Dive log manager or DT

[fuzzymelton]

I have a few basic questions to ensure I am using the software to the best of its ability.

What is the difference between DLM and DT? I have a paid license for DLM, so should I convert to DT?
Since you now import from Atomic, I have stopped using Mac Dive. While it is a good program I find that DLM does all I need it to, but keep working on those updates because we all like new features. Do you recommend I go back to using Mac Dive, and why so?

Thanks very much. I show your program off to every diver I can.

[support]

What is the difference between DLM and DT?

There is "virtually" no difference at all between Dive Log Manager from our website and Dive Log DT from the Mac App Store. The version on our website has the ability to do an "in app purchase" to be able to start with the free one and add the additional functionality of the paid version if you want. This "in app purchase" was not available when the Mac App Store first came out so we had to have 2 versions there - Dive Log Manager for free and Dive Log DT is the paid version. Also, the version on our website uses licensing and automatic update technologies from 3rd parties. Dive Log Manager and Dive Log DT in the Mac App Store use the Apple supplied automatic updating and licensing - it's a requirement to be there.

I have a paid license for DLM, so should I convert to DT?

There is no reason to unless you prefer to get your applications from the Mac App Store as a personal preference.

Do you recommend I go back to using Mac Dive, and why so?

Not unless you want to. MacDive is a great program and we work closely with the developer to support syncing with our iOS software Dive Log. MacDive supports many more dive computers than we do now and probably ever will. It employs an architecture that allows it to use an open source library called libdivecomputer that supports all those dive computers. So there are many people working on and developing libdivecomputer to make it better and support even more dive computers. MacDive and libdivecomputer depend on 3rd party supplied device drivers to be installed and these are responsible for actually "talking" to the dive computer via a hardware cable of some sort.

One of the many requirements to be in the Apple Mac App Store is that your application have no dependencies on 3rd party software nor any device drivers. According to Apple, the experience of installing an app should be easy and seamless and so they don't want users having to install other stuff to get a program to work. So Dive Log Manager (DT) can't use libdivecomputer directly and must duplicate all the functionality of the device drivers in the application itself. So it will probably always be behind in the dive computer support game. But it will also probably be easier to install and use compared to MacDive if you are not that familiar with computers and device drivers.

If MacDive is working for you and you like it, there is no need to switch to Dive Log Manager. If Dive Log Manager is working for you and you like it, there is no need to switch to MacDive. If Dive Log Manager doesn't support your dive computer, then you can still use MacDive to download it and then import the information into Dive Log Manager. And lastly, because there is no *MacOS* device driver for the ScubaPro/UWatec line of IrDA dive computers, your only choice is Dive Log Manager/DT as MacDive/libdivecomputer is unable to support them.

Hope that helps to answer your questions,
Janice
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