Explain the Apple Watch hate to a newbie

I’m looking forward to this becoming a monster thread

Digital watches are not constantly beeping at you to alert you of something. That Hamilton you posted is iconic! I grew up in that Era of digital watches and I still find them very cool to look at even though they only really tell you the time... but wait a minute, isn't that the core functionality of watches? 🤔

Is it because we don't consider it a watch? It may be because for us it is a computer on the wrist that tells the time, yes, but a computer at the end, it may be because we also consider it as a mere extension of the cell phone to see messages and answer calls. In short, there are many things but not a watch. .

I think Apple Watches are cool. I stopped wearing them because i hated the alerts and didn’t like having to charge every night.

I resent the apple watch and it's ilk not because it's a computer on your wrist, but it's a computer on your wrist designed to pull information from you to sell to others.

Like, I'd be happy to own a modern version of a ruputer, with a better battery, and maybe on board python or some sort of hypercard so I could make my own apps for it, but a online, always connected device that feeds my heartrate, steps, sleep patterns, blood sugar level, bile levels, and balance of humors back to Cupertino?

No thanks.

Ugly, intrusive, fancy, pretentious, expensive, digital, thick...

Yeah I’ve limited the apps that can send notifications to my watch. It can be way too much!

You could be describing any watch out there. :-)

I love smart watches for people who need them. I don’t own one and never will, but I also leave the house without a cellphone most of the time. And WC is the on „social media“ I have so might not be the best example ;-)

Like, one of my favourite watches was a Casio DBC-32 calculator watch with databank, which I got in order to help me with a shuttle driver job. 5 alarms to help with reminding me when to lock and unlock the back doors of the hotel, the databank could be used to hold my work schedule for weeks and weeks and weeks, and the calculator could be used to hold the mileage for the shuttle van, a six digit number I needed on hand whenever I had to gas it up at the cardlock.

The thing is, that watch worked for me. It was a device that I used to the fullest for my own purposes. And sadly computers and electronic devices have been moving away from that 'thing that serves the user' paradigm for a long time. A really long time. No company could make something like the DBC-32 ever again because the mindset is so alien to them now.

Say what you will about pagani design watches, but at least I know that the (maybe bootleg, maybe not) NH35A movement isn't going to stab me in the back in ways I can scarcely comprehend or defend against.

(Although the phantom date window is a lil sus...)

I own a smart watch but not from Apple (although I am an iPhone user). I rarely use it because in the end I realised it’s not a watch and I am really fond of traditional watches. One of the main reasons I don’t like them is because I consider them responsible that younger generations will never get the chance to experience the horology world. Maybe a few will eventually but the majority will never experience the thrill of owing a real watch. As always that’s my personal experience and opinion.

Everything people said but a big negative is that it’s made to become obsolete.

It’s really interesting to hear these responses. Given me some good insight on *why* collectors tend to not like the Apple Watch. I’d never heard the reasons why, before making this post. Thanks everyone.

I own both mechanical watches as well as an Apple Watch, I love them both. Things like the coaching, health tracking and being able to access texts with just a quick glance at my wrist is really nice.

I’m at the beginning of my watch journey and I own two “real” watches besides my Apple Watch. I think my Citizen Nighthawk looks the best, but I wear my Apple Watch more. Like you, I love both types of watches.

Well, I agree with @stoicsailor. Smart watches aren't bad at all, they perform their task very well. But if I would need to chose between a smart and a normal watch, I'd pick the latter. Emotions are the most important thing in watch collecting, you bond with your watch because every single one has its own little "personality", and for me, smart watches really don't. One con to smart watches is the facto they deteriorate. The battery slowly loses it's reliability the older it gets. I myself have a smart watch, but rarely wear it. So I really don't see why someone could HATE the smartwatch, it may not be traditional, but it's still good. So, wear what makes you happy. Ciao!

Bump!

I'm only adding my opinion to get closer to the 250 comment milestone.

I dislike the apple ecosystem in general, but really it's because of a distrust of technology and surveillance. I don't usually have my phone on me and I don't need another device to ignore. My Casio Pathfinder gives me all the information I actually use so a smartwatch is unnecessary for me.

That radiator vs fire for heat is a good analogy

What was the question again?🤣

Something something apple watch who cares. Let's get this man his monster thread badge! One comment away!

😂😂😂 thanks for your help lol

We did it everyone lol 🍻🥂🍾

Nothing like a good badge hunting session. Get Some!

I don't hate apple watch personally. I think it's more of an additional gadget, an extension of your phone, and less of a digital watch. It shows your emails, notifications etc etc.

For me personally I don't like things that I need to charge. I already have my phone and laptop that I need to remember charging, not to mention my bluetooth earphones (curse modern phones with no headphone jack) and Steam Deck for my gaming on the go, I don't want another thing I need to worry about charging.

Yeah I understand that. Those are good points.

It’s basically a mini computer on your wrist and it gives you notifications while digital watches like Casio does not. And I think the main problem is that, you have to keep buying and replace them after about 3-5 years and you could buy a nice Orient Kamasu or a Seiko but the Apple watch cannot be passed down to the next generation. I’m thinking of buying an Apple watch or a smart watch but I will only use it to track my fitness like Strava so I don’t have to take my phone while running. But I will still wear a real watch on my other wrist

i hate apple everything 😂 not just the 'watches'

She blocked me too, you're not alone, I made some trivial comment about an Apple watch and that was that, boom, gone, done. I don't take things like that personally but I do think the Crazy part of the name works in this case. Hey ho, don't feel bad, you did nothing wrong.

The apple watch has a design that looks blank when shut off. Which bothers me. Like saying here I am. With my blank face. It's square and dark. It took people time to design the way a watch looks. That never goes blank persay. It's like a painting. An apple watch to me would be like having any painting you want. By changing the displayed image. With a watch the way its curved or sculpted is a big part of it . Yes apple watches can look like anything. But yet they seem like they have nothing to me. Your able to customize them instead of being pulled in by a watches design. Which the architect took time to sculpt. The apple seems like a face that is blank.

Thats my biggest reason. You can't shut a watches design off. But an apple watch seems you can.