Techies and Chic Geeks alike have been salivating over the release of the Apple Watch for months now. However, in the case of the Apple Watch, the basic value of the device, will plummet in just a couple of years. So is it really worth your time?
Sure, you could hand down a $10,000 gold Apple Watch to your kids in 10 to 15 years, but by then will we even still be looking at flat screens on our wrists, much less using the same kind of software architecture that powers the Apple Watch?
To be fair, Apple has never been in the business of selling super high-end products that you cherish forever, it sells computing devices. Well designed, and now wearable computing devices, but still, computing devices. Some diehard Apple fans still have their all-in-one classic Macintosh with the black and white screen, but at this point the computer is only good for sitting on your shelf and bolstering your geek cred. In the current computing landscape, it’s not a useful device.
Those sentiments are all quite reasonable given the device’s dependence on batteries (which are sure to change in the next five to 10 years) and state of the art technology (also subject to change in just a few years). And while it won’t say it, Apple is likely just fine with that dynamic. Product turnover is its bread and butter, not one-time sales, even if the price point crosses over into mortgage down-payment territory.
So next month, when it’s time to offer your credit card up for Apple’s wearable, it might be a good idea to remember that the price you’re paying doesn’t necessarily include buying a historical artifact that will accrue value, like traditional, high-priced watches.
The Apple Watch is designed to be enjoyed for just a brief moment in time. Then you’ll just have to move on to the next one. So you tell us, are you planning on buying the Apple Watch once it’s released or are you looking to wait?
