Today, I'll be reviewing the Aeris XR1 NX, which of course is the Nitrox capable dive computer/watch. The first thing I notice when I opened the box is that the computer is small. Really small. How big did I expect it to be? Not very big. Maybe it is the right size, but sure feels small. However, what really shocked me was the tiny split display screens behind another 2mm worth of plastic which makes it look really deep inside and gives the whole 'small' feeling. Another thing I found was that the border around the computer is another 4mm or so. Enough with the negitives. The box also contains a safety and reference manual, operating manual, a battery replacement tool and a nicely laminated review card so you can take it with you, just in case you forget. About a hundred or so dollars more expansive compared to the Mares Puck, you really aren't getting much more. Infact, you don't even get the user pc interface, so your dive stay on the XR1 NX. Of course, the pc interface usb is extra, but at this price different, you could have bought the Drak USB interface. However, you do get time on the XR1 NX, which I'm not sure is worth the trade off. Infact, you don't even get gauge mode, which you get on the lesser model XR1. It is arguable how much you are really going to use gauge mode, but its always nice to have that option. Not beening such a keen reader, I had problems understanding some of the operating manual and could only go to set modes, and not the other modes it showed me that I could go to. This was mainly due to being a single button dive computer. I could only conclude from this that Aeris' XR1 NX was there to frustrate the lower end of the market to buying a multi buttoned dive computer. I'm sure this was not the idea of Aeris, but did sure felt that way. Another thing I had noticed was that the display screens being so deep inside the dive computer, it almost made it impossible to use apart from direct top down view, which is how most peole will be looking at it anyway, but when you're out of the water waiting for your next dive, you'll be doing a lot of bending over to read the computer. This problem could have been simply fixed with backlight screens, but again, those models cost more. I should have known why there were no reviews on the XR1 NX or why my local dive shop didn't even know such a dive watch existed. Even the distributor does not market the XR1 NX as a wrist mount. The good news is the XR1 NX is a 'puck' style computer, which means it can dismount a wrist mount or the console and switch over, another neat feature is that the XR1 NX turns into a mirror at the right angle(no, not the 90 degree angle) which you can use to look inside or below things. Also the magification of the water makes the XR1 NX actually readable in while diving, but you have to watch out as the mirror effect does turn on you sometimes. To be honest, there is no reason to hate the XR1 NX. It does what its supposed to do and looks more stylish than the Mares Puck. Plus, you no longer need to dive with a wrist watch to check the time. Also, if you had trouble getting hold of a Mares Puck because Mares were too busy cutting the middle man out, your local dive shop can have a XR1 NX shipped to them in 24-48 hours, which was a real surprise to me. Please don't let this review turn you away from the XR1 NX as it is a good dive computer. I know I have been harsh on it, but that is only because the Mares Puck is beyond reasonably cheap. For any reason you don't want the Mares Puck or can't get one or you don't want to have two things on your wrist while diving, the Aeris XR1 NX is for you.
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