What do your friends think?

[fitshaced]

Maybe that's it.

I don't usually wear a watch. Even if I did, I would not be remotely embarrassed by my watch going dead. I'm more concerned with my phone not being charged.

And, I am willing to bet there are plenty of people like me.

My husband wears a watch daily. It's a Citizen that I gave him on our first Valentine's Day together many years ago. He often travels to other time zones, but rarely changes the time on his watch. He changed it one time last year while on a long trip, then realized months later that he'd never changed it back. He usually looks at the time on his phone, it turns out. He wears that mechanical watch out of habit.

He's getting an Apple Watch. Maybe he'll start using his watch again.

I don't really understand your reasons for buying this then, other than it's a good looking, new category Apple product. I'm not knocking that but it's pretty much the same reason as 99% of the others in my opinion. And that's why it is not ready for the money they are asking. Consider that at this stage, developers can do very little with it as Apple want to lock that down. It might be version 2 before they decide to open it up and allow developers to use taptic feedback, force touch, NFC etc. I've been waiting to see apps become available that would really make this useful but there really isn't much. Sure, these things take time and you wouldn't have expected 10 million apps on the iPhone app store on launch day. But, other than what Apple provides, there isn't much on the horizon from third party developers as they want access to the sensors and the rest. You can use a to-do list. I have never used a to-do list. You can glance at apps that need glancing at. Ok, but don't you want to unlock your car or use it as your travel ticket or maybe tap you on the wrist when you've just gone over the speed limit? These things make proper use out of a device instead of just allowing glances. People can say that people who don't see the point of the Apple Watch just don't get it. Well, they don't really get it. This is a device that moves you away from the phone you probably just bought in October last year for micro conversations that don't require you to take your phone out. That is a lot of money for something so minor. They are pricing this based on your need, not on it's build, procurement, design and marketing costs. That's how they always price these things. But the Apple Watches purpose is far less useful than it is being hyped as. Put some useful stuff in it so you can wave your hand and turn your lights on or help you master your golf swing. Glances are 1 small use of wrist based technology and come with Apple tax on the Apple Watch.

 

[bunnicula]

I don't really understand your reasons for buying this then, other than it's a good looking, new category Apple product. I'm not knocking that but it's pretty much the same reason as 99% of the others in my opinion. And that's why it is not ready for the money they are asking. Consider that at this stage, developers can do very little with it as Apple want to lock that down. It might be version 2 before they decide to open it up and allow developers to use taptic feedback, force touch, NFC etc. I've been waiting to see apps become available that would really make this useful but there really isn't much. Sure, these things take time and you wouldn't have expected 10 million apps on the iPhone app store on launch day. But, other than what Apple provides, there isn't much on the horizon from third party developers as they want access to the sensors and the rest. You can use a to-do list. I have never used a to-do list. You can glance at apps that need glancing at. Ok, but don't you want to unlock your car or use it as your travel ticket or maybe tap you on the wrist when you've just gone over the speed limit? These things make proper use out of a device instead of just allowing glances. People can say that people who don't see the point of the Apple Watch just don't get it. Well, they don't really get it. This is a device that moves you away from the phone you probably just bought in October last year for micro conversations that don't require you to take your phone out. That is a lot of money for something so minor. They are pricing this based on your need, not on it's build, procurement, design and marketing costs. That's how they always price these things. But the Apple Watches purpose is far less useful than it is being hyped as. Put some useful stuff in it so you can wave your hand and turn your lights on or help you master your golf swing. Glances are 1 small use of wrist based technology and come with Apple tax on the Apple Watch.

I like to experiment with new gadgets. I think I'll like leaving my iPhone sitting in my home office and using my watch for texts and calls when I'm moving around the house.

I've been waiting for something to use for fitness tracking since I ditched my last UP band. This will do it.

I use Apple Pay. It'll do that, too.

We travel often. It'll be nice not to have to pull out my phone for paperless boarding passes.

I think getting notifications on my wrist will be more subtle than checking my phone. Especially while in meetings.

I like the look of the watch, and I think I might enjoy wearing it.

How many reasons do I need, exactly?

 

[Vundu]

The only one of my friends that is a little techy is Android so has a Moto 360 or whatever it is called.

The rest are not interested in a smart watch.

 

[KauaiBruce]

I am absolutely baffled at the people who seem to spend hours trying to kill the excitement of those of us who have looked at this product and decided to buy it.

