Haven't wound this GMT Master II in two months and it looks as good as it did when I bought it 21 years ago.
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Planned Obsolescence????
- Thread starter chasescott66
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Haven't wound this GMT Master II in two months and it looks as good as it did when I bought it 21 years ago.
The device is obsolete the moment your phone is no longer compatible with it. So it just depends on how long iOS supports specific watch models. My guess every 3 years.
Well, just look at how desirable the first generation iPhone is now. You can't even give away your first born son for one.
Btw, Ben Bajarin tweeted that when he asked Apple reps at the event about upgradeability they didn't say "no", they said they had "nothing to say about that at this time". Ben also said that Apple designers spent a lot of time explaining the watches modular design.
I still think it's possible we see some sort of upgrade program. Obviously Apple put a lot of effort into this design, especially the bands. Apple is treating this product like a watch. How frequently do nice watches get redesigned? Maybe Apple hasn't yet figured out exactly how it will all work and that's why they're being mum on the subject. They confirmed the battery was replaceable so if the S1 chip wasn't why wouldn't they just say no?
I still think it's possible we see some sort of upgrade program. Obviously Apple put a lot of effort into this design, especially the bands. Apple is treating this product like a watch. How frequently do nice watches get redesigned? Maybe Apple hasn't yet figured out exactly how it will all work and that's why they're being mum on the subject. They confirmed the battery was replaceable so if the S1 chip wasn't why wouldn't they just say no?
Lol, I know a few people on the AV Forums that were upgrading their Panasonic plasma every year!
That's too much for me.
I think Apple Watch will last for quite a while. iOS devices are beginning to catch up with Mac benchmarks, and when they do I'm sure that they will also be on a 4-5 year or more cycle like Macs are. watchOS is just the beginning, I can see a convergence for long term support for watchOS, tvOS and iOS just like OS X.
Not sure why anyone rather have something pretty/handsome, expensive, but dumb and can only do 1-2 things, than something smart, jack of all trade could do hundred/thousand things and more in future, AND cheaper?
By the way, no one force us to upgrade every time there is new iPhone/AW/iPad.
By the way, no one force us to upgrade every time there is new iPhone/AW/iPad.
Obsolete: no longer in use or no longer useful (Webster's).
In my experience it takes a long, long time for Apple devices to become obsolete.
Heck I even went through a phase in 2004 or so when I bought an Apple IIc and monitor off eBay so I could play the original Zork.
In my experience it takes a long, long time for Apple devices to become obsolete.
Heck I even went through a phase in 2004 or so when I bought an Apple IIc and monitor off eBay so I could play the original Zork.
Uh, my mom had a 3GS up until a few months ago when I got her a 4S LOL. Still worked fine.
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Wow... That's cool. I'm going to see how long I can last with my 6. I'm going to try and hold out until iPhone 8.
Well, things has to be put in perspective. I mean I have seen people spending more than the Apple Watch prices on things like shoes and clothing where they only wear them once or twice at best.
I do know to not buy a first gen Apple product. I mean it's quite obvious that the second gen one will be significantly better (iPhone -> 3G, iPad -> iPad 2, Macbook Air -> current unibody design, iPod nano -> aluminum, iPod shuffle -> smaller+aluminum+clip, etc) since the first model is sort of a test model, especially in terms of design. So you can only blame yourself if you rushed into buying a first gen Apple product and then complained about "planned obsolescence."
Considering Apple is pushing the watch as a new app platform, the internal SoC is going to be an important factor imo, especially to keep things smooth and power efficient.
I do know to not buy a first gen Apple product. I mean it's quite obvious that the second gen one will be significantly better (iPhone -> 3G, iPad -> iPad 2, Macbook Air -> current unibody design, iPod nano -> aluminum, iPod shuffle -> smaller+aluminum+clip, etc) since the first model is sort of a test model, especially in terms of design. So you can only blame yourself if you rushed into buying a first gen Apple product and then complained about "planned obsolescence."
Considering Apple is pushing the watch as a new app platform, the internal SoC is going to be an important factor imo, especially to keep things smooth and power efficient.
