Of course, Shearwater could produce a dedicated recreational computer. They could load it with every junk function, novelty and gadget known to diving... after all, that's how many manufacturers operate. They could use the reputation of the Predator/Petrel/Perdix to flog overpriced junk on the unsuspecting recreational divers.
Look at how they describe themselves. Powerful, Simple, Reliable. That is what they are. That's their core mission and belief. Not here's more crap to compete with everyone else who can't match our service, support, and response to our primary market. We'll dilute our brand and reputation with transmitter failures, catering to non thinking divers, and just trying to make a buck with flash and no substance. If you want that and a computer that locks you out, buy something else.
What's with the black & white, all or nothing view on how this would go down? If Shearwater produced a rec. dedicated computer it's fated to be loaded with every junk function, novelty and gadget? Is the assumption good rec. dedicated computers are impossible to make? The #1 tec. computer is great, all rec. computers are crap?
We have enough scuba equipment manufacturers peddling junk to satisfy 'customer demand'.... demands that are created by marketing departments selling us a false notion that 'more is better'.
Speaking of which, just what are these 'junk functions' I keep reading about in posts? Anybody care to list these? One man's 'junk' might be someone else's useful feature.
But 'tech is cool'... So recreational divers want them.
What people are asking for is a Suunto with the name Shearwater on it.... in a 'cool' black case with bolts holding the screen on... and a technical 'heritage' that makes the user seem to be a more accomplished, trained or educated than they actually are...
The same type of customers are evident in every market. Brand label snobs, who want cheap and simple, but want it to look prestige.
What people want is a gimmicky rec computer, wrapped up in the guise of a tech computer, so they can enjoy the illusion of operating an instrument with true technical diving heritage and renown.
If Shearwater took the insides of a ****ty Viper 2 and glued them inside a Shearwater case then people would be salivating and singing praises....
Prestige? Renown? Cool? A newbie OW diver stumbling upon this forum & thread might get the impression the tech. diving community is seem as some prestigious elite basking in the admiration of a bunch of poser wannabe 'stuck in rec. diving' groupies.
What?!?!?
I think the newest divers hardly have an awareness of technical diving, much less an ardent desire to have 'tec. designer gear.' And more advanced divers could get into at least light tec., if that's what they wanted to do. There's no need to fake.
Since some tec. divers on the forum recommend Petrels to fairly new rec. divers as the 'best' dive computers, I hope it's not to encourage them to be image focused posers!
When I see Shearwater computers discussed as a rec. option, the focus tends to be on a durable product with an intuitive interface, highly reliable with convenient Bluetooth data upload to PC and backed by a company with excellent customer service and a strong reputation.
I've yet to hear anyone get excited at the prospect of wearing a, gasp,
Shearwater computer on the dive boat and maybe even being mistaken for a
technical diver! Woooooooo....
Richard.
P.S.: In communication, there's what you think you say, what you say and what the listener thinks you said. I cannot imagine the way some of these posts came across, at least to me, to be fully accurate to what was intended.
