I would buy Edition, if...

[Technodynamic]

I love Apple stuff, but even if you shaved the last zero off the end I wouldn't consider it. Too much $.

 

[kingofwale]

I have addressed this issue in other posts. However, it bears repeating here:

The part of the Watch Edition that will become obsolete are the electronic internals. Neither the gold case nor the leather bands will become obsolete. Knowing that the same internals are used in the $350 Watch Sport, their retail price must be in the $200-$300 range. This is rounding error in the price of the Edition. Suffice it to say, there are probably larger variations in local sales tax on the Edition.

The internals are the least expensive part of the Edition. We cannot know for certain until Apple makes it official. However, it makes absolutely no business sense for Apple [or any business] to obsolete a $17,000 device on the weakness of a $200 component.

Therefore, I fully expect that the Watch will be upgradeable via a swap of its interchangeable internals. It would not surprise me at all if the upgrade for some or all models were free. Don't forget that the OS upgrades for iOS and OS X devices are free. It behooves Apple to keep its installed base as simple as possible. Free upgrades will encourage owners to maintain their hardware in a like-new state.

many have predicted the Apple Edition watch would be around 1500-2K price range.

Some more... 'craizer' prediction (those who were openly mocked in the forum) have stated 5K price range.


nothing comes to close to Apple's gouging 10K-17K price.


so I would buy Edition, if I were hit by a rock in the head

 

[Rogifan]

This is purely wishful thinking along the line of hoping that Apple would sell the Edition models for $1200-1500 or that the SS models would be cheaper than Sport models. Apple would have stated this at the Watch event if it were true.

No one is going to get up on stage and say "here's our new product....and oh by the way here's how you upgrade it to v2 in two years". This isn't a software subscription service. At the March event Ben Bajarin specifically asked about upgradeability and the Apple rep told him "we're not prepared to talk about that at this time". To me that's an answer that suggests it's something Apple has/is thinking about.

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many have predicted the Apple Edition watch would be around 1500-2K price range.

Some more... 'craizer' prediction (those who were openly mocked in the forum) have stated 5K price range.


nothing comes to close to Apple's gouging 10K-17K price.


so I would buy Edition, if I were hit by a rock in the head

I'm amazed at how many people are suddenly concerned about the wealthy.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

No one is going to get up on stage and say "here's our new product....and oh by the way here's how you upgrade it to v2 in two years". This isn't a software subscription service. At the March event Ben Bajarin specifically asked about upgradeability and the Apple rep told him "we're not prepared to talk about that at this time". To me that's an answer that suggests it's something Apple has/is thinking about.

They would have said it because $10-17K would've been a much easier pill to shallow if it were upgradable, and given the fact that none of Apple's iDevices have ever been upgradable. Why would they want to create a bigger s***-fit in the history of Apple-versus-the-standard-tech-industry s***- fits?

Ben Bajarin's remark doesn't necessarily suggest they were considering it. He could've given the exact same canned response about pretty much anything, including prices, waterproof rating, etc.

 

[cmChimera]

Apple has NEVER said that any of thier other products won't be upgradeable! Number of upgradable Apple products in the last 10 years, that could upgrade to next gen -> ZERO.

You could upgrade a number of MacBooks' HDD to an SSD. iMacs can still be upgraded. RAM can be upgraded on a number of models. Pretty sure the Mac Pro can be upgraded as well. So your statement is pretty incorrect.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

You could upgrade a number of MacBooks' HDD to an SSD. iMacs can still be upgraded. RAM can be upgraded on a number of models. Pretty sure the Mac Pro can be upgraded as well. So your statement is pretty incorrect.

Pretty sure he meant significant upgrade in terms of innards as defined in the OP. You can't, for example, upgrade the iMac's chipset.

 

[cmChimera]

Pretty sure he meant significant upgrade in terms of innards as defined in the OP. You can't, for example, upgrade the iMac's chipset.

Are you saying that the differences between an HDD and an SSD are insignificant?

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They would have said it because $10-17K would've been a much easier pill to shallow if it were upgradable, and given the fact that none of Apple's iDevices have ever been upgradable.]

A 10k watch is not affordable to many people regardless if its upgradeable or not. Also, no other iDevice has costed this much. Ever. Nor has any iDevice been built modularly. Nor has any iDevice been this personal. Nor is this even an iDevice, with no "i" in the name. I could go on.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Are you saying that the difference between an HDD and an SSD are insignificant?

