In 1989 I was working as a production carpenter. I had been through numerous low priced digital watches. All worked well and performed their primary tasks well, (time display), right up to the time that they broke. After buying a nice, high-priced Seiko for my wife on her birthday, she asked me what she could get for me. I told her that what I would really like would be a "Bullet-Proof" watch. I had heard great things about the "G-Shock". The next thing I knew I was wearing one.
My first one, which is still running 18 years later, and on only it's second battery, turned out to be the most dependable multi-function time-piece I ever owned. It served me through years of construction work, diving and surfing, exercise laps in the pool, kayaking and rafting rivers in California, Idaho and Montana. Oh yes, being an unpretentious person, I also wore it to weddings and social events.
Alas, recently the outer protective shock case finally succomed to the elements, cracked and fell apart, leaving the stainless steel case exposed, but still working, and still attached to the original strap, and the watch still works.
It seemed prudent to retire old faithful and replace it, with a newer, upgraded model. Thats when I ran across this attractive and versatile beauty. The price was right and I was intrigued by the "Solar Power" and "Atomic Timing" features, so I went for it.
The Casio GW330A-97 is attractive, extremely comfortable, and very eye-catching with its space-age design. With Casio's G-Shock reputation, I have no reason to expect less than the best in rugged and dependable performance. Now that I have learned how to program and access the many functions that this device offers, I am very stoked to have it, and all it offers, at my command.
THE NEGATIVE: This watch is not for the technically challenged. I downloaded and printed the SIX-PAGE user's instructions from the Casio web-site, and then spent parts of the next whole week trying to learn how to operate this techno-monster beyond basic time-keeping. It took alot of time and a bunch of trial and error before I finally learned to operate this device without constantly referring back to the multi-page, fine-print instructions. Kind of a pain, but I was determined and I have finally become the master of the instrument, instead of just a frustrated observer, content to simply read the time. The triple-eye display, showing various status and features, activated or de-activated are impossible to read without good lighting and a magnifier. Not good for someone with tired eyes. Still, once you have the watch set up the way you want it, there's really no reason to check them out again, with the exception of the power-status meter which can be read easily enough. They do look kinda cool though!
THE POSITIVE: This device offers a wide array of features and functions suitable and versatile for the most demanding needs. If you don't mind taking the time to learn how to use it, it will become one of your best friends. It's water resistant to depths beyond the reach of all but the most intrepid professional divers. What this means to most of us normal people is that, along with it's legendary shock resistance and durability, this watch will stand up to and survive just about anything you will put it through, like floods and thunderstorms, even hurricanes. The newly designed square access buttons have been recessed into molded receivers to avoid inadvertant activation. They are a bit more difficult to activate than the older exposed buttons of past models, but to compensate, they have little grooves built in so you can use your finger nails for pushing if you need to.
I'm a great believer in Solar Power, and this device seems to have a superb, space-age solar power system with a long-life battery back-up that boasts up to a 6 month reserve capability. It can be charged in any kind of daylight, sunlight or artificial light. Obviously, the brighter the light, the better the charge. I find direct sunlight to be a bit harsh for long term charging and I recommend avoiding any light source harsh and hot enough to temporarily blank out the LCD display. I left it to charge in a bedroom window for several hours once, and although I am sure that it received a good charge, the watch got very hot and the screen was blank and blacked out. The instructions advised about this situation, and after about 5 minutes in the refrigerator to cool it off, I was relieved that everything returned to normal with no apparent damage or negative side effects. I use a desk-top bullet lamp with a flourescent tube bulb now for re-charging overnight now, and this seems to be the best and safest method. Very bright, cool, intense light. Since I began that, the power meter has never moved from the fully charged "High" setting. Outside direct light from a cloudy or overcast sky or on a cool day for a few hours will also give the power reserve a quick and long lasting boost. Whatever charging process is used, it's a good idea to avoid any light source that will heat up the device. Other cool features: Power-saving modes that puts the watch to sleep in the dark when the user is sleeping. And a very well designed back-light that can be used either "On Demand" with a well placed, finger-sized button, or set to briefly light up automatically when you turn your wrist up to view the face of the watch. To save power, as may be appropriate during repetitive motion activities, the auto-on backlight can be turned off, using the same button. While in the power saving mode, the back-light can still be activated manually when needed. Very functional, original and well thought out treatment of the "Backlight" concept.
ATOMIC AUTO-TIME-KEEPING: I tested this feature at night, as recommended by the manufacturer. I was able to successfully re-set the time manually, and automatically, following the instructions, and by simply aiming the watches Radio Receiver antenna out my bedroom window. The process worked perfectly in both modes. To let you know how well it worked, consider this: The "Atomic Clock" signal originates in Colorado, northwest of my location. I live in San Diego in an area where we get no AM/FM or TV signals at all, because of the surrounding foothills. The window I used faces the south. The signal from Colorado bounces off the ionosphere at night, but directionality can still be a factor. Even so, when the watch went into "Reception" mode, manually and automatically, it pulled a full powered signal and re-set Day-Date-Time-Year in a few short minutes. It really works! Very impressive!
There are 4 separate alarms available, plus a snooze alarm. (I Hate Alarms!) There is a traditional split-time stop watch, count-down timer, and even a 30 event one touch Event Time Recorder. So if you want to be able to refer back to the time that something important happened, like if someone crashes into your car, a simple push of a button marks the date and time and saves it for future reference. It will save up to 30 separate events.
Oh yeah! Let's not forget, this watch has true WORLD TIME ZONES. Once the correct time is set, (using your home zone), you only need to manually adjust it to the time zone you are in, when travelling, using a pre-selected major city for the zone, and the watch will automatically adjust to the correct time for that zone. When you get home, just change it back to your home city and it will automatically adjust back. THIS WATCH IS SO SMART! Traditional features are automatic adjustments for 30 or 31 day months, Daylight Savings Time, and even for Leap Years when they occur. And it is programmed to do this up to the year 2100. Don't think I'll be around to see that. And no batteries to replace!
THIS IS A VERY SMART TIME KEEPING GADGET!
TO SUM IT UP: I'm kind of a nut about techno-gadgets so I got a kick out of learning how to operate this device. Now that I understand how it works, I really dig it, and it's nice to know that I will always have access to the correct time when other sources have failed. At least until E.M.P. bombs take everything out. If that ever happens, I still keep some mechanicals around, wound up and adjusted on a regular basis.
At any rate, this is a very cool time-piece/gadget. It has a futuristic but uniquely quiet style, and at the same time avoids the flashy show-off looks of other less versatile brands. Extremely comfortable on the wrist! I believe that it will prove to be as durable and long lasting, ("Bullet-Proof"), as the G-Shock line has become famous for. I recommend it highly to anyone who has the patience to take the time to learn how to use it, and the need for a tough, durable, dependable and versatile time piece. It's packed with alot of technology and requires alot of button pushing to fully utilize all of it's functions. But after some patience and time, it all falls into logical and redundant patterns that become easy to remember, the more often it is used.
For people who may be intimidated by complicated access and adjustment routines and sub-routines, or who just want an easy to use digital watch, designed for light duty use, a simpler, less expensive model may be a more appropriate choice. In either case, you can't go wrong with Casio.
BOTTOM LINE: The Casio G-Shock Atomic Solar GW330A-9V is a great, multi-purpose and durable time-keeping device, available online at very reasonable prices. A GREAT GADGET FOR GADGET LOVERS. |
Another great G-shock
