My Google searches for the Suunto Ambit brought me to this forum so I've only been a member for a few days and I'm loving it. I'll start by saying that I love the Ambit so don't take this thread the wrong way. My main reasons for buying this watch were the altimeter and battery life and the altimeter is awesome! I see all of the same pros to the watch that many others have however I'd like to start a thread addressing some of my complaints/concerns/dislikes or whatever you want to call them. The purpose of this thread is not to sound like a whiney baby but to address concerns that can be relayed to Suunto for future firmware updates. I'm also well aware that there may be ways to correct the concerns that I have and I am MORE THAN HAPPY to have members tell me "how to". I've been on exactly one run with the Ambit and have noticed a number of dislikes.
Backlight: I do quite a few quick runs at night and I'd like the option of having the backlight remain on permanently. I am aware that it drains the battery but my night runs are typically 1-2 hours and battery life will never be an issue. We all know how awesome the backlight is so I can set it a 10% and it would do the trick.
Distance Display: I noticed on my run today that once I reached 10 miles, the distance no longer displayed hundredths. For example it would read 10.1 miles and not 10.13 miles. This is VERY annoying. I wanted to reach 13.10 miles and in order to not exceed my goal I had to run stiff-armed while looking at my watch from 13.0 miles to 13.1 miles. Typically I could run and see as I got closer to that 13.1 mark. 13.06…13.07…13.08…13.09…13.10. I hope this makes sense.
Ascent Display: I also noticed that once I reached 1000 feet, it would only display my ascent as 1.01kft (I think it was kft). I would like it to display 1010 feet not 1.01kft. Easier to understand and more accurate if I'm at 1016 feet. I felt like I had to do math while running!
Battery Life Icon: I'd like it to display the % of battery life remaining…not a tiny icon that really doesn't do much good.
Waypoints: I know that this has been addressed but I wanted to include it anyway. It would be ideal to be able to set a permanent waypoint like "home" for example and have the watch recognize it. I like that when you start an exercise it searches for HR Belt and GPS. It would be nice if it would then search for a set waypoint like "home" and set the altimeter reference point. Even if it listed the set waypoints and allowed you to choose that would be ideal. I think it's kind of a pain to set a reference point through the settings menu before each run. So I'd like it go something like this: 1) searching for HR Belt, 2) Searching for GPS, 3) Search for Set Waypoint or Select set waypoint or enter altitude reference point 4) Start exercise. I hope this make sense as well.
Movescount: I'm new to Movescount and it seems to be solid. It's a bit busy for my liking but I'll get used to it and I'm sure it'll be good. My only complaint at this point is on the "distance" icon, it displays the distance and underneath it displays the "speed" in MPH. Seriously, no runner wants to know their MPH, they want to know their pace. I am aware that if you hover the mouse pointer over the icon it shows the pace but that isn't completely accurate and really I shouldn't have to do that. Also, in the area that displays "Split Time, Lap Time, Distance, Avg Speed, Max Speed" it displays MPH and not pace. I know that I can expand the menu and see it but I think that it should be the standard column header. If you know how to adjust/customize this please let me know…I can't figure it out.
Battery Lifespan: While the watch is charging, they recommend keeping it on the charger until it's fully charged in order to prolong the battery's lifespan. "NOTE: To ensure longer battery lifetime, only charge when the battery is empty and charge until the battery is completely full. Battery renewal is not part of the warranty." My concern is this: I typically run 1 to 4 hours, 3-5 times per week and I want to review my results after every run. This requires me to connect to the computer all of the time so it'll very rarely get lower than 50% remaining battery power. With this type of battery I thought that it's best to let it fully deplete before charging it but this will never happen. Your thoughts? Does this concern you as well considering the price paid for this beauty? Maybe they'll make this compatible with the Suunto Movestick Mini so that we don't have to charge it all of the time.
Once again, PLEASE don't take this the wrong way. I LOVE this watch but I wanted to give some feedback and hopefully some of you can teach me a few things or join me in voicing our concerns to Suunto. I believe all of these concerns can be fixed via firmware updates. THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT!
Backlight: I do quite a few quick runs at night and I'd like the option of having the backlight remain on permanently. I am aware that it drains the battery but my night runs are typically 1-2 hours and battery life will never be an issue. We all know how awesome the backlight is so I can set it a 10% and it would do the trick.
Distance Display: I noticed on my run today that once I reached 10 miles, the distance no longer displayed hundredths. For example it would read 10.1 miles and not 10.13 miles. This is VERY annoying. I wanted to reach 13.10 miles and in order to not exceed my goal I had to run stiff-armed while looking at my watch from 13.0 miles to 13.1 miles. Typically I could run and see as I got closer to that 13.1 mark. 13.06…13.07…13.08…13.09…13.10. I hope this makes sense.
Ascent Display: I also noticed that once I reached 1000 feet, it would only display my ascent as 1.01kft (I think it was kft). I would like it to display 1010 feet not 1.01kft. Easier to understand and more accurate if I'm at 1016 feet. I felt like I had to do math while running!
Battery Life Icon: I'd like it to display the % of battery life remaining…not a tiny icon that really doesn't do much good.
Waypoints: I know that this has been addressed but I wanted to include it anyway. It would be ideal to be able to set a permanent waypoint like "home" for example and have the watch recognize it. I like that when you start an exercise it searches for HR Belt and GPS. It would be nice if it would then search for a set waypoint like "home" and set the altimeter reference point. Even if it listed the set waypoints and allowed you to choose that would be ideal. I think it's kind of a pain to set a reference point through the settings menu before each run. So I'd like it go something like this: 1) searching for HR Belt, 2) Searching for GPS, 3) Search for Set Waypoint or Select set waypoint or enter altitude reference point 4) Start exercise. I hope this make sense as well.
Movescount: I'm new to Movescount and it seems to be solid. It's a bit busy for my liking but I'll get used to it and I'm sure it'll be good. My only complaint at this point is on the "distance" icon, it displays the distance and underneath it displays the "speed" in MPH. Seriously, no runner wants to know their MPH, they want to know their pace. I am aware that if you hover the mouse pointer over the icon it shows the pace but that isn't completely accurate and really I shouldn't have to do that. Also, in the area that displays "Split Time, Lap Time, Distance, Avg Speed, Max Speed" it displays MPH and not pace. I know that I can expand the menu and see it but I think that it should be the standard column header. If you know how to adjust/customize this please let me know…I can't figure it out.
Battery Lifespan: While the watch is charging, they recommend keeping it on the charger until it's fully charged in order to prolong the battery's lifespan. "NOTE: To ensure longer battery lifetime, only charge when the battery is empty and charge until the battery is completely full. Battery renewal is not part of the warranty." My concern is this: I typically run 1 to 4 hours, 3-5 times per week and I want to review my results after every run. This requires me to connect to the computer all of the time so it'll very rarely get lower than 50% remaining battery power. With this type of battery I thought that it's best to let it fully deplete before charging it but this will never happen. Your thoughts? Does this concern you as well considering the price paid for this beauty? Maybe they'll make this compatible with the Suunto Movestick Mini so that we don't have to charge it all of the time.
Once again, PLEASE don't take this the wrong way. I LOVE this watch but I wanted to give some feedback and hopefully some of you can teach me a few things or join me in voicing our concerns to Suunto. I believe all of these concerns can be fixed via firmware updates. THANKS FOR YOUR INPUT!