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Most people do not want a smartwatch (or don't know they want one). It is pretty much the nerdiest thing out there. To make it accepted and desired, you must make it fashionable, classic, and simple: hence the shape and band styles.

It can't be too cheap, or it will not reach the right demographics and will be seen as disposable. It can't be too expensive, or no one will buy it. It has to have different lines, but the same functionality so that no one will feel gyped. People expect to pay more for gold watches; at that point, it is jewelry, as most nice watches are anyways. Thus, Apple has three lines, with the same function, but clearly visible how much they cost. But, they all look nice and none are cheap.
And yes, the gold one costs as much as real gold watch. Whether its worth it is another topic (in my opinion, hell no).

The only way you will get the public to wear a smart watch AND buy one (since so few people wear watches) is to make it fashionable and desirable to have one. How do you do this? Give it to celebrities and fashion leaders. Make a halo model that is super blingy for mega stars to wear.

The gold apple watch is not meant to be a mass market model. It could have been gold plated; but its not, its solid. Do they care if rich people buy it? Probably not that much. But they care if rich people WEAR it. Which they will. Whether on loan, gifted, or purchased.

You can't buy advertising equal to Jay Z, Kanye, Karl Lagerfield, any celebrity etc wearing an Apple watch. And the easiest way to get them to wear it or buy it is to have a rare, super expensive model.
 
Maybe Apple can spin off the actual "computer" division into its own entity. I'd feel much better about that. Apple is starting to get its hands into everything, and will end up not doing any one thing particularly to its best end. I find myself getting less and less excited about each new piece of Apple news. I don't know if that's just me.

I'm all in with them as long as they make great computers. The minute I feel shortchanged in that department, I'll have to rethink my devotion to all things Apple.

That would be DUMB, integration of all the components together is what makes Apple ENTRENCHED... You know, ecosystem, holistic experience... Good grief!
 
I'm amazed the weight of that watch and band hasn't toppled that decrepit old skeleton.
 
I guess I'll never understand the fashion world. Seems like a huge waste of money and time. I mean the guy makes dresses that cost what?... tens of thousands of dollars? For what? Clothes? Really?

He's at the head of big fashions houses Chanel and Fendi, not everything they sell is 10K, though most of it is quite expensive. Strangely enough, he's been more influential in his later years, past 50, than when he was younger.

High fashion eventually trickles down into ready to wear; were regular folks like little gal me can pây $200-800 dollars for a decent quality dress (sometimes on sale ;-).

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I have to admit Apple is really pushing on this product. More than any other device I've seen them sell over the past few decades.

The way they've got celebrities to wear this watch, invited all those fashion people to the launch and actually had them turn up, them doing one off pieces like this.

No one else has done this with their watches. Not Motorola, LG or Samsung. And it shows how Apple really thought it through. This product is not being marketed as a computerised watch. It's being sold more as fashion accessory like any other nicely designed watch.

It's incredibly savvy what they are doing and although I don't intend to purchase one I am really impressed by just how much of the fashion media they've sold on this product.

More than a commercial during the super bowl... You can't get more pushed than that :). So, I'm guessing Jobs would be all for it :). Yes, they have to transcend the geek factor that has prevented these things from actually selling. Ironically, this will help all the others sell too; Apple should get a cut of their future profits.
 
That would be DUMB, integration of all the components together is what makes Apple ENTRENCHED... You know, ecosystem, holistic experience... Good grief!

Sorry. Don't want gloves with my MBP. Apple wants to be a fashion company I'll be looking more and more to other options down the road.
 
I don't think there's a "geek" or "nerd factor" to the smartwatch, at least no more than it was for a smartphone when Apple released the first iPhone. And iPhone became a huge success without gold editions.

They push watch because it's not yet that useful. When it will be packed with health-related sensors and let you control your state and health in realtime then it'll be the next big thing. But they need to get to that point first.

If it was packed with really smart and innovative features then there would be no need to make it gold and gift it to the left and right. Good product placement in something like the upcoming Bond movie would be a smart thing and a huge advertisement for Apple watch. But sadly it won't happen, the product in its current state is not of that level.
 
They might not have mithril but if you fall off a boat I bet the Milanese band will prevent a shark from biting your wrist :p

You're right—great protection for those baby sharks who take very small bites! You've got me thinking now… How long I wonder before a developer comes out with a shark-repellant app? You know, one that emits a certain frequency that sounds like teeth running down a metal hull to a shark? Could be the 'killer app' the watch is looking for! ;)
 
I'm finding more and more as I get older I want to be bothered by people much less. I don't want a buzzing watch on my wrist, and I set my iPhone to DO NOT DISTURB. I'm obviously not the market for this glove, I mean watch.
 
I don't think there's a "geek" or "nerd factor" to the smartwatch, at least no more than it was for a smartphone when Apple released the first iPhone. And iPhone became a huge success without gold editions.

They push watch because it's not yet that useful. When it will be packed with health-related sensors and let you control your state and health in realtime then it'll be the next big thing. But they need to get to that point first.

