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Public Reaction to Your Apple Watch

Third day I've been in the office since getting it last Friday...and I've been keeping a relatively low-profile with it. Haven't been showing it off, and it's usually hidden under my shirt sleeves.

It's just announced itself when I got an email ping and casually glanced at my wrist.

"Is that the Apple Watch?"

Cue 5 minutes of questions from the people who sit around me. Frankly, I find the "What does it do?" question very tiresome, as it always seems to be asked by people who are already pretty dubious about the whole thing.

My initial answer was "Well, it's a watch" before talking about the key attributes for me (the health/workout aspects, the message pings/the remote camera). I don't think anyone was too impressed. I really don't care though.

Since the guy next to me wears a particularly bling-y watch worth hundreds more, I was able to ask him what his watch does too. His reply "It tells the time!". Um... yeah, mine too. And more.

Frankly, I find it all a bit puzzling. People don't seem to be too bothered when others spend lots of money on a watch or fitness wearable, but as soon as you stick an Apple logo on it, they want you to justify your purchase.
 
So far, I've only showed it to friends and family, who have been mostly appreciative. Then again, the people I associate with are well accustomed to me chasing after the latest tech, and are broadly supportive of whatever makes me happy. (I'm lucky; I have good people in my life.)

Friends (aged 25 - 45) don't really seem that impressed, and seem to prefer to stick to their smart phones. One asked if I really found the wrist notifs to be more convenient than the phone ones, and when I said I did said he didn't think he would, as his phone is always in his pants pocket anyway so he gets "thigh notifs" that are just as good, which is fair enough.

Family (aged 55+) seemed very impressed by the array of features available, but they seemed happy enough with a regular, cheaper pedometer all the same. One was considering getting a Watch until she found out the price, and then quickly lost interest, especially upon hearing you'd have to get a new iPhone, as well.

Overall, the responses have been positive but definitely less in the vein of "I must get one" and more along the lines of "That's a cute gadget for someone who loves getting new gadgets". It's cold as hell here right now, though, and my Watch has been hiding up a sleeve since I got it, so only those who knew in advance that I was getting one have inquired about it. Perhaps once my arms are bare in public, it will get more attention and different responses from others.

Only time will tell whether wearables will really take off beyond the fashion market and the realm of people who are ultra invested in new tech, I think. Apple does a good line in popularizing niche devices for the general market, though, so the Watch could make good strides in making wearables more desirable, especially with all the celeb endorsements they're getting lately. I suspect that will definitely improve public opinion overall.
 
I have the 38mm Sportts watch with white band. It is so unpretentious that no one, not one person, has said anything about it or given any evidence of having noticed it. I have called it to the attention of two people who I know, and in each case I got an, "Oh, the IWatch [sic]...how nice."

That is fine with me, I'm not the kind of person who wants to boast about my possessions, I just like to use them.
 
EVERYONE, especially students, want to talk about it, for a minimum of five minutes! Which I don't mind at all, but I'm telling you, it will also be very attractive also to thieves. Remember there was a day when people were getting held up at gunpoint for their tennis shoes! Just be careful!
 
some guy sitting next to me waiting at the train station just "secretly" leaned over and took a picture of my arm :D

I feel used
 
Well, a week in and I've had exactly 2 people notice my watch enough to say something about it, and they were both 4th graders (I'm a science teacher for a museum). The 9 year olds are impressed and jealous; most adults don't seem to notice/care.
 
Them: "Is that the new iWatch?"

Me: "No, it's the new Apple Watch"

83 times and counting.... :confused:
 
iTom17 said:
I actually do think it will be hard for thieves to steal an Apple Watch from your wrist. It's quite heavy (at least, as of what I've read in a lot reviews), so you would feel when it's not there. Also, when walking your arms constantly move around. So you get to see the Watch the whole time. And last but not least, the Apple Watch is strapped on your wrist with a band. Especially the Sport band, the Modern Buckle e.g. won't be easy to take off. Milanese Loop is another story. :p

I don't think thieves will even try to steal an Apple Watch. Could be wrong of course. :p
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I've worn the Milanese loop for about a week now - it would take some real skill to get it off my wrist unnoticed. The only way it comes off is dropping over your entire hand.
 
jbachandouris said:
I was trying to avoid talking about it, but my teacher at night school noticed it (blue band sport is hard to miss).

The one person who asked about it (and he's only a few years older than me-I'm 47) wanted to know 'what does it do?'

