D or E

[MarkW]

I just received an offer to purchase my model C and I'm ready to upgrade. Is the consensus that the E is better than the D even if you get the D with the PM4?

Thanks

Mark W

[johnlvs2run]

I just got a model D pm3 and am very happy with them.

Comments have been that the model E pm4 are designed for racing venues, or those who are not able to sit down very far on the erg.

[Citroen]

D with PM4 is more like your model C.

E is too high off the ground, has a rigid monitor arm (collect enough model E's and you could build a full size model of the Golden Gate Bridge) and it's more money.

[loyal2msu]

I was asking this very question myself a little over a week ago... yesterday my Model E arrived! In my case the decision was based in part on where I plan on using the erg, which is in my garage. Since the garage is not as clean or neat as it could be, I thought being further off the floor as probably a good thing. If I were using it in a room inside my house (and thus storing it there too) I would have gone with the Model D. I did decide to pony up the extra model for the PM4 over the PM3 in case the "future enhancements" are worthwhile.

Whichever decision you make, it will likely be correct.

Oh, and BTW, the wife says I have to wait until Xmas to open the box...

[MarkW]

Thanks for the replies - your input has helped a lot - I am leaning toward the D with the PM4.

MarkW

[Stonewaly]

I say go for it. I chose the D/PM4 (see http://www.c2forum.com/viewtopic.php?t=5039) back in October, and have quite simply become addicted to erging in my 450K rowed since then. It's a professional quality machine, and w/ this forum, the challenges, health benefits (lost 10lbs so far), online logging, interactive training programs (see http://www.concept2.co.uk), etc. you'll never run out of new workouts/goals to try. In addition, there's the US/international competition circuit to keep you busy should you decide to go that route.

Take the plunge if your commitment to the exercise is serious ... you definitely won't regret it.

[rah]

I got a Model E a month ago or so. I'm tall, and, um, large (I was 418 lbs a couple of months ago, but getting smaller...), and the Model E is closer to me than it is to the floor, 'nuf said.

No problems with the PM4 that an automatic over-the-net firmware upgrade -- and not poking it with a stick down the USB wire during a kernal panic on my Mac :-) -- didn't fix.

I swung for the fences and bought everything I could think of. I got the card reader, no problems with that (you need to reboot your Mac after the install, if you're using one; C2 might want to consider making that manditory on the .dmg's installer package), the csv output shows up fine in Excel, etc.

I've also got slides, but I haven't started using them yet, creep, crawl, walk, run. Probably do that after the next three scheduled single "long"-row sessions (I'm rowing a whole 30 minutes tomorrow, so says the British site's weight-loss calculator; wish me luck). I've got a chronically bad back (but getting more limber now :-)) and a post-scope-surgery knee (much better, thank you), so I figure that I'll need to use the slides soon enough. I row in my socks with no straps as it is to try to keep my form clean.

[johnlvs2run]

Regarding the pm3 vs 4, the main differences are that the pm4:

1) supports wireless racing;
2) has double the memory thus room for expansion;
3) has a rechargeable battery pack;
4) costs $150 more.

To each their own if these things are worth it to you. For me, the expanded memory would have been nice but not for the price.

I prefer to use a cord and to NOT have wireness. There are far too many harmful microwaves in the air already and people dying from brain tumors, needless medical radiation etc so I am staying away from such things. However I have likewise never used a cell phone or cordless and understand most people are not concerned about any harm that would come from such things. The battery pack would have been a neutral item to me at this point.

These things being said, it looks like there are options for anyone.