New AI computer for Daughter question?

[doctormike]

It’s encouraging that several express the same feeling. There are certainly choices, like font style and size and user interface design, that can make readability better, particularly compared to a much smaller or poorly designed LCD. And screen size and resolution, which for the Petrel are both high, have a big impact. But as someone who has worked on color computers for many years, using the same screens and technology as Shearwater (of whom we are big fans), I can say that readability is bright sunlight is one of the more common complaints for all color computers. I was just trying to make the OP aware that for some divers this is an issue.

That's true, and I guess it has to come down to looking with your own eyes. If we can't agree on the color of a dress on Facebook, then we won't be able to agree on the best display!

I guess if you were going to have a trade off between readability in bright sunlight and readability underwater for a dive computer, I would pick the latter. For really great sunlight readability, I think that the best is that digital ink stuff they use in Kindles, right? Don't know if that could be used in a dive computer, or if that would require battery draining illumination in any place other than a shallow tropical dive site.

 

[DiveNav]

.... Any emissive display- on a laptop, iPad, or dive computer- can be overwhelmed by very bright ambient light. It’s mostly an issue on the surface. Personally I feel that the need to occasionally shade the display with a hand, or change the angle of viewing slightly, is a small price to pay for much better clarity and information in all other circumstances. ...

I completely agree.
We are diving with smartphones and iPads (btw, these days you can't find a larger dive computer than the iPad ), visibility is extremely good underwater, but at the surface when the sun is shining ... the sun wins.

 

[tomfcrist]

I guess you never dove the Predator....

I agree. The Predator is more visible than the Petrel.

Yup... That's why I never switched.

 

[Speedster00]

She's going to hate this but I'd say upgrage yours i'm so tempted to go for the Icon HD. Especially since they are going for $1079.