Customer Reviews

Timex Men's T53722 Ironman Data Link USB Watch

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Lets start with the only two negatives: Rather large size and you need a PC with a USB port. Now that is over with, this is a terrific watch! The program installs easily on the PC and ALL data is put on the watch with a very slick program. I put in all my addresses, birth days, appointments, and a ton of utilities (and games- let's not forget games!). The screen is very large and easily read. The band is solid and (once you learn how) easily adjusted for size. There are dozens of app that can be downloaded that other folks have written for the watch. I can set the watch time by updating the PC with NIST and then attaching my watch (poof within a second of dead accurate). Keeps time well, the buttons are easily pushed but not obtrusive. The birthdays and appointments slide down a week scale on the watch so I do not get surprised.
So lets see what I have right now: countown timer for walking and swimming, stopwatch, couple dozen contacts (including chinese place), black jack, scientific calulator, magic 8 ball, yathzee, occasion, and options.
Seconds to connect, change things and redownload. all data can be stored on a backup so never have to do it twice.
What a great watch!

I have owned this watch for over a year.

When I first got it, I absolutely loved it. It was so great having all your phone numbers, appointments, etc... in the watch and having it remind you your anniversary was coming up so you wouldn't forget it... and it worked great with both my PC at work and my PC at home. The only drawback was - there was no way to synch up data between the two. I wish Timex had a way to upload data to the watch from one PC, then download it to another PC so you could change it, but they don't. But that was only a minor nit-pick.

After what didn't seem like all that long, the watch stopped communicating with my USB port. It said I should replace the battery. I replaced the battery and it didn't help! It still wouldn't communicate with my PC.

Not only that, I lost all my entries! So... the memory in the watch is volatile (i.e. it doesn't save your data when the battery is replaced).

There's absolutely no way to put data into the watch manually (i.e. without a computer) so it can't be used "stand-alone".

So on battery #2, I just used the watch as a normal stopwatch.

Now it needs another battery! Gesh! Do I buy battery #3? Or just buy another watch? Seems all that databank memory wears down the battery quicker than a normal watch.

POSITIVES:
This watch truly is a PDA on your wrist. The number of alams/appointments/notes that you can set is limited only by the generous 32k of memory. 32k doesn't seem like much, but for a watch it ALOT.

My favorite feature are the appointments that you can set. It allows you to set an alarm (one-time, weekly, monthly, yearly, weekends, week-days), along with a note-reminder so that you can remember what it is for, and with a customizable reminder (1-hour before appointment, 2-hours etc). Awesome feature and this is the ONLY watch that I've seen with this feature.
You can also set notes with a 2-alphanumeric password. Good for storing license plate numbers, bank account numbers, social security numbers etc.
Customizable menus. Only keep the menus you want and put them in the order you want.
Multiple countdown timers. I have ones set for 2,5,10,15,20,30 minutes as well as multiple hour countdown timers.
USB connectivity works well, I've never had any problems.
Indiglo night light.
Waterproof to 100m. I wear my watch everywhere. In the shower, pool, etc.

NEGATIVES:
Battery only last about 1 to 1 1/2 years. I've had to replace mine 3 or 4 times now. Also, your local Wal-Mart will not do it (too complicated) so you have to take it to a jeweler.
Watch band is proprietary. Stupid. Stupid. Stupid Timex! It is a 19mm band, but it has silly projections that require a one-of-a-kind band. (Look at the picture, the black part is the band - see how it projects into the silver watch face area?). Only www.voguestrap.com carries these custom bands and they seem to always be "out of stock". I have gone through 3 bands now (mine just broke again!)
Cheap metallic finish flakes off after about 1 year and look cheap.
I have had several of the screws on the front face come off (notice the 4 screws on the corners of the face?). However, it hasn't negatively affected the watch.
The face scratches a little easier than other watches. No biggie. Just use some superfine sandpaper or a fingernail buffer.

WOULD I BUY IT AGAIN?
Probably. I've been spoiled by the appointment and multiple countdowns and all the other watches with multiple alarms seem to start off at around $45. However, I will order multiple replacement bands as soon as they are in stock again!

First of all, as of this writing, there are four different watches in the Timex Data Link USB series. All have the same functions, but have different faces and bands.

I own several Timex digital watches (and had a few Casios before that). My main interest has been in recording splits during training runs and orienteering races. My favorite watch used to be the Timex 200 Lap Ironman T5B481, but when the rubber guard around one of the buttons fell off, I started looking for a replacement. The T5B841 had the ability to store 200 split times in a "Training Log", as well as 20 short notes (entered by twisting the crown). My old watch model is getting hard to find for purchase, but happily, I discovered the Data Link USB series (available at a lower cost than my previous 200 Lap Ironman).

The Timex Data Link USB watches are fantastic. I have the functions of my old 200 Lap Ironman, but so much more!!! The watch has plenty of features "out of the box", but in addition to that, it is completely configureable as far as modes and settings, up to and including installing new modes ("WristApps"); which can be downloaded from the Internet. You install the interface program on a Windows PC. Configure your desired settings and load data, then connect the USB cable to your watch and transfer all of the settings. You can also transfer data (such as your split times) from the watch into the PC. [ See the user image that I posted for a view of the configuration program. ]

On my old watch, when I changed the battery (or switched to a new replacement (same model) of the previous watch), I had to manually reenter my Notes data. With the Data Link USB, I just hook the watch up to the PC, and reload all the settings and data in a matter of seconds. (It can even set the time on the watch, synching it up with the clock on the PC.)

