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Apple Watch Launches April 24, Price Ranges From $349 to Over $10,000
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Honestly i never bet against apple but for the first time ever i think this might be the first product they've made in a long time that absolutely bombs.
Read more carefully. iPod, not iPad. My point is that $349 is not a lot of money for a gadget that does stuff, considering what people spent on iPods for a decade. And I don't recall ever sharing an iPod.
I laugh at the justification of the prices by comparing these things to a Rolex. A high price tag does not a Rolex make. A Timex has more "watch craftsmanship" than this thing. (Let that sink in.)
I can understand the Sport pricing. Hell, I might even buy one to see what all the hype is about. But even the rich man is certifiably insane if he drops $10k+ on one of these watches. As a matter of fact, I'll sell the first man who buys one of these things a pair of gold socks for the peasant sum of $500.
I can understand the Sport pricing. Hell, I might even buy one to see what all the hype is about. But even the rich man is certifiably insane if he drops $10k+ on one of these watches. As a matter of fact, I'll sell the first man who buys one of these things a pair of gold socks for the peasant sum of $500.
True, but at the time people were saying "Why do I need an iPad, I already have a computer." We know how that turned out.
At least those watches don't become obsolete as fast as this watch will. And most luxury watches like PP, AP, and Rolex retain a good chunk their value used.
A very large chunk of the price on theWatch model is in the bracelet. As long as the bracelet is going to be compatible with any future version of the watch then I can justify the price. I hope at these prices this isn't something Apple plans on updating every year. I'd be much more comfortable with these prices knowing my watch is going to be the top-of-the-line, at least from Apple, for several years to come.
And forgive me if someone else has already asked/answered this, but are the bracelets interchangeable with the other models of watch? So could I use the link bracelet with the
You should know Apple by now. Backwards Compatibility is not one of their strong points.
Vast majority of high end luxury watches don't even use a battery lol. Some you even have to wind by hand!
And that's really the key point. I was never considering the gold watch, and fully expected an $8k+ price for it, but I would happily plop down $699 on the stainless steel watch with leather band if I could expect it to have the same lifespan as my current mid-range watch.
This is a first-gen tech product in a market where rapid obsolescence is the order of the day, though. To me, this looks like a fairly typical first-gen pricing scheme from Apple where they'll extract as much money as they can from those who would be buying the watch at any price, and then we'll see some price drops later in the generation, or a more reasonably-priced second generation product.
If a Macbook is one of the best investments you can make in tech (from the perspective of its relatively low rate of depreciation), the Apple Watch looks to be one of the worst. That stands in sharp contrast to most mid and high-end mechanical watches as well.
To be clear, I don't think the Apple Watch will completely bomb. I do think Apple may have miscalculated much of their base, however, and priced the stainless steel versions too high by $150-200. As long as the underlying product is enjoyable to use, though, the price issue can be fixed if initial consumer uptake proves tepid.
But this is a mass produced commodity, nothing upscale nor handmade craftmanship about it.
I find it amusing that so many people are going after those with sticker shock. Saying that watches are/can be/should be luxury items. That's fine. But Apple has always been a premium for functionally company. So yes, this is a bit out of the ordinary. I think it's fair that folks are concerned
The problem is that unlike a designer fashion watch which will stay a designer fashion watch for years, this one has to be replaced likely within a 5 year time frame. I am thinking about the aluminum but even that, I just don't think it's worth the cost.
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This is true although they don't have a stronger brand than proper watch makers when it comes to watches.
ehhhh
17 hour battery is crap and it can't do anything more than a Moto 360. Idk I'm not impressed at all.
17 hour battery is crap and it can't do anything more than a Moto 360. Idk I'm not impressed at all.
Release date is a joke. I've been waiting long freaking enough Apple. 6 months and still a no-show to be able to buy. Heck I might as well buy an Android Wear watch or a Pebble Time, because those will probably be in my hands before the Apple Watch will be!
Yeah. But I also don't feel bad for the morons about to spend $1,000+ on a soon-to-be-obsoleted first gen model. Good luck with that.
So, not having been able to watch the keynote, I assume at the time of set up, you can select if you want the watch in "left-hand" mode, correct?
You upgrade your Watch for $500. They've flipped the traditional higher end watch model.
The watch is disposable (as technology will always be), but the band is forever.
The ss price with a bracelet is laughable. That price can get you a vintage omega or even Rolex if you find the right deal.
These "watches" are really glorified Casio watches. No respectable person is going to be wearing these and expect to be taken seriously. Especially at that price.
So, I can pay as much for a watch that does the same things as my phone for as much as I paid for my phone. Or I can pay as little for a watch as I paid for my phone on a two year contract.
Either way, this device will likely be obsolete in three years or at the very least, on it's last legs.
I think by putting this device in a pricing category that rivals their cheapest iPads and iPod Touches, Apple is really taking a gamble with their audience. Usually you tend to see a correlation between price and functionality. The fact that this device is a glorified piece of jewelry WITHOUT a phone attached makes one wonder exactly what you're paying for.
The decision to treat a smartwatch like fine jewelry is a mistake. It's not as if the design of the Apple Watch looks any better than a shrunken first gen iPhone. It's roundish and rectangular and thick. This isn't earth shattering.
Apple would have been better off going first gen with just the aluminum case and a modest set of band options. Get people to use the thing and make it a part of their lives. Establish the market and then, in future generations, give them the greater options when it has proven it's worth.
As it is, I don't see why anyone would buy something besides the Sport which isn't that good looking. It certainly won't make anyone who doesn't like to wear watches suddenly want to strap the thing on every morning.
Oh, and funny that we can "finally talk a call on our watches!" I'm mostly Apple but Samsung did that two years ago.
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Until Apple changes the charger, er, I mean, band connection.
Either way, this device will likely be obsolete in three years or at the very least, on it's last legs.
I think by putting this device in a pricing category that rivals their cheapest iPads and iPod Touches, Apple is really taking a gamble with their audience. Usually you tend to see a correlation between price and functionality. The fact that this device is a glorified piece of jewelry WITHOUT a phone attached makes one wonder exactly what you're paying for.
The decision to treat a smartwatch like fine jewelry is a mistake. It's not as if the design of the Apple Watch looks any better than a shrunken first gen iPhone. It's roundish and rectangular and thick. This isn't earth shattering.
Apple would have been better off going first gen with just the aluminum case and a modest set of band options. Get people to use the thing and make it a part of their lives. Establish the market and then, in future generations, give them the greater options when it has proven it's worth.
As it is, I don't see why anyone would buy something besides the Sport which isn't that good looking. It certainly won't make anyone who doesn't like to wear watches suddenly want to strap the thing on every morning.
Oh, and funny that we can "finally talk a call on our watches!" I'm mostly Apple but Samsung did that two years ago.
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Until Apple changes the charger, er, I mean, band connection.
I couldn't agree more with Motawa! The prices for the bands are outrageous! I planned to get the Space Grey Sport
Watch and get necer bands for the work day. After seeing these prices, I've some to realize iMac, Macbook Air, iPad Air and iPhone 6 are the only Apple products I'll have. So VERY sad! 
For the people that are saying "lol what moron is going to buy a device that will be obsolete after XX years." What phone/tablet/computer are you using right now? Sure whatever you're using is working but its highly likely "out of date."
I'm in for a sport watch. I like to buy things that that are eventually obsolete. Which is 100% of electronic devices.
I'm in for a sport watch. I like to buy things that that are eventually obsolete. Which is 100% of electronic devices.