Handheld Reviews

I decided to purchase a Body Glove case for my Palm, because it seems to me good enough to protect the PDA. However, it fall from my hand to the floor by accident, with the PDA inside; it hits the ground by the side, and broken a teeth of the zipper. Now it's hard to close or to open the case. I think that the use of a plastic toooth zipper is a bad disign because those broken easily. Now, after one week of enjoy the protection" I have a hard time open and closing the case. I do not recommend this product, or maybe you will need to get a zipper protector letter. I strongly recomend to Body Glove designer to change the zipper for a metallic tooth zipper.

The Body Glove case is the best I have seen. It's VERY water resistant, shock absorbing, useful and it replaces your wallet or at least it did mine. It has compartments for your ID, Cards, and a pocket for money and change. I love this case and was the second case I bough other then the PALM V hard case which I use on occasion because it's thinner and shiny :) I recommend due to function, performance and water resistant and a nice accessory for a scuba diver or surfer that uses body glove like I do. The only thing is that once in a while sence it is a "soft" case it can turn on periodicaly in your pocket if pressure is applied. Thanks for reading this. Mahalo

Top quaility product. Highly recommend for any PDA.

I decided to purchase a Body Glove case for my Palm, because it seems to me good enough to protect the PDA. However, it fall from my hand to the floor by accident, with the PDA inside; it hits the ground by the side, and broken a teeth of the zipper. Now it's hard to close or to open the case. I think that the use of a plastic toooth zipper is a bad disign because those broken easily. Now, after one week of enjoy the protection" I have a hard time open and closing the case. I do not recommend this product, or maybe you will need to get a zipper protector letter. I strongly recomend to Body Glove designer to change the zipper for a metallic tooth zipper.

The Body Glove case is the best I have seen. It's VERY water resistant, shock absorbing, useful and it replaces your wallet or at least it did mine. It has compartments for your ID, Cards, and a pocket for money and change. I love this case and was the second case I bough other then the PALM V hard case which I use on occasion because it's thinner and shiny :) I recommend due to function, performance and water resistant and a nice accessory for a scuba diver or surfer that uses body glove like I do. The only thing is that once in a while sence it is a "soft" case it can turn on periodicaly in your pocket if pressure is applied. Thanks for reading this. Mahalo

Top quaility product. Highly recommend for any PDA.

This was a wonderful purchase. I considered many different ones, but this was what looked the nicest and had exactly what I needed-a pen and stylus that feels like a pen (because it is one!). It also has a very nice feel on the touch screen, a much more substantial tap than a flimsy plastic stylus. If you use a stylus for any length of time, you will really appreciate the comfort of the full-sized pen. True, it does not fit in the stylus slot (I keep the original stylus in place in case I'm ever without my pen), but I knew that when I bought it and it was what I wanted. It fits well in my zipper case, easily accessed. It also has a pocket clip. I am very, very happy with it--even better, it's a great price!

This is what a stylus should be. After all, one of the key features of a PDA is the graffiti function which is difficult to master with the original stylus. It was not until I was able to get the feel of a regular sized pen (which is what the Platinum Pen Dual Action PDA Stylus is) that I was able to not only master the letters and numbers on the graffiti tablet, but also the punctuations. If you use a pocket sized case for your PDA, you probably will not be able to fit this stylus into the stylus holder, however larger cases usually come with pen holder slots (it will fit there just fine). If you are accustomed to putting your pen in your shirt pocket and want the feel of a regular pen then this product is for you. If you are looking for something to keep with your PDA (case) and then slip into your back trouser pocket then this may not be what you are looking for.

1). Beautifully designed;
2). very convenient for use.
3). small enough to put into pocket while big enough to grab conveniently.

I have at least 4 stylus pens. This one is my favorite.

I was thinking about switching to the Targus until I read all your reviews. I have the Franklin Covey e-Pocket Leather belt clip case and after 2 years of hard use, the spring is not very tight and I was looking for a replacement. From the reviews, my belt clip seems to hold up better than the Targus, so I'll get another Franklin Covey. Also, it comes in black and has an additional belt loop behind the metal clip for those who want it.

I have owned this case for 12 days and the belt clip broke off too. I reached to pull it off my belt and the belt clip broke off. I had to call targus and get a replacement case. It is a very nice looking case and it also fits my Palm IIIc very good. This case shouldn't have broken off this early and I think there must be a problem with these cases if two people had their belt clips break off in less than a month. My recommendation is "buyer beware", it is a very nice case but if you buy this product be careful with the belt clip, I hope your case doesn't break like mine and the other reviewers.

Well I shipped the broken case back to Targus and was sent a brand new one. This one has lasted me almost a year.I think the problem with them is that the belt clip is so tight that if it is stretched excessively for a thick belt, it loosens the clip causing it to break. I switched to a slightly thinner belt and have enjoyed it eversince.

I have been a Visor user for over 2 years now. I started with a Visor Deluxe, but now use a Visor Prism.

I bought my Visor Prism over 9 months ago and got a Targus Leather Case to carry it in. The Targus Leather Case is made with good quality material, and is very well crafted. The stitching is first rate.

I carry the case with me daily, and clip and unclip it from my belt an average of 8-10 times a day. Exercising standard care in clipping and removing the case, I have had no problem with the clip.

I normally unclip the case from my belt during long drives. But during short drives, I do not unclip the case from my belt. The case has a swivel type clip which allows me to swivel the case away from the seat belt during short drives.

Being made from leather, the case invariably gets scratched and pinched during regular use. But its wearing out very nicely, and with due care, I am sure that this case will last me for quite some time. I intend to keep it for as long as I can.

