Apple Watch

[MBP17•David]

As much as I like all things Apple, I'm with osxx on this one.

This is a watch:

This is a phone / gadget:

Not really interested in cross-breeding ;D

 

[John F]

You're right, nowadays $350 for a watch is nothing. You can always buy one of these beauties:

Rolex GMT‑Master I...
$6,450.00
Portero

Bell and Ross Aviation BR0192-CA-FIBER $7,900.00

Bell & Ross Aviation BR0192-CA-FIBER-PH $8,000.00

 

[fleurya]

You are absolutely correct - I haven't held it nor do I suggest that I am a watch expert (does it tell me the nice and looks nice? Great). That said, you can't assess a watch and neglect to test it. That would be like saying that a computer looks nice and recommending others to purchase it without having turned it on. It's shallow and superficial reporting at best.

But watches can be shallow and superficial things. Anything can really. Also, everything is judged not only on it's bare functionality, but also it's appearance and quality: even non-luxury cars like Toyotas. If they weren't we would all be driving around bland grey boxes.

And, as I mentioned twice already, this was only judged based on it's relative build and design quality, meaning he wasn't passing any judgement on functionality. You do it all the time whenever you see an ad for something. You've been intrigued by things based just on looks (like an attractive person walking down the street. Maybe it doesn't tell us the whole story, but at least it tells us whether or not it's worth more of our attention later.

I said nothing of its quality - it may very well be a well built watch. However, at $350, it hardly qualifies as "luxury" especially given the craftsmanship and cost of real luxury watches.

Ahem...

This is akin to equating a well built Toyota to a Ferrari and pretending that the AW is a Lambo. Luxury watches are just that - luxury. I'd hardly qualify any smartwatch as a luxury watch but that's an issue of semantics I suppose.

You implied your view of it's quality by equating it with a Toyota in a world of Ferraris. Also, you are implying that there is only one level of luxury, in both cars and watches. Lastly, this guy was not comparing it with the ultra luxury watches as you imply, he was only comparing it with watches in the same price range. So, whether you use Toyotas or Ferraris is irrelevant.

All he said, and I am repeating, is that from a build and design perspective, it is on par or above watches that cost $350. With the caveat that the internals could be junk for all he knows, but that qualification was disclosed.

I'm also skeptical of the Apple marketing machine which always positions their products as revolutionary, ground breaking and the best thing since the Big Bang (even when they often aren't). The watch reveal was a perfect example - I thought Cook was going to cry...revealing a watch.

Oh come on now, you're going to fault a business for embellishing in it's marketing to trying to sell it's product? Do you complain about every Burger King commercials that shows a Whopper that looks nothing like the actual sandwich? Or every photo on a box of food in your grocery store?

If you haven't yet learned that companies embellish in their advertising, then I feel for you. If you are choosing to rip on one company while blinding yourself to all others, then I'm annoyed by you.

 

[johnodd4]

The samsung watch and apple watch are the same thing you need a samsung galaxy to use the samsung watch same with the apple watch you need a iPhone all it is is a remote control that communicates wireless to bluetooth to the iPhone

thats it it reads the date and time from your iPhone it doesn't store music on the watch it just streams it from the phone to the watch.

it's basically a 350.00 remote control

 

[chas_m]

The samsung watch and apple watch are the same thing

This is possibly the most erroneous clause since Custer looked at the Indians and said "I think we can take 'em."

(yes I'm taking your statement completely out of context to make a joke.

I get what you are saying here, and you're largely correct. The Apple Watch, like the Gear watches, are front-ends that make certain phone functionality available (and in some cases more convenient) by allowing you to keep the phone in your pocket/bag/nearby. There are some limited things it can do without the phone (keep track of health data, make payments with Apple Pay in the case of the Apple Watch*, a few other things perhaps, but it is an augment to an existing device.

*Actually, an iPhone (5 or later) is still needed, but not an iPhone 6 necessarily.

But I think you oversimplify it a bit. A TV remote is a useless (without the TV) augment to an existing device, but it seems to me that it did rather well for itself. And over time it learned to do a few more tricks. It's hard to imagine using a TV now without one, isn't it?

 

[pigoo3]

Some folks obviously have bigger "Every Day" watch budgets than I do.

When I'm looking for an "Every Day" watch (not a "fancy outing" watch)…budgets like $350 & above don't even enter the picture. When I shop for an every-day watch…I'm talking a $20-$40 budget…usually for a Timex "Ironman" type watch (day, date, time, alarms, stop watch).

This is not to say I wouldn't "spring" the $350+ for the Apple Watch (maybe). I just wouldn't be looking at it as an "every-day" watch. But a special "gizmo" I wear on my wrist (much more than a watch).

- Nick

 

[Slydude]

Some folks obviously have bigger "Every Day" watch budgets than I do.

