The Student News Site of University of Louisiana Monroe

The Hawkeye

The Student News Site of University of Louisiana Monroe

The Hawkeye

The Student News Site of University of Louisiana Monroe

The Hawkeye

Customers debate need to have world on wrist with Apple Watch

Last year Apple announced its first wearable product that will soon grace wrists across the country.

The new Apple Watch that Apple deems its “most personal device yet” is now available for pre-order on Apple’s website.

Though its official set release date is April 24, this only means the start of deliveries of online orders.

Due to high global interest and the company’s limited initial supply, Apple’s dates for in-store availability have not been released.

Choices for the watch include different models, sizes and finishes with a range of varying bands.

The bands feature several styles and colors and will fit different wrist sizes.

These choices combine to offer many different complete watches.

“A device you wear is vastly different from one you keep on a desk or carry in your pocket. It’s more than a tool. It’s a true expression of your personal taste,” Apple’s website said.

ULM students report mixed feelings about the product and its necessity.

Kaici Gordon, a sophomore biology major, said she feels the watch is not worth as much it costs.

“I don’t need it. I updated my iOS the other day, and they put an Apple Watch app on my phone. So now it’s in my ‘stuff from Apple that I don’t need’ section,” Gordon said.

Gordon doesn’t plan on purchasing an Apple Watch in the future.

However, Colbren Thomas, a sophomore biology major, said he may consider it.

“I think it looks helpful. You can use it for all kind of things, to call people, text people… it’s very resourceful. I mean, it’s on your wrist,” Thomas said.

The watches range in price from $349 for an Apple Watch Sport to $17,000 for an Apple Watch Edition that boasts 18-karat gold cases, becoming one of Apple’s most varied product lines.

Apple’s standard apps are offered on the watch. This includes the Calendar, Music, Phone, Maps, Passbook and Messages.

The watch also comes with new apps such as Activity, Workout and Camera Remote.

The Apple Watch certainly isn’t the first smartwatch on the market.

However, technology critic Scott Stein of CNET.com said the “ambitious” Apple Watch has potential but serves more as a “fashionable toy than a necessary tool.”

Stein says that the watch has multiple drawbacks such as battery power that lasts less than a day and slow charge time.

Current estimates show over two million units have been pre-ordered since becoming available April 10.

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