The case provides very good protection, specially at its corners. I credit the case of saving my Visor Prism from severe damage on at least 2 occasions when I dropped my Visor Prism to concrete. On both occasions, I had a barcode laser scanner module on my Prism - and this too survived with nary a scratch.

I bought the case from Amazon and am delighted that it is now available at a considerably reduced price. For this reason, I have bought 2 more of this case. I will be giving one of these to my wife, and will be giving the other to my brother.

I bought my EM-500 last fall and have had to send it back twice now for repairs. For some reason, out of the blue, it just refuses to either turn on, or remain on after a few minutes. There is a power update that I installed when I first got it but it doesn't seem to fix the problem at hand. If you're looking for dependency and reliablity, I defiantly wouldn't recommend the EM-500. I've lost all my data twice now (partly my fault because I didn't do a backup).

I love PDA's (and computers in general, for that matter) and this is an excellent device. There was a time when I swore by Palm's pda's, but while Windows CE (now known as Pocket PC) has evolved to near-desktop power, the Palm has remained virtually unchanged. Of the Pocket PC's available, this unit is the best compromise of size and power. It packs a 150mhz cpu (more powerful than the HP Jornada, less than the Ipaq), 16mb of ram, and an amazing screen capable of displaying 16bit color. The Ipaq and HP Jornada can both only do 12-bit color at best. All of that is packed in a comfortable, small device that feels extremely solid in the hand.

While I do believe the EM-500 is probably the best unit available, it does have a few draw-backs. The miserly 16mb of ram is hardly enough... if you buy this make sure to get a 32mb or 64mb memory card to go with it. My other complaints are minimal: lack of hardware volume control, location of IRDA port... but none of these minor issues really impact the usefulness of the unit.

Definitely a great PDA, and well worth the money

I've been planning for a couple of month to get a Palm, probably a Vx, since a lot of friends had it, I knew it, and seemed great. Just when I was about to buy it, I found out there are better alternatives to Palms, and that is PocketPCs, which are not much more expensive. After a quick research, I decided to buy the Cassiopeia EM-500, and from the moment I received it I was amazed!

Although it's a bit bigger and heavier than a palm, you can forgive this the moment you turn it on and se the marvellous full-color display. I think it's the best display you can find on a PocketPC, comparing it with the Jornada and iPaq.

The organizer features (contacts, tasks, calendar) are like all otehr organizers, but the vivid colors make them look better.. so I find them easier to use than those from a Palm. The touch-screen reacts very well. Personally I prefer the keyboard input to writing the characters. I downloaded the free Microsoft Transcriber which improves a lot the character recognition, but I still stick to the keyboard.

The value of EM-500 comes with the software. Being powered by Windows, it has a large spectrum of applications, like Word, Excel, Money, PocketStreets... And you can download even more utilities, applications and games (even Doom and Quake). eM-500 puts the M in MultiMedia, since it has full multimedia capabilities. This PDA works as a MP3 player, or image viewer, or even MPG player. Also, as a Voice Recorder. The sound quality is OK, and the image quality is amazing for such a device.

The initial memory is quite limited (16Mb) if you plan on loading it with software, music and images, but I bought a 64Mb card, so at 80Mb I guess it's enough... At this moment, Cassiopeia comes with a $100 rebate (which makes it cheaper than the Palms), and with this money you can buy the 64Mb card.

Some flaws in the external design. The USB port cover is completely removable (not attached, like the cover for cards, for example.. so it's easy to forget to put it back, or worse, to lose it. The power button isn't very ergonomic, but I got used to power it on using the action buttons on the front. The IR port is also not very well placed... would have been better to put it at the top, make easier to exchange information with someone else.

So, I'll end with a "Wall-Street" recommandation: STRONG BUY!

Good-quality, handy little recorder. However, I, too, had difficulty installing the device driver. The instruction manual is to blame. There are a few instructions on each page in large type, followed by footnotes in small font that at times contradict one another. In one footnote, it says to install device drivers with the recorder on stop. What does that mean? In another, it says if the new hardware wizard comes up, cancel it and install the DSS software. This also is meaningless. In my Dell XP, this is how I did it: 1) when they say make sure the recorder isn't on STOP, what they really mean is to make sure it's off, or in the HOLD position. HOLD, in other words, should be on (the recorder is off at that point). 2) plug the cord into a USB port that you plan to use every time because the driver gets associated with that port and no other. Whether the USB port is in the front or the back of the computer doesn't matter, even though the instructions say that. 3) Once plugged in, THEN turn on the recorder by taking it off HOLD. The screen will say REMOTE. 4) Make sure you've already installed the recorder software on your hard-drive, which by the way, does NOT auto'lly install the device driver. 5) Once the REMOTE screen comes on, your XP PC will sense its presence, and throw up the new hardware device wizard. Don't Cancel, as the Olympus manual suggests, but instead select to manually install certain portions of the software (the device driver). The next screen will offer to install a device driver and ask from which source you want to get it from -- the CD in your CD-ROM drive or the Windows System folder. I think either would work, but I selected the CD-ROM to ensure an exact match. However, I believe the DSS Player software installs the the correct driver into your system folder at the time it's installed, WITHOUT INSTALLING THAT DRIVER FOR YOU. You have to do that using that wizard.

Finish out the wizard screen. That's it.

If you plug the recorder into another USB port another time, you'll have to go through the wizard again. It's just a guess, but if you don't have your CD-ROM handy, it's likely the driver in the Windows/System folder is the correct one and can be used.

