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by cjoh 4048 days ago
I just don't buy this "Wearing the Apple Watch makes you a Pretentious Douchebag" argument.

I bought it with Google Glass because it was ugly and pointed a camera at someone's face, all the time. But the iPod, the iPhone -- these were also expensive goods that cried out "pretentious consumer" at the time in comparison to alternatives.

Many watches cost much more money than the sport/watch editions of the apple watch.
2 comments
glogla 4048 days ago
> Many watches cost much more money than the sport/watch editions of the apple watch.

True, but most people can't recognize "nice watch" and "omg look at me I'm rich! watch".

Apple Watch is instantly recognizable.

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seanmcdirmid 4048 days ago
> True, but most people can't recognize "nice watch" and "omg look at me I'm rich! watch".

Rich people know their own. Expensive watches ($40k and up found at Basel World) are meant as signaling devices to other rich people, not us lowly peons.

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smhenderson 4048 days ago
Well that removes the DB factor then doesn't it? I mean if only other DB's recognize your watch than it's OK.

I think the difference between the phone and the watch is that you have to actively go out of your way to make people notice you on your phone. The watch is pretty visible to everyone all the time; coupled with the fact that it's hard to resist responding to it and that you're now constantly looking at it does seem like it sends a rude message to those around you.

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seanmcdirmid 4048 days ago
Yes, the Apple Watch DB factor is that it is expensive relative to very cheap watches, but cheap enough to be universally recognized.

When the watch is new, there will be a period of time where early possessors are seen as douche because of from those that want but don't have yet. However, in a few months, it will just become another watch that you either have if you want, or just don't want.

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sneak 4048 days ago
It's not so much about the money as it is about switching one rude action (checking your phone) with another (checking your watch).
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cjoh 4048 days ago
Yeah, I'm a pebble wearer and have been for about a 2 years. You get used to it.

What's happened is: people got lazy at their notifications on their watch. Then they bought the Apple Watch (or rather, journalists got a review unit), and then they get lots of notifications on their wrist rather than on their phone and they complain about all the notifications.

Same thing happens with the Pebble and others I'm sure: you just have to take a minute and set up the notifications right so that your wrist buzzes when it's actually worthy of your immediate attention. When is that?

For me it's when one of eight people call me, my wife texts me, or when I get an email from one of three people. Those are the things that make me go "ok, sorry person I am talking to, but this thing has happened and I have to check it out."

These things happen maybe once or twice a day. Not once or twice an hour.

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