The human factor, mission impossible.
When Casio launched the ProTrek PRG-510GB they decided to fit it with every imaginable feature that was available at the time and the manual is proud to advertise that it has 10 modes of operation. However this should have appeared in the warning section instead, because setting this watch is near to impossible.
The one feature that Casio forgot to include was usability and as a result, the PRG-510GB is very good at proving that I'm too stupid for my watch.
The manual has a page and a half dedicated to explaining how to set the time, a task that first involves selecting the time zone, and a convoluted set of steps that involves pressing buttons in a seemingly random order. And the PRG has a LOT of buttons.
Which also explains why I didn't wear it for close to a year, because just thinking about changing the time due to DST was enough to send me into a mental breakdown with reality.
But I was busy today with collecting the cat's toys and the color reminded me of the ProTrek that was lingering in the box, therefore I went to check it and the charge indicator was low, which made me feeling guilty for neglecting it for so long.
Since I decided to wear the PRG for today I had to steel myself, find the manual and try to memorize the steps needed for setting the time. I'm very proud that it took me only 15 minutes to accomplish this task and that I didn't end up with setting it to Kuala-Lumpur time zone. I'll take this as a definitive win.
Beside being very orange, the PRG-510GB is also very large. It's actually my largest watch and its size and color makes it a better fit for the wrist of an orangutan rather than my, definitively not orange, 16.5cm wrist. Casio really threw everything they could inside and it resulted in a watch that is more like a brick than a wrist accessory.
It's an old watch and it shows it. The PVD wore off, the bezel is dinged, the paint rubbed off from some buttons, and the hybrid strap is fraying. But it's a Casio through and through and it will probably keep working long after I'm gone.
I'm a big fan of watches that are interesting because they are either unique, have interesting features, well designed or simply offer a great value for their price.
Citizen says hold my beer. That's why I use YouTube videos to set my citizens 😬
That is a bad ass looking watch. Never seen one before. Thanks for sharing.
That is a bad ass looking watch. Never seen one before. Thanks for sharing.
It was one of the first ana-digi models launched by ProTrek. I think that mine is from 2011.
It was one of the first ana-digi models launched by ProTrek. I think that mine is from 2011.
Very nice. Love it.
That thing looks massive and it sounds like they sized it to match the size of the owners manual. If this is how they size the watches I would hate to see one with 20 modes.
Thankfully it is a solar, don't have to repeat till decades. The manual book is a throwing weapon that guarantee will hurt.
Thankfully it is a solar, don't have to repeat till decades. The manual book is a throwing weapon that guarantee will hurt.
I believe that it's a cultural thing. It looks like Japanese are very good at digging details and very bad at designing an interface that won't require us to dig for these details.
I believe that it's a cultural thing. It looks like Japanese are very good at digging details and very bad at designing an interface that won't require us to dig for these details.
Still beats good look outside but empty inside (italian with german submarine brand).