suunto x9i: GPS integrated wrist watch for $500
Jul 11, 2006 fitness, gps navigation, wrist watch
We came across this watch while searching for GPS integrated wrist watches. The Suunto X9i is not necessarily a new gadget. It’s been around since 2004 and you can still pick it up for $499. The X9i packs in a lot of functionality. It’s a GPS receiver, altimeter, barometer, compass, and a thermometer, all in one.
With the X9i, you can plan routes at home with a map, and save them into your watch. When you’re out in the field, your watch will advise you on which way to go, as well as tell you how fast you’re moving, how far you’ve traveled, how far you still have to go, and when you’ll be arriving at your destination. Mark a “home” position, and you’ll be able to hit “find home” from anywhere and get the route and distance back.
You may think $499 may be a bit too steep for a wrist watch that doesn’t even have a single precious stone on it, but think of this way: The closest alternative to this is a Garmin Forerunner which lacks the altimeter, barometer, compass, and thermometer part and it is a lot bigger, but it is less than half the price.
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February 26th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
It’d be nice if one of these would actually show a map.
April 25th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Re watch guy: “It’d be nice if one of these would actually show a map.”
Hey, watches are small, meant to be carried on wrists. It’s enough that a wrist-top computer carry the essentials of waypoints and tracks so as to guide a person through terrain where she/he might get lost or stumble off a cliff. It should also be able to record the waypoints of actual travel, so as to enable backtracking to a starting place, or computing a more direct route, if the previous study of the terrain would allow it. Complete geographic detail is not needed — its analysis into essential geographic turning points (i.e., waypoints) is sufficient. It is this capacity for analysis and reduction of detail to its generalized essentials that distinguished Cro Magnon (who still flourishes) from Neanderthal (who is extinct). What should be incorporated, however, is a compass capability.
May 20th, 2008 at 11:01 pm
this would be awesome for hang gliding
no more bulky computers for hang gliders
just a simple wrist watch
June 7th, 2009 at 2:04 am
I am planning on travelling overseas from Australia very soon. I would like my parents to know my where abouts whilst travelling. I read an article about a watch like device that can track your location and gives the other parties an exact location of your where abouts. is this product cabable of doing this