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Order Thread for UK (BST)
- Thread starter SMIDG3T
- Start date
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I just got back from my appointment and it solidified why I don't want one. First of all, the Apple Store employee had never even touched one and it was her first try-on appointment so the whole thing was just awkward, she didn't know anything about it or really what to tell us. None of the try-on models would even light up or switch on and she didn't know why. We couldn't try any Watch we wanted because they didn't even have a few of the models in the store (42mm SS with Milanese was one of them??) You can tell the employees are not trained in assisting customers to try on jewellery, that's not their job. Their job is to sell computers. It's all wrong.
Secondly, it just didn't feel like an Apple product. Not on my wrist and not in my hand. It didn't feel like something Apple should have made. It's tiny, slow and downright awkward to use. None of the features actually worked on the fully working demo model, she couldn't work out how to reply to a message and the Force Touch with tempormental. The interface is not intuitive and the digital crown doesn't make interacting with it easier.
Overall, I left with a bad taste in my mouth and worry. I'm worried because I don't think it's a product category Apple should have entered into and I'm worried that most of the pre-orderers yesterday rushed into a purchase without making an informed decision.
The whole thing feels wrong and I am so disappointed. I love Apple to bits but...what IS this? Avoid. I'm really hoping things get better with the second generation - which will no doubt show its face by the end of this year.
Secondly, it just didn't feel like an Apple product. Not on my wrist and not in my hand. It didn't feel like something Apple should have made. It's tiny, slow and downright awkward to use. None of the features actually worked on the fully working demo model, she couldn't work out how to reply to a message and the Force Touch with tempormental. The interface is not intuitive and the digital crown doesn't make interacting with it easier.
Overall, I left with a bad taste in my mouth and worry. I'm worried because I don't think it's a product category Apple should have entered into and I'm worried that most of the pre-orderers yesterday rushed into a purchase without making an informed decision.
The whole thing feels wrong and I am so disappointed. I love Apple to bits but...what IS this? Avoid. I'm really hoping things get better with the second generation - which will no doubt show its face by the end of this year.
Just got back from my appointment. Here's my observations/opinions:
38mm vs 42mm
There really isn't a big difference. Either watch could suit anyone, regardless of wrist size or gender. It's truly personal preference. The 38mm fitted me better (165mm wrist) but I ordered the 42mm and I stand by that because I wanted a bigger screen.
Bands/straps
Sport band is comfy, soft and very nice in all colours. I tried on the black and white and loved them both.
Milanese loop is really not for me but it's very comfortable, well fitted and goes lovely with the SS or silver sport.
Modern buckle was my biggest disappointment. The leather felt like plastic. I liked the style of the buckle but hated the material. It was quite hard and rigid.
Leather loop was my favourite. So comfortable. The blue is beautiful in person. Got home and ordered the blue leather loop to go with my Spave Grey sport (tried it with the band and loved it).
Other info
Played with the demo units a little. System seemed slightly slow. Like noticeable lag. Nothing I'm worried about because software update will fix it.
Also, while all bands will technically fit in all models (provided they are the right size) the steel and aluminium were not made to go together (so the employee said, and wouldn't recommend it).
Overall I am happy with my preorder (and my more recently ordered leather loop(. Roll on 24th April!
38mm vs 42mm
There really isn't a big difference. Either watch could suit anyone, regardless of wrist size or gender. It's truly personal preference. The 38mm fitted me better (165mm wrist) but I ordered the 42mm and I stand by that because I wanted a bigger screen.
Bands/straps
Sport band is comfy, soft and very nice in all colours. I tried on the black and white and loved them both.
Milanese loop is really not for me but it's very comfortable, well fitted and goes lovely with the SS or silver sport.
Modern buckle was my biggest disappointment. The leather felt like plastic. I liked the style of the buckle but hated the material. It was quite hard and rigid.
Leather loop was my favourite. So comfortable. The blue is beautiful in person. Got home and ordered the blue leather loop to go with my Spave Grey sport (tried it with the band and loved it).
Other info
Played with the demo units a little. System seemed slightly slow. Like noticeable lag. Nothing I'm worried about because software update will fix it.
Also, while all bands will technically fit in all models (provided they are the right size) the steel and aluminium were not made to go together (so the employee said, and wouldn't recommend it).
Overall I am happy with my preorder (and my more recently ordered leather loop(. Roll on 24th April!
