I have a D4i, and use it as my primary computer. Whether it is considered a dive computer or not, I am happy with it. I am a photographer, and I can wear it on my right, inside wrist so critical info is always in view when I hold the camera with both hands. I do have air integration on my D4i- an earlier comment was incorrect. The earlier Suunto D4 (vs. D4i) did not have integration. I also download all my dives to my computer.
Our shop sells Suunto, so most of us have one flavor or another.
I have to say, the interface on the D41, D6i and D9 are 4 button, which is much easier to use. It is the same interface as the cobra 2. The Zoop, which our students use, and the Cobra, use a 3 button system which I find clumsy. It is easy enough when you get use to it, but is not as "common sense" as the 4 button.
I am not a fan of in computer compasses, and most that I know that have them stopped using them. In the Suunto "D" line, this is the D6i and D9. The D4i suffices for recreational diving- if I were to get into tech diving, I personally would move to a wrist panel like a Shearwater or Liquidvision, as opposed to a D9- but that is strictly a personal opinion. Know many tech divers that use a D9 and love them.
In respect to Suunto being conservative, it is a comment I have always heard. Two weeks ago, I spent a week diving in Key Largo, where due to deep dives NDLs control long before running out of air [except for my buddy ;-)]. I dove with a new group, and the "conservative" conversation occurred in a very good natured way. It happens we were all diving different brands. In an unscientific, but conscious manner, we compared timing for each pair of buddies for the week, looking at pre-planning routines before the dives, and what happened during the dive. As for the Suunto, in preplanning it was very punishing if you had less than a 60 minute surface interval. Since we did a number of 100+ double dips, this was important. But after the 60 minute SI, and in actual use, the Suunto appeared to be in the middle of the pack. My buddy had a Mares something or other, and during the dive I typically had a few more minutes of NDL time than he did, and I was typically a few feet deeper (he also had air issues so stayed shallower). We did also check and everyone was using their computers in the Neutral position- in other words, they were not set to make the algorithms more aggressive or conservative. I have forgotten all the computer types, but if IIRC, the Shearwater and the Oceanics we slightly more aggressive, but not terribly so. But remember, this was not scientific, and only over a week.
In the end, I am an older diver, so I have no problem with a slightly more conservative algorithm. Better to dive a 2 minute shorter dive, and live to dive another day-as long as I get a 1 hour SI.
Your mileage will definitely differ!
Terry
