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Comment by wmeredith | Hacker News Reader

Two high school kids each with a $400 watch. It may be poignant[1], but it won't be common.

[1]It could also be eye-roll-worthy bourgeois douchebaggery depending on your socio-economic perspective.

How many high school kids have iPhones? Isn't it millions? I would not be surprised that huge numbers will have a $400 (or more) Apple Watch.

Now if that happens, it might be a sad commentary on the allocation of resources in our society - globally. But if the Apple Watch is successful, I would be surprised if it isn't common (>20% adoption) in thousands of USA high schools and lots of other high schools around the globe.

I would imagine high school ownership rate could well be higher than overall society ownership rate. Though I'll admit that is just a wild guess by a uniformed individual on this matter.

How many high school kids have iPhones? Isn't it millions?

Yes, but cellphones are different - family plans, paid for by parents, will often get a free iPhone 5C or whatever.

You're still paying for the phone when it's "free".

Yes, but you're not paying $400 upfront. Psychology is important.

While this is true, most people don't realise it. I often hear people saying they have a free upgrade to use, but haven't got around to it so may get something for a child. Or even get something free and sell it on Ebay... nuts I know!

If you're paying for the same plan regardless of whether you upgrade, then it is nuts not to get a free upgrade.

Sort of true - if you are on a plan, and you are going to have to pay the same amount regardless of whether you get a free phone, then the phone effectively is "no extra charge."

I agree with you - people should differentiate between "free" (as in air, I don't have to pay anything and I can have as much as I want) versus "no extra charge" (as in, I have to pay a bunch of money for something, but then can get (usually 1) of something without paying any more.

Wait a year for Watch 2.0 and see how many kids get the earlier version.

Kids also get hand-me-down technology from parents. Dad buys a watch now. Two years later he upgrades to the new model and gives his old watch to his 16-year-old kid.

Iphones and smartphones in general are subsidized , Apple Watches are not.

A $400 watch _and_ a $?00 iPhone (possibly on monthly payments). Still, I think and somewhat fear it may become more common than both of us think.

There is a huge group of users that put a high value on continuous connectivity.

For the high school kid, a limiting factor may be that schools will forbid them from wearing a watch in class.

Could go the other way. Would you bet against Apple already having people pushing iWatches and HealthKit/ResearchKit data as being mandatory parts of sports training? They _know_ the nerds are going to buy smart watches, but quite likely Android Wear or Pebble ones. If you wanna make expensive Apple ones cool, make sure every football player has one on his wrist, and all their girlfriends are giggling away in class getting "touched" by them. then see how the school administration goes trying to ban them...

Since the iPhone and watch have a tight coupling I wouldn't be surprised to possibly see the iPhone and watch get bundled together in the current subsidized phone carrier services.

Maybe in Palo Alto.

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