I won't repeat everything I said as I've already responded to you in the other thread you posted in suffice it to say whilst I sympathise with your experience as mine was totally different I have to whole heartedly disagree with you about the watch itself.
I think the nature of the appointments will improve over the next week or so. Apple really dropped the ball with the training. Retail staff should have had at least a couple in store a week before release for training purposes. A lot of staff had a very quick training session an hour before the store opened to actually use an Apple Watch.
Ordered a 42mm Sport with white band at 8.03 using the app and luckily I got a 24/4-8/5 delivery estimate.
I was up at 7 and sitting on the App Store on my Mac at around 7.50 but even at 8.02 the store never came back up. It was only after a quick and risky switch to MR that I realised that the store had gone live in the app.
I reckon a minute later and I'd be waiting for a June delivery, I feel for those people who have to wait so long, but then I'm not really confident that mine is going to turn up on launch day anyway, I'm unlucky like that.
I do feel like I should have gone to a store to check it out first but my nearest is Bath and it's over an hour away, so the whole thing is a bit of a gamble but if it sucks then I'd imagine the value and demand will stay high for a while so selling it on will be possible.
I was up at 7 and sitting on the App Store on my Mac at around 7.50 but even at 8.02 the store never came back up. It was only after a quick and risky switch to MR that I realised that the store had gone live in the app.
I reckon a minute later and I'd be waiting for a June delivery, I feel for those people who have to wait so long, but then I'm not really confident that mine is going to turn up on launch day anyway, I'm unlucky like that.
I do feel like I should have gone to a store to check it out first but my nearest is Bath and it's over an hour away, so the whole thing is a bit of a gamble but if it sucks then I'd imagine the value and demand will stay high for a while so selling it on will be possible.
I ordered the SS 42mm with bright blue leather loop as soon as i could get on the store at around 8:10 and it was still 4-6 weeks it quickly moved to June, so I think had you left it you would be looking at a June date.
In person, it is kinda small, however I got used to it, and soon the screen size became natural to me. It's so light, you won't feel it. I have very small wrists as well (135-140mm), and the 38mm is perfect.
After waiting for the web store to come back online, I was amazed I still managed to get the 42mm watch with black classic buckle pre-ordered for the first set of dates. Especially since most of the other people around me (bunch of friends that were all pre-ordering it as well) had their desired models slip into mid-May.
I can't wait for it to arrive!
I can't wait for it to arrive!
Just come out of apple.
They didn't have loads of models so couldn't do much swapping. But WOW. You really have gotta see these watches in person #. They are an absolute thing of beauty. No where near as big as online photos make out. They are perfect. 42mm is perfect for my wrist. Doesn't even cover my whole wrist either just looked good.
The sport band is so soft and comfy. Definitely a good every day band. The green band really is a nice green. It's not neon green as sometimes appears in photos, it's just a nice green colour.
Milanese loop looks stunning! So soft and comfy too. A fine choice for evening wear.
Also tried on the link band. Very clever how removing links is so easy. It was comfy and fine. But I liked the infinitely adjustable-ness of the Milanese.
I had a play around on the demo unit too, the screen is brilliant. Fully retina and sharp as you'd expect now from apple. The crown is quite small, but very usable. I think I will find myself still scrolling by tapping the screen up and down which is fine and actually didn't obscure my view of it at all.
Overall just an amazing product for 1st gen. So glad I preordered at 8:02am!
They didn't have loads of models so couldn't do much swapping. But WOW. You really have gotta see these watches in person #. They are an absolute thing of beauty. No where near as big as online photos make out. They are perfect. 42mm is perfect for my wrist. Doesn't even cover my whole wrist either just looked good.
The sport band is so soft and comfy. Definitely a good every day band. The green band really is a nice green. It's not neon green as sometimes appears in photos, it's just a nice green colour.
Milanese loop looks stunning! So soft and comfy too. A fine choice for evening wear.
Also tried on the link band. Very clever how removing links is so easy. It was comfy and fine. But I liked the infinitely adjustable-ness of the Milanese.
I had a play around on the demo unit too, the screen is brilliant. Fully retina and sharp as you'd expect now from apple. The crown is quite small, but very usable. I think I will find myself still scrolling by tapping the screen up and down which is fine and actually didn't obscure my view of it at all.
