Ambit Skeptic Buys One Anyway Because He is a Gadget Junky and Has No Self Control

[paduncan]

Ok, so I admit it. I have been loggin onto WUS / Suunto forum daily now to learn more about others experiences with the Ambit. I also admit I am a gadget junky and have no self control. What can I say?

So I have already setup the Ambit through Movescount, and had a very short time to learn about it. Here are my observations:

1. Overall watch is about the same size in diameter as the Core, but about 30% thicker.
2. The watch is built like a tank. Very rugged. I can't see any kind of fit / finish issues down the road. This thing is S-O-L-I-D.
3. The negative / positive display switch works very well. Negative display is very clear - much clearer than any other negative display Suunto I own (Vectors and Cores).
4. I originally thought I would lose the mode features like on the Core (Time / Alti - Baro / Compass) and would have to get at this information if I entered an exercise but this is maintained in the Ambit. Good move Suunto. I like how you can essentially use the watch like a Core, but more is there if you need it.
5. As others have pointed out, customizability is insane. You can have several activities (name them how you like) and have up to 8 screens associated with each of these, each with 3 lines of information, with the bottom line having up to 5 additional "views."
6. I was able to use Mystro's stopwatch workaround. As others have pointed out though, there is no .1 of a second.
7. Strangely when I powered the watch on for the first time and finally got to check the altitude, it was spot on without even having to set the reference. That is almost creepy!
8. The Movescount website isn't as intuitive to me as the Garmin Connect website, but that could be because I am used to Garmin.
9. I like the HR and Altitude graph options you can have for any given activity, and put these on any given screen.
10. I like when you start up an activity, it automatically looks for the HR belt (and gives you an option to not use that) and the GPS (and gives you the option to not use that too). At all stages you can just push a button to bypass. Very nice; and the sequence takes less than 5 seconds.
11. I miss the ability to see what mode I am in from the home screen (i.e., am I an Baro or Alti mode?)
12. Happy to report that the watch works fine with my Suunto Dual chest strap.

Question: When I exit an activity, does that automatically shut off the GPS?

Overall, this watch appears to me to be a combination of many of Suunto's watches to date: the Core, X-10, and the T6C. I will take it for a hike tomorrow to see how it operates in a real world situation.

Quick iPhone pics:

[or_watching]

I'm not sure which I like more, your title or your content.

[Mystro]

Welcome to the Ambit cult....l mean Club. I did think you would have been a member sooner. That watch look great on you. Tell me that isn't the coolest looking piece of gear. I can't call it a watch because, that would be a insult.
When you exit the activity, the GPS is off. Did you go in and adjust the backlight yet?? I thought 30% was incredibly bright. Wait until you see how sensitive the screen/power saver is. It's impressive.


Here is your card... You held out longer than I thought you would. You have earned it.

[paduncan]

Welcome to the Ambit cult....l mean Club. I did think you would have been a member sooner. That watch look great on you. Tell me that isn't the coolest looking piece of gear. I can't call it a watch because, that would be a insult.
When you exit the activity, the GPS is off. Did you go in and adjust the backlight yet?? I thought 30% was incredibly bright. Wait until you see how sensitive the screen/power saver is. It's impressive.


Here is your card... You held out longer than I thought you would. You have earned it.

I have the backlight down to 10%! It is still very bright. One thing about this watch - if you work in an office, this will NOT fit under your shirt sleeve. This watch screams tactical and is certainly a digital watch that will be noticed.

With respect to the GPS time synch, I don't think that really is a concern. The way this watch works, you have to connect it to the computer to charge it (although you can charge it with a wall adapter), as well as change any of the customizable displays. I doubt the watch would lose / gain more than a second or two in the interim.