Review

Over the last 20+ years I have owned two (or was it three?) of these watches, which are now officially discontinued but still available. A current replacement model is the DBC-310, and I just bought one of those. Other similar models are the DBC-150 and DBC-1500. Some aspects of the newer models are improvements, but others are not. Here’s the scoop:

DBC-610 pros:
1. The viewing angle of the LCD is better. With the new one I have to rotate my wrist a little too far to see the characters properly.
2. I like the stainless steel wrist band and hinged latch of this model. The new model has a resin (plastic) band. It does feel good on my hand, but the standard buckle is a step backward.
3. This case is more angular and slightly smaller in all dimensions than the new one, and I prefer its clean, sleek lines. I also don’t like the narrow spacing of the outer two columns of buttons on the new model. That looks like a design mistake.

DBC-610 cons:
1. The backlight has always been rather feeble, and no longer works at all. The new backlight is much better looking, and should require less power to operate.
2. User data is lost when the battery is removed. The new model has EEPROM memory, which retains data even without a battery.
3. The new model has more data storage (room for 300 entries vs. 50) and improved functions such as search capability.
4. With some of the controls it’s too easy to accidentally press a button and change a setting. The new model has better implementation of controls, which helps avoid this.
5. The case of this model is metal-plated plastic. The plating always wears off eventually, leaving parts of the underlying plastic exposed. The new model has a black plastic case that will probably look better longer.

The structure of the keypad is different as well. The old keypad uses a flat membrane, but the new one has raised buttons. I won’t really know for a year or two if this is an improvement or not.

Both watches have the same type of stainless steel back, and the other general features are pretty much the same.

Summary: One of these models is the best watch in the world, but I’m just not sure which one.

Feature

• Data bank Memory capacity: Up to 50 sets of data, with 8-character name and 15-digit telephone number
• 8-digit calculator Calculation modes: Arithmetic operations and currency conversion
• Regular timekeeping: Hour, minutes, seconds, am/pm, year, month, date, day
• Measuring modes: Elapsed time, split time, 1st-2nd place times
• Multi-function alarms,Hourly time signal,12/24-hour format,Auto-calendar (to year 2099),world time

Overview

Old school type calculator/databank from Casio which is very retro in design. First introduced in the late 1980s, this watch continues in production with the only change being a switch from orange to green nightlight of the old side lit variety. Great for those who prefer the old designs to the new!

Specifications

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Nov 26, 2009 02:48:34

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