Hi all. I have an Apple Watch Series 4 (battery replaced last year), 2021 M1 iPad, and an iPhone 14 Pro Max. Since I got my 14PM a month ago, I have essentially stopped using my iPad. Two days ago, I made the decision to stop using my Apple Watch (got tired of having to charge it) and buy a nice analog watch.
I’m 50 and I feel like I want to simplify or minimize the number of devices I use. My 14PM seems to do everything I need (I have a Kindle for reading).
I’m interested to hear if anyone else has decided to reduce the number of devices they use and take a more simple route.
Thank you.
I own tons of gadgets and computers. So, I'm probably the wrong person to talk about wholesale consolidating devices. However, I have a prospective that may be similar to what you're looking for:
1. I've owned an Apple Watch at two different non-consecutive times. One was back before the Series 1 and Series 2 jointly arrived on the scene. The second was with a Series 1 at the time when the Series 3 was all the rage. Each time, I tried it, found that it helped me with a couple of things, but was more of a hassle than I cared for, so I discontinued using it and then it became abandoned. It's possible that I might see if a cellular watch might offer me the long-desired ability to leave the house and not worry about leaving my phone at home, while still otherwise being reachable and to make emergency calls if necessary. But, honestly, that's probably the best chance the Apple Watch has at luring me back.
2. I've owned Apple TVs from the second generation through the fourth generation (aka Apple TV HD). I loved the second and third generation, but found that tvOS just wasn't doing it for me. I found all the functionality I wanted out of the $50 Chomecast (4K) with Google TV and found that I just didn't enjoy using my Apple TV at all anymore.
3. I've been an iPad user in one form or another since the first generation iPad. However, since the iPad mini came about, I've just found myself losing interest in the "full-sized" 9.7-11-inch iPads. I've owned three different iPad Air generations that I've found myself just not using all that much because I use my iPad mini instead. I enjoy my 4th Generation iPad Air a lot. It's a great tablet even in an era when M1 iPads seem to be getting all of the fuss and features in new iPadOS releases. It feels weird to say because that size of iPad seems so iconic compared to the mini and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, but the Air and the 11-inch Pro and iPads of that general size are just not as much my jam.
In all of these three cases, I've adopted an Apple product, whether because I thought it was cool, or because I had used it in the past, and in all three cases, I determined that I either just didn't need it or that it wasn't the best device to suit those needs. tvOS frustrates me and while the current Apple TV is the best deal that any of the tvOS Apple TVs have ever been, I just don't see the value in it when a Chromecast costing $10 less than a replacement Apple TV remote does everything I need it to and better. I don't hate the Apple Watch; I just found it an extra chore to wear and didn't find that it added much value to my life. The iPad Air is a cool piece of tech and the 5th Generation Model is still the one I generally recommend the average iPad user; it's just not the one I enjoy using most frequently.
Long winded rant short, simplifying tech shouldn't be about lowering the number of devices in your life. Sure, that's a useful side-benefit in a lot of cases. But it should really be about honing in on what you enjoy using and what you are inclined to use. If your iPhone 14 Pro Max covers your bases, then great! Whatever flows and works naturally for you should be what you strive for regardless of how old you are.
