9 Reasons This Senior Doesn’t Want an Apple Watch
The Internet was buzzing in anticipation of the Apple Watch announcement on Tuesday. Now that I’ve seen it, read about its features and contemplated it, I’m happy to say that I can save myself a boatload of cash.
- It’s redundant. The Watch won’t work without an iPhone – which makes no sense. The Watch does everything the iPhone does, so why would I need both?
- It’s big bucks. The Watch starts at $345, and that doesn’t include the band, which is another hundred bucks. So, with the Watch and iPhone, I’d be carrying around more than a thousand bucks of hardware!
- It’s going to make me late. The battery only lasts for 18 hours (that’s ideally). I’m no psychic, but I predict the number one excuse for running late is going to be, “Oh, sorry! My watch died….”
- It’s a mugger magnet. I don’t want to be a news item: “Senior mugged for her Apple Watch.”
- It’s not made for older eyes. This is a teeny screen we’re talking about, and I can barely see my Facebook feed on my huge Samsung phablet. Why did Apple come out with bigger phones, only to miniaturize them for your wrist?
- It’s a recipe for DWW. The temptation to look at your phone when it pings while you’re driving is bad enough, but at least you can put it in the glove compartment. I don’t want to be caught Driving While Watching.
- It’s not waterproof. I would inevitably take a shower or wash dishes or go swimming with the watch on.
- It’s not optimized for health. The Watch is an activity tracker, but it won’t tell me my heart rate or blood pressure, because it wasn’t built with healthcare sensors. What was Apple thinking?
- And finally… You can’t tell someone to put it away when they’re looking at it instead of listening to you. It’s on their wrist forgodsakes, where are they going to put it?
Are you coveting the Apple Watch? Or do you have your own reason for not wanting one? Tell us in the comments section below!
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Comments
we just recently upgraded my mother to an Iphone, I like the Apple health app and a lot of the health features for 4th generation apple watch such as the fall detection that will alert emergency contacts, if unresponsive etc. however all of the other stuff, email, texting that is linked to the phone and the cost of the watch is absurd, but I would likely have a difficult time getting my mother to wear it. and frankly the majority of seniors can not afford a $400.00 watch.
I personally feel that, a simple elegant watch design, that offers things like heart rate, fall detection, a pedometer that links easily with Apple health, at a low cost without a subscription fee would be ideal.
the medical alert systems are a gross finical drain, when you consider the technology that is available, and that one can buy an apple watch through a regular service provider for monthly payments that are less than the medical alert subscription fees.
I personally think that a health monitor sans all of the other junk should should be made affordable for seniors and those who may need such a device. and I’m not talking something like the fitbit.
I WANT ONE. IT IS EXPENSIVE BUT CHARGE IT. YOU ONLY LIVE ONCE.
THE APPS FOR BREATHING AND STANDING ARE GREAT. I WANT TO CHECK THE APP FOR FALLING SINCE THAT IS A SERIOUS THING FOR SENIORS. ALSO IF YOU SPEND THAT MUCH FOR A PHONE YOU WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO GET OUT AND WALK TO MAKE THE WATCH WORTH THE PRICE. THEY HAVE A PROGRAM FOR DOCTORS TO KEEP TRACK OF THEIR PATIENTS ON THESE WATCHES. CHECK OUT THESE APPS ON YOU IPONE AND SEE IF YOU LIKE THEM.
FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND YOU CAN USE THE WALKING APP WITHOUT BEING TETHERED TO THE IPHONE WHICH IS GREAT. I WALK WITH MY IPHONE AND IT IS QUITE BOTHERSOME.
WHAT I LIKE IS YOU CAN ANSWER THE PHONE WITHOUT TRYING TO FISH THE IPHONE OUT OF MY LARGE PURSE.
I WISH THERE WAS REFURBISHED ONES IN APPLE.COM BUT THERE ARE NOT. MAYBE THEY ARE BEING SOLD ON EBAY.
IF YOU WANT ONE GET IT YOU HAVE TO STAY ACTIVE MIND AND BODY.
I already knew I didn’t want the Apple watch — and you’ve given me 6 more reasons than I had before. Thanks for another spirited and useful column, Erica!
I’m getting one. Don’t clump all seniors together. If people don’t want it thats good be it will sell out like every other Apple product. I have healthcare apps on my iPhone why would this be any different.
I love this piece! So true, so succinct, so convincing. Write on, Erica!