The recorder and its accompanying Mac software work great. I noticed one reviewer said the included software does not work in OS 10.2, which is true: the version on the CD would not run after installation. However, after quick trip to Olympus' web site, I downloaded and installed the software.

I like how the software allows you to manage the recordings on the voice recorder, listen to them before downloading, download only what you want, and export them to AIFF files, which can be played by QuickTime.

I use the recorder with a phone recording controller (from Radio Shack) that lets me record interviews I conduct on the phone. I can save the interview file on my hard drive along with my notes.

I've had mine for a week now and can find very little fault with this sleek little device. I've not even hooked up the USB connection to my PC. My purpose in purchasing this device was for simple note taking (dictation and idea capturing) and not for recording meetings. On the "SP" and "dictation" settings, voice playback is crisp and clean, sounding like typical tape-based audio recorders. It seems to provide the best output speaking in a normal voice holding the unit about 1 foot away.

My primary intent in selecting a recorder was ease of use, durability, size, quality and price. So far, the Olympus DS-330 has proven easy to use. Turn on using the "hold" slider, hit "new" for a new file, hit "rec" to start recording and "stop" to stop. The unit defaults to appending to the current file so to continue recording, you simply hit "rec" again. The "rew" rewind function is cool, counting back on the LCD timer to any spot along the way. Hit "play" to listen to your output and hit "erase" and the file is gone, or drop it to your PC for safekeeping.

For this simple mode of operation, it's hard for me to imagine this not being an excellent fit. With lots of time in the field, I'll be interested to see how durable it is and how long the batteries last. It fits comfortably in the palm of my very large hands and comes with a really nice carrying case (like a lot of todays digital phones with a wrap-around, use-in-the-case design). With today's dark (black) colored personal computing devices, this Olympus unit fits right in (did I mention it was sleek looking?). Note, this is kind of a "duh" point, but output is monaural, not stereo, and you'll only get sound in one ear of your headphones using the "ear" plug. The price is a little higher than a lot of units, but I sense it's worth it (particularly if you're after the advanced features).

So far, awesome!

After much research, reading, thinking and more reading I was torn between 2 PDA models, the Clie TJ37 and another model (whom I shall not mention here because I don't want to come off as shilling for a competitor).

Since I was a return Clie customer I thought it a good move at the time to lean toward the Clie line. Once I waded through the nay-sayers and detracters of the Clie line, I arrived at the store with money in pocket. Spending a few minutes alone with the stylus-less floor model & the runner-up, I finally decided to purchase the TJ37. I and ran home with it tucked under my arm. (after paying of course)

The out-of-box experience was excellent, everything you need packaged neatly in a sturdy, green, cardboard box. Ahhh, just like the first time, I thought as I opened it up. After patiently charging it for four hours, I was ready to rock & roll with my new Clie. This is the first color-PDA I have ever owned, oh how I looked forward to this moment.

I picked it up and pulled out the stylus. And that's where the disenchantment began, that cruddy little telescoping stylus. Here are the bad points of the TJ37 as I see them (and each one made me madder)

Cover - at least Sony included a cover with the Clie, one of the few things they are good enough to throw in. The old Clie's had the cover attach to the top of the unit. That was a good, ambidextrous orientation and was easy to flip up and out of your way to use the unit. The TJ37 however, has one clipped to the left side of the Clie, like a small book. Making it harder & less comfortable to hold out of the way.

Stylus - there's no excuse for a stylus this small and this bad. Uncomfortable, hard to hold, cheap, difficult to use and you cannot even replace it with a normal sized stylus because the holder won't accept it. I have average sized hands and this stylus was way too small. Hard to use and easy to loose!

Lack of base - I am also quite tired of paying good money for a PDA and then have to shell out MORE money for a deskcharger base when it should come standard with the unit! This goes for ALL makers of PDAs. But, I especially ding Sony here b/c they squandered their development money on frivolity (integrated weak-camera, their own cruddy software) instead of being pragmatic or even innovative they chose the route of often made mistakes. Next time include a deskcharger base with the product.

Sony's proprietary s/w - I am sick of companies overwriting standard software with their own interpretation. It wastes system resources and you cannot delete it! The money it took Sony to develop that crappy Clie Manager software, which no one will use, could have been saved and help deliver a more affordable unit to market. I buy Palm PDA's for PALM o/s not to use your idea of what PALM should look like!

Chinsy cameras - and chinsy is a nice way of saying cheap-a** garbage!! Cameras have been integrated into phones to such an extent that you cannot purchase a decent cellphone without an integrated camera, a camera you probably won't ever use btw. And Sony follows suite with a cheap, weak performing 310k pixel camera - why bother? A third of a mega-pixel camera? You have to be within 5 feet of a really well lit subject to get a blurry, washed out image. Wow - what a feature! Again, waste of development time and construction materials to deliver something no one will use, and few wanted. Again, that money could have been saved to offer a more affordable unit on the market. Why not include a Swiss Army knife next time at least that would be a useful feature!

Connection adapter - the IO/power adapter used to plug into the bottom of the Clie gave me my first, real "what the H! were they thinking" moment with Sony! A cheap little piece of plastic less than 1 inch square needed as a go-between for the USB & power cord. So, what happens if I loose it? Or if it breaks? Guess I'll have to stuff more money into their pockets to buy one - and while I wait, I won't be able to use my PDA...another great idea from the cheap marketing-driven minds at Sony! Clearly Japanese traditions of quality are being replaced at Sony with marketing delusions, when they could benefit by marrying pragmatism.

