Apple Watch = xmas gift or wait?

[PricklyPete]

I recently bought an Apple Watch for my wife. She loves it and I have to admit, it looks less geeky than I thought it would (probably helps that my wife is wearing it as she is decidedly not geeky).

A big reason why she loves it is that she stays at home with our twins and is pregnant with our third addition. 50% of the time she doesn't even know where her phone is...so having a watch that lets her know the time, indicates phone calls/messages, gives her calendar events, has a timer for "time outs", etc. is very nice. It also serves her level of fitness needs.

For me...I'm just not interested. The only reason I would want the watch is for fitness reasons and w/o GPS, the Apple Watch doesn't work for me. Maybe version 2 or 3 if they add GPS. I'd love to run Strava on a watch.

 

[Commodus]

Same policy for most everything they release: Jack the price up and minimize functionality because people will still buy it.

There's a $10,000 model. That's all you need to know.

Only it does more than nearly every Android Wear watch. Try making an in-store purchase (or doing anything NFC-related) with your Android watch... wait, you can't. Only some of them have heart rate sensors; very few of them have GPS, and none have pressure-sensitive touch. The Apple Watch has twice as much internal storage, too. About the only things it's lacking are third-party watch faces and cellular data.

Oh, and you can go running without your phone -- it's just recommended the first few times so that you get an accurate estimate of your gait.

It's entirely fair to criticize the Apple Watch for its still slightly rough software, not-very-watchlike design and similar criteria. But please, don't trot out old, easily disproven myths about Apple. It says more about your insecurity (you need to believe myths about the 'enemy' to justify your platform choice) than anything else.

 

[slackerinabox]

Only it does more than nearly every Android Wear watch. Try making an in-store purchase (or doing anything NFC-related) with your Android watch... wait, you can't. Only some of them have heart rate sensors; very few of them have GPS, and none have pressure-sensitive touch. The Apple Watch has twice as much internal storage, too. About the only things it's lacking are third-party watch faces and cellular data.

Oh, and you can go running without your phone -- it's just recommended the first few times so that you get an accurate estimate of your gait.

It's entirely fair to criticize the Apple Watch for its still slightly rough software, not-very-watchlike design and similar criteria. But please, don't trot out old, easily disproven myths about Apple. It says more about your insecurity (you need to believe myths about the 'enemy' to justify your platform choice) than anything else.

Thank you - it's so hard to get any real information because of the rabid fanboys (much more android than ios, honestly) who treat all of this like it's some sort of religion.

And I showed my wife android wear watches because I'm cheap and they're cross platform now - she just said "no" and that hideous, overtly 'masculine' (I think ugly) styling. I'm sure that will change when actual watch manufacturers get involved, but right now androidwear's a sausage party on your wrist

 

[JAG87]

was thinking about the apple watch but what kills it for me is: no GPS. I have to carry my phone with me while running or hiking. Can't submerge it under water. Meaning no swimming. Though I can probably liquipel it.... But then still no GPS in it.. why oh why apple?

Because a GPS radio would use a ridiculous amount of power for a 250 mah battery, and your watch would last 4-5 hours if you are lucky. I don't even think v2 will have a GPS radio, or a cellular radio, unless there is a major redesign with a much larger battery. Yes LG has the Urbane with cellular and GPS, but they had to shove a 700 mah battery in it.

 

[slackerinabox]

I recently bought an Apple Watch for my wife. She loves it and I have to admit, it looks less geeky than I thought it would (probably helps that my wife is wearing it as she is decidedly not geeky).

A big reason why she loves it is that she stays at home with our twins and is pregnant with our third addition. 50% of the time she doesn't even know where her phone is...so having a watch that lets her know the time, indicates phone calls/messages, gives her calendar events, has a timer for "time outs", etc. is very nice. It also serves her level of fitness needs.

For me...I'm just not interested. The only reason I would want the watch is for fitness reasons and w/o GPS, the Apple Watch doesn't work for me. Maybe version 2 or 3 if they add GPS. I'd love to run Strava on a watch.

Thank y ou for the post, you're making me itch to buy one now. It still counts basic steps without the gps, correct? Then a v1 might just be her cup of tea, treat it as a foot in to yet another apple product to add to the yearly buy/sell/buy 2.0 cycle.

I'm going to do some private research into apple resale value, but what would you think ver 1 used will be going for when 2.0 is out? If around $200 I can justify $150 every two years to upgrade. though I know it's difficult to project

 

[poofyhairguy]

I'm going to do some private research into apple resale value, but what would you think ver 1 used will be going for when 2.0 is out? If around $200 I can justify $150 every two years to upgrade. though I know it's difficult to project

I would guess at least $200 unless the 2.0 version is just crazy better. Even then I think $200 is a safe bet just because people want the bragging right.

