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I think they may be benefiting from the fitness device trend in a somewhat unexpected way: everyone is getting used to wearing an ugly-looking wrist device, or

I think they may be benefiting from the fitness device trend in a somewhat unexpected way: everyone is getting used to wearing an ugly-looking wrist device, or seeing them on other people, so the fashion barrier is not as steep as it was a couple of years ago. My original thought about the watch was that it was going to need to get smaller and a lot better-looking before it really caught on, but maybe not...

eric_h 10y ago
The fact that the second revision of the watch is actually bigger than the first makes this all quite surprising.
- 4rt 10y ago
  i guess it makes it more visible. apple products are very expensive and everybody knows that now, not just computery people.
  - charlesdm 10y ago
    Most mechanical watches are a magnitude more expensive than an Apple watch and tend to be smaller and not flashy at all. If you want to impress others.. don't wear an Apple watch. But if you like it as a watch, go for it!
Steko 10y ago
I see more watches but still question whether it's 'really caught on'. I don't have a fashion objection but for me the basic functionality of waiting for the face to light up is close to a dealbreaker and the convenience of Apple Pay seems to be moving backward as I'm forced to use my PIN and sign in all sorts of places I used to be able to just wave my phone at.
- lparry 10y ago
  > the convenience of Apple Pay seems to be moving backward as I'm forced to use my PIN and sign in all sorts of places I used to be able to just wave my phone at. This is a rant against how you imagine things work, instead of how they actually work. I put my watch on in the morning and it is automatically unlocked the next time I unlock my phone with touch id. From this point on, the pin is never required. Apple Pay is just a double click on the long button, no pin entry as you've imagined if the watch is unlocked, which is true unless you've only just put on the watch. waiting for the face to light up however, is a legit complaint. It really sucks that there's not even an option for "always on" that you could use while working out, as it's a pain in the ass to be running and want to check your current pace and find that wrist-flick detection failed so you're staring at an off instead of getting the data you wanted and getting back to looking where you're going quickly again.
  - TomSawyer 10y ago
    He's talking about having to enter the PIN for his debit card into the POS keypad.
    - bogositosius 10y ago
      How can a retailer ask for a PIN number on an Apple Pay transaction? They don't even know what account the money actually comes from, since Apple Pay only gives them a one-time use number for that single transaction. So how can they verify a PIN number in that context?
      - TomSawyer 10y ago
        My experience using Apple Pay with a checking account's debit card at Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's is that it only saves having to swipe/insert the physical card. I'm still required to enter the pin. Sometimes it gives me the options of "VISA Debit" or "US Debit" which both work the same way. A few times I've gotten lucky and it gives me the option of "Credit" or "Debit" and when I pick "Credit" it's a toss up -- probably driven by the amount of the transaction -- on if the transaction is complete or if I have to "sign" with the stylus on the POS.
- calvinbhai 10y ago
  Not sure if thats your opinion as an Apple Watch user, or as someone who hasn't used an Apple Watch at all. I think its the latter, because the experience (IMO) of "waiting for face to light up" is not at all how you describe.
- derefr 10y ago
  Compared to using an analogue watch, the Apple Watch is slower. Compared to using a phone as a pocketwatch, I would bet it's slightly faster on average—especially the part after where you have to put your phone _back_ in your pocket. A product doesn't have to beat the best to succeed; it just has to beat whatever the optimum was in the niche it targets. Which, for "check the time on my phone" people, isn't all that high a bar.
- jsight 10y ago
  I don't really get it either. I actually like smartwatches, but I own a Pebble Time Steel (recently bought, post-bankruptcy) because it is still the best smartwatch for me. The screen is always on, it does notifications well, fitness tracking is decent, and the battery lasts 7+ days. But it seems like a lot of people really want the bright colorful screen, even if it makes the device less effective as a watch.
perseusprime11 10y ago
It is not as bad as you think in terms of fashion. I had a lot of people compliment me as I wear my Apple watch with a tan leather suede strap.
TomSawyer 10y ago
I've witnessed this phenomenon multiple times. 1. Person buys or is gifted a Fitbit because it's inexpensive 2. Person retrains themselves to wear something on their wrist 3. Person is convinced that fitness tracking is beneficial 4. Person is fed up with the low quality of their Fitbit or it has out right fallen apart 5. Person buys an Apple Watch
- eldavido 10y ago
  I have no reason to believe this is going to happen, but I wish Timex would buy Fitbit. FIT's market cap is right around a billion these days, which is affordable for a large, public company. Fitbit = good software, good product DNA, garbage manufacturing, in need of better distribution. Timex = great manufacturing, can't make software to save their lives, used to competing in a high-volume, low-margin retail environment
- brlewis 10y ago
  I work for but don't speak for Fitbit. I bet all the times you witnessed that phenomenon it was a Fitbit Charge HR. The 2016 and 2017 Fitbit trackers (Blaze, Alta, Charge 2, Flex 2, Alta HR) have way fewer issues with manufacturing quality.
icanhackit 10y ago
The magnetic Milanese loop is perfect for taking the sting out of a watch that you need to take off regularly to charge. I can take it off or put it on in around 2 seconds. I've never owned a watch so easy to put on or remove. It's up there with the magsafe (RIP) and detachable cover for the iPad with ease of use. I <3 magnets.
jsight 10y ago
I agree, I definitely think that is part of it.

eric_h 10y ago

The fact that the second revision of the watch is actually bigger than the first makes this all quite surprising.

