is the casio mrw200h discontinued?
In my last post, I said how a dive style watch is literally the absolute easiest way to have a quick timer on your person. I also mentioned that the low cost way of getting a watch with that rotating bezel timer is the Casio MRW200H.
Rumors have been going around that the MRW200H is discontinued. Does Casio has a replacement model? I believe they do.
A funny thing is that although I know how great a dive style watch is, I don't even own one. Another funny thing is that if my memory serves correctly, I very briefly owned the MRW200H, but just for one day, then returned it. I just didn't like the thing because it looked too toy-like.
However, the replacement for the MRW200H is something I like.
Enter the Casio MRW230H. Still the same low price as the maybe-outgoing MRW200H, but with a way better style to it.
I am certain it's the exact same movement the MRW200H has, just with a new look. Three colorways on this one. All three of these have a black bezel with black strap and it's the bezel that has the color changes. One is all black with white script (model MRW230H-1E1V), the second is red and blue with white script (model MRW230H-1E2V), and the third is all green with white script (model MRW230H-1E3V).
All three colorways look good, even for one with green bezel. And that's saying something, because ordinarily I can't stand any green color on a watch.
Size and dimensions of the MRW230H are almost identical to the MRW200H, save for that the 230 is slightly thicker. And I'm 100% certain it's because of the bezel redesign. Is that a deal-breaker? No, because it looks good. The weight of the 230 still comes in at under 40g, so it's far from anything heavy.
The only real drawback is 3 colorway choices of the 230 instead of the 7 colorways offered on the 200. However, again, all 3 colorways of the 230 look good. That's not the situation with the 200 because some are just ugly (like the green indices version MRW200H-3BV).
MRW230H just flat out has a better design overall and does not look toy-like.
The 230 may not be steel like the MDV106, but the redesign definitely makes it better than the 200.
I think (but am not sure) that Amazon is clearing out the inventory of what MRW200H models they have left. I don't like the MRW200H, but if you do, now is the time to get one new while you still can.
For me personally, I might pick up a MRW230H. It just looks great.
the best password is no password
The level of crap I have to go through these days just to be "secure" is all sorts of ridiculous, so much to the point where it gets in the way of trying to get simple things done.
For example, there are a few online accounts I have where I'm required to do this when I want to login:
- Go to site
- Click a "prove you're human" thing or solve a CAPTCHA puzzle
- Enter my username
- Enter my password
- Click a "prove you're human" CAPTCHA thing or solve a CAPTCHA puzzle AGAIN
- Enter a 6-digit code sent as a text message
- Enter another 6-digit code using an authenticator app
...and then I'm finally in? MAYBE. This is assuming I'm not prompted to "remember the browser" and/or "check recent activity" before finally getting into my account.
That's SEVEN TO NINE STEPS just to login to one account.
Is that the most ridiculous? No. There is a different thing that's more ridiculous, even though simpler to access.
If I want to do the dirt simple thing of starting a 15 minute timer on my Casio WS1600H watch, it takes literally only 3 button presses to do this. Mode, Mode, Start. I don't have to "wake up" the watch, nor enter a password, nor launch an app. Whenever I want to start a 15 minute timer, it's 3 button presses and the timer starts.
If I want to do the same dirt simple thing of starting a 15 minute timer using my phone, it is required to:
- Wake up the phone with a button press
- Authenticate myself
- Launch the Clock app and select the timer
- Set the timer
- Start the timer
The ridiculousness becomes obvious in that absolutely nobody should have to authenticate to a device just to start a stupid timer.
And just speaking of timers, there is in fact an even simpler timer...
...the dive watch.
Whether it's a cheap Casio MRW200H, Seiko Prospex, Citizen Promaster, a highfalutin Rolex Submariner, whatever, doesn't matter. You want a timer? Turn the bezel. NO button presses.
If for example I want a 10 minute timer, I move the bezel arrow to wherever the minute hand is. And that's it. Nothing more to set. The moment you move the bezel arrow to where the minute hand is pointing, the timer has started. When the minute hand reaches 10 on the bezel ring, 10 minutes have passed.
Is that the absolute easiest timer there is? I think so. The only reason I don't use it is because I like to hear beeps when a timer finishes.
A complicated authentication dance is required to get into pretty much any online account that contains your sensitive info in it. I don't like it, but understand the reasoning.
However, ANY authentication dance to do simple things is bad.
If I want to jot down a note, I use a memo pad and my favorite pen (I'm favoring Z-Grip retractable these days). If I need a timer, I use a watch. For navigation, I use a Garmin navigator like a DriveSmart 76. There are no logins, no passwords, no CAPTCHAs, no TOTPs, and no authentication dances for any of that stuff.
One more note about note taking: Yes, they're still trying to sell you on the idea of smart pens. I think the money is better spent on better pads, which pretty much means anything Moleskine. Nice pads, with nice soft covers, and dare I say they're luxurious? Still cheaper than anything for note taking that's "smart".
casio ae1500 might be the best big watch
About six-and-a-half years ago, I said I would never buy a big watch ever again. I just bought a big watch, the Casio AE1500. I'm glad I did, because this is big done right.