By the time I was done, I threw it back in the box (none too happy), went back and returned the TJ37. I read someplace that this is one of the last Clie releases Sony plans for the US. GOOD, I say, because I do not plan to purchase another Clie (unless my demands, above, are met). What a waste of time, effort and money ... steer clear of this Clie.

The upshot, I learned some new things on PDA's and I purchased the runner-up, which is excellent!

The Sony Clié PEG-TJ37 is the perfect combination of Style, Functionality and Price. The silver finish is very cool and distinctive. The Clié Stylus is retractable and made out of Metal, not cheap plastic. The navigation buttons are very simple and the Clíe Application Launcher (Sony's Display Format, similar to Windows CE) is quite simple to use and very original too.

It comes with the Documents To Go from Dataviz Application (You have to register your Clié to Download it first, but it's a simple process), which allows you to edit Word and Excel Documents, as well as viewing Powerpoint applications. The Camera is very good, I previosly owned a Palm Zire 71 and I have to say resolution is better with the Clié. The only downside is the lack of a Flash. Under low light conditions you get zero, nada... The MP3 player application is OK, although I prefer the Real Player application that comes with Palm Products than the AeroPlayer App that comes with your Clié. Overall it has improved Memo Pad (Clié Memo is something like a pocket paint), Adress (you can include pictures), and its comes with other handy apps like Contacts Pro, Agendus and the usual Date Book and To Do List which remain virtually unchanged. The Picsel Viewer technology is very nice, but you need a memory stick in order to use it (it allos you to see Word documents, PDF Documents, JPEG Images, Excel Worksheets and many other formats). Kinoma Player Version 2 is OK, I don't see too many changes from the first version. The Audible Player allows you to download audio like interviews, news, etc. The Presenter-To-Go application is a very neat idea, but its basically a tease for you to buy the Module which allows you to present Powerpoint Presentations directly from your Clié to a Data Show Screen Projector using a special Cable/ Software.

Internet and Mail apps are great, specially when using the IEEE 802.11b port which is similar to the Centrino Chip used by Intel. It allows you to connect wireless to the Internet so you can check mail, do some surfing, etc. Very handy, but it only works where public access points are available and they come with a charge, depending on the provider. Biggest problem is that it sucks battery life dry in just a couple of hours.

The only major complaint I have with this product, for which I didn't award it five stars, is that like all Sony Products, they force you to buy additional hardware like a Memory Stick if you want to listen to MP3, or if youn want to transfer pictures from your Clié to your Laptop or Desktop. I recommend you go for the Memory Stick Pro expansion card (256 will do, 512 is optimum). Finally, it does not come with a docking station / cradle, but just a simple USB connector that looks rather cheap. You have to buy the Docking Station separately.(standard with all Palms).

Overall its a very good product, just remember to buy a Memory Stick, Docking Station/ Cradle, and remember always to bring your Power Source with you cause Life Battery isn't exactly great. One last thing, try buying a solid Carrying Case if you want to avoid scratching your new toy...

I was looking for a PDA running Palm OS, WI-FI enabled, and had a built-in camera. The camera wasn't a requirement, but sounded like a neat idea. I settled on the Sony TJ-37, and I haven't been disappointed. Setup was a breeze. All Sony Cliè software is included in ROM, so it doesn't take up precious RAM memory. I liked the applications CD as I got to choose which apps I wanted to install. After installing the included IntelliSync Lite software on my PC, HotSyncing with Outlook was easy. I upgraded the included Documents-To-Go to the Premium version for the extra features, and purchased SnapperMail Premier edition. Now I quite literally have my office in my pocket! The included USB HotSync cable and AC charging cable are a bit awkward, but understandable since they crammed so many features into this PDA. They had to do something to keep the price down. I can't say much about the application buttons as I select all the apps on-screen, but the scroll bar seems to work nicely. The camera is nice for attaching pictures to e-mail, and works great in a pinch, but I wouldn't use it for family photos or anything you may want to enlarge. The included cover is okay, but not the greatest. But that's not a problem, because Sony sent me a FREE leather case with my new Cliè. The case is very nice and protects the PDA from all sides. Except for the HotSync and Charging cables, I am extremely pleased with the Cliè TJ-37. You can't find a WI-FI enabled PDA for a lower price anyware.

