What up w/ VR3's?

[Queequeg]

I keep seeing VR3's coming up for sale, not just on SB, but on other sites as well. They look like a great computer, but on any given day, you can always find a used one for sale. I feel like they come up for sale quite often, more so than other computers.

 

[scubafanatic]

I've never owned VR3, but have read/heard about them from the various scuba 'chatter' sources, and here's my 'take' on it:

very difficult to understand and program (not intuitive to use)

difficult to repair, they have to be returned back to England for repairs

somewhat unreliable

rather bulky to wear

the 'tech' crowd (which is the market for the VR3) seems to have migrated to either the Shearwater or Liquidvision brands of computer, which are the newer/more 'sexy'/more user friendly designs.

Additinally, there are other new arrivals to the dive computer market (UEMIS, and the brand new Atomic Aquatics "COBALT') that aren't quite 'tech' computers, but are pretty close to 'tech' computers, which are also very modern looking/sexy/easy to use, which are going to take over the high-end 'recreational' computer market.

Bottom line: recently there have arrived a lot of excellent, new found competition in the dive computer market, providing lots of better designed alternatives to the VR3.

 

[ianr33]

Shearwater and Liquivision ate their lunch.

 

[MrWizard]

I have VR3s, My wife has VR3s. I've dived with them since 2005. For a while they were IT in the tech community .. and some places still want them to maintain standards. However there is many many new entrants on the market with varying degrees of newer, shinier, fancier features. Delta P needs a bit of evolution to adapt to that market. Outside of that, the computers themselves are still quite viable and usable.

 

[craracer]

I sold mine due to my inability to easily navigate the thing. They are rather bulletproof, but the learning curve is extreme. Unlock upgrades are expensive.

And, as said before, other products provide better user interface at a better price point. I have 2 Shearwaters and love them.

 

[Queequeg]

Ah.....I see. I was going to pick one up. They do look rather complicated and bulky for rec. diving, prolly better for me to stear clear unless I really understand them. The prices are all over the place too. I've seen a range from $500- $1500.

 

[MrWizard]

You really do not want these for Rec Diving. There are far simpler and cheaper devices out there. Buy two oceanic/atmos/mares and have a back up and an extra dive trip (as an example) or a Mares HD if you are looking for cool and gee-wiz.

 

[BabyDuck]

what he said.

i had one, never could figure it out, even with people at my shoulder telling me what to do to make it do things. sold it & bought a shearwater & luna.

they are way more than you need for open water. if you don't routinely do deco dives, you can spend the money for something that suits your needs much better. if you *do* routinely do deco dives - well, if you only have $500 to spend and can find one with the unlock pins you need already installed, go for it.