And yet no feature I mentioned seemed to matter to him. It seemed like he wanted to call it a waste of money, but decided not to say so.

Sorry to say, I'm not a very good ambassador for the product as I have a hard time justifying it's use as well.

Notifications on watch, instead of phone. Heart/health features. Apple Pay. And of course, it tells time.
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What's funny is that people buy way more expensive watches that just tell time and no one gives them crap for that.
 
Fabienne said:
I have the 38mm Sportts watch with white band. It is so unpretentious that no one, not one person, has said anything about it or given any evidence of having noticed it. I have called it to the attention of two people who I know, and in each case I got an, "Oh, the IWatch [sic]...how nice."

That is fine with me, I'm not the kind of person who wants to boast about my possessions, I just like to use them.
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Is the white really that less pretentious than the blue? I was trying to keep a low profile, but my instructor noticed it.

The only annoyance is that you have no choice but to learn its features like a salesman as everyone asks 'what does it do?' Since I was on the fence on buying one in the first place, I need that answer to justify it to myself.
 
I got a hulk themed sports watch so it really stands out. Pretty much everyone I pass by look at it :rolleyes:
 
I have also been staying fairly low key. The SS with Classic Buckle just looks like a nice watch so it does not call attention to itself. It will probably be more noticeable if they ever start shipping the extra bands and I will have the green on.

I had some stupid questions from a woman I work with who hasn't actually seen it but called me from another office. She said she heard they all shatter the first time you drop them. I told her NO, I only heard about one or two in a million. Her main source of news is Drudge Report and Fox News. I told her she can get more truth from the National Enquirer.
 
tried to keep it low key

nope

boss asked me about it not once but TWICE in two staff meetings.

Que folks pointing to their 20 dollar timex and telling me that i'd need to charge it's battery every 2 hours.
 
I got mine yesterday, 42mm Space Gray Sport. Only one person recognized it at work. He asked "Is that the Apple Watch? Can you make calls on it?" He was genuinely curious, and I explained that it still needs to be connected to an iPhone. "Very cool," was his response.
 
ReallyBigFeet said:
And my Omega Speedmaster DSOTM is made from Zirconium Oxide and Ceramics. Clearly the premium/luxury watch makers are innovating way beyond aluminum and stainless steel.

The leather backed teflon coated nylon strap with a ceramic buckle itself is something that even Jony Ive would drool over.
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I'm still in processing and awaiting my AW, but nothing says we can't all stop and admire a beautiful timepiece.
 
jbachandouris said:
Is the white really that less pretentious than the blue? I was trying to keep a low profile, but my instructor noticed it.

The only annoyance is that you have no choice but to learn its features like a salesman as everyone asks 'what does it do?' Since I was on the fence on buying one in the first place, I need that answer to justify it to myself.
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There are a lot of white watches out there, white bands, and plastic band watches. That blue is a bit particular to Apple, so I think it might stand out to people who are "on the ball".
 
The Cashier at Whole Foods got excited when I bought some grapes with it tonight. She said I was her first watch customer.

It's interesting what people get excited about.
 
My wife had hers on during our recent trip to Universal Studios - most people are pretty engaged with all the things going on around them, so it was actually folks working at the park and resort that noticed it. They were all super enthusiastic, asked a few questions, all said it was high on their "want list".

:cool:
 
Couple people at work had a few comments. But since I do sprinkler systems no one really cares, or is a tech geek. Bunch of old city workers. Being in my 30's they ask me all computer, phone related questions. Haha

Ran into and old friend today he noticed and asked how I liked it.

High school age girl at my church noticed and asked a couple questions. Overall she didn't seem to care much.
 
KauaiBruce said:
I had some stupid questions from a woman I work with who hasn't actually seen it but called me from another office. She said she heard they all shatter the first time you drop them. I told her NO, I only heard about one or two in a million. Her main source of news is Drudge Report and Fox News. I told her she can get more truth from the National Enquirer.
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I'm unfortunately too familiar with these types... :rolleyes:
 
The most excited reaction I have seen so far was from the Qantas Lounge receptionist, when I used the Qantas app on the watch to check in to the lounge. He insisted that I also show it to his colleague, who said "wow, I thought it would be ugly, but it looks really nice! Is it true that it's $500?" The first receptionist said, "no, it's more like $1000, isn't it?" I'm a bit embarrassed by the price-tag, but confirmed that my watch (SS Milanese) was indeed closer to AU$1000, but that there was also a AU$500 version (the Sport), so they were both right. They'd obviously both read about the launch.
 
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