Macs in the 1980s were unaffordable to most of the world's population, even to most of the US population (accounting for inflation). Apple products since the arrival of the Ipod have been a lot more accessible than before. Apple has always been at the top of the market in computers (in the 2000s its lower end came down to high mid market), now it will be at the top of the Watch market and its lower end will be the high mid market. So, it will occupy the same range.
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Apple Watch Received Estimated 1 Million Pre-Orders in U.S. on April 10
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Macs in the 1980s were unaffordable to most of the world's population, even to most of the US population (accounting for inflation). Apple products since the arrival of the Ipod have been a lot more accessible than before. Apple has always been at the top of the market in computers (in the 2000s its lower end came down to high mid market), now it will be at the top of the Watch market and its lower end will be the high mid market. So, it will occupy the same range.
I would hate to have a watch with a SIM card. I already pay monthly fees for my phone, I would definitely not buy yet another piece of tech that needs a monthly subscription. Two friends of mine were in the market for a Samsung smart watch but backed out when they realized it required a monthly barge and subscription.
iPhones have become accessible to the general public due to carrier financing. It's an anomaly, but shows what you can do if someone else is subsidizing your product.
Q: does Apple still get a revenue slice of a device's service plan? That's what it was in the early days - did that go away when carrier exclusivity went away?
I'm treating you exactly the way I've been treated around here.
The heart rate thing is a fair point, and as I've mentioned before, I think it's the area with the most potential (biometrics & health and fitness tracking). But I expected a lot more (whether it was something beyond anything we could have imagined, or even just more focus in this area) from Apple.
The other use case, being able to tap a friend at a party or concert.. isn't really flying for me. Buzz on the wrist from a friend isn't a whole lot different than a buzz in my pocket. It certainly doesn't justify a $350-$1000 pricetag.
Different strokes for different folks, but for me, the Apple Watch doesn't sell itself. My phone isn't a problem, and the watch isn't solving any great problems in my life. When it does, I'll be on board, but even as a "stepping stone" as people around here like to say, I think it falls short. I think Apple could have done a lot better.
The heart rate thing is a fair point, and as I've mentioned before, I think it's the area with the most potential (biometrics & health and fitness tracking). But I expected a lot more (whether it was something beyond anything we could have imagined, or even just more focus in this area) from Apple.
The other use case, being able to tap a friend at a party or concert.. isn't really flying for me. Buzz on the wrist from a friend isn't a whole lot different than a buzz in my pocket. It certainly doesn't justify a $350-$1000 pricetag.
Different strokes for different folks, but for me, the Apple Watch doesn't sell itself. My phone isn't a problem, and the watch isn't solving any great problems in my life. When it does, I'll be on board, but even as a "stepping stone" as people around here like to say, I think it falls short. I think Apple could have done a lot better.
Whats odd about that? It all about the forced upsell to a the stainless steel model to anyone that acts like an adult. Its obviously intentional. What kind of tool is going to buy and wear a green banded version if they ever think they will need to do a business meeting outside of digital dweeb world?
ThreeYou really have swallowed the hype haven't you.
No he's just richer than you ;D I've bought 2 - Aluminium for the Gym and Black Steel for everyday.
Hype is in the eye of the beholder. For me the remote control capabilities are what it's all about. Lighting, heating, door locks etc. Plus Apple pay and potentially Transit system payment is a big draw and I have a BMW i3 so theres that too.
There can be no doubt that this thing is going to rock your world and cause you or perhaps other people to invent the next great technological thing.
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No company on the planet that makes a watch out of gold charges for the watch the value of raw gold.
Take the Rolex Submariner. In stainless it costs $8500. In solid 18K gold it costs $34,250.
The gold version is 221g, so again we'll ignore the fact that some of the weight is mechanism and not gold.
That's about $6390 worth of gold total at today's prices. So even if you accept that the watch is worth $8500, it should retail for less than $14,890. Yet Rolex tack on $20K extra.
If Rolex can do it, why not let Apple take a swing? After all, the more money they rip from those with more money than sense, the more money they have for inventing the next consumer product the rest of us can afford.