I DO understand the folks that gather here to share their excitement and ponder what other little secrets our new present is hiding.

I have no desire to buy an Android watch or any other watch that does not work with the phone I have and have not spent ONE SECOND trolling android forums telling people they are wrong. I just cannot imagine being bored enough to do that. Seems sad to me that people have nothing else to do.

If you could say 'hey siri, beam me to work." And it did it. They would then complain that it put us in the lobby and not at our desks and proceed to tell us we were wasting our money.

I am an early adopter like many of us here. If it was not for people like us there would be no iPhone or watch or android or ipad. Nothing is perfect in the first iteration and it is not in the last. Do any of us think the iPhone 6+ is the final iPhone? Of course not!

Technology keeps marching on and it needs us to keep it moving. No other smart watch has taken off like this and has not garnered this much excitement. It will take millions of people (not the current thousands) for a consensus to emerge about what is missing that the next one must do. It is my guess that more and better health sensors will be the next big thing but who am I to judge? For all I know the next one will play laser tag.

 

[fitshaced]

I like to experiment with new gadgets. I think I'll like leaving my iPhone sitting in my home office and using my watch for texts and calls when I'm moving around the house.

I've been waiting for something to use for fitness tracking since I ditched my last UP band. This will do it.

I use Apple Pay. It'll do that, too.

We travel often. It'll be nice not to have to pull out my phone for paperless boarding passes.

I think getting notifications on my wrist will be more subtle than checking my phone. Especially while in meetings.

I like the look of the watch, and I think I might enjoy wearing it.

How many reasons do I need, exactly?

You don't need any. You certainly don't need it justify it to me. However, I think people wanted this before they decided what they wanted it for and spent little time putting the reasons together to justify its price. It should really work the other way around if buying something for its use. But, the best way to convince yourself that a new toy should be purchased is to wrap reasons around it. Apple have done a good job with helping you with this. As you weren't a watch wearer before, your first reason you gave above is probably the first reason you wanted to buy it. I considered buying it when I first saw it but knew that it would be costly and, as I already knew about the battery life (sort of), it never got off the ground for me. But there are quite a few people on here that have convinced themselves that it fits a requirement that they now have.

Do the reasons you gave above add up to the cost of the Apple Watch if you try and weigh up each? In my opinion, the only reason the watch can justify its price is the good looking design and materials. You'll over pay for a Tag as you will for and Apple Watch. But the Tag has the length of life quality that the Apple Watch will not.

 

[fitshaced]

I am absolutely baffled at the people who seem to spend hours trying to kill the excitement of those of us who have looked at this product and decided to buy it.

I DO understand the folks that gather here to share their excitement and ponder what other little secrets our new present is hiding.

I have no desire to buy an Android watch or any other watch that does not work with the phone I have and have not spent ONE SECOND trolling android forums telling people they are wrong. I just cannot imagine being bored enough to do that. Seems sad to me that people have nothing else to do.

If you could say 'hey siri, beam me to work." And it did it. They would then complain that it put us in the lobby and not at our desks and proceed to tell us we were wasting our money.

I am an early adopter like many of us here. If it was not for people like us there would be no iPhone or watch or android or ipad. Nothing is perfect in the first iteration and it is not in the last. Do any of us think the iPhone 6+ is the final iPhone? Of course not!

Technology keeps marching on and it needs us to keep it moving. No other smart watch has taken off like this and has not garnered this much excitement. It will take millions of people (not the current thousands) for a consensus to emerge about what is missing that the next one must do. It is my guess that more and better health sensors will be the next big thing but who am I to judge? For all I know the next one will play laser tag.

Buying the first release of a product is not the same as buying this by preorder on day one. If you think you are helping technology advance by buying the first release, you're over valuing your purchase. Apple usually have several versions either ready for production or approved for design. Why would the Apple Watch be any different? Plus, buying something just to aid the development of it actually spoils the market. Buy solely for what it can do now and what you get for your money now, not what you expect from a company in the future. They might change direction for God knows what reason, brushing your commitment aside.

No-one is trolling anyway. I wouldn't try and discourage anyone from buying this, I just have a different view on it. If that dampens your excitement of getting one then grow up and think of how fickle your reasons must be then.

 

[Bazooka-joe]

The guys at work that have iPhones have expressed an interest in the fact that I am getting an Apple watch and want to see it. One or two have said that they will get one if it lives up to expectations

 

[chris975d]

What do your friends think?

