Entered CNET Catalog: 01/10/2004
SKU: 51-N3
Manufacturer: Suunto
Product summary
The good: Antenna built into the watch face; easy integration with Outlook Calendar; comfortable; water-resistant to 100 meters; compact charger.
The bad: Expensive; requires a monthly or yearly service fee; needs frequent recharging; receiving instant messages takes too long.
The bottom line: This Suunto is arguably the best of the first-generation SPOT watches.
Editors' review
- Editors' Choice: No
- Reviewed on: 01/21/2004
To build the initial hardware for its new MSN Direct service, Microsoft partnered with Fossil and Suunto, a Finnish timepiece maker. Since Suunto is known for its sports and diving watches, it's not surprising that its $299 N3 smart watch--one of the first to employ Smart Personal Objects Technology (SPOT)--has an athletic design and is water-resistant to 100 meters.
Though definitely on the large side, the N3 is lightweight, and we found its elastomer band far more comfortable and easier to unfasten than the clasp band on Fossil's Abacus AU4000, though that watch is less expensive at $129. Each model has a built-in receiving antenna: the AU4000's is part of the band, while the N3's encircles the scratch-resistant glass face like a frame. A Microsoft spokesperson said that the Suunto's antenna isn't quite as receptive as the Fossil's, but we didn't notice a major difference in our tests.
When you subscribe to MSN Direct, which costs $10 a month or $59 a year, you sign up for a variety of channels. You then receive news abstracts, which consist basically of a headline and a summary sentence. Current selections include general news; reports on business, technology, and sports; and up-to-the-minute weather updates. Eventually, Microsoft will add more choices, such as sports scores from ESPN, but you're limited to 12 channels overall. People can also send you instant messages via MSN Messenger 6.0, but you can't respond. Additionally, the N3 can display two days' worth of Outlook Calendar appointments, and the watch provides an interval timer, programmable alarms, and a clock for a second time zone.
All in all, we had no major complaints about the Suunto's interface. Getting accustomed to it took a few days, but we liked how the N3 can change its faces; it stores up to six, and you can opt to have a new face sent to the watch each month. Integration with Outlook Calendar was also good, but the instant messages were sluggish, taking around 30 minutes to arrive.
As for MSN Direct, which is available in many metropolitan areas, it also suffered a few hiccups. That said, Web setup was fairly simple, and we did manage to pick up service in Las Vegas when we roamed out of our local area (New York) on a business trip. Hopefully, Microsoft will smooth out the glitches over time.
Battery life wasn't terrible; you'll have to recharge about every four days. That's sort of a pain, but it's the price you pay for being cutting-edge. You recharge via either the included power adapter or the USB port on your PC (sorry, no Mac drivers); the N3 comes with a USB cable and a clothespin-type clip that attaches to the watch.
Yes, the N3 would be cooler with a color LCD. And no, we're not sure if consumers will be willing to pay for MSN Direct--on top of their cell phone service--when some might say that it isn't truly compelling in its present form. But if you're a gadget lover with some money to burn, you'll find that this is a well-designed, durable watch that always tells perfect time and gives you convenient and quick on-the-go access to a smattering of useful info. Compared with Fossil's models, this Suunto is more expensive and stores fewer faces, but we prefer its design. Overall, the N3 is arguably the best of the initial batch of watches supporting MSN Direct.
User opinions
Select a User Opinion to view: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9out of 9 user reviews
Good for the first to come out
Pros: All of the Msn Direct features and it's waterproof
Cons: not as good as n3i
out of 9 user reviews
It doesn't fit my wrist
Pros: nice functions
Cons: And the watchband is not replacable
out of 9 user reviews
Should wait for later models
Pros: interesting information that it sends
Cons: but who really needs to know all of that information? hundreds of other ways to find out the same information if needed. very bad coverage areas but "theyre hoping to expand more and more within a short time" as far as the coverage area. I've heard the
out of 9 user reviews
Recharge your watch!!!
Pros: Innovative way to get up to date information, waterproof....but that's about it. see below.
Cons: Usability - will you take it off your hand to sync it? Probably needs a cable - should be wireless (bluetooth, IR etc.) Also who recharges their watch. Why not get a cell phone that is faster, syncs Outlook Calendar, & Contacts, can sync using bluet
out of 9 user reviews
Out of range at work
Pros: Good idea.
Cons: Live in NJ, wk in Ct. Not in range in CT, where I would use it the most. For the ten bucks it would cost for MSN membership, I'll just get another phone on my wireless and get a little more out of the deal.
out of 9 user reviews
im a gadget lover but this is a useless gadget
Pros: gives me msn and info i usually check on the net
Cons: not enough watch features 9alarm,light up screen.etc) i personally dont like the look
out of 9 user reviews
Cool watch
Pros: Outlook sync, instant messages, weather, news, and news updates.
Cons: Standard watch faces aren't all that great. Downloaded face is cool. A little big, but not huge.
out of 9 user reviews
Coverage below expectation
Pros: Beautiful design. Good quality. Very comfortable to wear. Watch band appears to be removable/replaceable.
Cons: Only 4 cities with coverage in Canada, instead of the promised 14. Only 5 built-in watch face.
out of 9 user reviews
Fun watch for gadget freaks
Pros: 7 days worth of Outlook calendaring, local weather with 3 day forecast as well as weather in other cities you choose. Very frequent local and international news updates and I can check my stock prices.
Cons: Pricey compared to the Abacus. Big watch. Does anybody really need these functions?
