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I've finally made my mind up. I think :)

profmjh

profmjh

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Mar 7, 2015
1,734
1,800
UK
I've always been an Apple fanboy but I'm more excited about the Apple Watch than any other product they've made. I've become a little unhealthily obsessed with it.

I've devoted way too much time and thought into which one I'm going to get. In the end I've surprised myself. My pick is . . . the Apple Watch Sport in Space Grey, 42mm.

My main reason is that I just honestly think it looks better than any of the others. I'm sufficiently Apple-obsessed that cost isn't a huge factor, though clearly the Edition is going to be way out of my league.

Initially I looked at the regular Watch, because I liked the shiny stainless steel. But I saw some photos of real watches (I think the pictures on the Apple site are all computer renderings and somewhat flatter the real things) and the stainless steel looked grubby with fingerprints on it.

Then I considered the Space Black with the link bracelet. Again I was put off when I saw photographs of the real thing. Plus I suspect it's going to be hugely expensive.

The Sport is much lighter than the others and –- in black, at least –- doesn't look downscale compared with the regular Watch. In fact I think it looks better.

If the Apple Watch 2 is as much of an improvement as, say, the iPad 2 was, who wants to spend a fortune on a first iteration if you're likely to replace it one or two years later.

My final decision was size. My instinct was to go for the 38mm, but when I printed out actual-size pictures the 42 wasn't as big as I thought: it's pretty much exactly the same size as my current watch. I do have small wrists and photos of the 42mm look big on some wrists, but the 38mm just looked too small to me.

Although I've said cost isn't a huge issue, I actually like the fact I'm going to be sensible and "only" spend around £300 rather than double that or more.

So I'm pretty sure my mind's made up. As soon as they go onsale online, I'll be feeding my credit card into my MacBook :D

Anyone else made up their mind?

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The link strap doesn't look that great in real life, I don't think:

Apple-Watch-88.jpg


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Not so shiny:

0909141226b_1-720x405.jpg
 
Make sure you measure the print outs you made. I printed out the 38mm from a site telling me that it would print life sized, and I was surprised how small it was. Then I measured it and realized is was a couple of millimeters off.
 
douglasf13 said:
Make sure you measure the print outs you made. I printed out the 38mm from a site telling me that it would print life sized, and I was surprised how small it was. Then I measured it and realized is was a couple of millimeters off.
Click to expand...

Did you measire width or height? Apple watch measurements are the height, not the width, as in regular watch sizes.
 
I've been leaning towards the 42mm space grey sport as well. My only concern is a higher price for the larger watch and a "black tax". Because it's first gen, and I'll likely upgrade, I don't want to spend a lot on it. I'd pay a bit more for the larger watch (I have large hands and wrists), but if apple upcharges the space grey sport I may go with the regular aluminium.

Because it's a fashion item and the internals are identical, I hope the prices are the same for the two sizes, but knowing apple, it will probably be more.
 
My printout was exactly the right size. I did check by measuring the height of the watch with a ruler. I was surprised by the sizing, I must admit. I guess it partly depends on exactly where you measure.
 
Bigserver1 said:
My only concern is a higher price for the larger watch and a "black tax".
Click to expand...

Yes, I've wondered about that myself. Initially (when I was thinking about the 38mm) I was priding myself on actually going for the cheapest watch (not my usual Apple strategy!).

It's possible it will still be the cheapest watch, but Apple pricing has nothing to do with cost of manufacture, it's all about perceived value.

Incidentally, I'm from the UK. If we don't get the watch at the same time as the US, there will be rioting on the streets! I want mine in time for my birthday in late April.

----------
JayLenochiniMac said:
The link bracelets are brushed so they're not supposed to be shiny if you were expecting that.
Click to expand...

I wasn't expecting them to be shiny, but if you look at the pictures (which are not photos) on Apple's website, all the watches and all the straps look breathtakingly beautiful. When you look at actual photos, they're not quite so perfect.

Plus I worry about how things will look a few months down the road. I think the link strap will be a dirt magnet. (Though I worry about the rubber strap I'm planning on getting being really good at picking up dust. First world problems.)

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The 42mm looks ENORMOUS in the photos on this page. (Scroll down to photo of watch on wrist.) Which leaves me somewhat confused . . .

http://www.cnet.com/uk/products/apple-watch/
 
profmatt said:
I've always been an Apple fanboy but I'm more excited about the Apple Watch than any other product they've made. I've become a little unhealthily obsessed with it.

I've devoted way too much time and thought into which one I'm going to get. In the end I've surprised myself. My pick is . . . the Apple Watch Sport in Space Grey, 42mm.

My main reason is that I just honestly think it looks better than any of the others. I'm sufficiently Apple-obsessed that cost isn't a huge factor, though clearly the Edition is going to be way out of my league.

