What factor is most important to *you* when you choose a dive computer?

[Lorenzoid]

. . .
It seems to me that the biggest factor which ought to influence the decision of most people is the clarity of the display. Being able to convey the information quickly and accurately is crucial; this is especially true at deeper depths where nitrogen narcosis could influence the diver.

I don't know about "most people," but this was the first most important factor for me. And I would broaden that to not just output through the display but also input through the buttons--in other words, the total user interface experience. Second was a battery that's easily user-replaceable and widely available. For years I had suffered with a Suunto wristwatch-style computer that required special tools and know-how to change its battery. Now I chortle every time I change my Shearwater's battery.

 

[Centrals]

Reliability is the most important.

 

[fmerkel]

Reliability is not trivial in the long haul. Yeah, you want to be safe, but for recreational purposes I don't think anyone is selling computers that have a high 'bend the diver' quotient.
OTOH, they ARE kinda expensive, and a LOT of them DO have a strong tendency to die in 1-3 years. And of course many of the manufacturers will give you a great deal on a replacement because they are so sorry, which amounts to damn little saving at all.

I had a UWATEC Aladin Tec 2 that they would not warranty because the they 'no longer made that model'. While on the phone I said I was looking at EXACTLY the same model. It was pointed out the 2 control buttons had been changed from tear drop shaped to round. That was their whole excuse for not supporting the warranty. As you might expect I'm not a supporter fo UWATEC anymore, though I do like most of the other things about the computer.

Note: I positively loathe manufacturers that insist on charging you a lot of extra cash for a cheap cable to download the computer. If it's that expensive, the cable should be part of the deal. Interesting how they seem to have to make it proprietary so you can ONLY use their cable.

 

[Zhukov]

Reliability is the most important.

... and the most difficult to quantify because none of the manufacturers are going to tell you what their return rate is.

 

[scubadada]

I'm diving an Oceanic VT3 primary and a Geo2 backup.

Reliability, VT3 is 6 years old, 750 dives, flawless. Geo2 is 5 years old, 650 dives, flawless.
Battery change, piece of cake for both
Algorithm, I run DSAT on both for recreational, light deco, perfect for me, I appreciate the bottom time

When there is a good AI computer running Buhlmann ZHL-16C with GF, I will get myself a new computer. The Hollis TX1 is closest now but does not allow full range choice of GFs and uses the crappy PPS O2 tracking algorithm (24 hour floating window using NOAA exposure without O2 elimination half life)

 

[agilis]

Cheap, very simple and easy to read, conservative, not overly ambitious technically, long lived easily replaced battery, cheap.

Why do some people want to download data from past dives on their home computer? There must be a reason, but I can't think of one. Do these people download data from their automobile trips?

 

[scubadada]

...Why do some people want to download data from past dives on their home computer? There must be a reason, but I can't think of one. Do these people download data from their automobile trips?

Because I get my gas use, avg depth, RMV calculated, detailed dive profile... To each their own

 

[agilis]

Because I get my gas use, avg depth, RMV calculated, detailed dive profile... To each their own

I know what you get, but why on earth do you want it?

I agree completely: to each their own, to use a gender neutralizing plural in a singular context. People enjoy all sorts of reflective pastimes.

A girl I knew in college showed me a written data diary she kept, detailing in a summary style every sexual encounter she'd had during the semester, and describing the characteristics of the men involved. It was most amusing. This was before personal computers were available to accept her downloads.

I wonder if she shares these old semester records with her grandchildren. The yellowed pages must be far more entertaining than her notes from 'Western Civ' or 'Shelley, Keats, and Byron'.

 

[MMM]

I have old eyes, so even though I have a prescription mask, it MUST be easy to read and use. Auto on in water. I prefer air integration for my primary computer and it needs to be more conservative than my back up, non-AI computer. User-replaceable batteries.

 

[Lorenzoid]

Because I get my gas use, avg depth, RMV calculated, detailed dive profile... To each their own

I suppose that's handy. I record in my paper logbook those kinds of details for some dives, but not all. I don't see a need for more. I don't make much use of the desktop software available for my dive computer.