That's beside the point. OP says upgrade the chipset. Can you do that in iDevices, iMac, etc.?

A 10k watch is not affordable to many people regardless if its upgradeable or not. Also, no other iDevice has costed this much. Ever.

Yes, but Apple isn't marketing the Apple Watch like an iDevice.

 

[cmChimera]

That's beside the point. OP says upgrade the chipset. Can you do that in iDevices, iMac, etc.?

Have any of those chipsets been enclosed in a tiny container of resin?

Yes, but Apple isn't marketing the Apple Watch like an iDevice.

Which is my point.

 

[MisterMe]

Pretty sure he meant significant upgrade in terms of innards as defined in the OP. You can't, for example, upgrade the iMac's chipset.

Apples and coconuts. Upgrading is not an end in and of itself. Upgrading is a means to an end. If you want to upgrade your Mac at some point in the future, then you purchase a Mac that can be upgraded at some point in the future. If you want to upgrade your Mac at some point in the future, then the iMac is not the computer for you. Are you so immature that you fixate on the lack of upgradability of the iMac when Apple offers other computer models that can be upgraded?

You can't upgrade the hardware of either the iPhone or the iPad. However, the average iPhone owner expects to replace the device every year or so. The Watch Edition will be a very different animal. Nobody will be tossing a $17,000 gold watch every year. This marvel will be the first electronic heirloom that will be kept in families for generations.

Let me repeat a point about the price of the Watch Edition that I made earlier. This watch will certainly be more expensive that your average Timex. However, its price is anything but special in the pantheon of premium watches. Not only are premium watches available at twice the price of the Edition, but there are also watches available at 10-20 times the price of the Edition. In the world where premium watches cost more than Bentley sedans, the Edition is a trinket that you distribute to the homeless.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

You can't upgrade the hardware of either the iPhone or the iPad. However, the average iPhone owner expects to replace the device every year or so. The Watch Edition will be a very different animal. Nobody will be tossing a $17,000 gold watch every year.

You're forgetting to whom Apple is really marketing the $10-17K models. Those people will have absolutely no problem coughing up $17,000 each year. Heck, they probably have >$200,000 just in frivolous spending per year.

 

[Rogifan]

You're forgetting to whom Apple is really marketing the $10-17K models. Those people will have absolutely no problem coughing up $17,000 each year. Heck, they probably have >$200,000 just in frivolous spending per year.

I'd love to know who these people are that are going to fork over $17K every year for a new Watch. Of course assuming a new Watch will be released every year (which I'm not convinced will be the case).

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I'd love to know who these people are that are going to fork over $17K every year for a new Watch. Of course assuming a new Watch will be released every year (which I'm not convinced will be the case).

You may not know any such individual personally, but they do exist and $17K is a drop in the bucket for them.

 

[Ries]

You could upgrade a number of MacBooks' HDD to an SSD. iMacs can still be upgraded. RAM can be upgraded on a number of models. Pretty sure the Mac Pro can be upgraded as well. So your statement is pretty incorrect.

None of those upgrades are next gen, which i clearly stated... Any any of those upgrades does not make any of those devices the same as the next generation.

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Have any of those chipsets been enclosed in a tiny container of resin?



Which is my point.

Its it in resin to protect and insulate the electronic from moisture, dust and harsh environments. It is a common pratice.

edit:
https://www.apple.com/watch/technology/

So we found a way to integrate many subsystems into one remarkably compact module, which is then completely encapsulated in resin to protect the electronics from the elements, impact, and wear.

 

[whtrbt7]

It's interesting to see rationalization of why one would purchase the Apple Watch Edition. There will undoubtedly be many buyers for the product and possibly be an extreme shortage of these watches. Compared to other gold watches on the market, it's actually priced low but if you're comparing it to a smart watch, it's going to be the most expensive smart watch on the market by quite a large margin. I basically see it as Apple legitimizing its watches across the board as an actual timepiece and not just a toy. After reading more about the materials processing and attention to quality as well as longevity, I feel that the Apple watch is really engineered well and in almost all of its competition in all price ranges make the Apple Watch seem undervalued. If you're comparing to other smart watches and don't care much for the materials or craftsmanship, it will definitely seem more expensive than Timex, Nike, and other Quartz watches that are out there. If you're in the market for a gold watch, Apple is not a bad choice and even if the watch was only up to date in tech for 2 years, I feel it's still a good buy since it is more of a timepiece that you actively use and show.