Truly a 'niche' product, the Suunto Observer defies classification. It's a sport watch, make no mistake, but Casio's line (particularly the 'G-Shocks') offer more for the money and MUCH increased battery life. It's several 'instruments' rolled into one, offering barometer, altimeter, compass and thermometer, but in a watch case, and, surprisingly, blending them into an attractive package.
If you're considering this 'wrist computer' (Suunto's term and fairly appropriate) for a 'techno' toy though, save your money. Typical of Suunto's products, it has stellar thinking behind it. Typical also it is cutting edge. However, also typical of products built and produced in Finland, it has an owner's manual that has to be about a 5 to 10 on the readability scale of a 100. Like all Scandinavian products, there is a concerted effort here to use icons whenever possible and it's like you walked into a Russian made helicopter; there may be icons, but you're still going to have to have someone explain it to you! But, like Suunto's diving gauges, one you cross the divide and spend some quality time with the manual, user reviews, internet postings and about 6 to 10 hours playing with it, you WILL have a grin on your face. It's an outstanding piece of technology, but only once you finally understand it.
A few points that may help you:
--I bought the stainless model (there is also a full rubber strap model and a titanium model). Realize it IS NOT a full stainless strap; it's a rubber strap with about 10 pieces of stainless for looks only. However, unlike some reviews posted, I truly LIKE the look and don't feel Suunto was cheesing out by just using stainless 'pieces' instead of a full stainless strap. It fits like a glove, once adjusted. It took me about 30 minutes to fit it perfectly.
--Other reviews give a hit or miss coverage of the DUAL opening latch on the strap. It does have 2 openings, the second is to give additional access if you have large hands/small wrists. One review stated, incorrectly, that the second latch undermines the first latches ability to hold it together tightly. If they would have examined the second latch in more detail, they would see that the primary latch COVERS the second with a gate, preventing it from opening. IN NO WAY does the second latch make this strap less strong. Typical Suunto, well engineered, but poorly documented.
--Carefully read one reviewer's lengthy discussion about how the barometric pressure and altitude settings work. They went into GREAT detail (more than I will here) covering how these two systems are interrelated and connected. Once you finally grasp it, it makes sense. For a summary, just remember this: When in camp, use the barometric setting; it will be very accurate when you do this. When on the trail, use the altitude setting. It's as simple as that.
--Some reviewers stated that the systems (any or all) aren't terribly accurate. WRONG. They are accurate. I've compared the barometer and altimeter to dedicated systems I have and they're very, very close. The compass matches a Brunton transit within a few degrees. Take the time to learn how to use them and they're very handy and very accurate.
--One reviewer stated that the battery life on the Casio's is far superior to the Suunto (even I did at the start of this review). That IS an accurate statement. What they left out though, is that the Suunto has an EASILY replaced battery that doesn't require the back of the watch to come off (Casio's DO require the back to be removed). So it's a toss up. I find on my Casio's that with regular backlight use, they get eaten up pretty quickly too. Realize, Casio only rates their batteries at ONE use of the backlight per day, and who only uses a backlight once a day? On their top rated G-Shock (which I also own) the battery life drops 2 YEARS when you use the backlight just twice a day. I'll take Suunto's approach any day; just use a dime to remove a separate cover for the battery and you're back in business.
--The Suunto has one thing no Casio has--it's stylish. Very European/high tech looking and built like a tank too. Make no mistake, I'll still wear my Casio if I'm diving, because I don't want to scratch the Suunto (kind of crazy isn't it? I'm not concerned about my Suunto dive gauges, lol).
So I'm giving the Suunto four stars; was considering three for the STEEP learning curve, but after I finally 'got it' I was grinning like a Cheshire cat. It is really a fun instrument to play with and truly does offer features in a unique package. Highly recommended, but don't buy it if you aren't willing to spend the time learning its nuances. One last note and one that helped me the most. I was frustrated with Suunto's labels of the buttons and finally adopted Casio's system that I kludged together. This watch has 4 buttons. De-program yourself from thinking of them in Suunto's terms. Use Casio's EXCELLENT system of calling the buttons A,B,C and D. Just make a little cheat sheat that corresponds to A,B,C and D. A is top left, B is top right, C is bottom left and D is bottom right. Once you convert Suunto's system to Casio's, it is SO much easier! Hope this helps someone!

I bought the stainless steel version of the Observer. Things you should know:
1. It is hard to buy this watch significantly discounted and still get the USA warrantee -- Sunnto tries to keep sales at list price.
2. This watch is not shock resistant, despite what I had seen elsewhere on the Internet
3. The watch band seems to not open up much. If you have a small wrist but large hand, you may have trouble getting this watch on and off. However, more careful examination reveals that the watch band opens up in two places, which makes the watch band's double-button lock less secure.
4. The stainless band is phony -- it's really a rubber band with a several embedded metal "ornaments" on each side made to look like a metal band. The part of the band under my wrist has no such ornaments and is all black. The stainless model still probably looks better than the black band. But if the titanium uses the same gimic with metal ornaments, buy the stainless which would be a better value.
5. For some reason, the watch shows a funny R in the FR weekday display on Fridays -- live with it!
6. Because of the barometer, the watch has a thermometer function, although it might only be accurate with the watch off wrist.
7. There are calibration functions for the compass and, I think, barometer. I haven't had a chance to check to see how accurate these instruments really are.

The Casio barometer/altimeter watch is a better value than the Sunnto although it is nowhere near as elegant as the Observer. And a regular ol' G-Shock will trounce the Observer when it comes to durability and battery life.

Let me first start by saying that I collect watches and I can't remember the last time I bought a watch that exceeded my expectations like the Observer did! And I had great expectations :D

Design
I bought the Steel with plastic strap on white face design. My choice for this combo is simple:

1. From experiences steel tends to be more durable than titanium, when used in wristwatches. Titanium tends to dent when impacted whilst steel only scratches.
2. IMO, the black plastic band looks better than the steel one, but that's a personal preference.
3. The white face was chosen - as versus the black face that is so popular - because I 'feel' that the watch carries an industrial design theme in which the white face does a better job at pulling off. The white face is more like a Bulvgari diver's watch, whilst the black is more a rendition of a 'digital' Movado! There is only so much 'class' a digital watch can carry off!

Functions
1. I won't really get into functionality because it has been more than adequately by others. However I do wish add that a level for the compass, perhaps an electronic one, like the Suunto X6, would be nice. I find my self second-guessing my bearings.
2. Although the baro-alti fixing mode is very handy especially for urbanized people, there also needs to be a mode where the barometer and altimeter are not fixed against the other, much like the Vector.
3. As to the issue of the alarm being weak, mine seems okay! I tested it against my Vector, G-Shock and Nike Triax; the Triax was the strongest and the Observer the weakest, but not by much. This is probably because it is a later model made sometime in October 03 (box says '341,' - Year/Week) so they may have fixed the alarm issue.

