Will the site handle the traffic?

[dontwalkhand]

This has to be my biggest fear about preordering Apple products. Having a downed server could mean getting your watch on April 24 to having to wait until sometime around June!

If iPhone 6 is anything to be a precedent, Apple hopefully will get their act together here and actually have a system to back it up. Especially since they're not allowing you to stand in line at the Apple Store and camping out to buy one like with iPhones.

 

[BvizioN]

Well, assuming it's not going to be 10 millions wanting to buy this on the first weekend( or anywhere close to that number) am just guessing it may be alright. But hard to tell for sure.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Apple handled the 6/6+ introduction pretty well. I doubt the watch is going to overload things. You got to remember that you watch is using your phone for most of its functions, a phone that is already on the network.

 

[JayLenochiniMac]

A non-issue until the Watch becomes as popular as the iPhone.

 

[Glene]

I think you'll be surprised how easy it will go....as others have said, most people I know with an iPhone are not interested or will wait and see. At first, the non forum public will ignore this launch, in comparison with other mainstream launches like the iPhone 6....JMO

 

[mbhforum]

I don't think you can compare the past iPhone launches to this one. iPhone is an established product and market and it has taken years to get to the popularity that it has. The smartwatch category has yet to take off and a lot of people will slowly embrace it. While people on this site are fanatic about the Apple Watch (including myself), most of the rest of the world will patiently see how their friend's watch looks, works, etc. before they jump in. I don't anticipate any technical issues when ordering at 3am EST.

 

[Mr.C]

Just to add what has already been said. First of all the Watch only works with iPhones. Secondly it only works with the iPhone 5 and 6 series models so this alone will limit who can actually make use of the watch.

 

[mbhforum]

Just to add what has already been said. First of all the Watch only works with iPhones. Secondly it only works with the iPhone 5 and 6 series models so this alone will limit who can actually make use of the watch.

Great point. You have to think inventory will be less than an iPhone launch, but I also think demand will be less, thus making the site more usable. I do think it will sell out quickly for some models due to supply and demand.

 

[KauaiBruce]

I have never ordered an iPhone directly from Apple so I have a question for those that have. Don't they somehow check with your carrier about eligibility for pricing? That alone could create a big bottleneck and complication.

In the case of the watch they will have a certain amount available which can be delivered within specific timeframes. Buying the watch should be as simple a transaction as buying a case.

Do we order and wait for a confirmation email or will it be clear on the app or in the store itself that you got it for sure?

Now for etiquettes sake we should get off the site as soon as we get our orders in to not bog it down for others.

 

[mbhforum]

I have never ordered an iPhone directly from Apple so I have a question for those that have. Don't they somehow check with your carrier about eligibility for pricing? That alone could create a big bottleneck and complication.

In the case of the watch they will have a certain amount available which can be delivered within specific timeframes. Buying the watch should be as simple a transaction as buying a case.

Do we order and wait for a confirmation email or will it be clear on the app or in the store itself that you got it for sure?

Now for etiquettes sake we should get off the site as soon as we get our orders in to not bog it down for others.

Another great point! Apple's servers have to check your carrier eligibility which definitely would complicate a transaction. This is why for the iPhone 6 I ordered through Verizon as I had trouble using Apple's site. I've never had an issue ordering an iPad on launch day but the demand for those have lessened over the years.

 

[KauaiBruce]

Another great point! Apple's servers have to check your carrier eligibility which definitely would complicate a transaction. This is why for the iPhone 6 I ordered through Verizon as I had trouble using Apple's site. I've never had an issue ordering an iPad on launch day but the demand for those have lessened over the years.

AND I HOPE we do not need to get the watch activated through the internet when we connect to the iPhone the first time.

 

[Dave245]

This is going to depend on how many people are interested and want one, I for sure do I just haven't decided whether to go to the Store or order online or Pre-order online and reserve for collection on the 24th which I'm hoping is an option.

Personally I think the Watch has great potential, the App Store is also what's going to make this great. But watching the new tour videos on Apples website shows just how good this watch is going to be. I can already see that Apple have spent a lot of time getting this right.

 

[Trent0341]

AND I HOPE we do not need to get the watch activated through the internet when we connect to the iPhone the first time.

Don't know for sure but I would think a blue tooth connection to your phone which may or may not require a internet connection to set it up.

 

[walshy1009]

Well, assuming it's not going to be 10 millions wanting to buy this on the first weekend( or anywhere close to that number) am just guessing it may be alright. But hard to tell for sure.

Analysts are predicting 300,000 preorders on the first day. Apple's first Apple Watch shipment is reportedly 1.8 - 2.4 million units. I think you along with the servers will be fine as you got to remember that this is not a iPhone preorder day.

Just as long as you are there ready when preorders go live, you'll be good (Tip: the app version of the Apple Store is usually the one to work first)

 

[bunnicula]

Analysts are predicting 300,000 preorders on the first day. Apple's first Apple Watch shipment is reportedly 1.8 - 2.4 million units. I think you along with the servers will be fine as you got to remember that this is not a iPhone preorder day.

