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Abacus Wrist Net Smart Watch for MSN Direct (AU4000)

Abacus Wrist Net Smart Watch for MSN Direct (AU4000)

List Price: $69.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Nirvana, baby!
Review: Finally, a watch that tells more than time! If you gotta thick wrist (like most white men do), you gotta love this. It gives you uptodate news, stock quotes, weather updates (way cool, man!), and even your worthless daily schedules. Of course assuming you are still sane from information overload! This is better than your cell, man, cuz you can use it on that transUSA flight. I love this new gizmo! It runs MS software, but who cares. It's a Fossil watch!

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Hey, its definately cool, but lets not consider it a watch!
Review: You may want to know why such a great looking, gee whiz product gets such a low rating from me. I looked at the watch in a store locally, and was impressed until I heard the punch line. MSN subscription! I'm not going to go into detail that MS has more money than God does. I will say, they're very clever in keeping continued money streams flowing. The subscription service costs, are roughly equivalent to a low cost Internet dial-up connection. Unless you really have a strong need for this, I don't see the value of getting it on a "watch".

Lets be honest here, if you are a high-powered business type, or imagine yourself to be one, you already carry a high-tech cellular phone. Compared with the capabilities there, using this is just overkill. In addition, most people would agree, that a watch is something that should be low maintenance. They recommend you recharge the Smartwatch "daily"! Do you really want to become a slave to your watch? The FAQ says, the battery on this watch is not even replaceable. I'll assume MS thinks by the time it wears out, in a year or so, (from daily charging) you won't mind buying the next model, probably for more big bucks.

All that said this is an attractive watch, with a strong geek appeal factor. People buy expensive jewelry all the time, to impress others on just a few wearing occasions per year. I can't complain if that appeal is why you are considering buying it. The watch face is just like a little computer monitor, (although not color) and can display many things. I just don't buy this as a practical item, unless it's the only thing you use (no PDA's, cell phones, or notebook computers) for these features.

Down the road, this may become a better technology, one that I may want to use. What it needs is a hot-switchable, rechargeable battery, so you can avoid putting the watch on a charger. In the future I believe there will be some recognition that working people can't afford to pay for dozens of subscriptions for phone(s), Internet, CATV, PDA, beeper, and now a watch. Combine that with all the "net" services, "email", sports, music, news, entertainment features, and others we expect to pay for. When that time finally arrives, we'll see many of these services combined. Then the "smart watch", might be worth a second look.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Worked GREAT for (3) Day's and DIED!! January, 17th,2004
Review: Watch LOOKED well made...but NO CONTACT info was shipped with it for help...the MSN DIRECT SERVICE was VERY poor...they try to TAKE charge and do NOT know the product at all...worse is they can not speak English. I called several times...got the run around. Every time you call MSN...they ask WHO you are...your name..address...phone number and on and on and on NO matter how many times you call in.

During the SHORT time it worked the DISPLAY was the VERY best I have seen. I purchased it at COMPUSA...I was the FIRST person to ever purhcase one!! Hmmm I like gadgets!

I have never had ANY digital watch EVER die on me...even the $5.00 ones...my OLD timex's that have laid in my night stand are STILL working.

NOTE: One needs to take the ABUCUS watch to a jewler to ADJUST the band...the band is VERY hard to put on....this product is for MALES only! :-)

This product will be a loser just like the Timex InterNet watch..one has to charge the battery EVERY night...do not leave home without the CHARGER!

Maybe they will come out with a cig. lighter cord for it when you are driving...do not want to be late for???

The Timex InterNet watch did have a VERY easy to change battery and the BUTTONS were MARKED How would you LIKE your computer keyboard with no MARKINGS on the KEYS! :-))

The watch is NOT user friendly at all..the buttons have NO markings on the CASE!

((-:

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Mine broke within 24 hours
Review: I had the watch for less than 24 hours and it stopped working. The screen went blank, and no matter how long I charged it, it never turned back on. I am going to try and get my money back, else I have to wait several weeks to get the old one fixed!

what a rip! As with any Microsoft Technology, wait until Generation 2!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: outlook calendar sync rocks!
Review: I got the Dick Tracey version of the watch a week ago. As the other reviewers pointed out it is little bulky. But well, the bulkiness is kinda coolness factor too. The news, stock, weather updates are cool, but the outlook calendar reminders is the killer app. I dont need to write down in which room my next meeting is, even if I forget my pocket PC /PDA. I agree the price is little steep, but I got it through the msft employee discount, so it isn't bad for me, considering that its a Fossil watch.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Works Great For Me
Review: I absolutely LOVE this watch. I am able to get up to date news and weather (local, national and international for both), messages from friends via MSN messenger, synch (without plugging in) to Outlook, and get stock quotes (if I wanted to!). All this and a lot more. I have had more compliments for this watch than any other (antique Rolex included) - and that's before they see what this baby can do. I haven't been this excited about a new toy since I was a kid :) ! Highly recommended.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: immature technology: 4 resets / 24 hours, big billing issues
Review: Great idea, $5/month (annual subscription) is good deal for news, weather, your Outlook calendar, 15 stock tickers, very good user interface BUT:
1. My watch suffered up to 4 resets in 24 hours - it would just go to 12:00 noon and forget everything.
2. Once I returned the watch and cancelled my subsription, MSN kept charging me even though they acknowledged I did cancel the account. They also said they "can't" delete my credit card information from their records so they can't guarantee they won't "accidentally" charge me again... Also, over 10 minutes of waiting on line for a person to speak to. Really awful service.

In short, great technology and I'll try it again but not for another 6-12 months - let it mature first on both technology and service.

Also: watch design is VERY dorky and was too geeky even for for geekiest friends. you might want to wait for more "earthly" desings to come out.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Impressed so far...
Review: I purchased this watch after a 3 year lack of a wrist watch. My Phone was too clumsy to look at time, and I wanted a tech saavy watch. This is my first delve into MS Watches, but so far I am impressed. Set up was a breeze, Once it had charged (overnight) the morning, it was ready with all my calander and news and stocks right there. I did purchase the extended warranty, why not its an expensive little new gadget...I want to be covered incase something happens...

One drawback...not water proof per say...it can get splashed...but you have to take it off to shower or swim... I have a big wrist so the watch is the right size, though it will be big on some people.

I love this thing so far...and no issues yet.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Bad Idea, Bad Implimentation
Review: This is just another gadget that MSN and others have come up with to make some easy money. If you really think that this is a good idea by these companies just send them money directly for R & D. Most likely the money will go toward stock options and more marketing hype. Don't bother with the S&H and the frustration of the junk you just bought. Hope they can get a better product in the future.

The huge watch is quite useless. You can get the same information easily on the net or over the radio w/o the $60 per year fee. Only works where there is the FM signal. Needs to be charged every other day. btw, you must remove it do recharge with magnetic coupled charger.

Not guaranteed to work where you live. You have a local area, so if you travel you can encure more fees like a cell phone.

The only nice thing is that you do not have to set the time (usually). Other watches do that as well. Gee, I bought an alarm clock for $14 that does the same. And, oh yeah, it gets PRI and NPR as well for the information I need within ten minutes.

One star only because I had to give it some rating.


Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Beyond-SPOT.com for all your msn direct needs.
Review: I found a great website to discuss these watches. Beyond-spot.com they have reviews forums and more! I had many questions about the watch and they answered them all!


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