1. You're absolutely delusional.
2. I'm a naysayer of the Apple Watch but I saw the value in everything else you reference. I immediately knew the iPhone would transform the mobile phone industry. I knew the iPad was going to be massive for casual computing. I've been a huge proponent of the AppleTV, I just wish they'd do more with it. The Macbook Air, even though a bit of a stumble out of the gate, I knew was going to be huge with people. etc etc. I think the watch is an unusual misstep for Apple.
2. I'm a naysayer of the Apple Watch but I saw the value in everything else you reference. I immediately knew the iPhone would transform the mobile phone industry. I knew the iPad was going to be massive for casual computing. I've been a huge proponent of the AppleTV, I just wish they'd do more with it. The Macbook Air, even though a bit of a stumble out of the gate, I knew was going to be huge with people. etc etc. I think the watch is an unusual misstep for Apple.
Why would anyone compare a $17,000 Apple Watch to a $20,000 Rolex? Where's the relevance?
Let's take a more modest example, a regular $8,000 steel Rolex. Over the usable lifetime of the watch, it costs about $100 to $200 per year. That's comparable to the cost of the Apple Watch Sport over its usable lifetime. Add some gold and the Rolex costs $20,000, or $200 to $500 per year. Now we're in the territory of the steel Apple Watch. See where this is going?
A $20,000 Rolex does not have the same target audience as a $17,000 Apple. Anyone who is willing to spend $17,000 on disposable tech is going to be able to afford at least a $200,000 mechanical watch if that's what they want.
Heh, not my world it isn't.
I might wear something on my wrist ten years down the line when it replaces the phone, and my cochlear implant pumps incoming calls straight into my brain. And when my lighting / car / white goods are all prepared to chat to my watch. But even then I don't see how a wearable can beat a phone (or mini mini iPad, or whatever) when it comes to displaying websites, emails, messages etc.
I think it's too early to call it a misstep, but certainly a device with a limited potential market. I think Apple would be delighted if the Watch was on 5% of iPhone users' wrists within a couple of years. If wearables are going to become mainstream in future then it takes a company of Apple's resources to kickstart the process. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple are consciously 'starting the conversation' rather than dreaming of yet more billions in the bank.
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You're missing a couple of things.
1. Rolex has built a legacy in timekeeping. It wasn't always the symbol that it is now. It had to earn that.
2. Anyone who pays full MRSP on a gold Rolex is a sucker you should try to make money on immediately. You should ALWAYS be able to get a discount from a dealer on these. I recently looked into buying a 30k Rolex from an extremely reputable grey market dealer I always buy from and he was able to price it at 10k less for me.
1. Rolex has built a legacy in timekeeping. It wasn't always the symbol that it is now. It had to earn that.
2. Anyone who pays full MRSP on a gold Rolex is a sucker you should try to make money on immediately. You should ALWAYS be able to get a discount from a dealer on these. I recently looked into buying a 30k Rolex from an extremely reputable grey market dealer I always buy from and he was able to price it at 10k less for me.
You forgot to take into account that the dilithium crystal that powers the reality distortion field of the watch has a negative mass. There's actually a 4 pound bar of gold in there.
I never said they did, or should. I was responding to someone who appeared to be saying that we couldn't say that there was a big margin on the Edition watches because we didn't know exactly how much gold was in them. I'm saying that even if they were 100% solid gold without any electronics there's a LOT of profit in them. And that's to be expected.
That's because you're not using it as a booty call device. That use case drives up the value tremendously.
I kid, I kid - I think. My wife got me one, we'll see how effective it is.
You know what I find "kinda sad?" People coming on here and issuing judgments that declare people to be dupes for having their own criteria for functionality and philistines for having their own criteria regarding what is beautiful, then closing the post with a final cutting, haughty remark that someone finds it "kinda sad."
Then don't use it. However, having the option it great. Honestly, if $10mo to add a device isn't worth it then again, don't. For me it's a no brainer. However, at least you have a choice.
Wow! What did the iPhone sell like 10 million pre-orders?
The first Gen of a new product category has never been so successful pre-order wise.
A new gadget is always welcomed as a gift for us guys. But if I had a choice to buy it myself, no way. Enjoy the gift.
People are people. They want to get the newest thing. They want to be part of the in crowd. But objectively, as a product, the watch is kinda mediocre. And yes, its possible to objectively declare a product as nothing great aka mediocre.
