My opinion falls in line with everyone else, (and I've got a number of complaints of my own) it feels like a step backwards. It really acts like a buggy Beta version that is not supposed to be in the hands of mainstream customers. Furthermore, it feels like Suunto has lost the legal license to the old version of the software prompting an overly hasty release of an untested program while simultaneously removing both support for and easy access to their older version.
My first complaint in the DM4 experience: On the software download page they tell you that in order to import dives from any previous version of Dive Manager it must FIRST be upgraded to the newest 3.1 Version. Only, they don't just post a link to their old version. (Speaking as a consumer, this is an alarm bell in my head by the way) In order to get the link to download the old version you have to send a message to their helpdesk first. This is REALLY the easiest way they could think of to get a required software update to their customers? They make you jump through the hoops of creating an account or in my case, go through their "Lost Password" process. Finally get to send my request, even this process took three attempts before it actually sent.
Second complaint: Unlike the previous versions of Dive Manager, you cannot download the complete installation ZIP/EXE file, only a small download manager. I understand why they do this, customers will always download the newest version of software during any installation. This is completely useless when you don't have ready access to the internet while attempting an install/reinstalltion. While I was asking for the link to download ver 3.1
Dive Manger 3.1
I also asked for a link to download the full copy of DM4 to save for offline installations, giving them my reasons. They refused.
Third complaint: Immediately after installation I noticed that the software does not work with the resolution on my laptop. I use a netbook, and the default resolution is 1024 x 600. DM4 defaults to a larger format and so it cuts off the bottom of the 1/4 of the app. The only way to access this portion (including Dive Summary, Dive Details, Dive profile, etc) is to change the resolution on my laptop to 1024x 768, where it turns it into a sort of scrolling vertical virtual desktop. You cannot resize DM4 down so it all fits on the screen. Sounds like a personal problem, right? Netbooks (and their widescreen screen ratios) are getting terribly popular, especially for travelers like me living on the road. Furthermore, there is NO other application I use that requires I change my resolution just so I can see the whole application including Dive Manager 3. Every other program allows me to resize the application so it all fits on screen. DM3 actually lets you resize individual fields within the app to make certain areas bigger or smaller as desired. Along with this there appears to be a problem with displaying an appropriate number of dives. The list of dives in the upper left corner only shows a maximum of 3 dives at a time, with a scroll bar next to it. I have over 700 dives I'm importing from DM3, and scrolling through them 3 at a time is cumbersome and pointless.
Fourth: Import function had a partial failure though it didn't actually tell me that there was a problem during import. DM4 simply thinks I have only 19 dives during the year 2011 when in reality I have over 100 dives. No idea what went wrong, or how to fix it.
Then I tried downloading my Vyper Air to it as a test. Should be 30-40 dives in it's memory. There doesn't seem to be an analog to the DM3 download wizard, it simply begins downloading new dives as soon as it's plugged in. Only problem is it downloaded just 10 dives. Doesn't let you choose which dives you can download, or show you what dives are still in the dive computer's memory, or any of the sorting options included in the old download wizard. Just grabs and drops the new dives wherever it thinks is best.
Fifth: even if it was just eye-candy I liked how DM3 shows you what was displayed on the face of the dive computer during a given moment just by selecting a point on the graphic display of the dive profile. Same with the Tissue Saturation % scale, showing how you full different tissue compartments were during that point in the dive and which tissue (roughly) was the controlling compartment.
Along with the visuals, the Dive Summary is all too brief and as others have eluded to, it appears designed to appeal to children. Compare the information displayed and the ability to change information between DM4's "Dive Summary" and DM3's "Dive Details". Talk about a step backwards!
Sixth: Compare what is available under the "Settings" of both DM3 and DM4. With the old software you could choose what number you want the software to begin the log at. Useful when you switch computer brands (as I did from Oceanic to Suunto, at dive 300). With DM3 I could tell it to begin my Suunto log at dive 301 keeping my career # accurate. The custom fields you can apply, the personal information you can alter. And rather nice: you could choose a mix-up of metric and imperial to suit your needs. Lets say you want only metric measurements of depth and weight but you want temp in degrees F, or tank measured in Cubic feet rather than liters. All doable in the old DM3. DM4's Dive Settings options: Metric or Imperial, and choose your default tank(s). That's it.
So, those are my initial problems with the software itself. As an aside I have certain concerns about having my personal dive log anywhere accesssible either on the internet or a remote server, regardless of the ability to make it a "private" account. I'm especially troubled by it speaking as a dive professional. For one thing I just don't even see WHY anybody would want to see my dive logs, or why I would want to see anybody else's log. It's like I tell my students, a logbook is first and foremost a personal thing, what you want to remember about your personal dives. I don't get this push to make that public and it seems like it's just a poorly thought out program that has fallen over from Suunto's other product lines and isn't particularly applicable to divers.
I've only rarely had the need to print out dive logs but I have done it. The lack of print functionality is another hit against DM4. I also have multiple Suunto dive computers and for certain reasons I keep some of the logs separate by computer and I do it by having different user logins. I have also had need to download other people's dive computers for them and I need those to be kept separate for obvious reasons. Without multiple users/logins....another hit.
So, tell me I'm wrong. What possible reason could they have to remove MASSIVE amounts of functionality from their newest software while all but forcing people to roll over to the newest version immediately? Doesn't it just stink of a legal requirement to desist using the old version of the software?