I'm in my 50's so all of my friends are around 40 and up and not a single one that I asked (and I asked almost all of them) have any interest in the watch. And they too are mostly Apple users, iPhones, iPads, and Macs. To be honest the only interest I see is here on the forums.



As for me I'm not really interested. I wear watches so it's not that. I just don't see a need nor do I want yet another device that will need to periodically be replaced by a new version. If this was something that would last 5-10 years I'd maybe consider it. But even then, I still don't see a need for it. None of the apps that I've seen so far need to be on my wrist. The only thing that would interest me is more health related sensors but at this point you could get something that's a quarter of the price and smaller that in terms of health sensors would do the same things.



I was in a Microsoft store a couple days ago and in all honesty I think their band is kind of cool and I'm actually thinking about.

I'm pretty much the same way (except in my '30s). I'm a "watch nut/collector" (with almost zero interest in the Apple watch, other than maybe a workout device) , so I naturally take an interest in what watches people are wearing, and am constantly talking about watches. I don't have one single friend nor have met one person in real life who has said they want an Apple Watch or is even excited about it. That's completely the opposite of the experiences I had when the iPhone and iPads first launched. It wasn't hard at all to find people excited as I was about them. The closest I've come to finding someone somewhat interested is my late-'20s wife. Seeing a commercial she said "that's cool". But almost immediately followed that up with a statement to the effect of...why buy, when you'll have to upgrade next year? It's Apple.

I personally just don't see a use for a smart watch that's not a standalone device. I may as well use my much larger screen iPhone, since I have to have it with me anyway. This whole "glancing" at your watch thing wouldn't work in most of my work related meetings. Currently, that seems to be a pretty universal symbol for "this isn't important to me/I need to be somewhere else/I'm bored/etc".

That being said, my friends typically have similar hobbies as I do, so most are also watch enthusiasts/collectors too. Mainly Rolexes and Omegas. Maybe that skews the opinions I'm getting, as most people that own "expensive" (a relative term) watches don't seem interested at all. I know on every watch forum I'm on, the Apple watch/smart watch is barely even a blip in the radar in terms of discussion. Even in fashion blogs and articles, there's very little talk of the Apple watch, other than the Apple PR pieces. Most I've seen and read are referring to it as a gadget/piece of tech. And that's precisely a market Apple is hoping to gain acceptance in.

Maybe the Apple watch/smart watch is going to generate more excitement among people who already don't wear watches/expensive watches? Who knows. I think it'll take a few years to really see how successful it's going to be. This is an Apple product, and they've gotten to the point that people more or less blindly purchase their products, at least initially. They've mastered the hyping of products. And this IS an Apple forum. I'd expect the majority of posters here to be excited. But that doesn't necessarily represent the rest of the non-tech/Apple world. No different than the Rolex forum I'm a member of. When Rolex releases a new model, there is often ridiculous hype, as well as criticism. But that sometimes fanboy level hype doesn't mean the rest of the world will buy it. But back to the Apple watch...I'm not as curious to how many they sell the first 6 months - 1 year (it's Apple...it's going to sell just off pure blind devotion to the company) as I am come gen 2, 3, etc. That will tell me more in regards to how many people are actually USING them.

Your friends have a point. This watch isn't ready. You can liken it to the original iPhone but this category type already exists and other versions of it do more important things, perhaps just for different OS's. Apple are doing it right in making it a watch first and smart device second but they have rushed the features. I like watches and would be very interested in an Apple Watch that does more for it's money such as GPS and a battery that can last a week. Difficult but even more so with the gimmicks they are putting in it. And it's those gimmicks that really make this offering look nerdy and a waste of money. There is nothing wrong with buying a new gadget or watch but I don't agree with justifying it by self titling yourself as a brand ambassador. You're simply an Apple Fan who wants to throw money at this than wait to see if it's actually worth it.



Apple have always impressed me with their iPhone range as well as their iPad's but they are slipping a bit with this watch as well as their new MacBook. They seem to be more interested in changing use habits than putting requested technology into their products. That's their call but you're buying it. Should they next year release a watch with a break through battery lasting a week, you'll take out your plastic again (or maybe even give Apple a bit of a chuckle and pay with your watch version 1).



As I said, I see nothing wrong with people spending their money their way but please wake up to what you are actually doing. You're not assisting with the development of these watches, version 2 is most likely sitting on Tim Cook's desk and approved for production.

