Retail training info leaked and straps will be sold

[TheDeviceUser]

Lol, wut?
I think two things we can be CERTAIN of... the cheapest model will be the best selling. And, people will accessorize it.
Why would people NOT buy multiple color sport bands that will be undoubtedly cheaper than the others, after purchasing themselves the Sport?
Your logic kinda fizzled there...

Yes, some people might purchase different colour bands. However, I think most people purchasing a second band will by get an entirely different band, rather than just a different colour.

People who want a different band will want something very different. If it's just similar, i.e a different colour that is available. I don't think people will be that interested.

 

[TheDeviceUser]

Apple's market share is broadly similar in the UK vs the US - 47% in the US for iPhones in December 2014, vs 42% in the UK. That isn't a big enough difference to make them a "status symbol" in the UK but not the US.

Apple have a fairly dominant (40% +) market share in North America, Australia, UK and Japan. But in other western countries like Germany, Italy, and France their share is a lot smaller (< 20%).

Probably just my perception then. You certainly see a few Mac's around, but in general lifestyle environment, you see more PC's. Many are just not willing to put down more than £350 for a laptop.

I certainly see many more at University. It is the machine most people have. I'd say a good 70% are Mac's.

In terms of iPhone and iPad though, they are everywhere.

I think there still is something exclusive about the Mac, but not with the iPhone/iPad.

 

[cmChimera]

Apple knows the market and will price accordingly. It is just as easy to debate the opposite. Price the SS too low will devalue it to a point that it will not meet the fashion expectations and suffer in sales.

If looking for inexpensive you buy the Sport and if looking for more fashion exclusivity you buy the SS.

If Apple was going to price the SS almost the same price as the Sport then why even bother to make both models?

Others have already pointed to the exclusivity argument, but I just wanted to add, I'm not really looking for inexpensive, just reasonable. I want a stainless steel model. I'm willing to pay a reasonable premium over the Sport model for it. But too large of a disparity will make me get a Sport model. I'd venture a guess and say there are a lot of people with the same idea. I don't think Apple should ignore the market between $350 and $900. They'd likely miss out on a lot of sales. But if their product mix is what is rumored to be, with like 35-40% of the watches being Stainless steel, there's no way they're selling them for $1000.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm trying to make sure someone is ready for my heart attack on Monday if Apple announces that the stainless steel model costs $1000.

 

[NewbieCanada]

I agree completely. I don't get the "Apple is so exclusive" thing that some people talk about on forums. At least here in Canada and also in the US iPhones, MacBooks or iPads are so widespread that the last thing people would buy them for is to own some sort of "status symbol".

There are two kinds of status symbols. The exclusive kind and the "but all the other kids have them kind."

Things like Starbucks coffee, Ray-ban sunglasses, Sperry topsiders, Lacoste and Polo shirts, whatever brand of jeans is currently in vogue. Things that are within the reach of most people, including those of modest income, depending on what they're willing to sacrifice and/or how much debt they're willing to carry. All these things have perfectly reasonable alternatives that cost a fraction of the price. Many of them also have alternatives that cost about the same and many people wouldn't be caught dead with in public.

Apple is like Starbucks and Ray-ban.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I don't think Apple should ignore the market between $350 and $900. They'd likely miss out on a lot of sales. But if their product mix is what is rumored to be, with like 35-40% of the watches being Stainless steel, there's no way they're selling them for $1000.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm trying to make sure someone is ready for my heart attack on Monday if Apple announces that the stainless steel model costs $1000.

Why are people stuck on the idea that the SS models will start at $1000? That's the prediction for the high-end SS models with the link bracelet. A majority of the SS models are likely to be less than that so they're not really ignoring that segment of the market.

 

[TheDeviceUser]

Why are people stuck on the idea that the SS models will start at $1000? That's the prediction for the high-end SS models with the link bracelet. A majority of the SS models are likely to be less than that so they're not really ignoring that segment of the market.

I don't think it'll cost 1000 for the SS with Link. My personal predictions for SS is that it'll start at $499 with a white sport band.

