May 2, 1995: Apple enters the wearables space with its first watch. However, the first Apple watch is a timepiece with no fitness-tracking tech, no on-screen notifications and a whole lot of 1990s styling.
The device comes two decades before wearables actually will become a thing. A regular wristwatch, the freebie gadget is available via a special mail-in offer to Mac OS upgraders.
Apple’s freebie watch pushes Mac System 7.5 upgrade
The 1995 Apple watch existed to motivate Mac users to upgrade to System 7.5. At the time, System 7 was 4 years old, having debuted in May 1991. The 7.5 upgrade came preinstalled on new Macs (such as the Macintosh LC 580), but was only available as a paid upgrade for people who owned older Macs.
Years later, Apple would do away with charging for its operating system upgrades. But in the 1990s, Cupertino’s customers grappled with relatively hefty prices for OS releases. Apple’s suggested retail price for System 7.5 — the princely sum of $134.99 — seemed outrageous to many, as evidenced by this vintage internet post that calls the upgrade policy “pretty much from the moon.”
Hence the first Apple watch, a bonus designed to sweeten the deal for Mac OS upgraders.
System 7.5 did bring a few worthwhile new features, however. In fact, it packed more than 50 changes — and some entirely new features. Apple acquired some of the new Mac features from third-party devs, and ported others from the professional-level System 7 Pro.
The biggest upgrade made it easier to connect your Mac to the internet and email. Other nifty features included the Apple Guide, a smart “how to” manual that proved far superior to Apple’s previous Balloon Help feature.
1995 was a dark time for Apple
Photo: Apple
System 7.5 came at a bad time for Apple. The company languished during its mid-1990s low period, promising innovations like a top-to-bottom Mac OS refresh called Copland that would remain tantalizingly out of reach. Apple’s position looked even starker when compared to the crazy levels of success Microsoft enjoyed with Windows 95.
The offer of an Apple watch for System 7.5 upgraders wasn’t much. However, it provided an added incentive for anyone on the fence. (If they didn’t want an Apple watch, they could opt for a free copy of Conflict Catcher 3, software designed to resolve problems between the Mac and its various extensions.)
The first Apple watch is now a collector’s item
Today, the 1995 Apple watch is a nice collector’s piece. Expect to pay a few hundred dollars for one on eBay (although some folks will try to reap up to four figures).
What’s your favorite Apple collector’s item? Have you got anything rare you want to brag about? Leave your comments below.