Petrel pricing, helo2

[Centrals]

I drive a BMW because it will last the best the longest. Yes, a Kia will also last 200,000miles.....but my car will feel BETTER at 200,000miles and have less issues along the way. I paid extra to have the better quality throughout its lifespan, and I was glad to do so. The same thing goes for my Petrel. The only reason it won't be my primary computer in 16 more years is if I make a ton of money and buy the prettier one later or if I stop diving. I'm sure it'll continue diving along side me forever.

One note on your Aladin: There are PLENTY of Aladins failing after far less than 18 years. So, I'm glad yours have worked well.....but for the hundreds that have failed, what do you say to them? Yours work so clearly theirs should, too?

I have seen plenty of BMW or Merc wrecks in HK!!
The late Princess of Wales was killed on a expensive Merc! So drive carefully!
I have two Aladins and they are still in good working order. And I still often see other divers using them. High failure rate? Any evidence to substantiate it?
I will ask you the same question in 16 yrs time! Enjoy it while you still can.

 

[tbone1004]

you drive a Z4, that doesn't count. A base 320i is a much better comparison to this, people usually drive them because they want the stigma of a beamer but can't afford a "real one". The z4 doesn't have many equivalents, so in the smaller 4 door sedan route, it's a different discussion.

 

[stuartv]

I drive a BMW because it will last the best the longest. Yes, a Kia will also last 200,000miles.....but my car will feel BETTER at 200,000miles and have less issues along the way

This is all really OT, but I just have to say: If you spend the same amount of money doing maintenance on the Kia, over the course of 200K miles, as you spend on the BMW over 200K miles, I would wager that the Kia will have LESS issues and still feel like NEW at the 200K mile point. Heck, with the money you'll spend on maintenance on a BMW over a 200K mile lifespan, you could probably just buy a new Kia.

I have a BMW and I always have to laugh at BMW owners who talk about their "reliability" while conveniently omitting how much you have to spend on maintenance to keep them "reliable".

 

[Scared Silly]

That's why you would buy a BMW? To shorten your commute? 150 mph top speed vs. 125 mph for the Hyundai Accent.

I guess that's worth $25,000!

My BMW has no top speed limiter, but alas I usually ride a bike to work .

I posted this statement in another thread #37 but it is worth stating here:

It is only in the past bit that recreational computers have come with full color displays. The Atomic Cobalt kicks butt on the recreational side but alas it is just that a recreational console computer. (FWIW many people have nudged AA to incorporate some tech features). So for someone who wants a clear color display computer on their wrist the Petrel kicks butt regardless of the mode.

Case in point my wife really liked her Suunto Cobra which is AI. It is a console and is just there. She has been using it for over ten years with hundreds of dives on it. However, this past trip after a couple of dives that were recreational deco dives where we compared computers and info she decided that it was time to make the switch. My wife will be joining me in Bikini in a couple of years. It might be the only time in her life (mine too for that matter) that she does bunch of planned deco Tri-mix dives but it will be one computer for all dives.

 

[ddmattos]

Bingo for me. I'm not a tech diver, so I like the fact that I get a reminder if my PO2 is too high or I'm reaching deco on my $250 computer. It's not an excuse to be lazy, but is helpful.

Some will buy Petrel because SB thinks it's the best. Others will choose it for the right reasons, others will not choose it for the right reasons.

Watch Youtube video of the Recreational Nitrox Mode.

You get clear indicators, reminders without the beeping and computer lockup in both Recreation and normal mode. Just watch the video!

I run mine in normal mode. The Shearwater computer will warn you when you are getting close to your NDL by turning the number YELLOW (<5). When you have a better gas for current depth it will turn your current gas selection YELLOW. When you try to change to a gas that exceeds PO2, it will turn RED. When you miss a stop it will turn the number RED and give you a clear message. But it will not lock up and adjust stops depths/time accordingly just in case you need to do something out of the norm (i.e., Emergency).

If you can afford the $850 usd or are going to spend close to that on a computer and don't mind the lack of air integration/size, it's hard to justify buying anything else.

 

[C Dub]

One additional factor I haven't seen mentioned yet is that some OW divers intend to progress into tech. Doesn't hurt to buy what you will need once, rather than buying it twice.

 

[victorzamora]

This is all really OT, but I just have to say: If you spend the same amount of money doing maintenance on the Kia, over the course of 200K miles, as you spend on the BMW over 200K miles, I would wager that the Kia will have LESS issues and still feel like NEW at the 200K mile point. Heck, with the money you'll spend on maintenance on a BMW over a 200K mile lifespan, you could probably just buy a new Kia.

I have a BMW and I always have to laugh at BMW owners who talk about their "reliability" while conveniently omitting how much you have to spend on maintenance to keep them "reliable".

Actually, the numbers suggest that cost-of-ownership is cheaper on BMWs.....including the initial purchase of the car. My dad's Merc is at >225k miles and the only thing wrong with it was a fuel pump went out at ~180k miles. My car has ~90k miles and it had a wiring issue. BFD.

---------- Post added September 17th, 2014 at 11:33 AM ----------

I have seen plenty of BMW or Merc wrecks in HK!!
The late Princess of Wales was killed on a expensive Merc! So drive carefully!
I have two Aladins and they are still in good working order. And I still often see other divers using them. High failure rate? Any evidence to substantiate it?
I will ask you the same question in 16 yrs time! Enjoy it while you still can.

Crashing a car has nothing to do with a dive computer failing. That's like "Yeah, well, my Aladin failed after I shot it with my rifle....so be careful!" It's just completely off topic.

---------- Post added September 17th, 2014 at 11:35 AM ----------

you drive a Z4, that doesn't count. A 320i is a much better comparison to this. The z4 doesn't have many equivalents, so in the smaller 4 door sedan route, it's a different discussion.

I've already told you why it counts on Facebook, but for the public: It's the same when buying other cars. My wife will be getting a nicer brand car for her next car, and when I replace my Z4 it'll be with a BMW/Merc that has plenty of equivalents. And if the Miata isn't a cheaper equivalent of a Z4 I don't know what is. My car is perfectly valid in this.

 

[doctormike]

Do you honestly believe Petrel can provide more useful information related to diving than Aladin under water in recreational diving.

Do you honestly believe that I wrote that? Scroll up and check for yourself...

 

[Centrals]

Do you honestly believe that I wrote that? Scroll up and check for yourself...

So your advanced superduper US$850.00 computer is NOT going to offer me extra information over my 18yr old Aladin or a US$250.00 DG03 in rec dive. BTW, both of them have alarm.

---------- Post added September 18th, 2014 at 02:08 AM ----------

My car is perfectly valid in this.

So is my 18yr old Aladin.

 

[doctormike]

So your advanced superduper US$850.00 computer is NOT going to offer me extra information over my 18yr old Aladin or a US$250.00 DG03 in rec dive. BTW, both of them have alarm.

Well, it actually CAN offer you information that your Aladin or the DG03 doesn't, but I didn't bring that up, because it's probably not relevant to the recommendation that a recreational diver use a Petrel.

If you are really interested in what I posted, and don't feel like scrolling up, I thought the Petrel was a good computer for any diver because of things like the extremely readable display, the well organized and customizable user interface, the build, the customer support, and the fact that you can get AA batteries anywhere in the world.

I'm not actually sure what you are saying. That your 18 year old Aladin is better than the Petrel? That a monochrome display is better than a color LCD display with LED backlight? That the Petrel isn't worth $850 for a recreational diver? Or that an alarm is an important feature that every computer should have?

Maybe you are just trying to soften me up to make me a lowball offer for my Petrel?