Customer Reviews

Suunto n3 Smart Watch

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This watch is part of the first wave of Microsoft's Smart Personal Object Technology (SPOT) devices. Buying this watch is also buying into Microsoft's new MSN Direct service launched just last week (without it, this watch would really just be an expensive digital sports watch). I'll comment on both (briefly):

The watch sports an oversized face, providing ample real estate for delivery of information through its digital display. It is styled in much the same way as many of Suunto's other sports watches, though because it has fewer features that those other models, it also has a 'cleaner' design. The face is covered by a mineral crystal (which, as watch aficionados know, is far from scratchproof) and ringed by a gold-toned bezel which, according to Suunto, also doubles as the antenna. The watch has all the standard digital watch features (e.g., time, chronograph, date, etc.), but because it is made to connect to the MSN Direct service, it doesn't need to be set manually (more on that later). The watch is clearly made for sports, with 330m of water resistance and a rubber strap. It looks like it could withstand quite a beating (though I haven't tried to test that theory). While oversized watches are currently 'in', one con for the watch has to be its size. It is fairly thick, somewhat heavy, and certainly bulky. For those that wear suits or dress clothes, don't get rid of your dress watch just yet -- and for those with small wrists, you're going to look (and feel) like you're walking around with an egg strapped to your wrist.

The thing that really sets this watch apart from traditional digital watches is the MSN Direct service. MSN Direct uses the FM broadcast spectrum to send data to your watch. The data sent to your watch can be customized via the Internet, so that you can really custom your watch experience. The data includes various 'faces' for the watch, weather, stocks, news, etc. There is also supposed to be a sports channel, but it is not yet available as of this writing. You can choose to display the information you want to see or you can set the watch the present a 'slide show' of sorts, with information changing from one channel to the next. Unfortunately, the watch information updates itself ever so often, so you can't really get information on demand. However, for most purposes, this is really sufficient. You can also receive messages via MSN Messenger, allowing the device to act as a word pager. What's the catch? Well, in order to receive any information, you have to subscribe to the MSN Direct service by paying $9.95 per month or $59 per year (on top of the $299+ that you paid for the watch).

As with any first generation device, most people who will buy this device will be the early adopters, and while it's a fairly neat device, it's not for everyone. As a digital watch, it's decent, but a bit bulky and some may be turned off by its size and price. As an information device, it's definitely very cool, though the fact that you cannot receive sports information will probably cause those looking to replace their sports pagers to pass on the device. As the devices and services evolve, we may see watches that are slimmer and/or more stylish, and we may also see more information services offered through MSN Direct -- those are reasons that those with patience (or those that lack gadget envy) may want to pass on the device. For all others looking to impress their friends with the coolest new gear in town, this is probably what you're looking for.

Don't forget that there are other SPOT watches available by Abacus and Fossil. If you don't like the size or sportiness of the Suunto model (or if you're frightened by the price), you may want to check out those models as well.

While an interesting idea, so far I can only recommend this gadget for junkies only. Plainly put, it's really just not ready for the 'average joe' consumer yet, for a couple of reasons. Most obviously is the cost. For what ammounts to a really high end pager, it's a really expensive piece at close to three-hundred bucks. However, if you have the money to spend and want a "new toy" the 'n3' does have two glaring advantages over it's Fossil counter-parts.

First (and most obviously, in my opinion) it's waterproof. Although I'm certainly not an expert, I'd imagine a watch that's completely electronic would have a real weakness to the elements. Suunto (designer of various diving and hiking watching) seems to have taken as many precautions as possible to make the watch impervious to weather.

It's second advantage is building the watch's antenna around the face. In each of the Fossil alternatives, the antenna is built into the watch band, making the band almost indespensable (not to mention easily breakable).

So if you're in the market, amoung the handful of available products out there, Suunto's n3 is clearly WAY ahead of the curve. Hopefully the more SPOT watches catch on, the lower the price will go. As it is now though, between the watch and the subscription costs, it really is FAR too expensive to qualify as a must own.

As far as the MSN Direct service goes, it is very easy to setup and works very well. I especially LOVE being able to get my Outlook appointments on the watch; over air! The service is great and has lots of potential. I'd like to see more content, like F1 Racing stats, comics, personal portfolio summary (I don't want indvidual stocks, I just want to know how my portfolio is doing)...

The watch is of appropriate quality, size and styling for a Suunto; either you like it or not. If not, Fossil has some fine choices too. I got the Suunto because it is waterproof and has a lap timer.

I've had my Suunto for about 2 months, and I really like it.