Initially I looked at the regular Watch, because I liked the shiny stainless steel. But I saw some photos of real watches (I think the pictures on the Apple site are all computer renderings and somewhat flatter the real things) and the stainless steel looked grubby with fingerprints on it.

Then I considered the Space Black with the link bracelet. Again I was put off when I saw photographs of the real thing. Plus I suspect it's going to be hugely expensive.

The Sport is much lighter than the others and –- in black, at least –- doesn't look downscale compared with the regular Watch. In fact I think it looks better.

If the Apple Watch 2 is as much of an improvement as, say, the iPad 2 was, who wants to spend a fortune on a first iteration if you're likely to replace it one or two years later.

My final decision was size. My instinct was to go for the 38mm, but when I printed out actual-size pictures the 42 wasn't as big as I thought: it's pretty much exactly the same size as my current watch. I do have small wrists and photos of the 42mm look big on some wrists, but the 38mm just looked too small to me.

Although I've said cost isn't a huge issue, I actually like the fact I'm going to be sensible and "only" spend around £300 rather than double that or more.

So I'm pretty sure my mind's made up. As soon as they go onsale online, I'll be feeding my credit card into my MacBook :D

Anyone else made up their mind?

----------

The link strap doesn't look that great in real life, I don't think:

Image

----------

Not so shiny:

Image
Click to expand...

The link bracelet do not look as great like in some other pictures. But many who have seen are wowed. However, Let me be the judge once I see them.

Right now they are design to perfection and so gorgeous based on what I have "seen"*.

*Pending my final inspections in person. ;)
 
The link band does look like an 80's Casio, although I'm sure it's made better. I wouldn't worry about dirt on the metal ones as you can just wash them. With the leather and plastic you're just going to have to accept the "character."

Of course anything polished is going to look bad with oily fingerprints. But this is a watch and you won't be holding it as the display models. If it does get dirty, just rub it in your shirt. Shiny and matte watches have been around for eons. This shouldn't be a new decision with the Apple watch.
 
I have to see them in person. If I go with the Sport, I'll get either the white and silver, or space grey depending on how it looks in person. If the SS is not too much more, I'll consider the Tim Cook version.
 
I like your enthusiasm:) I have it too. It reminds me when Diablo 3 was announced and they gave "us" a skill calculator. I've made a few builds and I hoped they would fit my gameplay. I was wrong of course;)

Same with Apple Watch. I was in love with Classic Buckle but I saw real life photos on Hodinkee.com and I've changed my mind. Until I see and try few straps and both sizes I really don't know what I will buy. I'll probably buy the white elastic strap for the function. Or maybe Milanese loop? Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!
 
I just printed out a paper mockup in original size, put it on my wrist and immediately though "Well, that size actually looks pretty good" (Even my Pebble is taller). I then took a picture to send to a friend and, wow, it looked really (really) huge.
So I guess you cannot judge from pictures but rather have to see the size in person.
 
At the risk of sounding like a loon, I now have a Plan B.

The Apple Watch (stainless steel) with blue leather loop. No difficult size decision with this one: it has to be 42mm.

In terms of materials and overall look it's a classier option. Only drawback is the increased weight.

And price. If it's a lot more I may stick with the space grey Sport.

Roll on Monday ...
 
Night Spring said:
Did you measire width or height? Apple watch measurements are the height, not the width, as in regular watch sizes.
Click to expand...

Height. That common print out that's all over the web is a millimeter or two short, at least with my printer. I would recommend that everyone measures their print out, to be safe. The real size of the 38mm is about exactly in between the 38mm and 42mm version that I printed out (and, yes, my printer was set to 100%.)

As far as wrist shots are concerned, it's about perspective distortion from shooting close up with a wide angle from a smart phone. You can really alter the apparent size by standing different distances away and using different lenses.
 
Last edited:
douglasf13 said:
Height. That common print out that's all over the web is a millimeter or two short, at least with my printer. I would recommend that everyone measures their print out, to be safe. The real size of the 38mm is about exactly in between the 38mm and 42mm version that I printed out (and, yes, my printer was set to 100%.)

As far as wrist shots are concerned, it's about perspective distortion from shooting close up with a wide angle from a smart phone. You can really alter the apparent size by standing different distances away and using different lenses.
Click to expand...

Did you measure the screen size or the whole watch? I think Apple's measurements are based on the whole watch and not just the screen.

I printed the mockups out from Preview (set to 100%) and they were bang on 38mm and 42mm.
 
cambookpro said:
Did you measure the screen size or the whole watch? I think Apple's measurements are based on the whole watch and not just the screen.

I printed the mockups out from Preview (set to 100%) and they were bang on 38mm and 42mm.
Click to expand...

Whole watch.
 
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