It looks to me like the dive computer market just became a two horse race: Perdix AI and Deep 6 (assuming they actually release theirs soon - and the actual implementation doesn't turn out to be crap). It could be a 3 horse race if SP releases the H3 and it has AI and SP doesn't eff it up with some stupid proprietary algorithm.
I don't think that this will be the case. The Perdix AI is going to be a very good computer and that is without argument, but hear me out on the rest.
Outside of the Tech and enthusiastic Rec diving community, Shearwater is still a niche brand. The vast majority of divers haven't heard of them.
If you live outside the US then you have to consider the need for returns to SW in the event of a issue.
I've witnessed the PITA of a friend sending their computer back to OSTC. OSTC were brilliant (and have similar customer service to SW) the issue is with the shipping agents and length of time out of your hands etc.
If I have an issue with my Eon, I can take it to the Suunto service centre and get it fixed while I wait. Now there is a lot to be said for that if you dive regularly. Certainly for me and others I dive with, the fact you can drop your gear off after the weekend for service and it be ready for the following weekend is incredibly important and is a huge factor in the purchasing decision making process.
Away from this a huge amount of Dive Pro's the world over use a watch style AI for the convenience. It has all the data needed and works for the type of diving they do.
Similarly go to any resort area in the world and you'll see a Sunnto computer display. This is the brand the mass market knows and trusts. Who's heard of Deep 6 for instance? People might be put off by a low price on a brand they don't know - assuming that a higher price on a better known brand is the way to go.
As you know I'm an Eon user. This side of the pond the Perdix AI will be price comparable with the Eon. And the only reason on paper to move to the Perdix would be for GF. Realistically how big of a percentage of divers understand GF, and carry out dives where they might see a benefit? - Lets not turn this into a GF vs SRGBM discussion)
I'm sure Suunto are watching this development with interest. Until yesterday. they had AI as the difference. Now SW has come over to the Dark side I'm sure Suunto will be looking to see what they can do to redress the balance. After all they invested 5 years of R&D in the Eon so they're not going to throw that out.
It's been a year since we had a new firmware update - there's plenty that they could adjust/improve maybe perhaps GF for the Eon is a possibility.
As an upgrade path, Moving backward from a graphical display to a classic numbers only, from a rechargeable battery to AA and from a 3 button interface back to 2 (as well as the number of transmitters currently allowed), would require some thought. These are, I will concede, personal preferences, but these are differences that set the computers apart (on top of GF)
While Perdix AI might be a resounding success in the US - which is all SW maybe interested in, I don't think for the moment it's going to suddenly put the rest of the manufacturers out of business or render their models out of date.
It may shake up the other manufacturers somewhat and force them into a positive reaction which can only be good for us divers