When I'm looking for an "Every Day" watch (not a "fancy outing" watch)…budgets like $350 & above don't even enter the picture. When I shop for an every-day watch…I'm talking a $20-$40 budget…usually for a Timex "Ironman" type watch (day, date, time, alarms, stop watch).

This is not to say I wouldn't "spring" the $350+ for the Apple Watch (maybe). I just wouldn't be looking at it as an "every-day" watch. But a special "gizmo" I wear on my wrist (much more than a watch).

- Nick

Same here. It's been a while since I wore a watch on a regular basis. Saw the keynote earlier this Summer but didn't see a compelling reason to buy this gadget. It makes much more sense for me to either upgrade my iPhone 4 or save up for a new Mac.

Of course, I'm always game if someone wants to contribute tot he new gear fund.

 

[pigoo3]

It makes much more sense for me to either upgrade my iPhone 4 or save up for a new Mac.

This would be my difficulty too. That Apple Watch money could go towards partially paying for another computer (50+% for a Mac-Mini), ram upgrade, SSD, monitor, etc.

Gotta wait & see more info on the Apple Watch to get a better idea what it can do.

Decisions...decisions!

- Nick

 

[chas_m]

Like all Apple products, it is simply not aimed at EVERYONE. This is exactly what I *like* about Apple.

The Apple Watch would appear to appeal mostly to people who rely heavily on their iPhone for the management of their day-to-day lives, and would like to stop taking the iPhone out of their pocket/bag so much. Oh, and it's an advanced fitness band. Oh, and it does payments.

Am I that sort of person who would appreciate and utilize the value this offers to make it worth the money? Don't know really -- though I'm kind of enjoying having to ask myself that. I'll figure that out when it's actually available for me to test. I am kind of a sucker for devices that make me feel like I'm living in the future, but I'm also frugal enough not to buy everything that has a "gee whiz" factor to it.

 

[Slydude]

If I buy one at all it will likely be in the second or third iteration. That's usually the case for me due to budget constraints.

The other reason I often get in on the third or forth iteration is just the nature of technology. Sometimes I don't see an immediate reason to get a device other than the "gee whiz" factor. Then, after folks have used it for a while, I notice a use that I had never really considered.

 

[pigoo3]

I totally forgot. I could certainly use that same $350+ "Apple Watch" money...for an iPad upgrade! I'm still using an iPad 1...and I've been "shopping" Craig's List for a newer model.

But then again...who knows...there's always the "gee-whiz" factor of a new device.

- Nick

 

[chas_m]

If Apple's biggest problem in selling the Apple Watch is that the company sells too many other cool devices we want more than the Watch, I'd say that's a pretty nice problem to have.

 

[fleurya]

I've been checking out some of the Apple Watch vs Android Wear articles, and it's interesting to see what's going on at apple and Google through these new devices.

As a lot of articles point out, it's as if Google and Apple both did a 180 in terms of device control and purpose. While Apple has typically been one to lock down the style and keep things clean and simple, with the Watch they are making it very customizable and immediately granting devs the ability to make some rich interactive Watch apps. Even the physical part of the watch is very customizable with sizes, finishes and bands. Also, giving the ability to provide a lot of information on a single screen at a glance. Despite saying they didn't just want shrunken down iOS, in a way Apple is gearing their watch more towards being at least a little bit of an independent device with its own apps.

Meanwhile with Google, they have typically made their OS very customizable by both manufactures and users, and gave the ability to do a lot of tinkering. With Android Wear they have totally locked down the OS: no manufacturer skinning and the third party "apps" are little more than providing the Phone app makers the ability to create a means of pushing notifications to the Wear watch. And the screens are kept very simple: usually just one piece of information at a time. And the way Android has the OS locked down, other than a few things like Maps and directions, it is little more than a mere notification extension and wireless mic for voice commands to the phone.

But what is really interesting is to read the comments of those articles. The Android community (or fanboys more likely) seems to be ripping Apple for making the Watch "too busy" and putting on too much information (an argument usually leveled against Android home screens with all the widgets and junk you can put on it). Meanwhile they are praising Google for keeping Wear very simple and clean, which they usually rip on iOS for and calling it dumbed down and childish.

It's just funny to see people lobbing insults around for things they used to praise and vice versa. I would agree that the Watch interface is a bit busy in some options, but like Android users always argue, at least you have the option, and you can make it simple if you want. You can have a watch face with the weather, moon phase, and stock ticker, but you don't have to. Just like with an Android phone screen. You can have tons of widgets or just a grid of icons. Though I do think the Apple watch aesthetically looks better both in the exterior and OS finish. Wear watches for the most part lock like plastic prototypes. Apple Watch seems more graceful and reminds me of a watch more. I do love the look of the Moto 360 very much, but in the end I know this is not just a watch, that a square screen is superior for content viewing.

