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Comment by lemevi | Hacker News Reader

I don't think my pebble time is a gimmick. Not having to fumble through my bag to pull out my phone on every other notification or to check the time makes the pebble worth it. It's not a gimmick, it's a time saver.

I also no longer have notification noises on, I just have a thing on my wrist that vibrates. Again, a not insignificant quality of life improvement.

If I used iOS instead of Android I'd probably have an Apple Watch instead of a PT, since that works better with that platform.

I don't really care about smart watches being a platform for apps. Maybe that has stalled, but it doesn't matter to me. I haven't found a single app for the PT I think is useful. It doesn't mean I don't find my PT useful. If I lost it today, I'd order another one without hesitation.

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Perhaps this is where you and I differ, but I can honestly say there is no notification I have received in the last week, even month, that required my immediate attention. Every single one could have waited 5-10 minutes until I was able to pull out my phone. And my phone is generally on the desk in front of me, so I can see the notifications anyways.

I have to ask, what are you doing that it is so important for you to see the notifications immediately? I just have a hard time imagining what notification is so important that you need something vibrating on your wrist to tell you of it.

For me, it's not about notifications being so urgent. It's about convenience. I definitely do get very important notifications sometimes, but probably very few that need to be responded to faster than 5-10 minutes.

The thing is that I never have to even remember to check. That's why it's so convenient. I've completely eliminated "check phone for notifications" from my mental to-do list. That's a task I simply never have to do again. That might not count for much for you, but in my case I like just being able to place my phone down, forget about it for potentially hours, and still not have to worry about missing anything.

Speaking as a person who goes to a lot of meetings, having the right notifications on my wrist are great. I am rarely late for meetings now, and I can keep track of key events while sitting in those meetings. A look at my wrist is much more subtle than a look at my phone.

Well then clearly you have no need of one while he does. Can't both situations be valid?

I don't need to check notifications right away - but I like to. It's definitely a personal preference and nowhere near a necessity. This is why I don't see smartwatches becoming as universal as smartphones.

> Not having to fumble through my bag to pull out my phone on every other notification or to check the time makes the pebble worth it.

How many notifications do you receive that it would come out to be worth it? Seems like cutting down on the notifications would yield a higher return than spending money on a pebble time, or any other smartwatch.

I carefully manage notifications. Notifications that buzz actually require my immediate attention: slack notifications, texts from my wife, important emails.

As other commenters have noted, this seems like hyperbole. But on the off chance this is true, it really sounds like you need a vacation. HN is a little culty at times, but I'd suggest a long look in the mirror or a good mai tai session on a beach. Get back to you and what is really important to you, we only have so much time on this planet, and responding to every email is likely not going to be on your highlights reel

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