[nijynot]

I don't agree with almost all of it. If you compare a normal wristwatch with Apple watch w.r.t time keeping only, you're not comparing it fairly. The Apple watch can just do so much more than a normal watch can, and it's programmable, you can add things with time. Same can be said for the alarm clock and what not. Why no compare a smartphone to the analog alarm? That'd what most people use I think, and they instead pick some gadget alarm clock which not many use I'd say.

A big difference is that a smartphone and Apple watch is a device that can a do what a 100 "dumb stuff" can do. It's a all-in-one device and that's very valuable.

Their last point on touch screens in cars is very weak. With a touch screen, you can change the UI anytime. It's flexible with infinite buttons. A normal one with real buttons sure are more tactile, but when you ship it, it's set in stone with limited button and functionality.

[JasonFruit]

I believe that's their point: while each smart device can usurp the function of dozens of single-purpose devices, for any single function the smart device makes tradeoffs that the single-purpose one can avoid. So, while it's cool that the Apple watch can check your email, tell your body temperature, and give you directions, it's less good as a watch than a cheap, dumb ol' watch.

It's a question of whether the tradeoffs are worth it to you. Clearly to you, they are, but for the author and me, they aren't.

[acdha]

Also, you now have the usual software management failures. My Apple Watch 2 is about 7 months old. Every function on it works worse than when I bought it: e.g. Siri has gone from activating 80% of the time to about 30%.

No other industry gets away with such routine negligence of core job functions.

[Retra]

That's because people don't buy these things for their functionality, but for the functionality they imagine they could have. Not coincidentally, that is also how they are marketed. People are always sitting on a park benches on their smooth-screened laptops with absolutely no glare and a huge grin on their face.

[exodust]

Yeh and I can probably watch a movie on the Apple watch too. But would I want to? Absolutely not.

I cannot understand why anyone would wear a fake analog looking watch on their wrist. It would be fine if the battery life wasn't literally a thousand times worse than a real watch.