Ask Slashdot: What's The Most Useful 'Nerd Watch' Today?

He's worn the same watch for two decades, but now Slashdot reader students wants a new one. For about 20 years I've used Casio Databank 150 watches. They were handy because they kept track of my schedule and the current time. They were very cheap. They required very little maintenance, since the battery lasts more than a year and the bands last even longer. Since they were waterproof, I don't even have to take them off (or remember where I put them!) They were completely immune to malicious software, surveillance, and advertising. However, their waterproof gaskets have worn out so they no longer work for me. Casio no longer makes them or any comparable product (their website is out of date).
Today's watches include everything from heart rate monitors to TV remote controls, and Casio even plans to release a new version of their Android Wear watch with a low-power GPS chip and mapping software. But what's your best suggestion? "I don't want a watch that duplicates the function of my cell phone or computer," adds the original submission -- so leave your best answers in the comments. What's the most useful nerd watch today?

Comments

I don't need or use a watch

[Nyder]

With having a cellphone, I haven't bothered to buy a watch in about 2 decades.

But I did buy a Texas Instruments eZ430-Chronos Development Tool.

It's a watch based development system for MSP430 chips.

Sort of the father of some of the wearable devices, in it's own way.

But this is the ultimate Nerd Ware. You program it to be useful. No one else did. (kidding, there are some programs peeps wrote)

Casio F-91W

[turkeydance]

http://gizmodo.com/5795554/peo...

Re:A watch is a watch

[JaredOfEuropa]

I tried an Apple Watch for a while, to find out what the fuss is about (a more or less work related activity). They are useful for certain things, convenient for others, but in the end I found the bother of having to wear it (and charge it every night) to outweigh its usefulness. But that's just me. I wouldn't call them too expensive for what they do, but too expensive for their expected lifetime. If they'd commit to one or a few case form factors, sell a variety of cases ranging from cheap to luxurious, and let us swap out the electronics every few years for a modest price, then they'd make more sense financially.

Casio ToughSolar Pathfinder

[Anonymous Coward]

Latest model has a built-in digital compass (magnetometer), barometer, thermometer, and altimeter, plus for every locale: tides, moon phases, sunrise/sunset times. It also sets itself to atomic clock radio transmissions once a day. Great fit for the outdoorsy nerd, at any rate...

Re:A watch is a watch

[hambone142]

I use an easy to read analog watch. I don't have to press any buttons to find the time and I can do it quickly.

I've found that analog watches give me a spatial representation of time. Seeing the minute hand on the 10, for example gives me a gut fell regarding how long it'll be when the hour is reached. I don't get that from digital time pieces.

Keep it simple.

Re:These are not the comments you're looking for

[Hognoxious]

Every function of a watch has been replaced by a smartphone

I suppose telling the time without ferreting about in your pockets and hitching up your overcoat while your hands freeze because you had to take your gloves off isn't a function then.

Wristwatches replaced pocket watches for a reason, kiddo.

Casio G-SHOCK GWM5610-1

[supersteve1440]

Casio G-SHOCK GWM5610-1
http://www.shopcasio.com/produ...

Multi-Band Atomic Timekeeping (US, UK, Germany, Japan, China)
Receives time calibration radio signals which keep the displayed time accurate
Auto receive function (up to 6 times per day/up to 5 times per day for China)
Manual receive function
Signal: US WWVB, UK MSF, Germany DCF77, Japan JJY40/JJY60, China BPC Frequency: US 60kHz, UK 60kHz, Germany 77.5kHz, Japan 40/60kHz, China BPC 68.5kHz
Tough Solar Power
Shock Resistant
200M Water Resistant
Full Auto EL Backlight with Afterglow
World Time
29 times zones (48 cities + UTC), city code display, daylight saving on/off
4 Daily alarms and 1 Snooze Alarm
Hourly time signal
1/100 second stopwatch
Measuring capacity: 23:59'59.99"
Measuring mode: Elapsed time, split time, 1st-2nd place times
Countdown Timer
Measuring unit: 1 second
Input range: 1 minute to 24 hours (1-minute incremants and 1-hour increments)
Full auto-calendar (pre-programmed until the year 2099)
12/24 hour formats
Button operation tone on/off
Accuracy: +/- 15 seconds per month (with no signal calibration)
Battery power indicator
Power-saving function
Storage battery: Solar rechargeable battery
Approx. battery life: 10 months on full charge (without further exposure to light)
Module: 3159
Size of case/total weight
GWM5610 46.7 x 43.2 x 12.7mm/51.7g

This is a bit of a repeat

[Trailer Trash]

So, this is a bit of a repeat, but I'll answer as I did last time. I have a Citizen Eco-Drive Skyhawk:

https://www.amazon.com/Citizen...

Mine's a little different as I bought it as Service Merchandise which closed in 2002. I think I got it the year that they closed and paid $300 or $400 for it. It's still my watch.

It doesn't run Android or anything. But it has a slide rule around the bezel and is actually made for making some aviation calculations simple. It also handles all time zones, shows utc on the face at all times, has a couple of alarms, a countdown timer, and a stopwatch. It's solar powered and I've never replaced the battery. It's also water-resistant. I've never had trouble with the watch. I just now realized that it's 15+ years old, and has lasted far longer than any other watch that I've owned.

I know there are some amazing computerized watches out there, but a slide rule is the ultimate nerd accessory, right? Also, show me your second generation Apple Watch in 15 years.