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phillymacuser

macrumors regular
Original poster
Dec 5, 2008
116
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Is it just me or is there something fundamentally wrong with buying a watch that cost over $400 that will undoubtedly be obsolete in 3-4 years? I keep thinking I want an Apple Watch but every watch I have spent that amount of money on I have been able to keep for at least 10 years or more and know that it is of relatively good quality. Any smart watch for that matter will be obsolete in a matter of years. I guess if the price point was around $150-$200 I could stomach the price more.
 
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Is it just me or is there something fundamentally wrong with buying a watch that cost over $400 that will undoubtedly be obsolete in 3-4 years? I keep thinking I want an Apple Watch but every watch I have spent that amount of money on I have been able to keep for at least 10 years or more and know that it is of relatively good quality. Any smart watch for that matter will be obsolete in a matter of years. I guess if the price point was around $150-$200 I could stomach the price more.

That’s how technology is. If you expect the Apple Watch to retain its value, it’s a disposable item, just like an iPad and iPhone are. I perceive the Apple Watch worth the cost depending how much use you actually achieve from it and how does it benefit you. For me, the Apple Watch is worth the price of admission for the stainless model, in terms of the health aspects and and conveniences me when I don’t have to have my iPhone tethered to me.

If you’re looking to save some money, then I would advise looking at a used Apple Watch Series one.
 
I think it's worth every every cent. I love this watch so much that I bought three series 3 watches because I always want to keep one on my wrist while one is charging. Plus, they are different cases so it's a different look with each watch.

Not only the above, but, it's gotten me to start walking daily since buying the first one back in early December. To me, the watches have already paid for themselves with the health benefits/improvements I have already seen.
 
That’s how technology is. If you expect the Apple Watch to retain its value, it’s a disposable item, just like an iPad and iPhone are. I perceive the Apple Watch worth the cost depending how much use you actually achieve from it and how does it benefit you. For me, the Apple Watch is worth the price of admission for the stainless model, in terms of the health aspects and and conveniences me when I don’t have to have my iPhone tethered to me.

If you’re looking to save some money, then I would advise looking at a used Apple Watch Series one.

Not looking for value, it’s not an investment. However I would like it to still be useable.
 
It's a bit true, but WTF?

It's probably good to at least be aware of this. I would imagine some people actually aren't entirely :D (which is pretty funny really)
 
Funny I saw this thread because I have been thinking about getting a new Apple Watch. I bought mine on April 10th 2015, (was a little more expensive than they are now) and I use it every day. It has replaced my other Seiko Watches, a couple of them were quite expensive and I haven't worn them since.

I agree it's not cheap, but if you want one break it down. If you use it for 3 years it's just over $11 a month. If that's too much I'd skip it or look at used or refurbs.
 
I’ve lost 25lbs in the 11 months I’ve had my Series 2. I’m more active, feel younger, and am far healthier. I haven’t spent one dime on a gym membership or a personal trainer. That alone is well worth the cost for me.

Plus, you can find a brand new Series 1 (which is still very capable and will be for the next couple of years) for around $230 U.S.
 
Yes, $400 for a smart watch that...

- has a clean design
- has consistent manufacturer support
- enjoys consistent OS updates to improve security and add features
- enjoys a robust ecosystem of developers and app distribution
- has tight integration with the phone's OS
- isn't the size of a friggin' brick
- comes with your choice of a wide variety of straps that are easier to swap than any other watch brand's straps
- can still easily use an even wider variety of third party straps
- wasn't left to die on the vine like so many Kickstarter/Indiegogo scams... I mean, "projects"

Oh yeah, you can pay less for a smartwatch if you want. But that's okay if you want one that sucks.
 
Is it just me or is there something fundamentally wrong with buying a watch that cost over $400 that will undoubtedly be obsolete in 3-4 years? I keep thinking I want an Apple Watch but every watch I have spent that amount of money on I have been able to keep for at least 10 years or more and know that it is of relatively good quality. Any smart watch for that matter will be obsolete in a matter of years. I guess if the price point was around $150-$200 I could stomach the price more.
And yet, you spend money on a smartphone that has the same background.
 
Think of it as a computer on your wrist that also tells time so you don’t have to wear your old watch. Computers get obsolete after 3 or 4 years as technology improves.

I have never worn a watch or computer while sleeping so I don’t mind putting it on the charger every night. Tap my night stand anywhere and the Apple Watch lights up to show the time. Unlike all of my old battery operated Seiko’s or others, the battery on my Apple Watch doesn’t die without warning and need to be replaced to work again.
 
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Funny I saw this thread because I have been thinking about getting a new Apple Watch. I bought mine on April 10th 2015, (was a little more expensive than they are now) and I use it every day. It has replaced my other Seiko Watches, a couple of them were quite expensive and I haven't worn them since.

I agree it's not cheap, but if you want one break it down. If you use it for 3 years it's just over $11 a month. If that's too much I'd skip it or look at used or refurbs.

