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Comment by myrandomcomment | Hacker News Reader

I really want an Apple Watch for this and the EKG / Heart stuff. But I hate the idea of having another bit of technology on my wrist when I already have the iPhone with me. I like watches, the mechanical kind. I love them as the art of design and as fashion item to be match to what you are wearing (when appropriate). I do not want to give that up. In the end I will likely give in and get the Apple Watch just because I want to be around long enough to see my kid grow up.

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Think of the Apple Watch as something that you can use to reduce your phone usage. If you get the one with cellular and GPS, you can go walking/biking/outside and be reachable while at the same time not staring at your phone all the time. Even when you are at home the justification, for me at least, to keep the phone closer was because I might get a call or message I need to respond to. With the Watch, the phone goes straight to its stand as soon as I get home knowing well that I'll get the notification on my watch. This is what's finally helping me wean off the constant need to keep my phone and pull it out to check instagram/hn/reddit repeatedly if I'm bored for even a second.

So I kicked the Reddit habit. I pretty much only read HN, BBCNews, ft.com and ArsTechnica at this point. I have stopped looking at my iPad, iPhone, etc. when watching TV, sport or a movie. The need to always look was really unhealthy. I am much happier now. I have like 5 books on my iPad that I have never quite finished over the last 2 years when before all this easy tech I would have read them quite quickly. It really bugs me. I am going back to paper books as it forces focus (no, I do not want a book only reader to carry as well). The only reason I really care about having the phone with me is for the family. Between email, slack, hangouts, AppleIM and Line it is all just to damn much.

agreed. the responder there is such classic apple. You should get the watch because it counts as not looking at your phone?? Even though you are still looking at a screen. Kind of bizarre logic to me but to each their own bud.

Also good for you man, ditchin some of the distractions for focus. I think some people get weirded out by me when i watch sports because i'm basically 100% in the zone and yelling constantly. Trying to soak up every detail of every play. not casually browsing and watching 2 / 3 screens at once. I can go hours without my phone without really noticing much honestly.

My perspective on this is just about the opposite. The watch is incredibly helpful, and isn't a distraction like my phone is. I have been wearing my watch and it has enabled me to leave my phone behind more often. It's been a way to wean myself off of technology, but still feel like I can reach people and they can reach me.

And I am the opposite of you! I've been wearing an apple watch for 2 years. I decided to try taking a break about a month ago, and it's been liberating. I didn't realize how often the watch was buzzing me over the course of the day, causing an almost constant level of of low anxiety. I never found a phone to be as intrusive. On the plus side, I have never missed a meeting when wearing my apple watch.

I had an earlier model, and ditched it after I forgot to put it on one day, and realized I didn't care. Having to have it charge for a bunch each day, and it not really being designed for overnight wear (as I understand it) really hold it back.

I bought a Fitbit Charge on impulse at an airport for a couple of hundred bucks, and have worn it every day since. I think I prefer it because the battery seems to last forever, it's light-weight, and it's not doing any additional features (although I think it can) than taking my heart rate, counting my steps, and a silent alarm. Would love the EKG feature tho.

> and it not really being designed for overnight wear (as I understand it) really hold it back.

I have a first generation Apple Watch. This is one of the things that annoyed me after buying it: you aint sleeping with it on if you want it to running the next morning.

I'm hopeful that batteries will get better and better, and eventually we'll be able to sleep with the watch on and have it track sleeping patterns, etc.

fwiw i have a series 4 and i sleep in it every night. much better battery life than the first gen

Interesting.

I just keep reading the comments and sadly the ECG feature is not available in Australia and may never be as Apple have never applied for the licenses.

Not a huge deal breaker but an annoying one.

When do you charge it?

My series 0 is my “silent” alarm clock. I wear it every night and wake up with nearly 100% battery.

Try shutting some of the extras off, and you’ll be surprised at how long it lasts. Also, your morning alarm won’t wake anybody else up!

Apple bricked my series 0 by requiring a software update to activate the watch, and by not providing any watchOS versions still compatible with the series 0.

I have an Apple Watch, and it's a love/hate relationship. I'd love to wear another more simpler watch but would lose so many features I always opt for the Apple Watch.

I do criticise the fact that only the Apple Watch contributes to their "Activity" app.

I would have an Apple Watch if it were compatible with Android. I guess I'm asking for way more than you are :)

This might help: I frequently leave my iPhone at home, the watch is good enough on its own for messaging, calls, and email. Feels good not carrying a phone around.

I like the Apple watch fine, I had the Series 0 and also bought a Series 4. I never use them because I love my mechanical watch and you just look like a massive idiot wearing two watches.

Bummer really. Would love an Apple watch in a form-factor where it can complement a watch.

I like the concept of the Sony Wena, which is a smart watch strap which can be used with any classic mechanical watch (even if the current implementation isn't something I'd want) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12qMKj_Z-ls

Get an Alivecor EKG. I keep mind in my wallet.

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