As I look at the MBW-150, I see much to like as you’re right: there is very similar functionality there. And the device looks like a traditional watch. Personally, I stopped wearing a watch about 5 years ago so I don’t mind if my watch doesn’t look traditional. I’d rather have the larger display of a MetaWatch because I can see more information at a single glance; the MBW-150 has a much smaller display, so you see less information at a glance. The full-face of a MetaWatch could bring more developer opportunities. Again, just opinion and personal preference because it sounds like the watch is meeting your needs, which is great!

I think you nailed one point I was trying to make, when you said “I was wary of the MBW-150 specifically because it did not appear to have the wonderful functionality (on paper) of the LiveView.” Too much functionality can actually make the experience worse as you have to tap and scroll through different screens to get at that functionality. A minimalist view might be better in this case.

I’d like to challenge you a bit here. Back when you first started talking about taking an interest in the watch realm I remember you saying (could remember wrong or confuse it with another device you cited) that Sony-Ericsson had some attempted watches back in the MBW-150 era, but it just wan’t there yet. It didn’t do enough. It was only a sentence or two but that was the impression I walked away with. Now what you are saying is that the watch actually does not have to do much.

Well, I was wary of the MBW-150 specifically because it did not appear to have the wonderful functionality (on paper) of the LiveView. But I figured, there are occasions I just cannot wear a LiveView. So I found and picked up a used MBW-150 Executive figuring I might just have to wear it on those occasions. I also very much like that it is a regular watch at first glance and won’t attract too much attention.

The LiveView just simply sucks. Still hoping for a firmware upgrade, but not holding my breath. But the MBW does for me exactly what you describe above. Yes, it does not show the weather, you cannot walk to the corner before getting disconnected but disconnections are not really an issue. But you can see caller ID, SMS and email (and a few other things via OpenWatch). You can control music (though I found this to be a feature I don’t use too much). And yes, it has bugs, but what device doesn’t? The bottom like is that it is perfectly capable of the functionality you describe as being the time and annoyance saver. And it looks like a normal watch (which might be important if geek cred is not what you are looking for). Also, you can pick up replicas (without the music controls) for ~$60 if you shop around. (Though, not sure how the Chinese genetics do in terms of disconnections.)

Here’s an Amazon link for the generic. You can find them cheaper on ebay.

Kevin. Give one of these (either the generic or the Sony-Ericsson) a try. Tell us if it is able to provide the goods you describe above without the flash. It works for me doing what you describe above.

Watches though aren’t a functional technology beyond telling the time. They are fashion and prestige items. Its not so much that so many functions aren’t welcome on a watch, but the use-cases are so refined that it become difficult to simplify. Developers need to think on that end, not just “extend my mobile to my wrist.”

That said, there’s a place to extend the mobile to one’s wrist. And maybe power and wireless abilities will make the watch phone a simple and usable concept that is as durable/flexible as the watch-timepiece has been. But it will have to first meet fashion, not functionality. It can’t look like a computer on your wrist, no matter how much it does.