★★★★★ 5
Great sports/fitness watch
Color: Black/Yellow
I will start my review with an admission:
I hate digital watches.
I think 7-segment numbers look ugly, and I prefer the ability to see the 'distance' between times visually that you get with an analog face.
But I needed the timer and lap counter for my job, and I have always wanted to do interval training to improve my speed and endurance while cycling. This watch had everything I needed and more. I was aware that Timex was a respected brand, and the T5E231 was the only watch in my price range with the ability to count 199 laps.
I have to say, though, that after a week of use, I actually love this watch. Not only does it meet my needs functionally, but it actually brings me pleasure to wear it and operate it. The yellow trim around the inside of the bezel clearly identifies it as a sport watch, yet it seems to fit in well in formal settings. The interface is incredibly user-friendly and satisfying to operate. I never thought I would refer to a watch's "interface", but this watch actually has one. Pressing most of the buttons results in actual text being displayed on the screen telling you what the button did, or what will happen if you hold that button down just a little longer. In most modes there are even little labels that appear on the screen by the buttons telling you what they do in that mode. Figuring out how to use almost all of the functions only required five minutes of random experimentation. The only thing I had to consult the manual about was how to switch the chronograph into lap counter mode. I just wish there instructions explaining how to fold the manual back into a size that fits inside the watch stand.
There are so many little touches that make it clear the designers at Timex really take pride in their work. Here are my favorites:
-When turning night mode on, the Indiglo lingers for another few seconds after releasing the button. But when turning it off, the light extinguishes immediately! It should, since if you are turning night mode off, it's probably daytime and you don't need the Indiglo anymore.
-Being able to scroll numbers backwards and forwards while setting times. On other watches it is so frustrating to 'miss' the number you want and have to press the button 60 more times.
-Little icons appear on the home screen letting you know if the timer, chronograph, or alarm is running in the background. Most watches only have an icon for the alarm.
-The speaker plays a different sound for the alarm and the timer, so you know which one is going off without looking at the screen. Also the Indiglo light flashes.
-The Indiglo system is clearly a masterwork of engineering. It looks evenly lit and is very easy to read, yet it doesn't illuminate anything other than the display (unlike the backlight on a phone, for example). This must save a lot of battery power, since lighting up other objects around the watch is a waste of electricity. Besides, you have your phone for that!
-In timer mode, you can see what time the timer was originally set for on another line below the countdown.
-The AM and PM appear in the same place on the display; there is just one little segment that lights up to turn the P into an A.
-Many of the buttons that perform an irreversible or potentially unwanted function (such as resetting the chrono or clearing workout data) require being held down for several seconds so you don't trigger them accidentally.
-The watch tells you how much memory is free for storing workouts.
There is only one problematic thing about this watch (and it may actually be a problematic thing about myself). In order to activate the FLIX system I am required to wrench my arm so hard I nearly dislocate it. It is painful, and takes way more effort than just pressing the Indiglo button. This doesn't bother me, because I didn't buy this watch with the intention to ever use FLIX, but it is somewhat frustrating that it is so hard to use. However, it is possible that my technique is flawed, and there is an easier movement that will activate it. But I don't really want to experiment; I like my arm in its current uninjured state.
In all, I am very satisfied with my purchase. I love everything it does, and the only 'negative' probably says more about me than it does about the watch. Considering my abhorrence of digital watches, I am surprised that I like this one so much. I don't plan to wear it any other time than while at work or working out, but for those times it is not only tolerable, but actually enjoyable.
I highly recommend this watch!
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Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2013
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