New Casio F-B100W – Upgrade to the iconic F-91W after 40 years
Casio has updated its iconic F-91W after 40 years with the new F-B100W, introducing a step tracker and Bluetooth while aiming for a 2-year battery life. Hacker News dives into the technical implications of these smart features, debating their utility and impact on the watch's classic simplicity. The discussion also revisits the original's unexpected past and vibrant modding scene.
The Lowdown
Casio has unveiled the F-B100W, an updated version of their legendary F-91W digital watch, 40 years after its original release. This new model aims to blend its iconic minimalist design with modern features, notably a step counter and Bluetooth connectivity, while still promising robust battery life.
- The F-B100W integrates a step counter and Bluetooth for syncing data, a significant departure from the original's basic functionality.
- It boasts an advertised battery life of 2 years on a CR2016 battery, despite the inclusion of new "smart" features.
- The physical dimensions of the F-B100W are slightly larger than the classic F-91W.
- The new watch's features and design draw comparisons to Casio's existing ABL-100WE model.
This release sparks interest in how Casio is evolving its most beloved, budget-friendly timepieces for contemporary users without losing their retro appeal or dramatically compromising on traditional watch strengths like battery longevity.
The Gossip
Smart Specs Scrutiny
Commenters are divided on the introduction of "smart" features like step tracking and Bluetooth. Some appreciate the basic health monitoring without the complexity of a full smartwatch, particularly for those intimidated by more advanced devices. Others lament the loss of simplicity, questioning the necessity of Bluetooth and fearing feature bloat on a traditionally "dumb" watch.
Battery & Backlight Balance
A primary concern for many is how the new features will impact the legendary battery life of Casio watches. While the advertised two-year life is noted as "not bad," some express skepticism about maintaining this with continuous step tracking and Bluetooth use. The discussion also touches on the quality of the backlight, a long-standing point of contention for F-91W users, with hopes for improvement in the new model.
Classic's Controversial Connections & Customizations
The discussion takes a surprising turn, recalling the F-91W's dark association with terrorism, where merely owning one was cited as evidence in Guantanamo Bay. This contrasts sharply with the vibrant community of enthusiasts who actively mod the F-91W, developing custom PCBs and open-source APIs to add "smart" functionality, highlighting its unexpected versatility beyond its original design.