Improvements
1. I wished Suunto used a Sapphire crystal face instead of the cheaper Mineral crystal. Mineral crystal scratches fairly easy, Sapphire crystal is dang near impossible to scuff! Come on Suunto, my Tissot is half the price of the Observer and it has Sapphire face! I would not mind paying the extra $15 it cost to have it in Sapphire.
2. The pressure sensor is located where gunk can easily get into, relocating it to the left side, front or back (though it may be thicker) would be wiser!
3. And finally, the watch body is made of metal yet the backing is plastic, what's up with that... Make it all metal please! I have heard of the plastic backs chemically melting on older Suunto models when in contact with Deet and various other stronger agents.

Despite all these criticisms the watch is truly impressive. Even the button's internal mechanisms are of high quality, which is a rare thing in digital watches, and the overall craftsmanship puts it ahead of many other models (that I have tested). When compared to most other digital wrist-top computers the attention to detail, design and quality puts the Suunto Observer in a league of its own!

Truly a 'niche' product, the Suunto Observer defies classification. It's a sport watch, make no mistake, but Casio's line (particularly the 'G-Shocks') offer more for the money and MUCH increased battery life. It's several 'instruments' rolled into one, offering barometer, altimeter, compass and thermometer, but in a watch case, and, surprisingly, blending them into an attractive package.
If you're considering this 'wrist computer' (Suunto's term and fairly appropriate) for a 'techno' toy though, save your money. Typical of Suunto's products, it has stellar thinking behind it. Typical also it is cutting edge. However, also typical of products built and produced in Finland, it has an owner's manual that has to be about a 5 to 10 on the readability scale of a 100. Like all Scandinavian products, there is a concerted effort here to use icons whenever possible and it's like you walked into a Russian made helicopter; there may be icons, but you're still going to have to have someone explain it to you! But, like Suunto's diving gauges, one you cross the divide and spend some quality time with the manual, user reviews, internet postings and about 6 to 10 hours playing with it, you WILL have a grin on your face. It's an outstanding piece of technology, but only once you finally understand it.
A few points that may help you:
--I bought the stainless model (there is also a full rubber strap model and a titanium model). Realize it IS NOT a full stainless strap; it's a rubber strap with about 10 pieces of stainless for looks only. However, unlike some reviews posted, I truly LIKE the look and don't feel Suunto was cheesing out by just using stainless 'pieces' instead of a full stainless strap. It fits like a glove, once adjusted. It took me about 30 minutes to fit it perfectly.
--Other reviews give a hit or miss coverage of the DUAL opening latch on the strap. It does have 2 openings, the second is to give additional access if you have large hands/small wrists. One review stated, incorrectly, that the second latch undermines the first latches ability to hold it together tightly. If they would have examined the second latch in more detail, they would see that the primary latch COVERS the second with a gate, preventing it from opening. IN NO WAY does the second latch make this strap less strong. Typical Suunto, well engineered, but poorly documented.
--Carefully read one reviewer's lengthy discussion about how the barometric pressure and altitude settings work. They went into GREAT detail (more than I will here) covering how these two systems are interrelated and connected. Once you finally grasp it, it makes sense. For a summary, just remember this: When in camp, use the barometric setting; it will be very accurate when you do this. When on the trail, use the altitude setting. It's as simple as that.
--Some reviewers stated that the systems (any or all) aren't terribly accurate. WRONG. They are accurate. I've compared the barometer and altimeter to dedicated systems I have and they're very, very close. The compass matches a Brunton transit within a few degrees. Take the time to learn how to use them and they're very handy and very accurate.
--One reviewer stated that the battery life on the Casio's is far superior to the Suunto (even I did at the start of this review). That IS an accurate statement. What they left out though, is that the Suunto has an EASILY replaced battery that doesn't require the back of the watch to come off (Casio's DO require the back to be removed). So it's a toss up. I find on my Casio's that with regular backlight use, they get eaten up pretty quickly too. Realize, Casio only rates their batteries at ONE use of the backlight per day, and who only uses a backlight once a day? On their top rated G-Shock (which I also own) the battery life drops 2 YEARS when you use the backlight just twice a day. I'll take Suunto's approach any day; just use a dime to remove a separate cover for the battery and you're back in business.
--The Suunto has one thing no Casio has--it's stylish. Very European/high tech looking and built like a tank too. Make no mistake, I'll still wear my Casio if I'm diving, because I don't want to scratch the Suunto (kind of crazy isn't it? I'm not concerned about my Suunto dive gauges, lol).
So I'm giving the Suunto four stars; was considering three for the STEEP learning curve, but after I finally 'got it' I was grinning like a Cheshire cat. It is really a fun instrument to play with and truly does offer features in a unique package. Highly recommended, but don't buy it if you aren't willing to spend the time learning its nuances. One last note and one that helped me the most. I was frustrated with Suunto's labels of the buttons and finally adopted Casio's system that I kludged together. This watch has 4 buttons. De-program yourself from thinking of them in Suunto's terms. Use Casio's EXCELLENT system of calling the buttons A,B,C and D. Just make a little cheat sheat that corresponds to A,B,C and D. A is top left, B is top right, C is bottom left and D is bottom right. Once you convert Suunto's system to Casio's, it is SO much easier! Hope this helps someone!

