you leave them on you have to hear them for as long as they feel like beeping.

I'm so disappointed in these things that I've started to sketch out the user interface of a new dive computer, pulling various cool bits from many of the computers I've looked at. There's not too many people building these things, though, and none of them are probably interested. It's been an good academic exercise for me nevertheless. If anybody was interested I could provide hardware designs, too (I'm an engineer with 20 years experience in military electronics), but don't ask me to provide algorithms or software.

Out of interest - why have you written the Suunto's off? I know they are a bit conservative - but overall they are probably one of the favourites (there's a poll somewhere going on at the moment!) - I dive a Suunto Vyper - it does what I need!

 

[getwet2]

Wow. This newbie is so underwhelmed by everything out there. I guess I expected to find F22 glass cockpit technology, but to me it looks like old F15 stuff. The algorithms are clearly there, but the user interface execution just seems so weak. Hell, everyone is still using custom LCDs. Where are the pixels, man?

I've got it narrowed down to two choices: the Aladin Air Z Nitrox, and the Oceanic VT Pro. I'm not happy with either of them, they each seem to lack a substantial amount of stuff I'd like to have.

The VT Pro has a lot of stuff the Aladin doesn't

1. It's got lots of alarms and reminders you can set.
2. The display never changes context (i.e. a particular number doesn't change meaning automatically requiring you to check the annunciator to see what it means right now).
3. You can always find out your air time remaining.
4. It uses OTU to figure remaining dive time.
5. It displays pO2.
6. It warns you before you violate it.
7. It's got lots of convenience features (time, temp, etc.)

The Aladin has a lot of stuff the Oceanic doesn't

1. It gives you "remaining bottom time".
2. It has a very advanced air time and deco algorithms that take into account temperature and work rate.
3. It has superior displays for OTU and ascent rate (I prefer numbers to graphs).
4. It has better dive planning.

Damn, why can't someone put the great Oceanic warning and convenience features together with the Aladin algorithms and wrap them in a half descent user interface?

Well, I guess it's the lessor of two evils. Which one to buy? Part of me says go with the Aladin deco algorithms and deal with everything else. Another part of me says dive a bit more conservative and get the convenience of the Oceanic. What to do, what to do?

aa

Have looked at Cochran yet?

 

[jagfish]

I've got the Oceanic VT Pro
In your summary I think you indicated that the VT does not indicate remaining bottom time, however I think it does. I believe it always displays your estimated remaining bottom time considering N2, Air remaining, and O2 exposure if you are in Nitrox mode. It will display the limiting value out of those three and indicate your remaining bottom time under the current circumstances.

JAG