I just quoted your first post (couldn't quote them all) to mention that I haven't seen many posters on here make as many excellent points and make as much sense as you do. Bravo.


TL;DR...as far as my friends, I haven't met one person in day to day life that is buying, or even excited about the Apple watch. And being a watch collector, I talk A LOT about watches. The hype and interest seems, for the most part, to be here (MacRumors) and tech/gadget sites.

 

[profmjh]

Two points.

First, when I talked about being a brand ambassador all I meant was people will see an Apple Watch in real life because I'll be wearing one. Some may ask for a closer look. But this exposure to it will build the market for it. I'm not buying it to help Apple or further the development of the watch. Which brings me to my second point.

A few years ago I developed a desire for a mechanical watch. I spent many happy hours researching them. I found a Jaegre-Le Coultre that is the most beautiful manmade object I've ever seen. Sadly it was £20,000. Second hand. I'll never be rich enough to buy it. In the end I settled for a Tag Heuer. It was also pretty beautiful. But, like all mechanical watches, it didn't keep perfect time. I'm obsessed with accuracy. At one point it had drifted by two minutes and I missed a train because of it. So I sold it.

The Apple Watch is exactly what I want. It keeps perfect time and it's beautiful. One of the clock faces makes it look like a really high-end mechanical watch.

All the other stuff is a bonus. In some cases a really useful bonus.

As for waterproofing -- why would I care. It's plenty waterproof for my needs.

And the battery -- if the battery life were longer I'd be more likely to find myself with a dead watch. The current battery life means I'll have an easy, regular charging routine.

I'm buying this watch for me. Because I want a good looking watch. That keeps perfect time.

 

[KauaiBruce]

Buying the first release of a product is not the same as buying this by preorder on day one. If you think you are helping technology advance by buying the first release, you're over valuing your purchase. Apple usually have several versions either ready for production or approved for design. Why would the Apple Watch be any different? Plus, buying something just to aid the development of it actually spoils the market. Buy solely for what it can do now and what you get for your money now, not what you expect from a company in the future. They might change direction for God knows what reason, brushing your commitment aside.

No-one is trolling anyway. I wouldn't try and discourage anyone from buying this, I just have a different view on it. If that dampens your excitement of getting one then grow up and think of how fickle your reasons must be then.

Yeah sure. No trolling on THIS thread. I do not buy first or prerelease of everything. I THINK I ordered an iPhone before they hit the streets but have to admit that is so far back I do not remember. Before that there was not much you could order in advance. I got iPad 2. Needed convincing there. I have had too many toys to count. In the old days we had to wait till something was in the store so prerelease ordering was pretty much impossible.

BUT, I do not see this as a real untried prerelease. I got a pebble after its kickstarter hit the streets and I could read the reviews. THAT is why I have seen enough of the Apple Watch to know it will meet MY needs. My posts generally tell people why I am getting it but I do not tell others to get it or to NOT get it or constantly argue with them for hours insisting they are wrong. That is my definition of trolling.

The pebble (and from extension Apple Watch) will meet my work needs quite well. I cannot pull out a phone in front of my clients but I CAN look at my watch.

As for encouraging development... I think I have a longer view of all of this than you do. I have programmed using punch cards and paper tape. I have implemented compilers at the machine language level (yes BINARY) before it was possible to do them in higher level languages. I am excited when something new is coming along.

You are trying to tell people not to buy a $350 watch that is more powerful than the million dollar computer that ran my university because it is not worth it. OMG!!

I bought the first THREE versions of the Macintosh and the first Mac Hard drive. No one 'NEEDED' those things and the cost was several thousand dollars. BUT if no one bought the first Macintosh where would we be today with personal computing?

I am certain that if this watch is a huge failure that it would pretty much kill the wearable computing market for a while. Yes, we can get cheaper fitness trackers but they are not sexy enough to capture the imagination of the masses. I am also certain that if it IS a success that it will drive research in better smaller low power sensors and in 10 years we will be amazed at how much we loved this one.

SO the answer is YES I think I have helped technology as an early adopter of the RIGHT technology. Each step leads us to the next but you never get there if you do not start. I know there were a lot of things that did NOT get my (and everyone else's) attention enough to buy them and they have quietly disappeared.

And Apple did it right by NOT rushing to market.

And in conclusion before you call me an Apple fanboy I have to tell you I dearly HATE what the Macintosh OS became and cannot stand using any version of the Macintosh. I switched to PC's years ago and feel pain using Apple PC's (but love my iPad 2).

