10 Reasons Dumb Watch Will Survive Apple Watch

[djrm]

It's 2015, who the ******* wants a watch that just tells the time? #bygoneyears

 

[mantan]

I don't think anyone thought dumb watches would die. But I think it would be foolish to think there won't be a dent in the market.

It's entirely possible to think that the sub $1,000 watch market, and certainly the sub $500 watch market will be on life support in the next 5-10 years.

I still think once we get used to a phone on our wrist, why would we go backwards to wearing a dumb watch?

I think a dent in the market is accurate. I was playing golf a couple of weeks ago and was paired with a regional sales rep for a traditional watch company. While I've been pretty skeptical about the Apple Watch, he was very doom and gloom about it's impact on an already difficult market.

He seemed down about how potential watch customers were going to flock to the Apple Watch, but seemed to be missing the point that a lot of these customers weren't traditional watch users in the first place.

I still think it's a niche product. It's trying to straddle the line between fashion and function and be a player in both worlds. From a fashion perspective, there will be those who think an Apple watch is an 'it' item, but it's not going to replace a traditional quality timepiece as something you buy, hold on to, pass down etc. And it's too expensive to fit in the have 6-8 watches to go with different looks/outfits that my wife and daughter are into. As one person on here put it, they don't see them as timepieces as much as bracelets with a clock on it.

Right now it's still a v1 product with some potential...but some glaring holes. For example, the lack of GPS unit is similar to the original iPad being released without a camera. While people will make minimize it in their excitement over a new product, it makes it very limited as a standalone
fitness tool.

It's not going to be the iPhone or iPad in that it becomes a ubiquitous item used by everyone from toddlers to seniors and everyone in the household has one....but it will be a successful product.

 

[McDaddio]

Dumb watches are already functionally obsolete.

Have been for a long time.

 

[0007776]

I don't think anyone thought dumb watches would die. But I think it would be foolish to think there won't be a dent in the market.

It's entirely possible to think that the sub $1,000 watch market, and certainly the sub $500 watch market will be on life support in the next 5-10 years.

I still think once we get used to a phone on our wrist, why would we go backwards to wearing a dumb watch?

If you look at a lot of the posts around here there are plenty of people who think smartwatches will kill real watches. I don't see it making much of a dent, I'd guess around 90% of apple watch buyers don't currently wear a watch.

 

[Arran]

It's 2015, who the ******* wants a watch that just tells the time? #bygoneyears

Plenty of people. More functionality comes at a price (and not just money) so the question becomes "Is it worth it? Do I need it?"

Either of these knives can be used to eat your dinner, for example, but which is more appropriate?

 

[djrm]

Plenty of people. More functionality comes at a price (and not just money) so the question becomes "Is it worth it? Do I need it?"

Either of these knives can be used to eat your dinner, for example, but which is more appropriate?

Rubbish analogy.