Just a few thoughts a Apple watch

[douglasf13]

As I guess you can tell I don't know a ton about the straps Apple has made. Maybe they are priced just right for the quality. If that is the case then I will go back to my original post. Why? Why did Apple go to such an extreme with the Apple watch? I know they are always about quality, and I love that. This just seems to go beyond good quality.

I think it's because there are lots and lots of people the spend $700-$1500+ on watches, and they may not be interested in a lower quality product. $30 million dollars of Swiss watches are sold per year, and the average price is around $750, which is probably low, since lower end brands like Swatch bring that average down a lot.

That's certainly the situation I'm in. None of the Android watches seem much higher quality than a decent Fossil watch, to me. The Apple Watch is the first smart watch that at least rivals the lower to mid level Swiss watches on the market. With the steel Apple Watch, we're probably getting the build quality of a pretty good Swiss watch, just without the mechanical movement, which is a large part of the price. I wear Omega, Rolex, etc., and the Apple Watch is the only smart watch that looks good, to me, in terms of quality and appearance.

The good news is that Apple still offers Sport models that are more affordable, too.

 

[greytmom]

Wait until you actually have the watch before you decide if you are disappointed in it.

 

[Knowimagination]

No I have no touched it. But I don't care what anyone's says. This is not a product that will sale to fine watch buyers, or for that matter business men that are not big tech fans. It will sell to women, and tech guys like me. Apple has priced these watches like the target market is fine watch collectors. It's not at all that. Next year there will be a new better one. Apple and a lot of people here don't seem to get that people that buy Rolex, Tag, or any other the other quilt watch makers are not buying an Apple watch that will not have appeal in 2 years. All the other watches last a life time.

You and I will buy this because we are tech people, and I want something that is integrated with iOS. Had that been Apples idea we would have never seen a Watch edition, $1050 space black option. We would have seen a starting price of $250, and then maybe $600 for the top of the line. I don't doubt for a minute the quality of the watch and the bands. When I say overpriced, I am talking about smartwatch category in general. These are not smartwatch prices.

I get what you are saying I guess we just disagree in this aspect. I know several people who own multiple watches in the 800-1200 dollar range that they might wear once a month or so on some type of rotation. Spending 700 on the SS model I want for something that I am going to wear every day doesn't seem that outrageous to me. If I compare it to the costs on the rest of the smart watch industry then yes it does seem overpriced, but I haven't owned a smart watch for a reason. None of them have appealed to me at all in the looks department.

 

[bmac4]

I get what you are saying I guess we just disagree in this aspect. I know several people who own multiple watches in the 800-1200 dollar range that they might wear once a month or so on some type of rotation. Spending 700 on the SS model I want for something that I am going to wear every day doesn't seem that outrageous to me. If I compare it to the costs on the rest of the smart watch industry then yes it does seem overpriced, but I haven't owned a smart watch for a reason. None of them have appealed to me at all in the looks department.

Yeah I see what you are saying. I am going to get one, but I do feel it's a bit much. I think my disappointment just comes from the price. I was thinking it would come in a little lower. Maybe it's worth it, and I guess we will see in a couple of weeks.

----------

I think it's because there are lots and lots of people the spend $700-$1500+ on watches, and they may not be interested in a lower quality product. $30 million dollars of Swiss watches are sold per year, and the average price is around $750, which is probably low, since lower end brands like Swatch bring that average down a lot.

That's certainly the situation I'm in. None of the Android watches seem much higher quality than a decent Fossil watch, to me. The Apple Watch is the first smart watch that at least rivals the lower to mid level Swiss watches on the market. With the steel Apple Watch, we're probably getting the build quality of a pretty good Swiss watch, just without the mechanical movement, which is a large part of the price. I wear Omega, Rolex, etc., and the Apple Watch is the only smart watch that looks good, to me, in terms of quality and appearance.

The good news is that Apple still offers Sport models that are more affordable, too.

But don't those watches last a little longer than 2 years? In terms of style that is. I know a lot of people wear those watches, but you can expect to wear those for years. I don't think the same will be said about the Apple Watch.

 

[calderone]

Life is too short to be so concerned about the price of sub $1000 items.

If you want it buy, if you don't want it then don't buy.

 

[Apple blogger]

So I have been doing some thinking. I am a big Apple fan, and I love my iPhone 6+. I have been waiting on a great smartwatch to go with it. I have had a Pebble Steel for just over a year now, and it's a really good watch, but it not as solid as what I was thinking the Apple watch could be. Having something that would be integrated very well with iOS is what I was looking for. When Cook introduced us to the Apple watch in September. I had really high hopes for it. It's looked good, and it the strap designed seemed like it had a lot of customization.

Now 6 months later I am left thinking what the Apple watch could have been. Don't get me wrong I am getting an Apple watch, but I have to say I am disappointed. The biggest thing for me is the price. I know Apple is known for build quality, and I think the Apple Watch is a really nicely built watch. The thing is this is not a designer watch. Apple may think they have built one, but it's not. They have priced it like they think it is, but let's face it. It's a tech watch. Sure it looks good, but some high profile lawyer is not wearing one of these things everyday.

The pricing is just insane. I don't care what anyone says. The pricing is stupid. I don't care how much time, and how much design went into the bands. Again this is not a designer watch, so don't make bands that are designer style bands. The bands can't be the only thing that drove the price up. The sport version is $350 with a rubber band as the strap. That is $100 more than any other android wear smartwatch, and honestly I do not see $100 more in build quality and design in the Apple watch. I think Apple margins on these things are insane.

Now to the innovation. I am use to Apple knocking it out of the park in this area. Sure they are known for waiting and doing it better. The first iPhone did not do anything any other smartwatch had done before. It just did it better. I really do not see this as the case with the Apple watch. It does not add any killer feature, and I can't see what is does better than the Pebble and android wear. You get notifications on your watch that you can deal with right there. There are some cool apps, but honestly what does it do that android wear does not do just as well? I just expect more from Apple. Especially at this price point. It should be miles ahead of android wear for the asking price, and it's just not.

Like I said before I am getting one, but the sole reasoning being that I want a smartwatch that is built for the iPhone. My pebble is good, but I would like to see something that is built right into iOS. That is what the Apple watch does. I am just really disappointed, and feel like Apple left a lot on the table. I know people always say they leave features off so they have something for the next version. I just don't feel this is the problem with the Apple watch. It feels like Apple missed the point of the smartwatch. Yeah it needs to look good, but more importantly it needs to make using it with a smartphone a better experience. I think they were too concerned with trying to make it a designer watch, but yet they were not even able to do that. I know sales will be crazy, but I don't think this is Apples best work.

Let me know what you guys think. I am sure I will have some people telling me how wrong I am, but I really do feel Apple missed this one.

I agree with you on the prices .. I don't understand why they priced it .. From $350-$1099 only the metal is differebt and the bands is different.. Same features, same battery, same everything .. Only the body and bands are different... Why? I don't get it,. I can't commebt on the gold one, I've never own an Rolex or any other luxury one..
But innovation, it's much better than all others.. The communication, tap, draw, and heartbeat.. Awesome,amazing insane! The notifications is common to all watches.. The scrolling with the dial, is new.. Siri, and fast contact button is new... Well that's much better than any other...