Again, the watch has great functions "out of the box". but if you like to tweak thinks, you can do so much more with the configuration and settings!

This watch is a fairly good watch, well worth the price and five stars; if it never needed repair. This watch has broken several times in just a couple of years. They charge every time you need it repaired even if it is under the short warranty that the watch has (it's just cheaper)

Break history:
Weird text on the display won't go away
The spin thing on the side came off
The watchband broke
It refused to connect to the computer (it broke this way twice)
It got water soaked in it, and the display quit

I've been looking for a watch like this for years. This watch is great. I used to have a Casio Forester. I could save up to 20 phone numbers in it. I quickly out grew it, always having to take numbers out to add new ones. Also, it didn't look very professional all blinking, flashing and stuff. I always felt a little silly wearing it in the work setting.

To start off with, my Timex Data Link 5C291 looks great! Sporty yet professional enough with the metal band. To date, I've put over 100 phone numbers in it and haven't even gotten near 50% of its memory storage. I also use it at work to download my MS Outlook schedule & contacts list. It is so simple and I have set it up to auto update whenever I connect the watch to the computer. All my co-workers schlep there PDAs around with them to do what this watch does. Of course, my timex can't do everything their PDA does but most of them never use it beyond finding phone numbers and checking their schedule.

I also love the flexibility of setting up the menus. I've customized it so that I can get the info I want fast and don't have to scroll through unwanted menus or functions. The software works well and is easy to learn and use. I'm using Windows XP at work that is connected to an office network. This is the best designed digital product I've ever purchased. This watch is a steal for the price.

Wish List
I do wish that there were a few additions. I've looked into the added 3rd party programs that can be downloaded to the watch and found them for the most part just toys. It would be nice if there were some more useful applications beyond just what Timex created. Also, the watch only works on one computer. That means either your work computer or your home computer. It can sometimes be a little of a hassle waiting to get to work to add a personal phone number. Another limiting function is when contacts are added to the watch from MS Outlook they are brought in last name first. I don't always know the last name of my contacts and it can be difficult and time consuming to find them when this is the case. That's it. Everything else is awesome.

In short, this is a great watch and well worth the money. Forget the PDA, too much of a hassle. Carry it all in your watch.

I was confused trying to find out about the various styles of this watch. If you go to the Timex website you'll see there are two "models", the T53722 (silver) and 5C291 (black with silver band). The only differences are between color, and that's it. Any other IronMan data watch you find will be an older, discontinued model, no longer produced by Timex. This is the information I got from customer service today (march 11th). Nice watch!

I actually have an older version of this watch,but i have concidered updating it because its such a good watch.For exsample when the battery goes flat,all you do is load the data from your PC.That includes the time and all the alarms and phone numbers you may want to store in it.Rather than fiddling around with buttons for half an hour trying to set the time etc.Its so much easier to do all that on your PC.The reason i have not updated is because my old one still works fine.This has all the features you would want,and more.

I've owned a number of Timex Data link watches and loved each one. This particular watch is a true unisex watch. It is a wonderful fit on my wrist. Timex attention to detail has created a band that links into a small tab to keep the band from flopping if you have a smaller wrist, yet it's large enough for a big wrist.

Here are some of the things I love about this watch:

It has ten alarms (few watches have that many)
It helps me plan and execute my workouts to the minute.
Numerous timers
Helps me keep appointments
Is a good, yet simple and basic organizer
Keeps accurate time
Easy to read
Different sounds to suit your mood
Loud enough to easily hear yet not too loud
Easy one glance view of date and time
Easy to set with PC and not bad without one
Holds lots of data
Comfortable to wear
Stylish
Sporty
Great service from the company should you need it

That's enough for starters. I've only had trouble with one Data link. It got moisture under the crystal. Not sure what caused it. That's the only Data link that's done that. It's in for repair now.

Also, these watches go through the batteries, which are about $10 each where I live. If you don't use many alarms or timers, etc, the battery should last two years. But, if you're like me and use the watch for lots of things and depend on the alarms and timers and occasional light, you may need to buy a battery at least once a year.

This is a rugged watch and should give you many years of great service. The price of the watch on Amazon at this time is an exceptional value. In a range of $48 to about $54, the watch is half or less the actual retail as I write this.

Highly recommended.

- Susanna K. Hutcheson

My son suffered a brain injury almost 10 years ago, resulting in short term memory loss, problems keeping to his schedule etc. We tried many different things to help him be more independent and the Data Link watch has been the best. We can set several alarms for different times a day and different days of the week and know he 'll be reminded (with the scrolling message) what to do. He can also store important phone numbers, contacts and special days to remember. I like the fact that I can do all the adding to and editting of his schedule etc from my laptop. This is his second data link watch. When we thought he'd lost his first one, I immediately ordered a second one. Luckily, his first one showed up, and now he has a back up for those times when he can't remember where he put his other one!