For months we've been hearing about waiting for Mobil World to learn about all of the new wearables, smart phones, and tablets. Now that it has come and gone, I'm unimpressed, especially in the wearable category.
I've had my Band since it was "a surprise" offered by Microsoft. I've also tried a lot of other wearable devices, and looked closely at all of them. In the past week I've looked at everything in the "coming attractions" from Mobil World. Overall it would appear there will be new devices, a few new twists, but when it comes to the total feature set, nothing compares to the band. Everything else represents compromises.
My band is a hybrid of both a fitness tracker, and smart interactions with my phone ( of any type ). It has also held up well, and seems fairly accurate. While some people complain about the fit, I've worn it daily all these months, and I've grown quite comfortable with it's fit. I love the notifications I've elected to receive and appreciate the readable display. I' charge it every other day while working at my desk so I don't miss any step counts or other activity.
Every time I get coffee at Starbucks, and use it, people ask about it and are amazed at all it can do. Of course I'm not a work out addict, but for my use, it does a great job.
I love tech, and all of the other devices grab my attention. However, when I toss them up on a feature comparison spreadsheet, they all are missing something. The Band seems to have the best overall set and most versatility. Even the promised Apple Watch falls short. It may not even make it through a full day without recharging, and it would appear the feature set in the fitness area is missing key elements.
Finally, a comment about support. I'm close to a Microsoft Store. I had a problem with my first band, went into the store, and came out a few minutes later with a replacement. I've also had some questions which were quickly resolved online by a chat with support. Microsoft is right there to support this product. However, when you look at the comments of users seeking help from other companies, the story is quite different. They report repeated arrogance by the "customer service" people, and their investments become throw away products because they simply can't get help. I know posting negative comments is common, but these are from people who want to be supportive and need some assistance.
My point is that, over time, my Band has been a good investment, and I've really appreciated it. I see nothing in the current or upcoming products by any company that provide a better overall product for me. Why do I share this perspective ? Because the reviewers of wearables won't. They will try the Band for an hour, and then complain about the fit, or size, never really discussing how well it works for many of us who will love the rich feature set.
And that's how I see it !
I've had my Band since it was "a surprise" offered by Microsoft. I've also tried a lot of other wearable devices, and looked closely at all of them. In the past week I've looked at everything in the "coming attractions" from Mobil World. Overall it would appear there will be new devices, a few new twists, but when it comes to the total feature set, nothing compares to the band. Everything else represents compromises.
My band is a hybrid of both a fitness tracker, and smart interactions with my phone ( of any type ). It has also held up well, and seems fairly accurate. While some people complain about the fit, I've worn it daily all these months, and I've grown quite comfortable with it's fit. I love the notifications I've elected to receive and appreciate the readable display. I' charge it every other day while working at my desk so I don't miss any step counts or other activity.
Every time I get coffee at Starbucks, and use it, people ask about it and are amazed at all it can do. Of course I'm not a work out addict, but for my use, it does a great job.
I love tech, and all of the other devices grab my attention. However, when I toss them up on a feature comparison spreadsheet, they all are missing something. The Band seems to have the best overall set and most versatility. Even the promised Apple Watch falls short. It may not even make it through a full day without recharging, and it would appear the feature set in the fitness area is missing key elements.
Finally, a comment about support. I'm close to a Microsoft Store. I had a problem with my first band, went into the store, and came out a few minutes later with a replacement. I've also had some questions which were quickly resolved online by a chat with support. Microsoft is right there to support this product. However, when you look at the comments of users seeking help from other companies, the story is quite different. They report repeated arrogance by the "customer service" people, and their investments become throw away products because they simply can't get help. I know posting negative comments is common, but these are from people who want to be supportive and need some assistance.
My point is that, over time, my Band has been a good investment, and I've really appreciated it. I see nothing in the current or upcoming products by any company that provide a better overall product for me. Why do I share this perspective ? Because the reviewers of wearables won't. They will try the Band for an hour, and then complain about the fit, or size, never really discussing how well it works for many of us who will love the rich feature set.
And that's how I see it !
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