$39 for sport bands.
$79 for classic buckle
$99 for leather loop
$129 for modern buckle
$159 for Milanese loop.
$199 for link bracelet.

So, I'd say if those prices turn out to be right. The SS with link band will be $659

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

I don't think it'll cost 1000 for the SS with Link. My personal predictions for SS is that it'll start at $499 with a white sport band.

$39 for sport bands.
$79 for classic buckle
$99 for leather loop
$129 for modern buckle
$159 for Milanese loop.
$199 for link bracelet.

So, I'd say if those prices turn out to be right. The SS with link band will be $659

You're lowballing worse than the lowballers on Craigslist and at garage sales!

 

[gcooldude86]

I don't think it'll cost 1000 for the SS with Link. My personal predictions for SS is that it'll start at $499 with a white sport band.

$39 for sport bands.
$79 for classic buckle
$99 for leather loop
$129 for modern buckle
$159 for Milanese loop.
$199 for link bracelet.

So, I'd say if those prices turn out to be right. The SS with link band will be $659

I'd say those are pretty close, the milanese loop might be a bit higher than that. Can't see any of the bands being more than $200.

 

[Rogifan]

I'd say those are pretty close, the milanese loop might be a bit higher than that. Can't see any of the bands being more than $200.

Gruber still thinks link bracelet will be $999 or $1999.

 

[gcooldude86]

Gruber still thinks link bracelet will be $999 or $1999.

Personally, I think he's way off. We might see the SS with link bracelett at $999, but not that price for just the band.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

Gruber still thinks link bracelet will be $999 or $1999.

You mean the model with the link bracelet.

 

[TheDeviceUser]

Gruber still thinks link bracelet will be $999 or $1999.

He is mad. There's no way they'll be that much.

Apple simply won't sell them.

----------

You mean the model with the link bracelet.

No, fairly sure he said the band alone!

 

[PowerBook-G5]

and no question is asked about storage, so all the watches should have the same storage.

I already think that the Apple Watch is a logistical nightmare: Two sizes, six color options, and 44 different bands. Having different storage capacities would make it even crazier.

Anyway, how much storage do we think it'll have? 4GB? 8GB?

 

[TheDeviceUser]

I already think that the Apple Watch is a logistical nightmare: Two sizes, six color options, and 44 different bands. Having different storage capacities would make it even crazier.

Anyway, how much storage do we think it'll have? 4GB? 8GB?

Yes exactly.

My personal storage guess is 8GB. You never know though, it might be 16GB.

I don't think they'll tell us though. It'll be like RAM is with the iPhone/iPad, we'll find out with a teardown.

 

[Rogifan]

You mean the model with the link bracelet.

This is what he tweeted: "What if steel link bracelet costs $1999 alone? It'll be at least $999."

So either he's off his rocker or we're all in for a major shock come Monday. IF Apple decides to go crazy high with pricing upselling people on bands will be almost non-existent. So then either Apple isn't looking to sell a lot of SS bands or they've jumped the shark and think the average iPhone user will be willing to spend $1K on a band. I certainly hope Gruber is way off.

 

[PowerBook-G5]

Yes exactly.

My personal storage guess is 8GB. You never know though, it might be 16GB.

I don't think they'll tell us though. It'll be like RAM is with the iPhone/iPad, we'll find out with a teardown.

I'm not sure about a teardown revealing how much RAM and storage it has, seeing as the Watch runs on the S1 chip. Chipworks will probably collaborate with iFixit again to find out what's inside the S1.

 

[Rogifan]

Yes exactly.

My personal storage guess is 8GB. You never know though, it might be 16GB.

I don't think they'll tell us though. It'll be like RAM is with the iPhone/iPad, we'll find out with a teardown.

When has Apple not told us how much storage is in a device?

 

[TheDeviceUser]

This is what he tweeted: "What if steel link bracelet costs $1999 alone? It'll be at least $999."

So either he's off his rocker or we're all in for a major shock come Monday. IF Apple decides to go crazy high with pricing upselling people on bands will be almost non-existent. So then either Apple isn't looking to sell a lot of SS bands or they've jumped the shark and think the average iPhone user will be willing to spend $1K on a band. I certainly hope Gruber is way off.