I want to make something very clear up front. This watch was not bought to "look tough", because I don't care about that at all. What I do care about is legibility, comfort and features, in that order.
I'll actually talk about legibility and features in a moment. First, comfort.
Comfort
As a man with wrists that are both skinny and flat, there are many watches I can't wear, but I can wear this one.
The on-paper dimensions of the AE1500, much like what I said about the W735H, make it appear that I absolutely cannot wear this thing. AE1500 dimensions are 54.4mm lug-to-lug, 51.2mm diameter, 15.7mm thick. Yeah, it's huge.
What makes the AE1500 work? A lot of it has to do with the lug design, as both sides take a very sharp downturn where the case ends and the lug begins.
Amazingly, it's a good fit and with no long strap tail.
For those of you out there who do have big wrists of 7" or greater, Casio covered that base with the long-strap version AE1500WHX. The X in the model name literally means it features an extra long strap. The regular AE1500WH has single strap holes and the AE1500WHX has a longer strap with double-holes. But even if you come across a listing that doesn't show a photo of the double-holes, if it states it's a WHX, it has the extra long strap.
Even as big as the AE1500 is, the weight is 57g, so it doesn't weigh down the wrist at all. And because the strap is wide, the case doesn't flop around on the wrist. The design of the AE1500 is just good and feels good.
Legibility
I do believe AE1500 is king of the hill for digital watch legibility.
A problem with other large-display digital watches with an LCD panel is that while the display is big, the digits are skinny. Skinny digits can "blur" when trying to look at them, even if your eyesight is good. The AE1500 does not have this problem. All characters on the AE1500 are both large and thick.
I'll follow up on this in a moment.
Features
I think for most people, the AE1500 has the just-right feature set to it. It certainly does for me.
The home screen shows weekday, day, date, and time all at once, and I appreciate NOT having to press a button to see all that. Just look at the display and there it is.
There is a countdown timer with auto-repeat. Very nice to have. Many other Casios have the timer but not the auto-repeat, but the AE1500 does.
Having a stopwatch is obviously good, such as for timing things while cooking in the kitchen. In fact, you can use the timer to count down something cooking and use the stopwatch to time something else cooking.
I do like that the watch has 5 separate alarms, each with the ability to set as daily, monthly or annual.
Middle age man legibility concerns
I do wear glasses, but in reality I can read any watch, even for the little AQ230 I have which is a very classy little timepiece.
But I have to admit that it's so nice having those big thick digits of the AE1500. It's even big enough to where most of the time using the night light (which is good) isn't even necessary to read the time and/or date in low light situations.
However, were it the situation that my eyesight was so bad that even the AE1500 didn't cut the mustard, that's when I'd switch over to analog, but only for a very specific type...
...which is Seiko Prospex, and I'll tell you exactly why. It's three reasons.
First, It's a no-number diver. Symbols only.
Second, the hour and minute hand are different shapes, depending on model. On several models, the hour is a wider stubby arrow and the minute a longer and slightly skinnier fence post style. This makes it very easy to differentiate one from the other, and that's important.
Third, the "turtle" case shape, which for a steel diver is as comfortable as it gets. This is a shape that works on all wrists, even for skinny flat ones like mine. You may have heard of watches that "wear smaller", and the turtle shape is one of them because it hugs the wrist correctly the first time, every time. This means even if the watch is listed as something huge like 45mm or 46mm, yes I could still wear it as long as that turtle case shape is there.
And of course I get the rotating bezel dive timer, which I would use in the kitchen for timing things while cooking. True, the Prospex doesn't beep because it's mechanical, but still, at least I get a timer out of it in additional to a clock.
The reason I mention all this stuff is that if the AE1500 doesn't work for something you can read normally, you have to go diver at that point. And it has to be the right diver. I give my nod to the Prospex because it's the steel diver most likely to agree with just about anybody, including myself.
Middle age man style concerns
The AE1500 is plastic and there's no getting around that. It will never look as cool as a steel Seiko Prospex diver. But it is a multi-function digital that has that just-right combo of all the features you wear one for in the first place, with a super-legible display.
Is the AE1500 an example of function over form? I'd argue no just from the fact Casio did keep a reserved style to it. Yeah, AE1500 is big but thankfully doesn't look goofy. It works.
Lastly, I should also note that if you like the AE1500 but prefer square, Casio covered that too with the AE1600. Exact same feature set in a more angular square-ish shape.
kleenex has the fugliest tissue box
This is the only tissue box design that has made me seriously consider buying a tissue cozy to get away from its ugliness.
Kleenex Ultra Soft is my favorite tissue because my nose likes it best. I have no complaint about the tissue itself. Just the box.
Some time ago, Kleenex changed the design of the box for Ultra Soft to have a decidedly loud tropical theme to it. The previous design had a much more normal look to it and was good, but this one isn't.