I bought the stainless steel version of the Observer. Things you should know:
1. It is hard to buy this watch significantly discounted and still get the USA warrantee -- Sunnto tries to keep sales at list price.
2. This watch is not shock resistant, despite what I had seen elsewhere on the Internet
3. The watch band seems to not open up much. If you have a small wrist but large hand, you may have trouble getting this watch on and off. However, more careful examination reveals that the watch band opens up in two places, which makes the watch band's double-button lock less secure.
4. The stainless band is phony -- it's really a rubber band with a several embedded metal "ornaments" on each side made to look like a metal band. The part of the band under my wrist has no such ornaments and is all black. The stainless model still probably looks better than the black band. But if the titanium uses the same gimic with metal ornaments, buy the stainless which would be a better value.
5. For some reason, the watch shows a funny R in the FR weekday display on Fridays -- live with it!
6. Because of the barometer, the watch has a thermometer function, although it might only be accurate with the watch off wrist.
7. There are calibration functions for the compass and, I think, barometer. I haven't had a chance to check to see how accurate these instruments really are.

The Casio barometer/altimeter watch is a better value than the Sunnto although it is nowhere near as elegant as the Observer. And a regular ol' G-Shock will trounce the Observer when it comes to durability and battery life.

Let me first start by saying that I collect watches and I can't remember the last time I bought a watch that exceeded my expectations like the Observer did! And I had great expectations :D

Design
I bought the Steel with plastic strap on white face design. My choice for this combo is simple:

1. From experiences steel tends to be more durable than titanium, when used in wristwatches. Titanium tends to dent when impacted whilst steel only scratches.
2. IMO, the black plastic band looks better than the steel one, but that's a personal preference.
3. The white face was chosen - as versus the black face that is so popular - because I 'feel' that the watch carries an industrial design theme in which the white face does a better job at pulling off. The white face is more like a Bulvgari diver's watch, whilst the black is more a rendition of a 'digital' Movado! There is only so much 'class' a digital watch can carry off!

Functions
1. I won't really get into functionality because it has been more than adequately by others. However I do wish add that a level for the compass, perhaps an electronic one, like the Suunto X6, would be nice. I find my self second-guessing my bearings.
2. Although the baro-alti fixing mode is very handy especially for urbanized people, there also needs to be a mode where the barometer and altimeter are not fixed against the other, much like the Vector.
3. As to the issue of the alarm being weak, mine seems okay! I tested it against my Vector, G-Shock and Nike Triax; the Triax was the strongest and the Observer the weakest, but not by much. This is probably because it is a later model made sometime in October 03 (box says '341,' - Year/Week) so they may have fixed the alarm issue.

Improvements
1. I wished Suunto used a Sapphire crystal face instead of the cheaper Mineral crystal. Mineral crystal scratches fairly easy, Sapphire crystal is dang near impossible to scuff! Come on Suunto, my Tissot is half the price of the Observer and it has Sapphire face! I would not mind paying the extra $15 it cost to have it in Sapphire.
2. The pressure sensor is located where gunk can easily get into, relocating it to the left side, front or back (though it may be thicker) would be wiser!
3. And finally, the watch body is made of metal yet the backing is plastic, what's up with that... Make it all metal please! I have heard of the plastic backs chemically melting on older Suunto models when in contact with Deet and various other stronger agents.

Despite all these criticisms the watch is truly impressive. Even the button's internal mechanisms are of high quality, which is a rare thing in digital watches, and the overall craftsmanship puts it ahead of many other models (that I have tested). When compared to most other digital wrist-top computers the attention to detail, design and quality puts the Suunto Observer in a league of its own!

Truly a 'niche' product, the Suunto Observer defies classification. It's a sport watch, make no mistake, but Casio's line (particularly the 'G-Shocks') offer more for the money and MUCH increased battery life. It's several 'instruments' rolled into one, offering barometer, altimeter, compass and thermometer, but in a watch case, and, surprisingly, blending them into an attractive package.
If you're considering this 'wrist computer' (Suunto's term and fairly appropriate) for a 'techno' toy though, save your money. Typical of Suunto's products, it has stellar thinking behind it. Typical also it is cutting edge. However, also typical of products built and produced in Finland, it has an owner's manual that has to be about a 5 to 10 on the readability scale of a 100. Like all Scandinavian products, there is a concerted effort here to use icons whenever possible and it's like you walked into a Russian made helicopter; there may be icons, but you're still going to have to have someone explain it to you! But, like Suunto's diving gauges, one you cross the divide and spend some quality time with the manual, user reviews, internet postings and about 6 to 10 hours playing with it, you WILL have a grin on your face. It's an outstanding piece of technology, but only once you finally understand it.
A few points that may help you:
--I bought the stainless model (there is also a full rubber strap model and a titanium model). Realize it IS NOT a full stainless strap; it's a rubber strap with about 10 pieces of stainless for looks only. However, unlike some reviews posted, I truly LIKE the look and don't feel Suunto was cheesing out by just using stainless 'pieces' instead of a full stainless strap. It fits like a glove, once adjusted. It took me about 30 minutes to fit it perfectly.
--Other reviews give a hit or miss coverage of the DUAL opening latch on the strap. It does have 2 openings, the second is to give additional access if you have large hands/small wrists. One review stated, incorrectly, that the second latch undermines the first latches ability to hold it together tightly. If they would have examined the second latch in more detail, they would see that the primary latch COVERS the second with a gate, preventing it from opening. IN NO WAY does the second latch make this strap less strong. Typical Suunto, well engineered, but poorly documented.
--Carefully read one reviewer's lengthy discussion about how the barometric pressure and altitude settings work. They went into GREAT detail (more than I will here) covering how these two systems are interrelated and connected. Once you finally grasp it, it makes sense. For a summary, just remember this: When in camp, use the barometric setting; it will be very accurate when you do this. When on the trail, use the altitude setting. It's as simple as that.
--Some reviewers stated that the systems (any or all) aren't terribly accurate. WRONG. They are accurate. I've compared the barometer and altimeter to dedicated systems I have and they're very, very close. The compass matches a Brunton transit within a few degrees. Take the time to learn how to use them and they're very handy and very accurate.
--One reviewer stated that the battery life on the Casio's is far superior to the Suunto (even I did at the start of this review). That IS an accurate statement. What they left out though, is that the Suunto has an EASILY replaced battery that doesn't require the back of the watch to come off (Casio's DO require the back to be removed). So it's a toss up. I find on my Casio's that with regular backlight use, they get eaten up pretty quickly too. Realize, Casio only rates their batteries at ONE use of the backlight per day, and who only uses a backlight once a day? On their top rated G-Shock (which I also own) the battery life drops 2 YEARS when you use the backlight just twice a day. I'll take Suunto's approach any day; just use a dime to remove a separate cover for the battery and you're back in business.
--The Suunto has one thing no Casio has--it's stylish. Very European/high tech looking and built like a tank too. Make no mistake, I'll still wear my Casio if I'm diving, because I don't want to scratch the Suunto (kind of crazy isn't it? I'm not concerned about my Suunto dive gauges, lol).
So I'm giving the Suunto four stars; was considering three for the STEEP learning curve, but after I finally 'got it' I was grinning like a Cheshire cat. It is really a fun instrument to play with and truly does offer features in a unique package. Highly recommended, but don't buy it if you aren't willing to spend the time learning its nuances. One last note and one that helped me the most. I was frustrated with Suunto's labels of the buttons and finally adopted Casio's system that I kludged together. This watch has 4 buttons. De-program yourself from thinking of them in Suunto's terms. Use Casio's EXCELLENT system of calling the buttons A,B,C and D. Just make a little cheat sheat that corresponds to A,B,C and D. A is top left, B is top right, C is bottom left and D is bottom right. Once you convert Suunto's system to Casio's, it is SO much easier! Hope this helps someone!