I think he is. From retail notes, Apple clearly wants to upsell, and Apple isn't stupid, they know people won't pay and arm and a leg to upgrade.

This is exactly what happened with the iPad. People will say it's very very expensive, then they'll be a huge shock as Tim/Phil/Kevin announce it's just $650 or something for a Link Bracelet Stainless model.

 

[gcooldude86]

This is what he tweeted: "What if steel link bracelet costs $1999 alone? It'll be at least $999."

So either he's off his rocker or we're all in for a major shock come Monday. IF Apple decides to go crazy high with pricing upselling people on bands will be almost non-existent. So then either Apple isn't looking to sell a lot of SS bands or they've jumped the shark and think the average iPhone user will be willing to spend $1K on a band. I certainly hope Gruber is way off.

If the bands go that high most people will buy the rubber bands. As it is now, a lot of people I have talked to find $350 a lot for the Apple Watch. To charge $1000 for a single band would be crazy.

 

[TheDeviceUser]

When has Apple not told us how much storage is in a device?

When there's only one model or when storage is important to a device. It's not that important with Watch, so I don't even think it'll be mentioned.

 

[Rogifan]

I think he is. From retail notes, Apple clearly wants to upsell, and Apple isn't stupid, they know people won't pay and arm and a leg to upgrade.

This is exactly what happened with the iPad. People will say it's very very expensive, then they'll be a huge shock as Tim/Phil/Kevin announce it's just $650 or something for a Link Bracelet Stainless model.

Except Gruber specifically wrote something on Daringfireball saying NOT to expect this to be like iPad where $1000 was the rumor and $499 was the actual price. I really hope he's wrong but he's not backing off any of his predictions.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

This is exactly what happened with the iPad. People will say it's very very expensive, then they'll be a huge shock as Tim/Phil/Kevin announce it's just $650 or something for a Link Bracelet Stainless model.

Not really the same thing. Gruber is the only one predicting those outrageous prices, as well as silliness such as the Milanese loop being cheaper than the leather bands and Apple charging a premium for the Space Gray model. The general public is the one that is lowballing. The actual prices will likely be somewhere in between so still a shock to the general public.

 

[Exile714]

Except Gruber specifically wrote something on Daringfireball saying NOT to expect this to be like iPad where $1000 was the rumor and $499 was the actual price. I really hope he's wrong but he's not backing off any of his predictions.

Goober knows exactly what he's doing. He's getting clicks on his website, and that means revenue for him. Think about this: how often is he mentioned in talks about Apple Watch pricing? You can't go three posts without his name being brought up. How many people here have visited his site?

I think he's seen how Ming Chi Kuo has gotten away with a spotty track record and still held on to his "most accurate" title. Gruber knows his outlandish predictions are so crazy they'll inevitably lead to clicks on his site.

The guy's very smart, no doubt. Even he knows his "predictions" are wrong but at the end of the day he'll claim Mea Culpa and his reputation will remain untarnished.

 

[Rogifan]

Goober knows exactly what he's doing. He's getting clicks on his website, and that means revenue for him. Think about this: how often is he mentioned in talks about Apple Watch pricing? You can't go three posts without his name being brought up. How many people here have visited his site?

I think he's seen how Ming Chi Kuo has gotten away with a spotty track record and still held on to his "most accurate" title. Gruber knows his outlandish predictions are so crazy they'll inevitably lead to clicks on his site.

The guy's very smart, no doubt. Even he knows his "predictions" are wrong but at the end of the day he'll claim Mea Culpa and his reputation will remain untarnished.

Maybe. I just don't see Gruber doing things for clicks.

 

[PowerBook-G5]

The logistical nightmare about the Apple Watch has gotten even crazier. I was just watching the 10 minute intro video with Jony Ive again and noticed this:





Those are Apple Watch Editions, with Sport Bands that have GOLD SNAPS (or whatever they are called). So apparently the bands will be customized for each collection. This is crazy.