Ordinarily, I would never complain about something like this, because after all, it is just a box of tissues. However, I see this LOUD design every time I go in my bathroom, and it's annoying.
I'm sure the art on the box is designed to appeal to women. Maybe Kleenex ran some designs through a focus group, the group was all women, and they said yeah, we want that loud tropical design like you'd see in a cheap gift shop. So they ran with that.
I'm a middle aged dude, and the box isn't just ugly, it's fugly. Kleenex either needs to go back to the old design or come up with something not so damned LOUD.
I suppose box designs like what Kleenex uses are what keeps the tissue cozy market alive and well.
casio strap adapters for watches that are not g-shock
This used to be something only for G-SHOCK watches, but thanks to lovely people with 3D printers, they're now available for a whole bunch of regular Casio models.
The first strap adapter kit I remember was for the G-SHOCK DW5600E. Without question, the worst part of the watch is that polyurethane resin strap as denoted by PUR on the strap interior.
Being the DW5600E as an entry level G-SHOCK is so popular, and because a lot of people wanted to use a fabric strap (as in nylon), the strap adapter kit was born...
...but only for G-SHOCK watches.
Time passed, more people started getting their hands on 3D printers, and soon enough, strap adapters for regular Casio watch models began appearing. I believe the first was the strap adapter kit for the AE1200 since that is a very popular regular Casio model.
However, a search for casio strap adapter now brings up adapter kits for a whole bunch of different models. The G-SHOCK is included, of course, but so is the F-91W, W217H, F108WH, bigger models like the WS1500, AE1500, DW291H, and so on.
What I'm personally really happy about is that adapters now exist for the WS1600H. This watch is the same size as the AE1200 but way more legible. Big digits for time, date and day and great night light, all in a not-huge size. And since it's basically an AE1200 with a different module, strap adapters exist for it.
Which strap adapter type to get?
Good question, and I have a good answer.
Generally speaking, most strap adapter kits come in two types. Slip-through and band.
Slip-through has a slot on each adapter, meant for one-piece straps, as in NATO or Zulu style.
Band has protruding lugs on each adapter meant for two-piece straps or bracelets.
My favorite part...
...is that you can finally escape the skinny PUR straps Casio uses on so many of their lower cost watches.
For example, you could, if you wanted to, have a Casio F-91W with a 22mm strap. That would look all sorts of ridiculous, but the point is yes, you could do it (although it would be much more sensible and look much better to use 18mm for an F-91W).
Remember that fabric nylon straps do not taper. What that means is that the strap does not get skinnier as it approaches the buckle. The width is the same for the whole strap. Using the F-91W as an example, the stock strap tapers down to a very skinny 16mm, so if you switch over to adapters and use an 18mm NATO, believe me, much better. Gaining 2mm width on a strap may not sound like much, but it does make a noticeable positive difference.
And for larger watches, punching up to 22mm wide is oh-so nice.
You finally have access to the most comfortable watch strap that exists
The most comfortable strap for a watch is the stretchy elastic fabric band. These are primarily made for smartwatches, but guess what? With Casio strap adapters, you can use those straps on a Casio too.
This strap type alone can make a plain Casio digital your favorite watch. If the one thing keeping you from wearing a plain Casio is an uncomfortable stock PUR strap, switching to an elastic fabric type will finally make it comfortable to wear.
Tools needed?
Just one, and if you own a bunch of watches, you may already have it, a spring bar tool. You need that to get the spring bars out to install the strap adapter.
If you don't have one, my suggestion is to get a small watch repair kit. It will come with the spring bar tool, and most will throw in a small bag full of extra spring bars. And you might need that because if that bar goes flying across the room when taking it out, you'll never find it again. Good to have spares.
I should also note it's super cheap just to buy a 360-piece spring bar set if you just need the bars. Again, if you have a bunch of watches and switch out straps every so often, sometimes spring bars go flying and get lost forever. It's totally worth the 6 to 8 bucks to have extra bars.
Does Casio themselves make strap adapters?
Yes, but only for G-SHOCK models. And it's quite the production to even get them. You either have to buy a G-SHOCK that comes with a fabric strap to get the adapters, or have to find a Casio parts supplier that can actually get them for you.
For example, two G-SHOCK models with made-by-Casio adapters on them with a fabric strap are the GM2100C-5A and GM2100CB-3A. On either model, you'll see the strap adapters right there in plain sight.
You either get one of those models, or find an authorized Casio supplier that can put it an order for them. How much for official-from-Casio adapters? I have no idea, but it wouldn't surprise me at all if it ran you $35 or more ordering direct like that.
I only mention this information for Casio watch owners out there that like things to be "100% official". Some just like having everything to come from the original manufacturer.
I'm not so picky. I'm totally okay with third party strap adapters because they do the job, they're very affordable, and they allow me to use something far more comfortable than a stock Casio PUR strap. And I can have it on a regular models that aren't G-SHOCK.