Pros:
-Battery lasts a long time, probably can go 7-10 days without a recharge. When traveling, can recharge from your laptop with a USB port as long as you have the cable.
-Love having Outlook pushed to my watch, don't have to whip out the PDA to see where I need to be next. The watch will count down the amount of time to your next appointment (or how late you are!).
-Correct time as long as you're in the MSN direct service area.
-Sports content is betting better, given the late start time for NBA playoffs, I can pop out of bed in the AM and check out the scores and the box scores.
-Excellent customer support from MSNdirect. I've e-mailed tech support and always gotten a response - one that works - within a couple of hours.

Cons:
-Will MSN direct survive or will you be left with a $300 watch that functions like a $20 watch?
-Some features a little buggy - I've had to reset the watch to receive content and correct time information when traveling.
-The only watch that will cost you $60 every year that you own it. You could buy a lot of watches for that money.

Bottom line: great for gadget-freaks, the obsessive compulsive (always have the correct atomic-clock time), those with busy calendars. For me, taking a stealth peak at my watch versus pulling out a PDA or cell phone is less disruptive/obtrusive in many meeting settings.

Pros:
humongous, clear face - stunning
pretty watch
easy user interface
waterproof, bangproof, everything proof
many timer features
MSN Direct - like nothing else

Cons:
$60 per year, unless you just want to keep time for $300
$300 for the watch
THICK - I thought there was a mistake on the amazon review. This seriously is half an inch thick.
No hourly weather

Great product. It is still amazing to me. The backlight is strong, and I get the sports scores while riding my bike! It is easy to use for a "gadget". Note: this is much better than the Fossil/Fossil-Abacus watches. It can take a beating, and recieve messages. Graphics are clear and common. It is a great watch (I believe, because this is my first watch). Just note: this thing is really thick. Every picture seems to hide it, but not this one: shermans.gotdns.com/SuuntoN3.jpg. Think this watch over - it is different. However, it is very good.

There is nothing like this on the market today!

Many of the negative reviews of this new watch focus on the watch size, but that criticism is inconsistent with Suunto designs and other versions of their products. I have owned 3 Suunto products and this is by far the best one!

The new N3 features the latest dial size of their other high-end sport watches and actually turns out to be stylish and comfortable to wear. I have both the Fossil and the Suunto Spot watches and I really prefer the N3 for it's ease of use and readability.

The important thing is to consider in selecting this watch is the whole package, there really is nothing else like this watch and it's capabilities. Suunto, Microsoft and MSNDirect have done an admirable job in keeping the watch simple and the service to configure, it a breeze and intuitive.

Having the watch and it's streaming information channels is convenient and I have found it to be really useful as a great lifestyle product. The weather channel and the glance capabilities alone would make the watch worth the price.

The calendar integration with Outlook is amazing and powerful. I have to travel 1.5 hours to work (Seattle traffic) and having this sync capability has been valuable. I find that it saves data costs over the GSM for my Smartphone by allowing me to see updates and then query in my mobile device for the detail and the accept/decline actions.

Pure geek stuff, but useful to me.

Really a neat, smart product, especially if you love new electronic toys. What I am concerned about is not the watch but Microsoft, which with its notorious arrogance might kill it before it has the chance to grow and glow
Their customer support is everything but support. The "first line" technician is very polite, but cannot help beyond taking your info and refering you to a "specialist", which if you are lucky, will call you in 4-5 (business) days.
Microsoft is not very good in keeping their promises either; they say the sport channal is"around the corner" and even use it in their ads, but it has been just around the corner for the last three months. They also promise "new watch face every month", well I own the watch for 3 month now and got just one new face when I subscribed.
So it's in Microsoft power to keep this watch ticking...

This is a wonderful product. I love all the features, and it actually is a useful tool. BUT, it's not the first time this idea has been introduced. SEIKO had the same watch available about 6 years ago, every thing was about the same, capability, cost of watch and cost of service. I bought 3 to the tune of about $800 dollars, plus the connection fees about another $120,
with taxes I was into them for about a grand.
Within 6 months SEIKO discontinued the service and the watches became really expensive $30 dollar watches. SEIKO returned approximately $35 dollars a watch, and if I wanted that I had to sign a release. SO this time 1 watch, and I will wait and see if it flies.

I enjoyed the MSN service but my Suunto n3 equipment didn't last the year of my MSN subscription or my extended warranty. I took the watch back to CompUSA where I bought it but they don't sell the watches any more so they wouldn't honor my extended warranty. I haved called Suunto customer service repeatedly for a month but nobody has talked to me or returned my calls. Now I have five months left on my MSN subscription but no working watch. If you are really interested in a SPOT watches, they are pretty cool but I would recommend staying away from Suunto.

cool technology, but the styling and size of this watch are insane. my recommendation is that you buy it......if you like strapping boat anchors to your wrist. i saw another two (Fossil and Abacas) that i could actually fit under my shirt sleeve. i think that i will return this and get one of those.