 

[chris975d]

Yeah sure. No trolling on THIS thread. I do not buy first or prerelease of everything. I THINK I ordered an iPhone before they hit the streets but have to admit that is so far back I do not remember. Before that there was not much you could order in advance. I got iPad 2. Needed convincing there. I have had too many toys to count. In the old days we had to wait till something was in the store so prerelease ordering was pretty much impossible.



BUT, I do not see this as a real untried prerelease. I got a pebble after its kickstarter hit the streets and I could read the reviews. THAT is why I have seen enough of the Apple Watch to know it will meet MY needs. My posts generally tell people why I am getting it but I do not tell others to get it or to NOT get it or constantly argue with them for hours insisting they are wrong. That is my definition of trolling.



The pebble (and from extension Apple Watch) will meet my work needs quite well. I cannot pull out a phone in front of my clients but I CAN look at my watch.



As for encouraging development... I think I have a longer view of all of this than you do. I have programmed using punch cards and paper tape. I have implemented compilers at the machine language level (yes BINARY) before it was possible to do them in higher level languages. I am excited when something new is coming along.



You are trying to tell people not to buy a $350 watch that is more powerful than the million dollar computer that ran my university because it is not worth it. OMG!!



I bought the first THREE versions of the Macintosh and the first Mac Hard drive. No one 'NEEDED' those things and the cost was several thousand dollars. BUT if no one bought the first Macintosh where would we be today with personal computing?



I am certain that if this watch is a huge failure that it would pretty much kill the wearable computing market for a while. Yes, we can get cheaper fitness trackers but they are not sexy enough to capture the imagination of the masses. I am also certain that if it IS a success that it will drive research in better smaller low power sensors and in 10 years we will be amazed at how much we loved this one.



SO the answer is YES I think I have helped technology as an early adopter of the RIGHT technology. Each step leads us to the next but you never get there if you do not start. I know there were a lot of things that did NOT get my (and everyone else's) attention enough to buy them and they have quietly disappeared.



And Apple did it right by NOT rushing to market.



And in conclusion before you call me an Apple fanboy I have to tell you I dearly HATE what the Macintosh OS became and cannot stand using any version of the Macintosh. I switched to PC's years ago and feel pain using Apple PC's (but love my iPad 2).

I don't see fitshaced telling anyone not to get it any more than you are doing the opposite. Both have opinions on the watch, they happen to be opposing, and both parties are expressing them. Discussion, if you will. Or does everything on the forum have to be pro-Apple/Apple can do no wrong? I have plenty of Apple products, and I can still see where they don't do everything well (this latest 6 Plus I own is a perfect testament to that...but different topic). I see nothing wrong with how fitshaced has expressed his opinion. If anything, you are the one using your "longer view" (your words) and experience to, in a way, make it seem like your opinion should carry more weight. At the end of the day it's all still personal opinion. Just differing viewpoints. The proof will be in what kind of uptake this product has LONG TERM in the market.

All I can say factually to the matter is that in my circle of friends and family, in the 150-200 or more people I've asked outside that in just the past few weeks, I've found not one person who's stated they want an Apple watch or are buying one. And those people range anywhere from "super techie" to "super rich watch nut" and everywhere in between.

 

[Donoban]

I have some friends and family who are getting one.

If anyone told me they'd be "embarrassed" to own one, I'd question their personal priorities. It's a smart watch. What's embarrassing about owning a smart watch? It's not like you're required to wear them while nude. LOL.

Your friends are insecure.

I agree. The biggest issue I see with the apple watch is the nerd factor. Everyone who sees it will know what it is.

But you know, it's pioneering the technology. One day smart watches will be ubiquitous either in watch or some other form.

 

[chris975d]

I agree. The biggest issue I see with the apple watch is the nerd factor. Everyone who sees it will know what it is.



But you know, it's pioneering the technology. One day smart watches will be ubiquitous either in watch or some other form.

I'm just being silly here, but is a smart watch in "some other form" still a smart watch?

 

[Donoban]

Two points.



A few years ago I developed a desire for a mechanical watch. I spent many happy hours researching them. I found a Jaegre-Le Coultre that is the most beautiful manmade object I've ever seen. Sadly it was £20,000. Second hand. I'll never be rich enough to buy it. In the end I settled for a Tag Heuer. It was also pretty beautiful. But, like all mechanical watches, it didn't keep perfect time. I'm obsessed with accuracy. At one point it had drifted by two minutes and I missed a train because of it. So I sold it.

