Apple Watch Launches in The Netherlands, Sweden and Thailand on July 17

[Arran]

I'm not wholly convinced by the Watch which is why I haven't bought one yet. Buy a Rolex or Breitling and it will last you a lifetime. The Apple Watch will be obsolete in 9 months when the next version is announced.

And that was my reasoning too. I'd got almost three decades out of my Swiss automatic and it was good for three more. Apple Watch - Pah!

But the question I never even acknowledged (I guess, because I wasn't being totally objective) is, "why is that a good thing?"

 

[manu chao]

Got to see it in real for the first time: a) It looks smaller than it looked from all pictures and videos, and b) partly related it looked better.

 

[Jeaz]

And no one cares.

Yes, your opinion is the only one that matters

And I do care, made my weekend! And less than a month away, yay!

 

[Jeaz]

And that was my reasoning too. I'd got almost three decades out of my Swiss automatic and it was good for three more. Apple Watch - Pah!

But the question I never even acknowledged (I guess, because I wasn't being totally objective) is, "why is that a good thing?"

So true. We change everything in cycles: cars, clothes, phones, computers.. but watches are supposed to be one per lifetime? I don't get that argument, not for me personally.

I mean, my wife has a Rolex and really happy with it. She's had it for 7-8 years or so now, but she's now considering a new watch. It's not that the old one is worn out, or even looks dated, but she just want variation. So, if an Apple Watch lasts me 3-4 years I'm good with that.

EDIT: Sorry for failing at multi-quoting.

 

[ianrip]

any ideas as to when the online ordering will start for these countries, I'm interested in Thailand especially

 

[cwt1nospam]

Smartphone - yes. Until that time i had Motorola V3.

Yikes! So you had a piece of crap, but claim that the original iPhone wasn't good enough??? You're not making sense.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

That's exactly how I thought before I had a watch. I didn't want one and I wasn't getting one. Period.

Then my wife got hers and I got to see first-hand what it does. It really is about freeing yourself from your phone like bbeagle says. I find it magical that wherever I am, I can simply say things and actions happen.

Things like:

• "Hey Siri, call my wife". And within 20 seconds I'm having a speakerphone conversation with my wife, while we're both driving down the highway, in separate cars.
• "Hey Siri, remind me to pay the phone bill when I get home". And when pull into my driveway, I get a reminder.
• "Hey Siri, play some music by Kate Bush" - and in a few seconds "Never for Ever" blasts out of the speaker dock across the room. It's a bit loud, so I just twist the crown and the level falls.

It makes a lot of simple things effortless. It's a bit like having super-powers or telepathy, or something

$350 is a bargain.

Thing is, I don't need freeing from my iPhone.

 

[dragje]

Eindelijk! Beetje laat maar beter laat dan nooit. .... Oops sorry, that was Dutch ^^ translation: at last! A bit late, but better late then never!

 

[thirteen1031]

At most it takes me 2 seconds to take my phone out and unlock it to see a notification or read an email.

Well, goodie for you! No, you really don't understand the watch. It takes two seconds for you to take out your phone. But it often took me longer. I wasn't always able to keep it in a front pocket. So into the purse it went. And there were so many times when I didn't feel it vibrate or ring with a message. Didn't hear the phone call, or if I did, thought it was someone else's phone. And I missed calls. I missed notifications. I missed texts. Sometimes important, even urgent ones.

There were also times when I heard the phone ring, and couldn't get the phone out quick enough and missed calls.

Now I don't. I feel taps and look, and there's reminders, texts, notifications. And phone calls! My friends and relatives are delighted; I'm responding and doing so promptly. Oh, and I also had a problem where I dropped the phone. I've got butter-fingers--things just slip away from me and my phone was constantly dropping. No dropping the watch.

Yes, everything I do on the watch I could do on the phone. But flat out, I do all those things more often on the watch, because it's right there to catch my attention. Like setting a timer. Could do that on the phone, but I kept my phone in my purse...so it never got used for a timer. The watch does, frequently. Also use it as a caculator, to pay for things, etc. It's right there...but unlike people who have their phone out and right there, I'm not always staring at it, texting or checking on tweets.

So far as I'm concerned, I get the best of both worlds in the watch. It's right there for me to use like the phone, but it's not there to also distract me like the phone. That's why I love it and why I'm very glad I got it. It's not for everyone, but that's fine, too. We have all these options so we can all find what is best for us. This is best for me.

