If it's great, I'd love one. But Meta Quest 2 is $350. Quest Pro is $1k. If Apple prices it any higher than $1499, they deserve to fall flat on their face. No amount of spinning will justify $3k at this point. Total peak hubris. The consumers (me) in this space are not stupid.
Apple just yanked the entire computer out of an iMac 27" and sold "us" the screen ALONE for the former full price of the same screen plus that computer. Were those consumers stupid? Many of the buyers have been gushing about its greatness since and spinning every possible push to get others to buy it- and only it- too.
I do not begin to grasp how any Apple fans can believe that once Apple takes the stage, announces whatever this thing is, talks up some somewhat interesting and a few gimmicky "oooh" "aaaah" elements, almost ALL of this pessimism won't flip- almost overnight- to "shut up and take my money."
Most PCs are much cheaper than Macs. Most Androids are much cheaper than iPhone. iPad-like tablets from others are much cheaper than iPads. Most accessories are much cheaper than Apple accessories. Etc... and yet, "we" pay up for the Apple branded ones, sometimes many times what we can get mostly the same from some other player.
Personally, I look at this thing as "any size screen(s) in a portable package." Instead of spending $2000 for a single size screen to be parked in ONE spot somewhere, this could be that screen or several screens anywhere one goes and needs a screen(s).
Imagine either a whole Mac built in or the bottom half of a MBpro (keyboard case with Mac inside) connecting to this for an any-size screen(s) for the mobile Mac user. What would that screen(s) be worth? Again, we just spent $2K for a screen that sits in one place and is always limited to 27." The other, only screen we should consider among all screens for sale is a little bigger, also sits in one place and costs $6K.
I see this as great potential for a new kind of laptop: bottom half of MBpro as is, top half presented
inside the goggles. Want a 17" MBpro? Ta-dah. Want a 20"? 27"? 32"? 50"? Ultra-wide? Ta-dah. All those "laptop" sizes weigh and are sized exactly the same. But the screen is any size you want. Or two screens. Or four screens.
Many of "our" imaginations seem to be limited to this being only Apple Oculus- some kind of games-only device. "Think different." It's already been rumored a few times to deliver the above. If so, the traditional laptop bag might have an option for goggles plus keyboard/computer, delivering for those interested in a laptop with any size of screen(s). How much do we pay for a forever 16" screened MBpro? What would you pay for a 17" MBpro? What would you pay for a MBpro that had any size screen or even multiple screens?
I do the vast majority of my computing work at a desk with a 40" Ultrawide. However, right now, I'm traveling and trying to get by on my 16" MBpro. It feels so cramped, it's actually aggravating me. Yes, it's great having a Mac with me in these travels but it's difficult to go from 40"UW to 16" and feel remotely as productive. Enter the above concept: same basic keyboard + trackpad + Mac on my lap but maybe Goggles steps in to give me my 40"UW
anywhere. Or 50"? Or 60"? or dual UWs? Etc. Right now with this frustration of working in what feels like a very cramped space, $3K doesn't seem so bad at all.
"We" also seem locked into this concept of putting these on and never taking them off- AKA people walking around with goggles on at all times. Nonsense. Try imagining these being used much like when one is using their laptop screen: pull "it" out and use it when you need a computer, put it away when you don't. If skiers, divers, motorcycle riders, welders, etc can slip something over their face and EASILY off again, why would this be any different?
We are Apple people... the "think different" cult... who will rationalize the Apple premium for EVERYTHING Apple
already sells against all challengers. Everything else is stupid, 99% don't want, junk, cheap, wobbly plastic, etc vs. Apple stuff. We'll even call each other out and/or BLAME each other for daring to question the greatness/wonder/magic of all things Apple. And yet here- before Apple has actually rolled
this out- it can only be as good as Meta "junk"? "It should be priced at or below competitor offerings" just like we demand of iPhone, Macs, iPads, Watch, Accessories???