I'm buying this watch for me. Because I want a good looking watch. That keeps perfect time.

I lolled hard my friend.

Turns up to catch a train 2 minutes before it was scheduled to leave. Realises watch is 2 minutes slow and just missed it. Sells watch in anger.

You're buying the watch for yourself, good first move.

Good looking watch? That's subjective.

Perfect time. Even Apple won't claim it's 100% accurate. Better make sure you don't leave it to the millisecond to catch your next train man.

Oh lawd, I'd love to meet all you guys in real life sometime. I reckon we would have a blast for about 5-10 minutes and then we'd all be consumed by our Apple watches and phones.

 

[fitshaced]

I'm pretty much the same way (except in my '30s). I'm a "watch nut/collector" (with almost zero interest in the Apple watch, other than maybe a workout device) , so I naturally take an interest in what watches people are wearing, and am constantly talking about watches. I don't have one single friend nor have met one person in real life who has said they want an Apple Watch or is even excited about it. That's completely the opposite of the experiences I had when the iPhone and iPads first launched. It wasn't hard at all to find people excited as I was about them. The closest I've come to finding someone somewhat interested is my late-'20s wife. Seeing a commercial she said "that's cool". But almost immediately followed that up with a statement to the effect of...why buy, when you'll have to upgrade next year? It's Apple.

I personally just don't see a use for a smart watch that's not a standalone device. I may as well use my much larger screen iPhone, since I have to have it with me anyway. This whole "glancing" at your watch thing wouldn't work in most of my work related meetings. Currently, that seems to be a pretty universal symbol for "this isn't important to me/I need to be somewhere else/I'm bored/etc".

That being said, my friends typically have similar hobbies as I do, so most are also watch enthusiasts/collectors too. Mainly Rolexes and Omegas. Maybe that skews the opinions I'm getting, as most people that own "expensive" (a relative term) watches don't seem interested at all. I know on every watch forum I'm on, the Apple watch/smart watch is barely even a blip in the radar in terms of discussion. Even in fashion blogs and articles, there's very little talk of the Apple watch, other than the Apple PR pieces. Most I've seen and read are referring to it as a gadget/piece of tech. And that's precisely a market Apple is hoping to gain acceptance in.

Maybe the Apple watch/smart watch is going to generate more excitement among people who already don't wear watches/expensive watches? Who knows. I think it'll take a few years to really see how successful it's going to be. This is an Apple product, and they've gotten to the point that people more or less blindly purchase their products, at least initially. They've mastered the hyping of products. And this IS an Apple forum. I'd expect the majority of posters here to be excited. But that doesn't necessarily represent the rest of the non-tech/Apple world. No different than the Rolex forum I'm a member of. When Rolex releases a new model, there is often ridiculous hype, as well as criticism. But that sometimes fanboy level hype doesn't mean the rest of the world will buy it. But back to the Apple watch...I'm not as curious to how many they sell the first 6 months - 1 year (it's Apple...it's going to sell just off pure blind devotion to the company) as I am come gen 2, 3, etc. That will tell me more in regards to how many people are actually USING them.




I just quoted your first post (couldn't quote them all) to mention that I haven't seen many posters on here make as many excellent points and make as much sense as you do. Bravo.


TL;DR...as far as my friends, I haven't met one person in day to day life that is buying, or even excited about the Apple watch. And being a watch collector, I talk A LOT about watches. The hype and interest seems, for the most part, to be here (MacRumors) and tech/gadget sites.

Cheers mate

----------

I don't see fitshaced telling anyone not to get it any more than you are doing the opposite. Both have opinions on the watch, they happen to be opposing, and both parties are expressing them. Discussion, if you will. Or does everything on the forum have to be pro-Apple/Apple can do no wrong? I have plenty of Apple products, and I can still see where they don't do everything well (this latest 6 Plus I own is a perfect testament to that...but different topic). I see nothing wrong with how fitshaced has expressed his opinion. If anything, you are the one using your "longer view" (your words) and experience to, in a way, make it seem like your opinion should carry more weight. At the end of the day it's all still personal opinion. Just differing viewpoints. The proof will be in what kind of uptake this product has LONG TERM in the market.

