From: EPLUS17@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu (Richard Engelbrecht-Wiggans)
Subject: Re: Looking for (not expensive) Wrist-Watch for Sailing
Organization: C.C.S.O.
Date: Thu, 23 Jul 1992 03:02:47 GMT

In article <36008@sdcc12.ucsd.edu>
cote@cs.ucsd.edu (Brad Cote) writes:
 
>mbr@bellcore.com (Mark Rosenstein) writes:
>>Casio has an 800 number (which I don't know off hand but
>>1-800-555-1212 will) and I obtained their catalog of watches which is
>>a truly fun read. They have a gazillion different types of watches. My
>>only problem is that the more featureful watches don't have lights,
>>which I'd really like.
>
>>Mark.
>
>I have a Casio Yacht Timer, which comes in two forms: fancy metal, and
>not fancy plastic. It has a stop watch, alarm, and a 5 minute
>countdown yacht timer. This works on 5 minute starts, and rolls over
>at the end of 5 minutes and starts over. Does all sorts of beeping
>just before zero, which is ok.
>
>Problems: The yacht timer can be set to another time, but it doesn't
>work the same (no beeping). The five minute timer is a pain in the ass
>to turn off, so you get all this beeping at 5 minute intervals which
>is a real distraction. There is no light for night viewing.
>
>I usually use the stop watch function for all starts. This is
>available on less expensive casios, but the cheapies have function
>buttons which go off at a flick of the wrist, so when you look for a
>time, you find out that 1) the timer has stopped (shit!), 2) you are
>looking at the time (which can be confusing), or 3) you have stopped,
>and restarted the timer (in which case you are late for the start -
>double shit!).
>
>All the casios suffer from way too many functions. Why in hell does
>anyone really need a "2 lap timer" function on the timer? Sometimes
>you get it into the 2 lap mode and you are just screwed when the prep
>flag goes up. Alarms are worthless. So is 24 time.
>
>What I want (are you listening casio or timex?)
>
>Digital watch which shows time and date.
>
>Stopwatch with 1 button for CLEAR-RESET at any time, 1 button for
>start/stop.
>
>Buttons which don't change the mode when you don't want them.
>
>Programmatic interface to turn off functions I don't want, but your
>engineers will insist on giving me anyway.
>
>If I cant get the above, give me a big button for TIME.
>
>Light at night.
>
I sit here looking at my Timex Triathlon (<$20 if you look carefully).  It
has a recessed "mode" button to switch from one function to another; I have
never had the modes change by mistake.  On the face of the watch, it has two
big buttons, one labelled "Start/stop," and the other "lap/reset;" to reset
the stopwatch you must first stop it (otherwise, the second button simply
records a lap split time.)  It also has a light.  For me it does everything
I need in triathlons and sailboard racing. (I note the time at the start of
the start sequence so I know when to watch for the next signal and start the
stopwatch, and then use simple subtractions to figure whatever I need
to know...this works only if such arithmetic comes easy, even when you are
under stress.)  The watch is water resistant to 50 meters--enough for me--but
I believe that the very similar but slightly more expensive "Ironman" version
is resistant to 100 meters.
 
I used to have a Casio "Jogger" that did much the same.
 
Richard Engelbrecht-Wiggans          Those who can, teach;
                                     those who can't, don't;
eplus17@vmd.cso.uiuc.edu             and too many who think they
or EPLUS17@UIUCVMD                   can teach neither can nor do.
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