As a gadget freak, I’m usually happy to eschew conventional wisdom and buy the first generation of new tech. I know they probablyh won’t work that well and that the best features will come in later iterations. I don’t care. I just gotta try it.

With smart watches, though, I became the embodiment of the wait-and-see approach. It’s not that I haven’t tried a smart watch before. I still have a first-generation Timex Data-Link watch, the 150 (so named for the number of phone numbers you could store in the watch’s memory), which dates back to 1994. You installed Microsoft software on your PC, opened it, and held your watch up to the screen. The optical sensor read the flashing patterns on the screen, which served to transfer data to the watch. Then, you used the old-style digital display to scroll through contacts.

I didn’t use it for long. Between transferring data and actually trying to find a phone number on the device, it didn’t reduce any hassle or make life any easier. It was that experience that most likely biased me against the Pebble and other first-generation smart watches.

With the release of the Moto 360, though, I was ready to try again. This wasn’t a first-generation watch, or even second. The Pebble, the first round of Android watches, and the first batch of Android Wear watches had already preceded it.

I’ve been wearing it for about a month now, and unlike the Data-Link, this watch actually does make life easier.

The basics

I was worried about the thickness of a smart watch, but I have no problem pulling the sleeve of a dress shirt over it.

Like most smart watches, the Moto 360 needs to be relatively close to the Android smartphone to which it’s connected (via the Connect app). If I venture too far away from the phone (like when I take out the trash), the watch asks if I’ve left the phone behind. If I don’t remember where I left the phone, the watch will signal it to start playing a tone so I can find it.

Some people have been bothered by the round watchface’s effect on messages displayed in rectangles, but it doesn’t bother me. Some of the round watchfaces available through a number of developers range from gorgeous to awesome. To save battery power, the watch spends most of its time dimmed; I either tap it or make the gesture of turning my wrist to look at it in order to activate it. That’s fine, since (obviously) it doesn’t need to display anything when I’m not looking at it. In this mode, I’ve been getting about 17 hours of battery life.

The watch charges on a wireless charging dock. While docked, the display changes to serve as a clock for the bedside table. Charging is remarkably fast. In about an hour, I’m back up to 100%.

The display is bright and clear, the colors crisp and sharp.

The watch’s utility comes from two functions: notifications and voice commands.

Notifications

Whether I’m driving, working, or out for a meal, the subtle vibration of my phone tempts me to stop what I’m doing and check it. Hey, it could be one of my kids texting with an emergency, right? Or a client emailing with a need for a quick turnaround. Most often, though, it’s nothing urgent. With the smart watch, the haptic motor vibrates gently against my wrist. I can quickly glance down to see if the notification is something I want to see. If it is, I can tap to open the full message and scroll through it.

My phone pretty much stays in my pocket now as I simply turn my wrist to see emails, texts, breaking news, weather updates, and other messages arriving on my phone. So far, none of this has felt overwhelming, and if I don’t want the distraction, I just drag the watchface down in order to mute notifications. Dragging it down again reactivates notifications.

Voice commands

With the watchface displayed, saying “Okay Google” lets you do everything from sending texts to conducting searches (e.g., “Where’s the closest florist?”) to getting directions. I find the watch works particularly well in tandem with the phone for navigation. The audio commands from the phone are fine but looking down at the map on the screen while driving can be a distraction. Glancing at my wrist while holding the steering wheel is much better; the watch displays the next turn.

I have to confess, though, this is a feature I haven’t fully taken advantage of yet. I can take notes, set reminders, check my calendar, set alarms, and invoke a wide range of other commands by voice. I just need to get in the habit of remembering the features are available. Once I do, I suspect it’ll reduce even more hassle in my life.

Apps

A lot of apps are available for the Andoid Wear line. Some are useful. The American Airlines app connects to the app on my phone and displays my flight time, how far I am from the airport, and how long it will take me to get there. I grabbed a calculator app I’ve used several times (though I have avoided apps that display a tiny keyboard on the phone). I can control the start abd stop of music (I use Google Play Music) and podcasts (via BeyondPod). I can pull up my notes from Google Keep. The number of apps available on the Google Play store is growing all the time. (I’m resisting video poker.)

Fitness

Android Wear phones also include steps, heart rate, and other monitors geared to increasing your activity and improving your health. While I’ve had a FitBit for a couple years and am more accustomed to using the FitBit app on my phone, I can’t help but see my steps when I’m scrolling through notifications, which keeps the notion of getting my ass out of the chair even more top of mind.

Conclusion

The fact that the Moto 360 has integrated so quickly and easily into my daily life and routines so easily suggests to me that smart watches have a place. Convenience drives the adoption of a lot of tech, and it’s easy to see how a smart watch satisfies that criteria.

I will have to make one concession to get the most out of the watch, though. I’m at that point where I need reading glasses, and reading anything on the watch (or a book, or a computer screen, or a phone) requires that I put them on. As much as it pains me to admit it, I’m ready for trifocal reading glasses.