Sorry, I’m not ready for an Apple watch

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    Unless you’ve been fall fishing in the North Woods for the past week, out of Internet and cell phone range, you’ve probably heard about the launch of the Apple watch.
    The famous but often quirky computer company introduced the $349 wearable computer last week via a streaming news feed that, ironically, was erratic at times.

    According to several published reports, the audio portion was not only screwed up for a while, but part of the presentation viewed in the USA was accidentally translated into Mandarin Chinese.
    Despite its rocky rollout, the Apple watch is getting rave reviews from techies who automatically buy the “next big thing” once it hits the market.
    For now, I’ll pass on an Apple watch or any other wristwatch computer.
    When I saw a video presentation on the product — in English — it brought me back to my childhood days and one of favorite comic strip characters: Dick Tracy.
    The square-jawed detective broke ground by using a wristwatch radio in the 1940s and upgraded his tech toolbox with a miniature television in the ‘60s. So I imagine that a 2014 version of Tracy would naturally include a wristwatch computer.
    Since I’m usually about five years behind everyone else in the tech world, I doubt if I’ll be buying an Apple watch or any similar product in the near future.
    One problem is that I’m very tough on watches, so I seldom pay more than $40 for one. I have a Timex in that price range as a dress-up watch and a spare for yard work that I bought for about $15. Keeping the faces scratch-free on either one is a challenge.
    Another issue is the size of the screen or dial. My smartphone screen is about 2-1/2 by 5 inches. I need glasses to read text messages or web pages. To see the same items on a wristwatch computer, I’d probably need a magnifying glass.
    Nevertheless, I’m sure that some parents will be shelling out big bucks for Apple watches or their counterparts for their kids’ Christmas presents in a year or two. The device won’t be ready for this holiday season, but is slated for release early next year.
    Teachers who have a tough time monitoring smartphone use during their classes will have a nightmare trying to figure out if the kids are just looking at their watch to check the time or viewing a Facebook status update.
    I’ve joked in previous columns about today’s kids being over-connected at times, even texting their friends sitting three rows away during basketball games. So I’m guessing that wristwatch computer will facilitate that habit.
    Of course, some people just can’t afford $349 for a tech toy, so I don’t expect to see a whole lot of them in general circulation around here for a while.
    But after more companies start making them, prices on wristwatch computers will probably drop significantly.
    Meanwhile, I’ll stick to my Timex for time and smartphone for messages.
    At least I don’t need a magnifying glass for these tasks — yet.
    Mike Lange is a staff writer with the Piscataquis Observer. His opinions are his own and don’t necessarily reflect those of thisnewspaper.