 

[aront]

I hope it's obvious to readers that most pro-Apple posts, especially those praising the pathetic Apple Watch, are from Apple PR department employees. Heavy usage of the marketing buzzword "amazing" is one dead giveaway.

 

[rols]

I'd have expected more than just a few countries added to the list in 3 weeks time. Took a quick look around the Singapore online store and found lots of availability and 1 day shipping on many models a day after launch. Sounds like supply is catching up/has caught up to demand and it's time to make it available worldwide and stop the slow trickle.

 

[Tech198]

Watch... Welcome to Thailand.

 

[manu chao]

I'm not wholly convinced by the Watch which is why I haven't bought one yet. Buy a Rolex or Breitling and it will last you a lifetime. The Apple Watch will be obsolete in 9 months when the next version is announced.

It depends on how you define 'obsolete'. Is it:

1. Not-fit-for-purpose anymore (as in doesn't provide the functionality it originally did), which could happen if a future version of iOS or iPhone doesn't work with a specific Apple watch model anymore?
2. Is no longer as good (or close to) as the current best in its category? Or a slight variation, the current best is better enough that you are willing to invest a chunk of money to use it.

If you use the second definition, it then depends on how you define the category and how you define 'better enough'. Interestingly enough, if you define the category as wrist-worn-device-that-shows-the-time-and-other-things, everybody that bought an Apple watch (and actually wears it) and wore another watch before that has essentially declared his previous watch obsolete.

That's some food for thought, not an Apple watch becoming obsolete after two years (pretty few people buy a new iPhone every year, I see no reason why that should be different with the watch) but the Apple watch having obsoleted your Rolex or Breitling.

 

[Jsameds]

Why did Jsameds never learn how to spell "queue" ?

I did, just made a mistake. That all right with you?

 

[mfvisuals]

But right now it just duplicates my iPhone 6.

You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but I always find it funny when someone states that the Watch is duplicating their iPhone's features. Apple specifically advertises it as a device that compliments the iPhone by simplifying many of the tasks that you would do on the iPhone, and also introduces some new features (i.e. heart rate monitor, health apps, new messaging options, etc.)

The fact that it does some of the things that the iPhone already does shouldn't be a surprise or a negative thing, especially considering that an iPhone is required to even use the Watch.

But, I think the price point is the main reason people are turned off to get an Watch. But that is because most iPhone users are accustomed to the subsidized $200 or less price tags on most iPhones. The Watch cost seems high in comparison, even though, in reality, it is roughly half the cost of an un-subsidized iPhone.

Ultimately, it is meant for people who want to enhance their Apple experience and like to wear watches.

If you don't like wearing watches and/or you don't feel that the features the Watch offers are worth the price tag, then obviously this isn't the device for you.

 

[ColdShadow]

it always was the best phone available on the marked.

that statement was true about the original and the 3GS..maybe 4 as well,but frankly after that,one should be simple minded or live in fantasy world to think the iPhone is the best phone on the market..if it was true then other similarly priced phones wouldn't exist.I have an iPhone 6 and like it but it's definitely not the best on the market.

 

[ColdShadow]

Pretty presumptuous. I enjoy my watch a great deal. It's proved to be very helpful, incredibly convenient and has certainly been worth the money I paid. I'd buy another if this one was lost or broken. I will buying my daughter one because it will be incredibly useful in her job.

and what about iPhone battery drainage caused by the watch,that's not fun is it? specially since iPhone 6 battery is not that long lasting to begin with?

 

[ColdShadow]

I don't get this line of reasoning.

The Apple Watch will still work the same as a Rolex watch in 5 years.

Will you call the Rolex watch 'obsolete' when Rolex comes out with a new model next year?

can't you really see the difference between a mechanical item and a technological item?
the Rolex will never become obsolete,all it needs is a fresh battery maybe after a decade.
the Apple watch however like any other computer won't be able to run necessary future operating systems as the hardware will become obsolete and not powerful enough to run it.and it can take as little as 2-3 years to maybe 5 years to happen.
so no you are wrong the Apple watch or any other smart watch are unlikely to work the same in 5 years.they will become obsolete.not the Rolex.

 

[bbeagle]

can't you really see the difference between a mechanical item and a technological item?
the Rolex will never become obsolete,all it needs is a fresh battery maybe after a decade.
the Apple watch however like any other computer won't be able to run necessary future operating systems as the hardware will become obsolete and not powerful enough to run it.and it can take as little as 2-3 years to maybe 5 years to happen.
so no you are wrong the Apple watch or any other smart watch are unlikely to work the same in 5 years.they will become obsolete.not the Rolex.

