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macjoshua

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Mar 4, 2011
527
627
Nashville, TN
I'm thinking about getting a Series 2, but I rarely buy tech this many months after launch. Anybody else in the same boat? I kind of want to wait to see if they come out with new ones in September, but if they don't, then I could end up waiting a half year or more.
 
Middle ground, series 1. It's cheaper so you won't regret if they come out with a newer one and you can find them online for around $150
 
Waiting for the series 3 is kind of useless,because as soon as it's released,the true geeks start waiting for series 4. I would buy series two,and wait two to three years for something like series 5 or 6.
 
I'm thinking about getting a Series 2, but I rarely buy tech this many months after launch. Anybody else in the same boat? I kind of want to wait to see if they come out with new ones in September, but if they don't, then I could end up waiting a half year or more.
I just bought a nike + yesterday and when series 3 comes out i,ll get one of those too. Trust me i cant afford it but oh well, why suffer
 
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I also just bought an apple watch yesterday after thinking and fretting for a long time.
I have not worn a watch in years, however it was just too compelling to not buy.
So far I am more than delighted I went ahead with the ourchase.
Good luck with your decision
 
I'm thinking about getting a Series 2, but I rarely buy tech this many months after launch. Anybody else in the same boat? I kind of want to wait to see if they come out with new ones in September, but if they don't, then I could end up waiting a half year or more.

Why wait? Series 2 can be found with sale prices if you search. However, being September is Three months away, perhaps you could wait to see if anything releases. Although, I don't forsee a Series 3 this September. Even if Series 3 does launch this Fall, The differences between would likely be incremental over a complete overhaul.
 
I wouldn't buy a Series 2 at this point. I have one and it isn't much different from the original Series 0. If it was me, I'd buy a cheap Series 0 and sell it when the Series 3 comes out.

All the talk about the Series 2 being faster than the Series 0 is over hyped. It's a little faster but a lot of the problem isn't the hardware but the apps. 3rd party apps that were slow on the Series 0 are still really slow on the Series 2.
 
I wouldn't buy a Series 2 at this point. I have one and it isn't much different from the original Series 0. If it was me, I'd buy a cheap Series 0 and sell it when the Series 3 comes out.

All the talk about the Series 2 being faster than the Series 0 is over hyped. It's a little faster but a lot of the problem isn't the hardware but the apps. 3rd party apps that were slow on the Series 0 are still really slow on the Series 2.

With the additional screen brightness, added water resistance, and GPS function, Those are three significant changes over the first Generation. That said, I wouldn't say wouldn't buy it though, mainly because you can find sale prices at this stage and again, There is no telling if Series 3 will launch in September or not, which I'm doubtful it will.

As far as speed goes, I do think there is a difference. But you are correct, third-party applications are usually the culprit. However, load times, software updates and overall multitasking on the watch is much smoother over the S1 Chip from the first Generation Watch.
 
Series 0 here, waiting for it to not be supported by the newest WatchOS (or for the battery to wear out, whichever comes first). Whether that means I'll be buying a Series 3 or 4 or 5, I don't really mind.
 
Series 0 here, waiting for it to not be supported by the newest WatchOS (or for the battery to wear out, whichever comes first). Whether that means I'll be buying a Series 3 or 4 or 5, I don't really mind.

Given Apple's history with updates, I think WatchOS 4 will definitely work with the Series 0 watches, but it will be slower on the old watches (because of lack of the dual-core processor), and not include certain features that would run too slow or use too much battery.

And there will be a few new features that will only work on the new Series 3 watches that come out, my guess, in the fall.

It's not that Apple tries to kill off support for older devices, despite many naysayers... it's just that Apple wants to move ahead. Yes, it helps their bottom line, but it also improves their newer products.

Apple made WatchOS 3 to work fine for all models by not including many features that really kill a one-processor Series 0. Now, they will move ahead, and there will be all sorts of new features that use many background processes, which will really need a dual-core processor to work.

One thing that really works better on Series 1/2 right now is Siri. It never really worked, was too slow on Series 0,
that I could never use it. On a Series 1/2, I simply raise my watch to see the screen, say 'Hello Siri', it responds immediately, and I can ask what I want, and it comes back with a reply in seconds. There must be a background siri process running on the Series 1/2, which makes this whole thing smoother and work.

I bet there will be a feature, like 'always on', where the watch face is always on, but Apple will restrict it to Series 1/2. It's very obvious why. My old Series 0, could barely last an active day, many times getting to under 10% at 18 hours. My Series 2 lasts TWO days. Apple doesn't want the Series 0 dying at like 8 hours with always on, as they'll get all sorts of bad press from Apple haters. So, that's why they restrict it.
 
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Given Apple's history with updates, I think WatchOS 4 will definitely work with the Series 0 watches, but it will be slower on the old watches (because of lack of the dual-core processor), and not include certain features that would run too slow or use too much battery.
Right, and maybe it'll run WatchOS 5+ well enough, too. My first concern is device security, and running a shelved OS isn't something I want to do.