All I can say factually to the matter is that in my circle of friends and family, in the 150-200 or more people I've asked outside that in just the past few weeks, I've found not one person who's stated they want an Apple watch or are buying one. And those people range anywhere from "super techie" to "super rich watch nut" and everywhere in between.

And cheers again

 

[Donoban]

I'm just being silly here, but is a smart watch in "some other form" still a smart watch?

Yeah, for lack of a better description. I realised that after I hit post. Maybe it will just be referred to as wearable technology, or something similar.

 

[walshy1009]

I agree. The biggest issue I see with the apple watch is the nerd factor. Everyone who sees it will know what it is.

But you know, it's pioneering the technology. One day smart watches will be ubiquitous either in watch or some other form.

"Nerd factor" the world needs to learn that we don't live in the 70s or 80s anymore where nerds would get bullied for being different.

I really couldn't care less if people call me names for wearing something that'll bring me joy because people like that can just p**s off.

 

[chris975d]

What do your friends think?

Yeah, for lack of a better description. I realised that after I hit post. Maybe it will just be referred to as wearable technology, or something similar.

Just giving you a little crap. I kinda wanted to say that if I take an Apple watch, enlarge it to say, oh...5 inches, add a cellular radio and a camera, we can call that "Apple watch" an iPhone. that's an Apple watch I might be interested in.

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"Nerd factor" the world needs to learn that we don't live in the 70s or 80s anymore where nerds would get bullied for being different.



I really couldn't care less if people call me names for wearing something that'll bring me joy because people like that can just p**s off.

I don't think he meant that as a personal attack. It's just that wearable tech does have a "geeky" stigma attached to it. That may have to be overcome before products like this take off. That's precisely why Apple is trying so hard to market this as "fashion" as much as they are tech.

Not much different than if Google glass was shoved into a pair of Ray-Bans or Oakleys. Some people would still call it nerdy or geeky. Doesn't mean it's not useful to those using it.

 

[walshy1009]

Just giving you a little crap. I kinda wanted to say that if I take an Apple watch, enlarge it to say, oh...5 inches, add a cellular radio and a camera, we can call that "Apple watch" an iPhone. that's an Apple watch I might be interested in.

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I don't think he meant that as a personal attack. It's just that wearable tech does have a "geeky" stigma attached to it. That may have to be overcome before products like this take off. That's precisely why Apple is trying so hard to market this as "fashion" as much as they are tech.

Not much different than if Google glass was shoved into a pair of Ray-Bans or Oakleys. Some people would still call it nerdy or geeky. Doesn't mean it's not useful to those using it.

Oh, pff sorry, there's no emotion in digital ink. I didn't take it as an attack. I'm just stating that this world really needs to work towards equality of all "stereotypes" if you will...

 

[Donoban]

"Nerd factor" the world needs to learn that we don't live in the 70s or 80s anymore where nerds would get bullied for being different.

I really couldn't care less if people call me names for wearing something that'll bring me joy because people like that can just p**s off.

Dude, I"m sensing some anger. Please don't tell me you're still in high school and kids are picking on you?

I'm going to take a punt and say yes you're still in school, just know that after school, any feelings about what other people think will disappear and be replaced with other stupid problems.

But man, when I reflect on high school... if I wore an Apple watch to school it would probably have been stolen or smashed. lol.

 

[fitshaced]

Oh, pff sorry, there's no emotion in digital ink. I didn't take it as an attack. I'm just stating that this world really needs to work towards equality of all "stereotypes" if you will...

I think you're being overly sensitive. If someone calls you a nerd then you have e dry right to be offended. If someone calls an object nerdy, there is nothing wrong with that

 

[walshy1009]

Dude, I"m sensing some anger. Please don't tell me you're still in high school and kids are picking on you?

I'm going to take a punt and say yes you're still in school, just know that after school, any feelings about what other people think will disappear and be replaced with other stupid problems.

But man, when I reflect on high school... if I wore an Apple watch to school it would probably have been stolen or smashed. lol.

Once again, didn't aim my point as an attack in the first place. My apologies if it sounded that way.

Yes I'm still in Highschool (Year 9 - 15 years old) and I push for others to always be their own person and not allow others to wash out their opinions.

Yes, some kids are a pain at school (more in year 8) but you just learn to block them out and not to interact with them.