You Make a valid point, the Apple Watch is not inexpensive, it’s rather expensive, especially the stainless model. But I always look at Apple products as a whole and what you’re receiving in terms of support, quality hardware and customer service. That all factors in to the price point where other manufacturers may fall short.
 
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Is it just me or is there something fundamentally wrong with buying a watch that cost over $400 that will undoubtedly be obsolete in 3-4 years?.....
Is it just me or is there something fundamentally wrong with buying a Starbucks coffee that cost over $4 most every day all year (over $1,000) that will undoubtedly be urine at the end of the day?
 
Funny I saw this thread because I have been thinking about getting a new Apple Watch. I bought mine on April 10th 2015, (was a little more expensive than they are now) and I use it every day. It has replaced my other Seiko Watches, a couple of them were quite expensive and I haven't worn them since.

I agree it's not cheap, but if you want one break it down. If you use it for 3 years it's just over $11 a month. If that's too much I'd skip it or look at used or refurbs.

$11
2 maybe 3 large coffess
2 maybe 3 beers at an establishment
a pizza
2 McDonalds 1/4 pounder meals
3 fancy waters from a secret spring packaged in a bottle containing BPA
A subscription to a cheap porn site.
 
It takes a while, but you first have to ‘unlearn’ all the stuff traditional watch manufacturers taught us for decades: Investment, inheritance, tradition, status, etc., etc.

And then you discover the Apple Watch is 1000 times more useful, functional and flexible than all that old handcrafted steel and gold ever was.

And then you work out what it costs to buy a cheap $1.75 coffee every day at work... for a year.

And then you get it.

Edit: ^ Funny. Three of us had the same idea at the same time.
 
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I'll never understand people who are horrified at the thought of spending a large amount of money on something that will last at least a year and then go on to spend a similar amount on a holiday that may last a week.
 
I originally laughed at the idea of spending $300 on an electronic watch that would be outdated in a few years and need constant charging.

My wife and I dropped our $80/mo gym membership we never used and got two Apple Watches. Wow is all I can say. We have exercised more in the last three months than we have in our entire lives. I don’t miss calls anymore and I use this thing every hour of the day. Sleep monitoring is amazing. Being able to run without my phone is great. I end the day at 70%+ so I could easily go days between charges. That said, I pop it on the charger during my shower after wearing it all day and night and it shows 100% by the time I’m done (10-15 min). So it’s never an inconvenience.

Now I can’t imagine life without an Apple Watch. Definitely one of the better investments my wife and I have made. The health benefits alone are worth every penny.
 
I’ve lost 25lbs in the 11 months I’ve had my Series 2. I’m more active, feel younger, and am far healthier. I haven’t spent one dime on a gym membership or a personal trainer. That alone is well worth the cost for me.

Plus, you can find a brand new Series 1 (which is still very capable and will be for the next couple of years) for around $230 U.S.

You could have achieved all of that without the Apple Watch also.
Anyone thanking the AW or any other device for health improvements seriously needs to take a look at their self-motivational issues.
 
You could have achieved all of that without the Apple Watch also.
Anyone thanking the AW or any other device for health improvements seriously needs to take a look at their self-motivational issues.


Oh Please, people have busy lives. Some of us work behind a computer screen all day and get into a project and before you know it you just spent 8+ hours without moving.
 
You could have achieved all of that without the Apple Watch also.
Anyone thanking the AW or any other device for health improvements seriously needs to take a look at their self-motivational issues.

I agree with this 100%. It's like the Rolodex that used to sit on everyone's desk. Well just those with memory issues.
 
You could have achieved all of that without the Apple Watch also.
Anyone thanking the AW or any other device for health improvements seriously needs to take a look at their self-motivational issues.

Hot water is nice but not necessary. Automatic clothes and dish washers are nice, but not necessary. Paper/Pen vs Computers. I realize your point but the little things can really add up and make a big difference. My mother in law in Peru has washed her clothes all her life by hand in the sink (continues to do so today) and laughs at the waste of automatic clothes washing. I realize it may be an apples/oranges comparison but having a constant reminder that you need to exercise and work out more can make a HUGE difference for someone who doesn't have an active lifestyle come as easily as others (like TheAppleFairy said - some of us live very busy lives - I spend 14+ hours behind a computer screen).

I would never pay for a gym trainer but I know a LOT of people who do. So I draw the line like you at a different place.
 
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You could have achieved all of that without the Apple Watch also.
Anyone thanking the AW or any other device for health improvements seriously needs to take a look at their self-motivational issues.

Well yes, people who have seen fitness gains since getting the watch could have achieved the same benefits without it. But there’s every chance they wouldn’t have.

Many of us benefit from a bit of extra encouragement and it doesn’t matter whether that comes from technology or friends and family or a personal trainer. It’s not a failing, it’s just human nature.
 
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