For an advanced recreational (i.e. not technical) diver, any computer that supports Nitrox (which means, any computer currently being sold as a new, current or recent model) is appropriate.
Air integration is something you have to decide about for yourself. You should note that most (but not all, of course) of the people who recommend against it have one or more of these things in common:
- they've been diving a pretty good while and don't "need" the gas consumption data because they already know their SAC. That is probably not true for you, so their reason for themself doesn't apply to you.
- they say it's not worth the money. Well, that says nothing about whether it's useful or nice to have. Just that it doesn't fit their budget. Their budget is not your budget, so don't let their budget determine what you do with your budget.
- they tried it years ago and it wasn't reliable. Well, things have improved over the years. Modern AI seems to be pretty darn reliable (from the anecdotal evidence I've seen, anyway). AI has less failure points than a mechanical SPG - i.e. 1 or 2 O-rings and no hose versus at least 3 plus a hose with 2 crimps. Direct anecdotal evidence: I've had my Oceanic Atom 3.0 with AI for almost 2 years and over 100 dives. It's still running fine with the original battery in the transmitter and I've never had any failures or dropouts that I know of. I check the logged data and I've never noticed a dropout showing in the logged data, either.
As a newish diver myself, I really have liked and continue to like getting my gas consumption data logged, so I can review it after the dive. I also really like only having one place to look, on my wrist, for all my relevant dive data - NDL, tank pressure, depth, dive time, ascent rate and current breathing gas are all shown on my wrist and without having to press any buttons to see it all with one glance.
When I need a compass, I carry a separate one. Any computer that has a built-in compass (and I have one and had a Petrel 2, which did) has to not show other data in order to show the compass. With the exception of the OSTC 4, which is not available in the U.S.. So, I'd rather have the compass separate, so that I can see it AND see ALL the dive data I want to see all at the same time. Plus, you can get a good compass with a bungee mount for $40 from Dive Gear Express.
+1000 on this. AI, built-in compass, console, puck or wristwatch-sized - those are all features and creature comfort kind of things. They don't affect the dives that you can do.
The algorithm directly affects your dive. You should read about the alorithms until you understand the basic differences and then decide for yourself how important the algorithm in your computer is to you. As scubada said, it seems like one of the most common reasons you see computers for sale in the Classifieds here is that the owner concluded that that computer was too conservative for them. I've seen a lot of Zoops and Cressi Giottos for sale for that very reason.
She said right off the bat no tech, ever. So, not sure where the comment about advanced diving and RGBM and VPM are coming from.
It's not only about NEED. Nobody NEEDS AI. But, for some people (me, for example), they want it and they deem it to be worth what it costs. I didn't NEED a computer that is smaller than a Petrel, either. But, I wanted one and I deemed that the cost to replace my Petrel 2 with a SeaBear H3 was worth it, to me. I am very happy with my rec computer that has AI and very happy with my H3. No regrets at all on either purchase.
Do not discount getting what you WANT just because you don't NEED it.
I have an Oceanic Atom w/AI. It is wristwatch-sized and it shows me every bit of data that I want (not just need) to see on a recreational dive - all at once, including my tank pressure. When I can see everything I want all at once, I don't feel compromised at all by the size of the display. Why would I want anything bigger or more bulky? I could put an iPad in a waterproof case and have it show me everything I need, but would I want that strapped to me on a dive? It would be big and readable? If a certain size is readable, at what point does making it bigger and "more readable" start to become a drawback instead of a benefit?
And, AI has improved in the years since you bought yours, I think. Do you judge modern computers based on the experience someone had with something from 1991? Don't judge the present based solely on the past. From what I can tell, the only strike against it these days is cost. And, it seems that most people that knock it are, at the root of everything they say, really just knocking it for not being worth the money, to them. Everything else they say about it (with regards to use during recreational/sport diving) is fluff added onto the basic statement of "it's too expensive for me."