In terms of my AW getting stolen or broken, it's a risk I'm willing to take. I've never cracked or broken any of my other Apple products so I aim to keep up the success rate

 

[mojolicious]

'Least Discussed Apple New Product Line Since The QuickTake Camera', in my experience. Even my usually dependable Apple-hating friends either haven't noticed the announcement, or simply can't build up enough enthusiasm to take a dig.

 

[fitshaced]

Yeah sure. No trolling on THIS thread. I do not buy first or prerelease of everything. I THINK I ordered an iPhone before they hit the streets but have to admit that is so far back I do not remember. Before that there was not much you could order in advance. I got iPad 2. Needed convincing there. I have had too many toys to count. In the old days we had to wait till something was in the store so prerelease ordering was pretty much impossible.

BUT, I do not see this as a real untried prerelease. I got a pebble after its kickstarter hit the streets and I could read the reviews. THAT is why I have seen enough of the Apple Watch to know it will meet MY needs. My posts generally tell people why I am getting it but I do not tell others to get it or to NOT get it or constantly argue with them for hours insisting they are wrong. That is my definition of trolling.

The pebble (and from extension Apple Watch) will meet my work needs quite well. I cannot pull out a phone in front of my clients but I CAN look at my watch.

As for encouraging development... I think I have a longer view of all of this than you do. I have programmed using punch cards and paper tape. I have implemented compilers at the machine language level (yes BINARY) before it was possible to do them in higher level languages. I am excited when something new is coming along.

You are trying to tell people not to buy a $350 watch that is more powerful than the million dollar computer that ran my university because it is not worth it. OMG!!

I bought the first THREE versions of the Macintosh and the first Mac Hard drive. No one 'NEEDED' those things and the cost was several thousand dollars. BUT if no one bought the first Macintosh where would we be today with personal computing?

I am certain that if this watch is a huge failure that it would pretty much kill the wearable computing market for a while. Yes, we can get cheaper fitness trackers but they are not sexy enough to capture the imagination of the masses. I am also certain that if it IS a success that it will drive research in better smaller low power sensors and in 10 years we will be amazed at how much we loved this one.

SO the answer is YES I think I have helped technology as an early adopter of the RIGHT technology. Each step leads us to the next but you never get there if you do not start. I know there were a lot of things that did NOT get my (and everyone else's) attention enough to buy them and they have quietly disappeared.

And Apple did it right by NOT rushing to market.

And in conclusion before you call me an Apple fanboy I have to tell you I dearly HATE what the Macintosh OS became and cannot stand using any version of the Macintosh. I switched to PC's years ago and feel pain using Apple PC's (but love my iPad 2).

Technology doesn't need you to buy it for it to evolve. Your point on personal computing was a bit silly. If people buy what they need/want because of what it does for them now, the technology develops in an honest way that responds to demand. You buying something just because you want it to grow into something greater pretty much gives easy money to companies like Apple who are famous for copying the Henry Ford slogan of not expecting customers to know what they want. People do know what they want now in things like this. Do we know what the next break through in technology is? Nope, but we can have a bigger say in how and when we get things if we just be honest with what we want/need now by buying the products that fit those requirements. Buying an Apple watch now because you want it to be able to do something else in the future is ridiculous.

I don't care what your definition of trolling is. There is room for all views on here. Discouraging someone from buying one of these things is not something I would do. I just don't think it makes sense to suggest buying this thing right now is worth it or even sensible as a useful product. It is however a nice new toy to get to know. Just very pricey. If you take that as me trying to discourage you or anyone else from buying it, you're reasons are weaker than you are willing to accept.

 

[gorkt]

I have mentioned it to my friends, some of who are Droid fans and some who are iPhone people, and none are really interested in buying, mostly due to the price point, and the fact that watches and fitness bands just don't interest them.

I have several reasons for wanting one.
1) I tried the Microsoft band as my first smart watch. It left me wanting more. It was uncomfortable, so I stopped wearing it, but it opened my eyes to the possibilities of a smartwatch. Getting notifications on the wrist was really handy. It even had a gps which is nice but not critical since I run with my phone anyway. The few apps it did have were fun.
2) My last trip to Disney, I used a magic band and I loved it. I remember wanting a Magic band for the real world. Personally, I think most people lack the imagination to understand how useful and fun this type of device can be if the infrastructure is there to support it. In this case, the existing infrastructure is the Apple ecosystem of apps.
3) I personally like the look of this, and I am very impressed with the band design. The Milanese band nailed it for me. When I did wear a watch, I wore a Skagen with a similar band, and it is very comfortable.