I don't think you understand at all.

The Apple Watch will continue to work like today if you don't upgrade it.

You're assuming people will be updating the Apple Watch they have, thus making it a DIFFERENT watch than they bought. You're also assuming 'obsolete' means that it can't run the latest and greatest operating system.

Huh? The rolex isn't even capable of running a new operating system or getting new features! So, you're comparing apples to oranges here.

If you buy an Apple Watch, and an iPhone and don't upgrade either in any way, in 5 years they will work the SAME as a Rolex that you ALSO did not upgrade in any way.

Additionally, if a new rolex watch comes out in 2016 that can do something new, like show the compass direction you're heading, it's IMPOSSIBLE to add this feature to your 'obsolete' 2015 rolex watch. But if you have an Apple Watch, it's a simple upgrade to make the Apple Watch NOT obsolete like the rolex watch.

You're just playing with the term 'obsolete' and making it mean something different for a Rolex watch vs. an Apple Watch

 

[OllyW]

Rolex will never become obsolete,all it needs is a fresh battery maybe after a decade

Mechanical watches don't use batteries. Rolex have made a few quartz watches in the past but if you buy a new one today that's got a battery it's a fake.

 

[ColdShadow]

I don't think you understand at all.

The Apple Watch will continue to work like today if you don't upgrade it.

You're assuming people will be updating the Apple Watch they have, thus making it a DIFFERENT watch than they bought. You're also assuming 'obsolete' means that it can't run the latest and greatest operating system.

Huh? The rolex isn't even capable of running a new operating system or getting new features! So, you're comparing apples to oranges here.

If you buy an Apple Watch, and an iPhone and don't upgrade either in any way, in 5 years they will work the SAME as a Rolex that you ALSO did not upgrade in any way.

Additionally, if a new rolex watch comes out in 2016 that can do something new, like show the compass direction you're heading, it's IMPOSSIBLE to add this feature to your 'obsolete' 2015 rolex watch. But if you have an Apple Watch, it's a simple upgrade to make the Apple Watch NOT obsolete like the rolex watch.

You're just playing with the term 'obsolete' and making it mean something different for a Rolex watch vs. an Apple Watch

I can argue that you don't Understand at all:
what you say is not practical,you can't go around keeping your Apple watch (or smart phone etc) and skip OS/software upgrades.realistically you can't.
You will need to upgrade because new bugs,security flaws will be discovered,new Apps will require it and you will need them.
obviously with the Rolex or Casio,functionality is not tied to software.with Smart watch functionality is 100% tied to software and software requires updates.
Apple watch won't be able to handle updates in a couple or years and thus will become obsolete.you will NEED to buy a new one.
Rolex/Casio/Timex/Rado won't become obsolete and you will NOT NEED to buy a new one.

 

[Arran]

I can argue that you don't Understand at all:
what you say is not practical,you can't go around keeping your Apple watch (or smart phone etc) and skip OS/software upgrades.realistically you can't.
You will need to upgrade because new bugs,security flaws will be discovered,new Apps will require it and you will need them.
obviously with the Rolex or Casio,functionality is not tied to software.with Smart watch functionality is 100% tied to software and software requires updates.
Apple watch won't be able to handle updates in a couple or years and thus will become obsolete.you will NEED to buy a new one.
Rolex/Casio/Timex/Rado won't become obsolete and you will NOT NEED to buy a new one.

That may all be true, but the decision to buy a new apple watch in a few years will be an informed decision made by the purchaser.

If the original watch has proved its worth over the years and the new model appeals, then why not buy the new one?

If it hasn't been worth it then don't buy. Simple.

 

[Keirasplace]

I can argue that you don't Understand at all:
what you say is not practical,you can't go around keeping your Apple watch (or smart phone etc) and skip OS/software upgrades.realistically you can't.
You will need to upgrade because new bugs,security flaws will be discovered,new Apps will require it and you will need them.
obviously with the Rolex or Casio,functionality is not tied to software.with Smart watch functionality is 100% tied to software and software requires updates.
Apple watch won't be able to handle updates in a couple or years and thus will become obsolete.you will NEED to buy a new one.
Rolex/Casio/Timex/Rado won't become obsolete and you will NOT NEED to buy a new one.

Guess that's why I'm not using a 6 year old Iphone.... BTW, 99% of your posts are negative and untrue. Good combination (sic).