[lostgame]

My God, me; too. Never - ever - could understand why Apple wouldn’t just sell the watch as a potentially standalone device.

I know, it’s Apple; but at the same time, you’re easily going to sell 2-3 times more of them, and; like the iPod, it can easily introduce them to the Apple ecosystem and when it comes time to buy a new phone; they’ll maybe say ‘well, I’ve already got an Apple Watch and really like it…maybe I’ll get an iPhone this time my contract expires.’

But it’s Apple business logic. I’ve used their products pretty much exclusively for nearly 20 years (I’m an iOS/WatchOS dev and have used Logic to make music for 15 years) but I’ll never understand many of their decisions.

[mikestew]

it can easily introduce them to the Apple ecosystem

I argue that it would be a horrible introduction to Apple products. For input, you either talk to it or type on a tiny keyboard. There’s no web browser. The screen is so small, it’s measured in millimeters (whereas in the U. S., the phone is measured in inches).

Were I running Apple, there’s no way I’d let the watch be the introduction to Apple products without some improved means of interaction.

[dabluecaboose]

> I’ve used their products pretty much exclusively for nearly 20 years but I’ll never understand many of their decisions.

This is why they make those decisions, they know they have an extremely loyal customer base that will buy it anyway

[dagmx]

The watch can be used completely standalone.

Even fairly notable tech industry folks like Linus from LMG use it even though he’s a Samsung phone user.

The only part you need the phone for is initial setup.

[charlie0]

Yes, and not everyone has an iPhone for the first step. There are lots of iPhone users, but lets not pretend Android users are an insignificant userbase.

[dagmx]

where did I imply that they were insignificant? I specifically mentioned a well known android user. I used to be a dyed in the wool android user myself and a day one adopter of the Moto 360.

Like, yeah, it’s not ideal but you just ask a friend with an iPhone to help out. Unless you’re in an android only circle of course.

Either way, not ideal, but not as dire as the people above make it out to be either