Perhaps we can collect discussion about the 1st vs 2nd generation Instinct (Solar) Surf functionality in this thread.
The Second generation Instinct is available and comes in four different surf options:
1. 40 mm without solar $400,-
2. 45 mm without solar $400,-
3. 40 mm with solar $500,-
4. 45 mm with solar $500,-
Apart from all the improvements that apply to the entire Instinct line, there are some specific additional features for the new Surf edition:
- Kitesurf (including jump height measurements) and winsurfing activities
- Surfline app to include wave forecasting and video recordings when on the right beach
I posted in another thread (in the Instict 2 subforum) earlier:
Interesting device. As I use my Instinct Solar Surf (1) primarily for watersports some remarks on the second interation:
- Instinct 2 has kitesurf (jump) height detection. Extremely curious to see how that works out with regard to accuracy. I have a hard time believing that either the barometer or accelerometer can provide anything even close to accurate height measurements (like the WOO board mounted devices for example). Nonetheless, it might provide a fun relative measurement.
- Surfline app is supposed to include wave forecasting etc. This is something that would make the first gen Surf be more worthy of its name, but alas...
- Improved wave detection might be the same as introduced in the 16.50 firmware for the 1ste gen devices? If not, that would be a huge middle-finger to those wave surfers adopting early to the first Surf model...
- I wasn't a big fan of the two possible colour options for the first generation surf devices, but the four new models are all truly cringe-worthy (admittedly subjective!)
All in all, there is this slightly bad taste in my mouth that all the first generation surf model owners that paid good money for their watches had to deal with nearly two years of non-functionality (the tides fiasco, the non-functional surf activity) and complete absence of functionality (wave forecasting) only to learn that they were basically paving (and paying) the way for a second generation device without getting any of the improvements to soften their troubles...
Chances that I upgrade are really very slim. Even if this device would work flawlessly I can't really condone this whole neglect and/or slow response to issues with a first generation device only to use all that feedback to potentially improve (remains to be seen) a second generation device and leaving your early adopters in the cold...