Overall just an amazing product for 1st gen. So glad I preordered at 8:02am!
Attachments
Agreed on the fit. I have a 180mm wrist and it was by far the most comfortable. Sport strap was good but the fine adjustability of the leather loop is awesome.
Orders overview on app and website seems down again. Maybe they're amending some of the delivery dates? 
Orders overview on app and website seems down again. Maybe they're amending some of the delivery dates?
Yeah I saw this! Let's hope for a 24th exact date!!
Orders overview on app and website seems down again. Maybe they're amending some of the delivery dates?
It think it is just the regular Sunday morning downtime. I seem to remember this from previous iPhone and iPad launches.
I did and they were unsure but general consensus was 'possibly'. I'm hoping that's the case as want to pick up a Sports band as soon as possible so didn't order online where it says a May delivery.
I would also like to pick up some additional bands. Hopefully on release day otherwise I'm just going to have my White sports band to tide me over for quite a while.
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Yeah I saw this! Let's hope for a 24th exact date!!
My delivery date didn't change. Still says 24/4-08/05.
I also have a 180mm wrist and I've pre-ordered a SS with bright blue leather loop medium size. From what i've read online the leather loop seems to be getting some good reviews
I have a similar sized wrist (tiny bit larger, just under 185mm). Which size leather loop did you try on? I seem to be on the boundary between the two sizes.
Just got back from the Stratford store somewhat surprised.
Watch impressions:
- The Watch itself is really quite compact- both the 38mm and 42mm were a good size. The 38mm looked a tad small on my fat wrist, but with some band combinations would do a good job hiding the fact that it was a smart watch.
- I really liked the screen, really crisp and vibrant.
- The SS had a good weight to it, it was noticeable on the wrist but not heavy at all.
- The Sport is looks and feels great. I didn't get a cheap vibe from it at all.
Strap impressions:
- Likewise, the Sport strap is really quite soft and comfortable. Definitely going to get one.
- The Milanese loop is overrated. Comfortable, but didn't look too great in person.
- The Leather loop was really nice and supple. I disagree with the Verge review that said it felt more like plastic than leather.
- The Classic Leather buckle is really quite nice, the quality of the leather is spot on. Really understated, almost conservative if that's you're thing.
- Modern buckle was quite nice, the clasp is incredibly well done. It's quite a slim band.
- The Link bracelet was quite well engineered in the way it dismantles etc, but not sure if it's worth the stand alone price though. Not as comfortable as the link bracelet I have on my current mechanical watch which is a standard Seiko that cost far less the band alone.
Happy with my choice of 42mm/SS/Classic, my mind had been put to rest.
Didn't take any pictures unfortunately! Felt a bit awkward doing so in a busy setting.
Watch impressions:
- The Watch itself is really quite compact- both the 38mm and 42mm were a good size. The 38mm looked a tad small on my fat wrist, but with some band combinations would do a good job hiding the fact that it was a smart watch.
- I really liked the screen, really crisp and vibrant.
- The SS had a good weight to it, it was noticeable on the wrist but not heavy at all.
- The Sport is looks and feels great. I didn't get a cheap vibe from it at all.
Strap impressions:
- Likewise, the Sport strap is really quite soft and comfortable. Definitely going to get one.
- The Milanese loop is overrated. Comfortable, but didn't look too great in person.
- The Leather loop was really nice and supple. I disagree with the Verge review that said it felt more like plastic than leather.
- The Classic Leather buckle is really quite nice, the quality of the leather is spot on. Really understated, almost conservative if that's you're thing.
- Modern buckle was quite nice, the clasp is incredibly well done. It's quite a slim band.
- The Link bracelet was quite well engineered in the way it dismantles etc, but not sure if it's worth the stand alone price though. Not as comfortable as the link bracelet I have on my current mechanical watch which is a standard Seiko that cost far less the band alone.
Happy with my choice of 42mm/SS/Classic, my mind had been put to rest.
Didn't take any pictures unfortunately! Felt a bit awkward doing so in a busy setting.
I was the same when I was at the Stratford store yesterday. It was just too busy to take pics.
I just saw the tv commercial for Apple Watch on Sky Sports 2. Very much in the same vein as the iPhone commercials
Ha yeah I've just seen that. Came as a surprise waiting for the Manchester derby.
I've seen in twice it the past hour or so. It seems like they are really getting into gear with promotion. Things are moving.