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Smart watches are just a fad

M

meechy

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Jul 24, 2010
284
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What is the purpose of a smart watch? I really can't see any benefit of owning one. Are we really getting that lazy that we can't even reach out to our phone to check a new message/email etc?

It's just a fad and i predict in 2 years time smart watches will be a thing of the past.
 
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Yes. Just like 3D TV. Look how that imploded. No one cares about it now, totally imploded.

Same thing with this Apple Watch. Having to be tethered to an iPhone absolutely kills it. There's no point.

Maybe in five years, when the Apple Watch is cut down 2/3 in size, and it has its own radio for wireless communication, maybe then there is a reason for it. But not now.
 
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Velin said:
Yes. Just like 3D TV. Look how that imploded. No one cares about it now, totally imploded.

Same thing with this Apple Watch. Having to be tethered to an iPhone absolutely kills it. There's no point.

Maybe in five years, when the Apple Watch is cut down 2/3 in size, and it has its own radio for wireless communication, maybe then there is a reason for it. But not now.
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I love 3D. It was just poorly implemented for television. It's wonderful for sports games and travel/environmental documentaries.
 
meechy said:
What is the purpose of a smart watch? I really can't see any benefit of owning one. Are we really getting that lazy that we can't even reach out to our phone to check a new message/email etc?

It's just a fad and i predict in 2 years time smart watches will be a thing of the past.
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If you're at a meeting, or in class, or something where it's inappropriate to take out your phone...then you've got your smart watch.

It also monitors health BS. And I guess the different skins for the clock portion of it are worth $349 to a certain type of consumer.

I don't see myself buying one, or at least not this first generation model which doesn't offer me anything I care about, but there is a market for it.
 
shinji said:
I don't see myself buying one, or at least not this first generation model which doesn't offer me anything I care about, but there is a market for it.
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I'll hold out for the round version in a few years.
 
Photography said:
Let's all bookmark this thread and come back to it in a few years to laugh at the OP. Seriously, the same thing was said about the iPod, iPhone, and iPad when they launched. Look at the massive success they brought.
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Wrong, they are all totally different standalone products. This watch is not, it's just an overpriced accessory which cannot fully work without an iPhone.
 
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meechy said:
What is the purpose of a smart watch? I really can't see any benefit of owning one. Are we really getting that lazy that we can't even reach out to our phone to check a new message/email etc?
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That's what they said about pocket watches. Anybody you know actually still buys a pocket watch?

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Yr Blues said:
I'll hold out for the round version in a few years.
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There are car collectors who still buy cars with round headlights. Not as many as buy today's hybrid cars though... even the luxury cars now seem to have bizarre LED patterns in front.
 
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firewood said:
There are car collectors who still buy cars with round headlights. Not as many as buy today's hybrid cars though... even the luxury cars now seem to have bizarre LED patterns in front.
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I loathe those dumb LED headlights. I don't think there's a car that's designed very well anymore. Just a mish-mash of weird angles. As if they're all from a Michael Bay movie.
 
shinji said:
If you're at a meeting, or in class, or something where it's inappropriate to take out your phone...then you've got your smart watch.
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If it was my meeting, or class, or dinner, or wedding or whatever, I would consider it just about as inappropriate to monkey around with a smart watch as a smart phone.
 
omenatarhuri said:
If it was my meeting, or class, or dinner, or wedding or whatever, I would consider it just about as inappropriate to monkey around with a smart watch as a smart phone.
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I would too, but those are still settings where it's more socially acceptable to glance at a watch to see who texted you/liked you/etc. than it is to pull out your form.
 
omenatarhuri said:
If it was my meeting, or class, or dinner, or wedding or whatever, I would consider it just about as inappropriate to monkey around with a smart watch as a smart phone.
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With silent haptic feedback, plus an unobtrusive reach for their agenda, textbook, silverware, or wedding program, you won't even know they got a message. With practice, could probably even tap the correct reply while adjusting their cufflinks or blouse, and not taking their eyes off you.
 