If it was packed with really smart and innovative features then there would be no need to make it gold and gift it to the left and right. Good product placement in something like the upcoming Bond movie would be a smart thing and a huge advertisement for Apple watch. But sadly it won't happen, the product in its current state is not of that level.

They gift laptops left and right RIGHT NOW, and they're not made of gold, or you really think all those movies and series actually buy those Apple laptops... This is no different. In this case, Lagerfield is actually someone Apple would have relationship with in co-selling, marketing their product, that's a pretty big incentive to give it to him.

Someone like Turlington, which is both a high fashion Icon involved in Yoga and fitness, and who founded a very high profile charity about Maternal health (which got her named as one of the Women of the year last year), is perfectly in tune with the image and value Apple wants to convey.

They didn't give these watches at random to hundreds of artists. Seems they chose their pre-launch targets quite deliberately.

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Sorry. Don't want gloves with my MBP. Apple wants to be a fashion company I'll be looking more and more to other options down the road.

Fashion/design/art go hand in hand, that you actually think they don't go together means you probably haven't been paying attention.
 
He's at the head of big fashions houses Chanel and Fendi, not everything they sell is 10K, though most of it is quite expensive. Strangely enough, he's been more influential in his later years, past 50, than when he was younger.

High fashion eventually trickles down into ready to wear; were regular folks like little gal me can pây $200-800 dollars for a decent quality dress (sometimes on sale ;-)

You'll spend $800 on something that doesn't even get wifi? Crazy.:rolleyes:
 
I agree with you 100% To me Apple is now trying to sell envy... They seem to have lost their mission statement along the way somewhere.



Nicely stated and I feel the same way.

And IDGAF what others do with their money - it just seems to me Apple is on a money grab for reasons unknown to me.

Apple is pricing their products higher and higher and giving less and less. The Mac pricing for what you actually get is laughable. As far as the iPhone goes, I have the 6 and I realize there are phones that do more, but for me personally it doesn't take much in the way of a phone to keep me happy as long as it can do what I need it to do and do it well I'm good. Their other products are starting to slip. Pretty soon apple products will only be purchased by the super elite. They are pricing their products out of the reach of the average person. I have a 3 year old macbook pro and am looking to replace it with a PC. They are not delivering, their software is really starting to suck. I've noticed a lot of bugs since SJ took the trip "home". Apple better get it together.
 
Sorry. Don't want gloves with my MBP. Apple wants to be a fashion company I'll be looking more and more to other options down the road.

They are just intelligently marketing one of their products, namely the Apple Watch, which as a watch is as much of a device as it is a fashion accessory (as it has been historically).

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You'll spend $800 on something that doesn't even get wifi? Crazy.:rolleyes:

Jewelry hasn't gotten wifi ever and has been expensive for ages. Furniture doesn't get wifi and costs a lot. What is this wifi silliness?
 
Ugh.

New product whose utility function is still up for significant debate.

The next new product Apple comes out with must be of the impact of the iPhone. After this announcement, and the release of a product that so many view as somewhat unnecessary, the pressure is on to deliver something that will appeal to the masses. Otherwise, Apple should be viewed as a company that is trying to manipulate loyal customers for the purpose of more profit.

The next one has to be a home run, because I have a feeling this one is not the next "thing." They will sell, at least in the beginning, because all Apple products do.. But sales will still be disappointing.

Anyone else find it odd, by the way, that a company whose motto seemed to be to "think different," which included an advertisement containing the likes of Albert Einstein and Bob Dylan is now releasing a product in a way that is entirely symmetrical with mainstream commercialism so prevelant these days? Overpriced designer fashion houses? Vogue magazine? Gold watches, iPhones, MacBooks? All symbols of the "elite."

I don't get any of it, except the continued chase of the almighty dollar.. Maybe.

Apple could presell 10 million watches and naysayers would still say sales will be disappointing.
 
To someone that would essentially be advertising it just by having it and using it and being seen with it and using it in their work. Seems like a rather good business strategy that has worked in many different markets for many different products for many years.

Or

They could've just let him buy one on his own and get free advertisement like they will from everybody else wearing one.
 
Or

They could've just let him buy one on his own and get free advertisement like they will from everybody else wearing one.

Not quite how that side of marketing works (and has been for ages).
 
$25,000 for a smartwatch that will be obsolete in 2-3 years time.

But seriously, what are people going to do with their $17,000 Apple Watch when the hardware no longer supports the software much like iPhone? Buy a new one in 2018 for another $17,000?
 
$25,000 for a smartwatch that will be obsolete in 2-3 years time.

But seriously, what are people going to do with their $17,000 Apple Watch when the hardware no longer supports the software much like iPhone? Buy a new one in 2018 for another $17,000?
It'll still run what it ships with and any updates that it gets and continue working and will still be a fashion accessory. But as it goes with devices and fashion accessories people do end up getting new ones (and with fashion it happens even more frequently than with devices, even in this fast moving ecosystem). Nothing new or strange about it.
 
Id rather have this.
 

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