Just as long as you are there ready when preorders go live, you'll be good (Tip: the app version of the Apple Store is usually the one to work first)

Agreed.

Also, the iPhone preorders involve carrier requests and so forth here in the US, so that's always bogging down the servers. It's MUCH easier to preorder an item that's not carrier dependent.

I think that preorders may exceed expectations, but I don't think it'll be anything like trying to get one's hands on an iPhone.

I think the 6/6 plus preorder was the worst one I ever did... second worst was the iPhone 5. Something weird went down with that preorder and though I got mine in rather quickly, a good many of my friends who were up and trying to order had trouble. 4S wasn't exactly a cakewalk, come to think of it... 4S and 5 were nothing like the 6/6 plus, though... nothing at all. That was really bad. And I didn't even have to wait longer than about 30 minutes to get through.

Still, when you're on the East Coast of the US and it's 3:30 in the AM, it feels really rough.

 

[Apollonian]

As many of you said I think it will go much smoother without carriers involved. On a related note, how do you think preordering will work in the app or on the website? Will we go to our favorites and checkout from there?

 

[rcarter3636]

I'm thinking a tad more than 300k the first weekend. Closer to 500k.
Remember too not all of those will be ordering online to get a jump start like most here.
Either way Apple should have enough supply for demand the first weekend.
We will be the advertisers for this product that Apple will depend on to make sells jump the rest of the year.

 

[walshy1009]

I'm thinking a tad more than 300k the first weekend. Closer to 500k.
Remember too not all of those will be ordering online to get a jump start like most here.
Either way Apple should have enough supply for demand the first weekend.
We will be the advertisers for this product that Apple will depend on to make sells jump the rest of the year.

I agree. I said 300,000 on first day. There will be way more preordered on the weekend also.

 

[Multiverse223]

Let's see. It's a brand new product, no one knows how much supply they have, 35-40% are interested in the space gray according to polls (which means these could sell out quickly unless Apple anticipated this), and an important factor that I guess no one acknowledges is that this watch is only sold at Apple Stores (besides a hand full of special stands). The iPhone's are sold at numerous stores, I mean literally millions are sold at AT&T, Verizon, T Mobile, and Sprint every year when they launch, not to mention Walmart, etc... Myself, my brothers, and gf have never preordered anything from Apple, but we are all preordering a watch. Moreover, we're going to try to preorder multiple watches to decide which we want.

I predict there will be stock shortages of a few models and there will be decent traffic.

 

[armandxp]

Who knows what product inventory is going to be like. I've seen the Apple site crash for most major launches. If you want one, order it the minute it goes online, and then there are no worries. If you don't like the one you get, exchange it. I've measured my wrist, know I want the 42mm, know I want the Milanese Loop, I'll be up at launch time to order at 3:00AM and then go back to bed with no worries.

 

[technosix]

I highly doubt the server will be challenged. All the buzz only exists here and a few other forums. It's a bit surprising that of all the people I've casually asked about the watch I get three typical responses.

1) Haven't heard about it.
2) Heard of it, not interested.
3) May buy it after reviews are available from real world forum watch buyers. Not reviews designed as click bait.

Most are no longer fooled and know Apple hypes products wildly. Therefore they're taking a wait and see approach.

That's a wise, understandable approach. One I'll be taking.

 

[rorschach]

This has to be my biggest fear about preordering Apple products. Having a downed server could mean getting your watch on April 24 to having to wait until sometime around June!

If iPhone 6 is anything to be a precedent, Apple hopefully will get their act together here and actually have a system to back it up. Especially since they're not allowing you to stand in line at the Apple Store and camping out to buy one like with iPhones.

Well, a huge bottleneck with the phones is the carriers. That's not a probem with the Watch, so I'd venture to say the Watch preorders will be a lot smoother than the iPhone.

Also, definitely try the Apple Store app, which I've found usually works a lot better than the website during the pre-order bumrush.

 

[Lucifer666]

Do we know how many are going to be available?

Their marketing team must have figured out demand.

I don't know....

 

[armandxp]

I think it will be like the Apple TV at first. I believe Tim said the sales would be intertwined with another category. They will not announce actual numbers if they are low. If they sell 5 million in the first weekend. You will def hear about it. It's a new category and nobody knows how many fashion conscious people will purchase a tech product. I'm a tech nerd, but I love to try new things. I have no tech friends who are interested. Makes me a little worried. But, I don't care. I love being the first. I have no doubt that I will love the subtleties, that the watch will do for me. But I'm a def tech nerd!!!!

----------

Do we know how many are going to be available?

Their marketing team must have figured out demand.

I don't know....

They would never announce that. LOL.

 

[sahilpatel12]

Well it did handle well for short period of time on 6/6+ launch from what I have heard from my friend. I never had chance to order or preorder from apple since I have business account with Att and we have to pre order it from there seperate website.
It will be my first time preordering from apple so I hope it goes well