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
Yes, it will go obsolete just like every other watch that you buy goes obsolete in a few months when a new version comes out. In fact, I bet many people buy brand new "obsolete" watches without even realizing it!! Of course that's using your unusual definition of "obsolete" which is "a newer version is available"
I guess my iPhone 6+ is obsolete. And my iPad mini 2 is obsolete. And my 2013 MBA is obsolete. Dang it Apple! Please don't release updates on any of your products for at least 5 years! Are you planning to make all my devices go obsolete?? I bet you even have plans to update the Apple TV AGAIN! Sounds like a conspiracy! You'd better call dateline!
I guess my iPhone 6+ is obsolete. And my iPad mini 2 is obsolete. And my 2013 MBA is obsolete. Dang it Apple! Please don't release updates on any of your products for at least 5 years! Are you planning to make all my devices go obsolete?? I bet you even have plans to update the Apple TV AGAIN! Sounds like a conspiracy! You'd better call dateline!
The Apple Watch only as obsolete as you want it to be. I usually have upgrade-itis, so will be difficult to resist the new one, but on the same token, I've skipped a couple of iphone upgrades (skipped 3G from original, and skipped 5S from 5), so with the Watch, who knows, I may keep it and skip rev2, and wait til the 3.
Aside from "wanting" the latest and greatest, there's no reason a 1-2 generation old Apple product won't run perfectly fine with the software updates (in some cases, they up running better over time as the software gets somewhat optimized... although in some cases worse too.... )
It will be interesting to see what the upgrade cycle will be on the Watch.
Aside from "wanting" the latest and greatest, there's no reason a 1-2 generation old Apple product won't run perfectly fine with the software updates (in some cases, they up running better over time as the software gets somewhat optimized... although in some cases worse too.... )
It will be interesting to see what the upgrade cycle will be on the Watch.
Mad Mac Maniac
macrumors 601
You know what I think is interesting? How many people think the watch will have a longer than average refresh cycle. The type of product it is and the focus Apple is giving it both SCREAM yearly refresh cycle (+-4 months) to me. Maybe I'll end up being wrong, but I honestly can't imagine this having the 1.5-3 year refresh cycle that so many people are predicting. I think that's "wishful" thinking from people like to OP who think that a new model coming out means their product is obsolete. I don't hear people complaining that their $700-$1,000 iPhone's go "obsolete" every year...
It is a stupid statement made by ignorant people. There is no such thing as "planned obsolescence". The tech industry is fast moving and hardware advances happen constantly. The only limitation to what software can do is the hardware. As hardware advances software takes advantage of that at a pace that leaves a window of usability to old hardware. Slower, older hardware simply can't be as performant forever without limiting the potential of new hardware. Simple as that.
This is how it has always been since the beginning of personal computing and this is how how it is going to be until such time no more hardware advances are possible.
Assuming he would even want it. A mechanical watch is a negative value for me meaning I find not carrying one around at all more valuable than carrying one around. The apple watch (or other smart watches) change the cost/benefit ratio and make a watch worth wearing again.
My grandfather gave me some high end watch when he passed. I tried to give it up to someone who would actually wear the thing but no takers. In a box it went. Maybe my future grandkids would have an interest *shrug*.
Haven't wound this GMT Master II in two months and it looks as good as it did when I bought it 21 years ago.
To me that looks the same as my cheap casio dive watch (MDV102). High end watches seem to be a very, very niche hobby that only horophiles appreciate. Even if I was a multi millionaire I would find 10k for that watch absurd.
My dad gave me his Omega. When he did, though, he said that he had been hanging onto it, unsure of what to do, until I started showing an interest in nice watches (which was only three years ago).
I don't wear it much, but it's the prettiest little watch I've got.
Send it to me.
I think that in some industries there has been a notion of "planned obsolescence", but tech isn't one of them. If tech companies don't continue to go forward rapidly, then the only thing obsolete will be them because they will go out of business if they don't stay at the front of the curve. If anything, Apple does this less than others. Macs many generations old work way better than older computers of other types.
I don't think there is going to be any light speed increase in function with the Apple Watch... it will progress slowly. Size, speed, and fashion will likely be the primary enhancements in the next round. The biggest thing they could do to help their customers would be to keep the band connector the same for a few generations. Otherwise, people will be reluctant to buy in to the band ecosystem.
My dad gave me his Omega. When he did, though, he said that he had been hanging onto it, unsure of what to do, until I started showing an interest in nice watches (which was only three years ago).
I don't wear it much, but it's the prettiest little watch I've got.
Send it to me.
I should have been more clear, I wanted to give it to someone in the family that would use it. I have a large family and 0 people wear watches.