With any wrist computer, find out whether you can change the battery yourself, or need a dealer to do it.
I, too, value PC download capability.
A key issue is what you mean by good for someone new? Do you mean cheap, or do you mean an intuitive interface?
1'rst, let's get one big, big question out of the way; do you want wireless AI (air-integrated), or not? It costs a good bit more, but you can see your gas pressure by glancing at your wrist, which you do anyway for depth, maximizing the benefit of using a wrist computer. The transmitters usually work well; occasionally one briefly loses signal. As a back-up, some people also have an analog SPG on their reg., so if the transmitter crapped out, no biggie.
Now, interface. Some computers have an interface that's bad with a manual that's awful.
DiveNav offers online courses that are well-regarded, and some computers come with a free course there. If you are very good at retaining info., or use it often enough to stay in practice, or are just technically minded, that may be all you need.
I'm telling you an intuitive interface is magic. Amongst consoles, it has given a lot of mind share to the Atomic Aquatics Cobalt.
If I were buying a wrist computer, AI, with an interface that from what I've read might be intuitive (I've not used one as yet), I'd take a look at the LiquiVision Lynx. You are going to get some sticker shock. But you will get a computer that can help you locate your buddy if you get separated, & they have the same setup.
Enhanced usability via good interface is a big, big deal for some of us.
While Suunto is popular, it is also known for a conservative algorithm that can cut bottom time short. Depending on who you ask, this is either trivial and overblown, or will tick off your dive buddies using more liberal computers like Oceanics. Do a forum search and read over some threads where this is hotly debated, and decide for yourself.
Richard.
