Which computer???

[bigfeller]

Apologies as this has probably been asked about a thousand times but after my last computer gave up the ghost I have to get a new one.

Am looking at the moment at one of the following four:
- SUUNTO, VYPER
- SUUNTO, MOSQUITO
- SUUNTO, GEKKO
- UWATEC, ALADIN PRIME

Looking to use it for general diving, nitrox soon. Not too sure how much further than that. Mixed gasses? Might do. Ability to conect to a laptop would be handy but not essential.

And something a bit more rugged than my last one would be great!!

So any advice/comments??

Cheers!

 

[PerroneFord]

What was your last one?

 

[bigfeller]

Wasn't going to name and shame as when the computer acted up I was given a full refund. Wasn't either of the brands I'm looking at now.

 

[subaquaman]

If you're wondering how others find them, I dive with the Vyper, as do many of the divers in my LDC. It's extremely popular, robust, easy to use and I'd have no complaints but unfortunately I can't give you a comparison with any of the others.

 

[mossym]

have a vyper and love it, suunto are very popular on the board..

no gas switching, but best display i've seen, and is downloadable...

 

[nwdiver2]

Gekko's are bombproof and less expensive than the Vyper. We use them for rentals and they work great. I use a Vytec with and without the AI. I like Suunto products.

 

[leadweight]

Mosquito's are not nearly as rugged as the "full size" Suunto computers. I am using an Aladin Tec which is like the prime, but with more features. Over the years, Aladin computers have gained a reputation for reliability. I shopped the Aladin Tec against the Vyper closely, and decided the Tec fit me better, but the Vyper is very good as well.

 

[bigfeller]

Mosquito's are not nearly as rugged as the "full size" Suunto computers.

Guess that decides that then. For some reason electronic equipment keep dying horribly on me. Ruggedness is a must!

I am using an Aladin Tec which is like the prime, but with more features. Over the years, Aladin computers have gained a reputation for reliability. I shopped the Aladin Tec against the Vyper closely, and decided the Tec fit me better, but the Vyper is very good as well.

Yeah, the two seem pretty close. Hence me asking here!!

 

[leadweight]

bigfeller:

What caused me to go with the Tec instead of the Vyper was mainly that I have been using an Aladin Pro Nitrox for the last 7 years. The pro Nitrox goes into backup status now. My guess is the battery in the Pro Nitrox will be good for another year or two before needing an expensive factory replacement. As you know the Tec has a user replaceable battery. There is a lot of similarity in how the various Aladin computers function and display their information, so I felt it would be an easy transition. However I must admit the larger display on the old unit was easier to read.

One other advantage of the Tec is if you want to download, an infra red interface is cheap (if you don t have a laptop with one built in). Mine came from Fry's, cost $25 and plugs into a USB port.

I have done about 600 dives with the Pro Nitrox without an incident, so you could say that I "trust" the programing. As compared to the Vyper the Aladin gives slightly less time on the first dive, but usually more time on subsequent dives that day. The Aladin also lacks some other conservative features of the Vyper such as the "mandatory" safety stop and rounding up of FO2 for MOD calculations, or a forced FO2 reset. Whether these differences are good or bad is mainly in the eye of the beholder, although there are probably threads on each one. However, I prefer Aladin's approach to these issues.

Locally, the Tec was slightly less $'s than the Vyper, YMMV.

I think the Vyper allows you to play back the dive without a PC interface and there may be some other unique features in the Logbook, the Tec will not. The Vyper is a bit smaller and less thick in a wrist mount, but heck you have on tons of gear anyway.

Well, that is why I like the Tec. But, there are tons of Vypers out there and not a lot of complaints.

 

[getwet2]

Cochran