If you don't mind selling the old one there is never a bad time to buy iDevices. Well, the day before a new one is released is bad, but you get what I mean.

 

[slackerinabox]

I would guess at least $200 unless the 2.0 version is just crazy better. Even then I think $200 is a safe bet just because people want the bragging right.

If you don't mind selling the old one there is never a bad time to buy iDevices. Well, the day before a new one is released is bad, but you get what I mean.

Dammit, sound reasoning. I've been doing that with the ipad (less often now), I'd deal with the headache of craigslist and, boom, shiny new Christmas gift for for less than 2 bills all said and done. $200 to apple every two years for Christmas gifts is better than figuring out what $400 bag to buy... she's not showy but she works her ass off, and a guy can only think of so many ideas. I think I'm going for it then. She's not allowed to use her phone during the day (special ed teacher) so the buzz of her mii band is a great help for emergencies. Notifications on wrist will be a godsend.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Sounds like she would really get a lot of use out of it, I would go for it.

In fact I apologize that logic didn't come up earlier, it was due to my own bias. With my wife when I give her something that is the end of the story. I couldn't swing "hey honey, remember that watch I bought you last year? Well here is the new one but we can only afford it if I can sell the old one on Ebay." She gets emotionally attached to technology she likes which means device flipping is out of the question. She has a iPhone 5 in a drawer I can't sell because of that exact reason.

But in your situation it seems like a slam dunk. Make her Christmas and get her the watch. My last piece of advice is wait for Black Friday, someone like Bestbuy is going to cut something off the price to get people in the door on that day.

 

[slackerinabox]

Sounds like she would really get a lot of use out of it, I would go for it.

In fact I apologize that logic didn't come up earlier, it was due to my own bias. With my wife when I give her something that is the end of the story. I couldn't swing "hey honey, remember that watch I bought you last year? Well here is the new one but we can only afford it if I can sell the old one on Ebay." She gets emotionally attached to technology she likes which means device flipping is out of the question. She has a iPhone 5 in a drawer I can't sell because of that exact reason.

But in your situation it seems like a slam dunk. Make her Christmas and get her the watch. My last piece of advice is wait for Black Friday, someone like Bestbuy is going to cut something off the price to get people in the door on that day.

She used to mind but, now that I do the heavy lifting, she doesn't care (I used to have her wait in the car during shady feeling craigslist dealings, I was stupid in my 20s . It's a habit I got into with audio gear, I'd always upgrade my amp and would flip and buy to keep it affordable.

The paradigm is changing now with the toddler. My wife got bored of her ipad (doesn't want a new one) so now the 4 year old paints on it, and I'm stuck with a kindle fire. I doubt a future 6 year old would use an apple watch but you never know, kids these days.

 

[Eug]

I'd say wait... until these things are actually useful.

You might be waiting a very long time though.

 

[Midwayman]

, but right now androidwear's a sausage party on your wrist

Well shit. Time to get one then!:awe:

 

[Rakehellion]

the Apple Watch 1 has a LOT of room for improvement (like a round screen for example)

Who the hell wants a round screen on an electronic device? :|

 

[poofyhairguy]

Who the hell wants a round screen on an electronic device? :|

Um....people who want their "watch" to look like a watch?

It is a pretty night and day difference.

 

[slackerinabox]

Um....people who want their "watch" to look like a watch?

It is a pretty night and day difference.

Of course everyone has there priorities, but I personally don't mind if my smartwatch doesn't look like a traditional watch. I mean, my pebble is close but it's not round, and I don't even notice anymore

 

[Midwayman]

Um....people who want their "watch" to look like a watch?

It is a pretty night and day difference.

There are plenty of square face watches. Granted the apple watch doesn't look traditional, but its not because of a square case.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Of course everyone has there priorities, but I personally don't mind if my smartwatch doesn't look like a traditional watch. I mean, my pebble is close but it's not round, and I don't even notice anymore

I feel you, I have a square smartwatch too.

But with Apple trying to cut into the "fashion" watch industry going to a round face that matches most other expensive watches seems like a no-brainer. Like a "If Steve was still alive that Moto 360 would have been copying the first Apple Watch" no brainer.

 

[slackerinabox]

I feel you, I have a square smartwatch too.

But with Apple trying to cut into the "fashion" watch industry going to a round face that matches most other expensive watches seems like a no-brainer. Like a "If Steve was still alive that Moto 360 would have been copying the first Apple Watch" no brainer.

Not to be pretentious, but they like to "think different," in that they like to redefine the shape of objects we know and love (the music player, the phone, the personal computer). if only so that they could get a design patent on a rectangle it is a little cynical, but with everyone marching toward round watches on android wear, apple's going the other way. I do view it as a little practical, more usable space in cramped dimensions. Though I've never used one yet, it could be one big gimmick.