I wonder what new features are needed by the watch, though. There aren't any cameras to update (remember the stalker dude with the Samsung Gear?
), they've added standalone GPS, and, IMO, the use cases for an LTE radio are pretty limited and not [yet] worth the battery drain.

The preferred interaction times for a smartwatch are so much shorter than for any other device, too, that I'm not sure what tasks it has to accomplish in the background. Maybe it'll have to be doing medical stuff or something, but what can be done on a non-invasive wrist-borne device that it's not already capable of today?
 
The preferred interaction times for a smartwatch are so much shorter than for any other device, too, that I'm not sure what tasks it has to accomplish in the background. Maybe it'll have to be doing medical stuff or something, but what can be done on a non-invasive wrist-borne device that it's not already capable of today?

It has to accomplish getting updated data in the background for the complications, like weather updates.

Also, things like Siri. Make sure the watch is always connected to Siri so it works immediately. You want everything on the watch 'ready to go' once you raise your arm. On a laptop, 'ready to go' means 5-10 seconds to me. If I wake it from sleep, I want to be able to start working in 5-10 seconds. My phone, I want it to work in 2-3 seconds.

Then my watch, I want it to work in less than a second. My interaction will be DONE on the watch before my laptop is ready to go.
 
It has to accomplish getting updated data in the background for the complications, like weather updates.

Also, things like Siri. Make sure the watch is always connected to Siri so it works immediately. You want everything on the watch 'ready to go' once you raise your arm. On a laptop, 'ready to go' means 5-10 seconds to me. If I wake it from sleep, I want to be able to start working in 5-10 seconds. My phone, I want it to work in 2-3 seconds.

Then my watch, I want it to work in less than a second. My interaction will be DONE on the watch before my laptop is ready to go.
My Series 0 is as 'ready to go' as I feel I need it to be already. Its weather complication is always up to date, and its other duties are quick enough for me.

I can raise my wrist and blindside it with things like, "Hey Siri, tell my wife I'm on my way home now," and -- okay, yeah, it takes a second to wake up and animate its screen, but then it shows me the text I'm about to send ("I'm on my way home now") and I can put down my wrist, confident that the text will be sent.

Adding speed benefits UI fluidity and boot time, I'll give it that much. I would enjoy a brighter screen like the Series 2's on a sunny day like we had yesterday, too. I tend to wait for bigger increments in hardware improvements, though -- when the iPad first got its retina display, it wasn't yet enough for me to give up my iPad 2.

I'm NOT saying that I don't like my AW. I like it a lot, it's become my daily-wear timepiece, and I can see keeping one in my stash from here on. I just don't need to upgrade with every incremental hardware change because I think it's doing a great job already.
 
[Adding on...]

Watching the live updates from WWDC now. Automatic Siri-driven updates whenever I raise my wrist? If that isn't supported by Series 0, I may be seeing a reason to upgrade...
 
The updates for watchOS 4 are nice, if only incremental, but there wasn't really any way to tell if a new watch is coming out any time soon. Bummer.
 
Me too Very disappointing I thought for some Medical futures so it will make me a reason to buy it I have some ideas what will make me to buy it, till than will keep using my Rolex
 
With the additional screen brightness, added water resistance, and GPS function, Those are three significant changes over the first Generation. That said, I wouldn't say wouldn't buy it though, mainly because you can find sale prices at this stage and again, There is no telling if Series 3 will launch in September or not, which I'm doubtful it will.

As far as speed goes, I do think there is a difference. But you are correct, third-party applications are usually the culprit. However, load times, software updates and overall multitasking on the watch is much smoother over the S1 Chip from the first Generation Watch.

Yeah, I'll give you the brighter screen. That is the most noticeable feature to me since I do a lot of walking and running.

I suppose we'll have to agree to disagree on the speed improvements. Although, I'll say this. For a couple of months, I wore a Series 2 in the daytime and a Series 0 in the evening after I got home from work. I did this because I hated taking my Link bracelet off when I got home from work to use other bands. But I couldn't tell much difference between the watches at all.

If you use the AW mainly for notifications and use the stock Apple Watch apps like messages and mail which are optimized for Apple Watch then there is no real speed difference. The Series 0 is just as fast in practice but slower in animations. The Series 2 looks smoother and has less hiccups but the speed difference is almost nil.

Now 3rd party apps like Flipboard it's a different story, wait times may be 10 second versus 40 seconds on Series 0.
 
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Decided I'm just going to wait for Series 3. If it comes in September, awesome. If not, oh well - I've lived without one just fine so far.

At this junction, if you've waited this long, you can certainly wait three months until September. And if one doesn't launch in September, Series 2 will have plenty of sale prices that you will be able to find.
 
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