Android Central review of the Gear S

[BBSeattle]

Way too many overly concerned about essentially what comes down to an opinion. Rarely are reviews "objective or fair". I am sure there are things that you, I don't like, while others are completely happy with the item.
I had the Pebble, Sony2, LG Watch R and Gear Fit.... I like the Gear S better than all of the above. Don't give a Crap what others think, I'm the one wearing it.

 

[alan44]

my reply to the review

one small point re the cost - almost everyone I know has or has had a smartphone or tablet with a smashed screen - this includes Samsung phones - (all around the sound of breaking glass). I've spent a fortune repairing smashed screens or deciding against my better judgement to upgrade after all to the latest iPhone / iPad iteration instead.
The acquisition costs of the fantastic Gear S with its sim card + compatible Samsung phone is cheaper than say an iPhone never mind say the cost of iPhone + iWatch without a sim.
That's not the reason I bought the Gear S (i bought it for the sim and a major step forward in being liberated (though yes as yet not completely liberated) from carrying a "phone".
I'm still struggling with some of the limitations and workarounds, am wary of the charging clips breaking off (so i'll have to carry a jam jar around with me to get it charged?) particularly given reports of Samsung's poor customer support (cf Apple's - though like many things in life that doesn't seem to be as good as it used to be) but this device is fantastic and way ahead of the crowd

My reply to the comments on the review
• i don't think "cognitive dissonance" plays much of a role in purchasers struggling with "buyers remorse" and trying to justify buying a lemon to themselves - user reviews here and elsewhere have been very positive, but there have been plenty of posters stating they thought they had in fact bought a lemon and were about to return it
• he who pays the piper does choose the tune - but maybe the problem is more these tech reviewers don't have time to fully explore the product - or are perhaps too entrenched in their own cognitive bubble - which I always felt was kind of weird in the domain of technology - surely a paid reviewer should know better when they see something new and different and perhaps recognise a degree of responsibility - so if a casual potential buyer reads the reviews they are going to be put off - which affects sales and future product development. They are tech reviewers not theatre critics tossing off their opinions. I keep going back to the UK Gadget Show review of the first iPhone "its a bit sh!te and the latest Sony Erickson is better"
The Gear S is not perfect but it is the future - if biassed unhelpful reviews like that don't kill it off