Getting a first generation Apple watch makes no sense

[Aluminum213]

If history shows, getting first gen hardware from Apple is almost always a big mistake as the second generation version is usually a huge improvement

First main issue, daily charging for a watch? LOL. This is going to be BY FAR the biggest complaint and apple will spend the most time fixing it

Second, the thing looks huge and bulky. Looks gigantic and we know apple just will make this thinner and thinner which it needs to be

Third, apps, I'm going to let developers play with this thing for an year before I buy it because right now all the apps look like cheap useless gimmicks at this point

 

[Piggie]

If history shows, getting first gen hardware from Apple is almost always a big mistake as the second generation version is usually a huge improvement

First main issue, daily charging for a watch? LOL. This is going to be BY FAR the biggest complaint and apple will spend the most time fixing it

Second, the thing looks huge and bulky. Looks gigantic and we know apple just will make this thinner and thinner which it needs to be

Third, apps, I'm going to let developers play with this thing for an year before I buy it because right now all the apps look like cheap useless gimmicks at this point

Those are all valid points and many of them may well turn out to be totally correct.

You will get a lot of hate here calling the design Huge, Bulky and Gigantic.
We all know it is, but it's something that's not allowed to be said

We could look back and call this "The old Tubby" in years to come

What scares me most is some think this design is perfect enough to last for decades!

Time will tell, time will tell.

Just expect to be told you are wrong by posting such things here.

 

[matrix07]

If history shows, getting first gen hardware from Apple is almost always a big mistake as the second generation version is usually a huge improvement

First main issue, daily charging for a watch? LOL. This is going to be BY FAR the biggest complaint and apple will spend the most time fixing it

Second, the thing looks huge and bulky. Looks gigantic and we know apple just will make this thinner and thinner which it needs to be

Third, apps, I'm going to let developers play with this thing for an year before I buy it because right now all the apps look like cheap useless gimmicks at this point

You have your choice, but I'll have some fun for a year before you.
The way I see it, the cheapest one is just a fraction of my annual medical bills. If it can improve my health just a little by forcing me to have discipline that alone will recover the cost by itself. Oh and did I tell you I'll have some fun for a year before you.

 

[Applenoob34]

I actually went out and bought a pebble yesterday to hopefully curb my appetite for the first gen Apple watch.

I don't think it's hating on apple to expect a lot of issues with the first apple watch. It's just a reality of any new product and their growing pains. I'm excited to see the new watch and hopefully I can wait a year for the improved version.

 

[Rogifan]

You will get a lot of hate here calling the design Huge, Bulky and Gigantic.
We all know it is, but it's something that's not allowed to be said

Hmm...do you have an example of where this is not allowed to be said? Pretty much every one of your Watch posts is critical but I'm not aware of them being censored in any way. And no we don't all agree that it's "huge, bulky and gigantic". The people that seem to be saying that the most have never seen the watch in person. Some of us choose to reserve judgment until we've actually seen it hands on.

----------

I actually went out and bought a pebble yesterday to hopefully curb my appetite for the first gen Apple watch.

I don't think it's hating on apple to expect a lot of issues with the first apple watch. It's just a reality of any new product and their growing pains. I'm excited to see the new watch and hopefully I can wait a year for the improved version.

The same thing could be said of the first-generation iPhone and iPad. But if nobody buys something because they're waiting for a better version that better version may never come. You need early adopters and beta testers to improve the product and make it better for everyone.

 

[Marbles1]

I'm probably going to pick up a low end one - whatever the cheapest one is that looks reasonable - to play with.

Apple have said nothing about upgrades, future variations.. .and whatever the killer features are will not really be known until a good six months in.

it'll be fun to have one from the beginning.

Once the first generation is released we'll get a good idea on how often the release cycle will be, where the issues are, and what apple's plans are for the future.

I think buying in at the low end makes sense as you get a product to enjoy and can see what apps work for you and which ones don't. I see it as being part of a mass beta test.

Then if a better model comes out in a few years time, it might be worth dropping a bit more cash for something classy.

Currently I agree - it's too bulky. I want something slimmer.

 

[Aluminum213]

And before people call me a hater, I was really looking forward to getting this, just after it was presented I see that the technology simply isn't there yet (battery, thickness).

I'm thinking I will get a watch I can use in the meantime, non smart watch, and see what apple does after an year because it likely will be major improvements

 

[melman101]

I would never trade the time I had with my iPad 1 or my original iPhone. I look forward to getting the first generation Apple Watch.

 

[Julien]

I would never trade the time I had with my iPad 1 or my original iPhone. I look forward to getting the first generation Apple Watch.

Right there with you. There is always an improvement on the horizon that I want too and it's just a fact that the next gen will be improved. However enjoying the current model makes waiting on the next aWatch easer. One of the best features Apple has is resale value. You can buy the Sport for $350, enjoy until the next iteration and then sell your 'old' aWatch for probably around $150-$175. This way it costs less than $1 a day and not miss out for a year or longer.

 

[kmj2318]

I expect the full size Sport to be about $400-$500. It's really not that much money for me based on what it could give me. If I decide to get the iPhone 6 Plus, the watch will make exercising more present than carrying around the big phone. That right there is reason enough to get the first gen.