Anyway, it's fun to watch all the changes and the fanboys get in a frenzy over them. I just grab some popcorn and enjoy the show!

 

[canadiantowman]

When I look for an every day watch, I think when it breaks or when I lose it how much am I willing to lose. I would be considering the sport one but not for $350 maybe $200 the most. The wife and I are both waiting for it to come out but come on this is worse then waiting for christmas, I need something like this now.

 

[Luther Mac]

Actually, almost no Apple products are on a "yearly refresh cycle." Only the iPhone, iPad (and that's probably about to change) and the iOS/OS X platforms. Everything else is on a "when it's ready" cycle that varies. (Ask any Mac Pro owner!)

I acknowledge that the "yearly refresh" products are their biggest sellers, but the statement is still inaccurate. Have no idea about how often the iPhone Watch will be refreshed, it might go either way.




Perhaps you are not looking at it from the correct perspective. Consider someone who relies heavily on their iPhone, but also wears a $500 timepiece (and that's considered "low end" in luxury watches). They might find the Apple Watch to be a steal.

Here's another perspective: For me, I'm not a wristwatch wearer, nor am I excited by the price of the Apple Watch. I am *amazed* by the engineering however. I was thinking about buying a top-of-the-line fitness band, one of the really good ones not a POS cheapie.

Oh look, guess what? The best one available costs $150-$200 and doesn't do a fraction of what the Apple Watch does. That $350 still looks steep, but not as steep as it did a minute ago.

It's really all a matter of how you look at it, I think. I'm not in the market at the moment, but I'm certainly open-minded enough to actually wait till I can *try one* before I make a judgement on its worth to me personally. I suspect the Apple Watch will do very well among people who wear watches (more than you might expect, I've been noticing this for the first time in the last day or so), but the key to the device will be if they can persuade people like me who don't wear watches to consider changing that habit.

I didn't expect fitness bands to do NEARLY as well as they did for the same reasons I listed above ... I don't need to pay $100 or so for a thing to nag me to walk more. But you know what? I was wrong about that. Being open-minded is fun!*

*if a little expensive ...

I wear a $3000 watch. It tells time. And does so poorly at that. Been a piece of junk Ive had to send back to Switzerland on multiple occasions.

I'll never buy another fancy watch again. I'll be buying Chinese knockoffs that look like the expensive watches, that I wont care if I break, and I can replace yearly.

$350 for the base model Apple Watch? Sorry but it wont do anything that my iPhone doesnt do. I cant see why I would wear a AW. Cause if there is one thing Ive learned, is that watches break. It's what they do, no matter the retail price.

 

[TattooedMac]

If my mates saw me wearing a Apple Watch, they would take that Salmon and slap me a few times around the head. Serious. AW, Android Watch, Google Glass, are gimmicks at the moment. I think Apple can, and I'm betting they know they can, make a better looking and functioning watch. Remember the iPad Mini same specs as the iPad 1, then they bring out something worthy of the iPhone 5, wait until next time around, 2016 and ill take a look then.

 

[Luther Mac]

If my mates saw me wearing a Apple Watch, they would take that Salmon and slap me a few times around the head. Serious. AW, Android Watch, Google Glass, are gimmicks at the moment. I think Apple can, and I'm betting they know they can, make a better looking and functioning watch. Remember the iPad Mini same specs as the iPad 1, then they bring out something worthy of the iPhone 5, wait until next time around, 2016 and ill take a look then.

Im with you on this one for sure.

Maybe Apple is hoping the developers can be creative and find a way to develop apps that are outside the box thinking and thus create a use for these devices.

That's their only hope IMO, cause to me a "smart" watch seems redundant/useless.

 

[howieho]

I think what makes the Apple Watch or any Smartwatch ahead of their time, or more accurately, not ready yet for mass adoption is the battery issue. I think people would be more accepting of it if it didn't require a regular charge. Ideally, it should have a 6 month or longer battery life or a mechanical, automatic ability to generate power or even a solar charging feature.

If you could wear it like a watch without having to think about it, you would wear it like a regular watch and then slowly discover its greater capabilities as the opportunities arise. As it is, I think a lot of early adopters will eventually get bored of having to remember to charge it every night and stop using it.

 

[MacbookWilis]

when I saw it in the keynote I actually liked the design like all things apple they all go for that premium look, yes it is a bit pricey but so are many watches that only tell time that are designer watches. One thing thats a nice feature is that it has nfc so many of us that aren't planning on buying an iPhone 6 o 6 plus can use apple pay with the watch with our 5's o 5S's. I would be buying one on day one of release but here in Mexico its gonna take a lot longer to get here and is probably going to be even more expensive. The iPhone 6 and 6 plus are finally going to sell here on Friday for a little over a hundred bucks more :S

 

[Delorean88]

Apple watches shipping? Anyone else get one of these? Found this in another forum.

Delorean88