Apple Watch gold plating for $399 with a 3-day turnaround • Hacker News Board

Re: Apple Watch gold plating for $399 with a 3-day turnaround

#11

Post by gonzo » Sat, May 02, 2015, 3:05 AM UTC

kaolinite wrote: post #10

theluketaylor wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How much do you think Rolex's cost? Submariner, Explorer II, and Datejust (very classic go-to Rolex models) are about $7000-$8000. Daytona chronographs start at around $10,000. And that's just for stainless steel. Gold Rolex watches are much, much more. Apple Watch Edition is actually one of the cheapest solid gold watches out there

I think you misread my comment. I wasn't comparing Edition with a gold Rolex, just a low-end (perhaps second hand) stainless steel Explorer / AirKing / etc. If you see someone wearing a fake stainless steel Rolex, there's a genuine possibility that it's real (assuming you can't tell it's fake). But with Edition, the chance of it being real is pretty low. Thus, wearing a gold plated Apple Watch is pretty obvious. I'm…

I own a stainless Datejust (Rolex). The MetaWatch people gave me several (10+) of various models of their watches. I wear neither, and have no plans on an Apple Watch.

Re: Apple Watch gold plating for $399 with a 3-day turnaround

#12

Post by kev6168 » Sat, May 02, 2015, 3:23 AM UTC

My bold prediction about the whole Apple Watch phenomena:

_It will be a big bust._ After the initial hype, not many adults would want to wear it.

This might upset some people (Apple fans?). But now, let's build a mental image together: one day, in the middle of a meeting at your work place, many of your colleagues rest their hands on the conference table (either using a tablet/phone/laptop, or holding papers). You raise your head and glance over the whole room, and you see there are so many Apple watches out there. They look the same, blink the same way, sound the same. The square-ish shape becomes kind of tiring and stupid, simply because you've seem them everywhere. They are really out there. A funny idea pops up in your mind: is this a robotic, dull and weird picture or what?

Watches are not like mobile phones, in terms of personal touches. Adults use phones mostly for their practical functions, and phones can be kept out of sight. Watches are different. Nowadays they are mostly for images/styles/personalities/fun, so, do you want to wear the same watch as everybody else and appear so average?

Re: Apple Watch gold plating for $399 with a 3-day turnaround

#13

Post by sytelus » Sat, May 02, 2015, 4:07 AM UTC

kev6168 wrote: post #12

My bold prediction about the whole Apple Watch phenomena: _It will be a big bust._ After the initial hype, not many adults would want to wear it. This might upset some people (Apple fans?). But now, let's build a mental image together: one day, in the middle of a meeting at your work place, many of your colleagues rest their hands on the conference table (either using a tablet/phone/laptop, or holding papers). You ra…

I've been wearing watch for its utility for more than a decade. My watch (Casio ProTrek PRW-3000-1) has compass, altimeter, world time, sunrset times, alarms and so on. This watch is extremely robust in bad weather or even under water. It self-charges itself (it doesn't even has any external way to charge it). Sure, I've smartphone usually with me but ability to look up time in split second with a slight turn of wrist is valuable. But the more important is all these tools and reliability that they are available to me in all kind of weather, places and without need to worry about charging it. Now let me also make it clear that I do question this way of life where time matters so much. However that's different discussion and until conclusion arrives, watch is pretty useful tool.

If I'd all these features available in Apple Watch then I would buy it in heart beat. I can imagine several apps that would be super useful. However price tag is way too high and it needs charging every day. I think Apple Watch isn't going to be smashing success right now but given their investment levels, they might continue produce next versions that gets better and better and hopefully cheaper. It's important to remember that iPhone 1 wasn't smashing success either when it first came out given it's price tag and less powerful batteries.

Re: Apple Watch gold plating for $399 with a 3-day turnaround

#14

Post by kev6168 » Sat, May 02, 2015, 5:00 AM UTC

sytelus wrote: post #13

kev6168 wrote: post #12

My bold prediction about the whole Apple Watch phenomena: _It will be a big bust._ After the initial hype, not many adults would want to wear it. This might upset some people (Apple fans?). But now, let's build a mental image together: one day, in the middle of a meeting at your work place, many of your colleagues rest their hands on the conference table (either using a tablet/phone/laptop, or holding papers). You ra…

I've been wearing watch for its utility for more than a decade. My watch (Casio ProTrek PRW-3000-1) has compass, altimeter, world time, sunrset times, alarms and so on. This watch is extremely robust in bad weather or even under water. It self-charges itself (it doesn't even has any external way to charge it). Sure, I've smartphone usually with me but ability to look up time in split second with a slight turn of wris…

I totally believe that your watch have served you extremely well, but dare I say you are in a minority in term of normal daily life usage of watches. I don't know about you, but weekends/hiking trip/gym are a small part of my waking time. These things ("bad weather", "under water", "to look up time in split second", "all kind of weather", etc.) are the least I am concerned with. Instead I am interested in dressing(including small personal items) with a little personal touch, a little bit different. If so many people around you wear a Casio ProTrek PRW-3000-1, that's a silly situation, isn't it?

I feel the functions of watches you mentioned can be easily performed by a mid-range phone, and can be done better with a phone in terms of configurations/flexibilities/features with a few apps here and there. So I think with the prevalence of mobile phone, people put less and less emphasis on utilities when shopping and wearing a watch.

My silly prediction is not about doubting Apple watch's dazzling new utilities. It's about people's need for individuality/differentiations/style, especially adults, they want and can often afford to wear different things than the next person in the office.

Re: Apple Watch gold plating for $399 with a 3-day turnaround

#15

Post by malandrew » Sun, May 03, 2015, 7:16 AM UTC

Involute wrote: post #8

Or, much cheaper and a 4-hour turnaround: https://youtu.be/MMF9I_9DAcs .

I was really hoping for a really nerdy video explaining how to electroplate an Apple Watch. Just masking off and spray painting the phone was disappointing.