RSSMicrosoft Offers SPOT Watch Upgrades
By Nate Mook | Published October 28, 2005, 11:38 AM
In an effort to keep people subscribed to its MSN Direct service, Microsoft is offering owners of a first-generation SPOT watch a free upgrade if they renew their contract. The offer applies to owners of a Abacus, Fossil or Suunto n3 SPOT watch and will last only as long as supplies last.
According to SpotStop.com, Microsoft wants to reward those who signed up to the service during its early stages. Those eligible will receive a same-brand upgrade, meaning Suunto n3 owners can obtain a second-generation Suunto n3i. To apply for the free upgrade, customers must call 866-676-8487 with their MSN Direct and watch model information handy.
The MSN Direct watch has to be the stupidest idea ever from Microsoft.
It looks like something that a geek that just made manager would wear that tormets his underlings to make up for being beat up in grade school. The closest thing to a real watch is from Tissot which runs well over $500. What is the value of a bulky crackerjack toy looking watch that costs $60/yr to maintain?
I can already browse the web with my cell phone and have messaging with my cell phone which includes weather, news and stock quotes. I work in front of the computer 8-10 hours a day, and have one at home.
Is this toy for the retard that needs stock quotes or weather while in the can or at lunch, because god forbid being away from a news source is like being away from oxygen?
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|Comes in handy for me. I get traffic alerts, weather, the lotto, movietimes, news, my horoscope, my outlook 2003 calendar/tasks and msn messages on mine.
And no, not really anything special. They run on the FM band and get data to the watch. So, whatever you subscribe to comes to the watch.
Since it's downloading data all the time the data in ON there as soon as you choose to check it. Not like a phone where you have to connect to wap or the net to get the info you need. Once you've programmed the watch for the data you want (you can get stocks as well), then as long as the watch has service in your area, it downloads it as you go along about your business.
No one on your campus has one because they've all bought ipods for 400 and can't afford anything else. The watches aren't cheap, but they're good quality; doesn't necessarily mean they're a good value. I got mine for 50 on sale. LOL. Which is around the cost of a normal watch.
The problem with spot technology and watches in particular is that noone wants to pay 60 a year to beam data to a watch. Likewise, people would rather spend 200 on a phone than a watch.
In my case, I got a year free and subscribed for a year....I don't regret it because I use the watch ALOT. People are used to buying either a gold watch for 200 or a normal little digital watch for 30 or 40....it's only people who pay attention to function and detail that go for the high tech watches (the ones that are powered by kinetic energy, or have all these nifty functions)...it's not a niche for everyone.
I suspect to see the service in appliances and devices soon as well. I also suspect that when the general price for the watches themselves fall, it will catch on faster. A watch that updates itself is pretty neat in it's own right. You always have the right time, no matter where you go. It comes with a few free services as well, I think weather (at a glance) and local news is free.
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|Hmmm... If weather and local news are free, and I can find it for about the price of a normal watch, I might just check these out.
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|Wince. Search online for au4000 or fossil abacus....you'll probably find it for like 80 and be able to get a 30 or 40 rebate. And Voila, d*** tracy wannabe watch for the price of a ... pokemon watch. lol
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|lol
**EDIT**
Actually, I just did a search and found that. But let me warn people: don't search for "SPOT watch." That gives you some *ahem* interesting results on Froogle. I'll stick with searching for au4000.
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|This d*** Tracy wanna be push device is a huge waste of money, and one of Microsoft's biggest White Elephants. No one on campus has these. That should be enough of a clue right there.
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|It seems you haven't been on campus then... just ride the shuttles and visit the cafeterias and you will see people using the watches. Even the legal guy I'm working with for a project has one... (and I have two)...
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|I'm confused. I've never heard of the SPOT watches before. Is there something that makes them special? Do they run Windows CE or something? lol
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|A tiny upgrade indeed. I was one of the first owners and according to them, I'm not eligible. :(. My watch is, but I'm not - for some....reason? I'm gonna cancel, and see if they call me then. lol
Update:
Woohoo! Called em' back and my new watch will be here in 3-4 weeks :). The new watches are really nice. Menu response times are faster and all. Anyway, owning this 'dicx tracy' wanna be watch is a good experience. Now I'll have 2 for 1/2 the price of 1. lol
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|OH... SPOT,, read it wrong:"Microsoft is offering owners of a first-generation POT.. blabla....
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