Hi,
Hopefully the developers will respond to this one. From purely and data downloading point of view what is the best computer to use with Dive Log Manager?
I am shopping for a new computer and this obviously won't be the only criteria (or even the highest ranked criteria) but it does factor in. I realize you have a list of compatible computers but some will have simpler and faster downloading capabilities. Which ones are your favorites?
Thanks,
Kevin
Best Computer for Downloading From
Re: Best Computer for Downloading From
Kevin,
I'm sure you are looking in other places too for recommendations on a dive computer. As you've noted, the ease of download should be pretty low on the priority list, but it is at least on the list for many. Also, I think if you ask any one individual for the "best dive computer", you'll probably get at least two, if not more, opinions
First, I'll give you the marketing answer
One of the main differentiators for Dive Log Manager/Dive Log DT is supposed to be ease of use. For many people, they use their logbook software somewhat infrequently and so it's important to be able to just start it up, and figure out how to do things without (much) instruction and just wing it as you would with any other Mac based software. And downloading dive computers is no exception to this. As part of the Apple mantra, and being part of the Mac App Store, the idea is to be able to just start the App, plug in your dive computer, and have it "just work" with no additional software needed, a consistent Apple "look and feel" and "ease of use", and graceful instruction/recovery when needed. So we spend a lot of time trying to meet this goal, and hopefully we succeed most of the time. (As much as can be expected under the circumstances?). So to that end, no one manufacturers dive computer "should" be easier than another for our software.
Second answer, a reality check.
There are some dive computer manufacturers that embrace 3rd party logbook developers like us and are supportive of our efforts, and there are some dive computer manufacturers who think of all of us as the devils spawn. And not too much in between.
So supporting dive computers from the first group is easy and you can be assured that any future dive computer changes are handled in a timely manner. Atomic Aquatics would be in this group, and there are others that we will be supporting in the future.
Supporting the latter group is a nightmare. Everything about downloading them is reverse engineered because the manufacturers will not communicate with 3rd party logbook developers. ScubaPro/UWatec and AquaLung/Suunto are both in this category. These dive computers take significant amounts of time to figure out by us, and by many other people who contribute to the libdivecomputer effort. Once a dive computer is supported though, in theory you should be fine for downloads. But the exception to this is dive computers with downloadable firmware. When new firmware is loaded onto your dive computer, there is a good chance it will effect how it downloads. It's not uncommon to have new firmware break the download support in 3rd party logbook software. When this happens, it takes a fair amount of time by the end user, our developers, and libdivecomputer contributors to figure out what changed and how to work with the changes. So this will have an impact on the end user/owner of a UWatec or Suunto DC. We own and use multiple UWatec and Suunto dive computers and they're great and we would buy them again. So this is not meant as a criticism of the dive computer at all, just as a heads up on potential future incompatibilities. (Not just for Dive Log Manager/Dive Log DT, but for other 3rd party logbook software as well). If you don't change your firmware, this is not an issue.
Hope that helps to inform. As always, don't hesitate to ask more questions.
Cheers,
Janice
More Mobile Software
I'm sure you are looking in other places too for recommendations on a dive computer. As you've noted, the ease of download should be pretty low on the priority list, but it is at least on the list for many. Also, I think if you ask any one individual for the "best dive computer", you'll probably get at least two, if not more, opinions
First, I'll give you the marketing answer
One of the main differentiators for Dive Log Manager/Dive Log DT is supposed to be ease of use. For many people, they use their logbook software somewhat infrequently and so it's important to be able to just start it up, and figure out how to do things without (much) instruction and just wing it as you would with any other Mac based software. And downloading dive computers is no exception to this. As part of the Apple mantra, and being part of the Mac App Store, the idea is to be able to just start the App, plug in your dive computer, and have it "just work" with no additional software needed, a consistent Apple "look and feel" and "ease of use", and graceful instruction/recovery when needed. So we spend a lot of time trying to meet this goal, and hopefully we succeed most of the time. (As much as can be expected under the circumstances?). So to that end, no one manufacturers dive computer "should" be easier than another for our software.
Second answer, a reality check.
There are some dive computer manufacturers that embrace 3rd party logbook developers like us and are supportive of our efforts, and there are some dive computer manufacturers who think of all of us as the devils spawn. And not too much in between.
So supporting dive computers from the first group is easy and you can be assured that any future dive computer changes are handled in a timely manner. Atomic Aquatics would be in this group, and there are others that we will be supporting in the future.
Supporting the latter group is a nightmare. Everything about downloading them is reverse engineered because the manufacturers will not communicate with 3rd party logbook developers. ScubaPro/UWatec and AquaLung/Suunto are both in this category. These dive computers take significant amounts of time to figure out by us, and by many other people who contribute to the libdivecomputer effort. Once a dive computer is supported though, in theory you should be fine for downloads. But the exception to this is dive computers with downloadable firmware. When new firmware is loaded onto your dive computer, there is a good chance it will effect how it downloads. It's not uncommon to have new firmware break the download support in 3rd party logbook software. When this happens, it takes a fair amount of time by the end user, our developers, and libdivecomputer contributors to figure out what changed and how to work with the changes. So this will have an impact on the end user/owner of a UWatec or Suunto DC. We own and use multiple UWatec and Suunto dive computers and they're great and we would buy them again. So this is not meant as a criticism of the dive computer at all, just as a heads up on potential future incompatibilities. (Not just for Dive Log Manager/Dive Log DT, but for other 3rd party logbook software as well). If you don't change your firmware, this is not an issue.
Hope that helps to inform. As always, don't hesitate to ask more questions.
Cheers,
Janice
More Mobile Software