4rt 10y ago
i guess it makes it more visible. apple products are very expensive and everybody knows that now, not just computery people.
- charlesdm 10y ago
  Most mechanical watches are a magnitude more expensive than an Apple watch and tend to be smaller and not flashy at all. If you want to impress others.. don't wear an Apple watch. But if you like it as a watch, go for it!

Steko 10y ago

I see more watches but still question whether it's 'really caught on'. I don't have a fashion objection but for me the basic functionality of waiting for the face to light up is close to a dealbreaker and the convenience of Apple Pay seems to be moving backward as I'm forced to use my PIN and sign in all sorts of places I used to be able to just wave my phone at.

lparry 10y ago
> the convenience of Apple Pay seems to be moving backward as I'm forced to use my PIN and sign in all sorts of places I used to be able to just wave my phone at. This is a rant against how you imagine things work, instead of how they actually work. I put my watch on in the morning and it is automatically unlocked the next time I unlock my phone with touch id. From this point on, the pin is never required. Apple Pay is just a double click on the long button, no pin entry as you've imagined if the watch is unlocked, which is true unless you've only just put on the watch. waiting for the face to light up however, is a legit complaint. It really sucks that there's not even an option for "always on" that you could use while working out, as it's a pain in the ass to be running and want to check your current pace and find that wrist-flick detection failed so you're staring at an off instead of getting the data you wanted and getting back to looking where you're going quickly again.
- TomSawyer 10y ago
  He's talking about having to enter the PIN for his debit card into the POS keypad.
  - bogositosius 10y ago
    How can a retailer ask for a PIN number on an Apple Pay transaction? They don't even know what account the money actually comes from, since Apple Pay only gives them a one-time use number for that single transaction. So how can they verify a PIN number in that context?
    - TomSawyer 10y ago
      My experience using Apple Pay with a checking account's debit card at Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's is that it only saves having to swipe/insert the physical card. I'm still required to enter the pin. Sometimes it gives me the options of "VISA Debit" or "US Debit" which both work the same way. A few times I've gotten lucky and it gives me the option of "Credit" or "Debit" and when I pick "Credit" it's a toss up -- probably driven by the amount of the transaction -- on if the transaction is complete or if I have to "sign" with the stylus on the POS.
calvinbhai 10y ago
Not sure if thats your opinion as an Apple Watch user, or as someone who hasn't used an Apple Watch at all. I think its the latter, because the experience (IMO) of "waiting for face to light up" is not at all how you describe.
derefr 10y ago
Compared to using an analogue watch, the Apple Watch is slower. Compared to using a phone as a pocketwatch, I would bet it's slightly faster on average—especially the part after where you have to put your phone _back_ in your pocket. A product doesn't have to beat the best to succeed; it just has to beat whatever the optimum was in the niche it targets. Which, for "check the time on my phone" people, isn't all that high a bar.
jsight 10y ago
I don't really get it either. I actually like smartwatches, but I own a Pebble Time Steel (recently bought, post-bankruptcy) because it is still the best smartwatch for me. The screen is always on, it does notifications well, fitness tracking is decent, and the battery lasts 7+ days. But it seems like a lot of people really want the bright colorful screen, even if it makes the device less effective as a watch.

perseusprime11 10y ago

It is not as bad as you think in terms of fashion. I had a lot of people compliment me as I wear my Apple watch with a tan leather suede strap.

TomSawyer 10y ago

I've witnessed this phenomenon multiple times. 1. Person buys or is gifted a Fitbit because it's inexpensive 2. Person retrains themselves to wear something on their wrist 3. Person is convinced that fitness tracking is beneficial 4. Person is fed up with the low quality of their Fitbit or it has out right fallen apart 5. Person buys an Apple Watch

eldavido 10y ago
I have no reason to believe this is going to happen, but I wish Timex would buy Fitbit. FIT's market cap is right around a billion these days, which is affordable for a large, public company. Fitbit = good software, good product DNA, garbage manufacturing, in need of better distribution. Timex = great manufacturing, can't make software to save their lives, used to competing in a high-volume, low-margin retail environment
brlewis 10y ago
I work for but don't speak for Fitbit. I bet all the times you witnessed that phenomenon it was a Fitbit Charge HR. The 2016 and 2017 Fitbit trackers (Blaze, Alta, Charge 2, Flex 2, Alta HR) have way fewer issues with manufacturing quality.

icanhackit 10y ago

The magnetic Milanese loop is perfect for taking the sting out of a watch that you need to take off regularly to charge. I can take it off or put it on in around 2 seconds. I've never owned a watch so easy to put on or remove. It's up there with the magsafe (RIP) and detachable cover for the iPad with ease of use. I <3 magnets.

jsight 10y ago

I agree, I definitely think that is part of it.