I bought the stainless steel version of the Observer. Things you should know:
1. It is hard to buy this watch significantly discounted and still get the USA warrantee -- Sunnto tries to keep sales at list price.
2. This watch is not shock resistant, despite what I had seen elsewhere on the Internet
3. The watch band seems to not open up much. If you have a small wrist but large hand, you may have trouble getting this watch on and off. However, more careful examination reveals that the watch band opens up in two places, which makes the watch band's double-button lock less secure.
4. The stainless band is phony -- it's really a rubber band with a several embedded metal "ornaments" on each side made to look like a metal band. The part of the band under my wrist has no such ornaments and is all black. The stainless model still probably looks better than the black band. But if the titanium uses the same gimic with metal ornaments, buy the stainless which would be a better value.
5. For some reason, the watch shows a funny R in the FR weekday display on Fridays -- live with it!
6. Because of the barometer, the watch has a thermometer function, although it might only be accurate with the watch off wrist.
7. There are calibration functions for the compass and, I think, barometer. I haven't had a chance to check to see how accurate these instruments really are.

The Casio barometer/altimeter watch is a better value than the Sunnto although it is nowhere near as elegant as the Observer. And a regular ol' G-Shock will trounce the Observer when it comes to durability and battery life.

Let me first start by saying that I collect watches and I can't remember the last time I bought a watch that exceeded my expectations like the Observer did! And I had great expectations :D

Design
I bought the Steel with plastic strap on white face design. My choice for this combo is simple:

1. From experiences steel tends to be more durable than titanium, when used in wristwatches. Titanium tends to dent when impacted whilst steel only scratches.
2. IMO, the black plastic band looks better than the steel one, but that's a personal preference.
3. The white face was chosen - as versus the black face that is so popular - because I 'feel' that the watch carries an industrial design theme in which the white face does a better job at pulling off. The white face is more like a Bulvgari diver's watch, whilst the black is more a rendition of a 'digital' Movado! There is only so much 'class' a digital watch can carry off!

Functions
1. I won't really get into functionality because it has been more than adequately by others. However I do wish add that a level for the compass, perhaps an electronic one, like the Suunto X6, would be nice. I find my self second-guessing my bearings.
2. Although the baro-alti fixing mode is very handy especially for urbanized people, there also needs to be a mode where the barometer and altimeter are not fixed against the other, much like the Vector.
3. As to the issue of the alarm being weak, mine seems okay! I tested it against my Vector, G-Shock and Nike Triax; the Triax was the strongest and the Observer the weakest, but not by much. This is probably because it is a later model made sometime in October 03 (box says '341,' - Year/Week) so they may have fixed the alarm issue.

Improvements
1. I wished Suunto used a Sapphire crystal face instead of the cheaper Mineral crystal. Mineral crystal scratches fairly easy, Sapphire crystal is dang near impossible to scuff! Come on Suunto, my Tissot is half the price of the Observer and it has Sapphire face! I would not mind paying the extra $15 it cost to have it in Sapphire.
2. The pressure sensor is located where gunk can easily get into, relocating it to the left side, front or back (though it may be thicker) would be wiser!
3. And finally, the watch body is made of metal yet the backing is plastic, what's up with that... Make it all metal please! I have heard of the plastic backs chemically melting on older Suunto models when in contact with Deet and various other stronger agents.

Despite all these criticisms the watch is truly impressive. Even the button's internal mechanisms are of high quality, which is a rare thing in digital watches, and the overall craftsmanship puts it ahead of many other models (that I have tested). When compared to most other digital wrist-top computers the attention to detail, design and quality puts the Suunto Observer in a league of its own!