 

[mattopotamus]

Right there with you. There is always an improvement on the horizon that I want too and it's just a fact that the next gen will be improved. However enjoying the current model makes waiting on the next aWatch easer. One of the best features Apple has is resale value. You can buy the Sport for $350, enjoy until the next iteration and then sell your 'old' aWatch for probably around $150-$175. This way it costs less than $1 a day and not miss out for a year or longer.

This is a good point. The apple watch is sure to have decent resell value.

 

[rorschach]

If history shows, getting first gen hardware from Apple is almost always a big mistake as the second generation version is usually a huge improvement

First main issue, daily charging for a watch? LOL. This is going to be BY FAR the biggest complaint and apple will spend the most time fixing it

Second, the thing looks huge and bulky. Looks gigantic and we know apple just will make this thinner and thinner which it needs to be

Third, apps, I'm going to let developers play with this thing for an year before I buy it because right now all the apps look like cheap useless gimmicks at this point

If nobody buys it then there won't be a second generation. Or at least if there is, any issues won't be fixed because there will have been nobody to test them to see what works and doesn't work.

 

[kdarling]

If the battery time doesn't radically improve, it shouldn't take long before a lot of Apple Watches become available secondhand.

From personal experience, once-a-day charging gets really annoying. Especially if you always wear a watch anyway, like I do.

Two-three days is much better, and five to seven days is surprisingly usable.

 

[Bengy66]

I am buying what Gruber is speculating on about the S chip. I anticipate the Apple Watch will be completely internally upgradable. The chances of people buying a high end watch year over year slim, but chances of buying internal upgrade much better year over year.

The thought process of holding out for 2nd gen may not make sense then.

 

[justinthesommer]

Gotta get it though, just for the historical sake.

 

[iBighouse]

I think that years after the first release, after the second or third generation devices add more power and features, you can say that in comparison to the first generation the later generations are, indeed, better devices. BUT, unless you have a time machine and can go shop in the future, the first generation of any device is the bee's knees of those devices. There isn't anything else to compare it to!

So, Sir, I dismiss your claim.

 

[Aluminum213]

I am buying what Gruber is speculating on about the S chip. I anticipate the Apple Watch will be completely internally upgradable. The chances of people buying a high end watch year over year slim, but chances of buying internal upgrade much better year over year.

The thought process of holding out for 2nd gen may not make sense then.

Apple and internally upgradable?

Hahahhaha

 

[SHNXX]

i agree that getting a first-gen product is like being a paying beta tester.

but honestly, having a first gen ipod was great.
first gen iphone was pretty ****ing awesome too.

i don't think it's all that bad.

 

[CaptMarvel]

early adopters = early bragging rights!

 

[Anitramane]

I agree. Compare Ipad mith Ipad The Second Generation, Ipad two still gets updated software to this very day.

 

[leenak]

I've never had a first gen system. I decided I wanted an iPad about 5 or 6 months before the iPad 2 came out, so I waited... and waited...

I'm probably buying a Basis Peak (truth be told, I already have a pre-order in) and I'll be watching the Apple Watch. I like wearable gadgets and have tried a few. Generally they are cheap enough to try. I know that the second Apple Watch will be better but it depends on my mood at the time whether I'll want to try the first gen.

 

[Poki]

I'm still using my iPad 1 daily. Sure, it's still on iOS 5, but who cares? It AirPlays YouTube to my TV better than any other iPad can (no ads, best layout of any YouTube app), it's still an okay-ish browser, a good RSS reader and, sometimes, a nice toy.

So it still does what I bought it for anyway. Would I do more with a newer iPad? Probably. But nothing I couldn't do with my Macs, so I don't really see the need to upgrade.

With the Apple Watch, I see it similarly. It's not a tool for being productive, so I don't care if a newer generation is a little faster. I already charge so many devices daily that it doesn't really matter either. Thinner ... well, that could be a point, but I'll first need to see how the current one looks on my wrist.

So yeah, I'm gonna buy it. If the steel one isn't too outrageous expensive, that is.

 

[srshaw]

For me the biggest drawback is that it isn't waterproof. For a watch with sports credentials that is a bit of a drawback, that and being left handed I wear my watch on my right wrist.

If it looks ok on on my right wrist (upside down) I may go for it. I accept that version two will probably fix all the niggles so I certainly wouldn't buy the more expensive versions.

 

[Julien]

For me the biggest drawback is that it isn't waterproof. For a watch with sports credentials that is a bit of a drawback...

We still don't know just how water resistant/proof it will be. However it will probably be at least IPx6 and hopefully IPx7. IPx7 would cover everything short of swimming for a ½ hour or longer. Are you wanting it for swimming?

 

[matrix07]

For me the biggest drawback is that it isn't waterproof. For a watch with sports credentials that is a bit of a drawback, that and being left handed I wear my watch on my right wrist.

If it looks ok on on my right wrist (upside down) I may go for it. I accept that version two will probably fix all the niggles so I certainly wouldn't buy the more expensive versions.

If I remember correctly, Jim Dalrymple wrote that he wear watch right hand and he had no problem with Watch.

I think we already know 2 shortcomings of the watch, namely GPS and waterproof (yes, for swimming). Apple should make an extreme sport edition that has both and I can guarantee it will be the best selling of sport edition. If it concerns about battery life just has Running Mode in software where GPS will be turned on exclusively.