meechy said:
What is the purpose of a smart watch? I really can't see any benefit of owning one.
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Fashion. Ego. Status. Fitness Tracking. Even without the fitness aspect, they're going to sell millions of these based solely on the first three items.

meechy said:
Are we really getting that lazy that we can't even reach out to our phone to check a new message/email etc?
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Yes. There's no point in arguing with it if you are Apple. Cater to it and profit.

meechy said:
It's just a fad and i predict in 2 years time smart watches will be a thing of the past.
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You're going to regret this post.
 
meechy said:
What is the purpose of a smart watch? I really can't see any benefit of owning one. Are we really getting that lazy that we can't even reach out to our phone to check a new message/email etc?

It's just a fad and i predict in 2 years time smart watches will be a thing of the past.
Click to expand...

So were smartphones.

Some fads can last awhile.
 
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Photography said:
Let's all bookmark this thread and come back to it in a few years to laugh at the OP. Seriously, the same thing was said about the iPod, iPhone, and iPad when they launched. Look at the massive success they brought.
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Yes it was, I'm too lazy to look up old threads, but I'd imagine similar things were also said about the iPod Hi-Fi and the G4 Cube neither of which was much of a success. With how much Apple has put into the watch I'm sure they'll keep it going for a while even if it has poor sales, and it might end up like the appleTV where it is a small product that eventually builds up to decent sales, but it isn't like they haven't failed at things before.
 
mrkramer said:
Yes it was, I'm too lazy to look up old threads, but I'd imagine similar things were also said about the iPod Hi-Fi and the G4 Cube neither of which was much of a success. With how much Apple has put into the watch I'm sure they'll keep it going for a while even if it has poor sales, and it might end up like the appleTV where it is a small product that eventually builds up to decent sales, but it isn't like they haven't failed at things before.
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Very valid points. It feels different with the Apple Watch though. I think it'll be a huge hit. Bookmarking this.
 
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They did not pry Ann Wintour away from NY Fashion Week for the iPod Hi-Fi. This is closer to a MacBook Retina level announcement.

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meechy said:
It's just a fad and i predict in 2 years time smart watches will be a thing of the past.
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It predict a fad like the iPad. Essentially no one wanted book-sized tablets before Apple's. Now every company makes them, billion dollar industry, but Apple still holds 50% of the market after the newness started tapering off. Big, but not as big as the iPhone.
 
I have to agree with the OP. (but they will sell a LOAD of these.... i might be tempted still)

I would also hesitate to wear this at work - not being in the industry - I am very much a pen/paper guy a meetings also.
 
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The Apple Watch is an OK first start. I don't think it's better than my Suunto, but it soon can be...

Handoff - a great idea
Haptic feedback - great
Wallet Integration - great
Crown idea - great

Thickness - not so great
Square face - not so great
Rounded edges - not good
Daily Charging - not good
Lack of integrated GPS - bad
Not Waterproof to 50 M - awful

I've had 5 phones in seven years. I'm sure the rate of obsolescence in these things will be even faster. I can't wait for the Apple Watch III
 
Smart watches are extremely valuable for tracking users, providing a constant source of personal health info and other data to insurance companies. The insurance industry traditionally pays very well for this info.

Apples influence over its customers causes them to believe that their data is safe, therefore Apple watches will remain in high demand. Steve Jobs greatest accomplishment was convincing people Apple was the rebel company that only had the customers best interests in mind. A brilliant move indeed.
 
I think Apple Pay could end up being the killer app that suddenly gives people a reason to buy a smart watch. Think how nice it would be to just wave your watch by a register rather than reaching for your wallet and locating a credit card. Your information will be much more secure, and payments could automatically be transferred onto a spreadsheet. Moms holding a kid would love something like this. Or just the vast number of people that don't use a check register now would suddenly have an automatic one. Expense reports, budgets and taxes would all become easier and instantaneous. If Apple Pay takes off, so will their watches.

That coupled with the more discrete way of checking texts and screening calls, I can see the allure, however a $200-$250 price tag would get so many more adopters.
 
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