Video: Trying the Apple Vision Pro Headset

[persona1138]

Well this is an age old apple argument. ‘It’s cheaper elsewhere’ - it hasn’t proved much of a problem for them to be honest. We will see I’m sure.

I’ll make my point simple for you:

It will be hard for Apple to sell the Vision Pro. At any price.

 

[cupcakes2000]

Sonoma is the new Vista. Widgets right on your Desktop. I still remember the idiot "Windows 95/Mac 84" stuff. Now it's MacOS 2023/Windows 2006.
Anyway, this headset could doom Apple. The price is too high and the functionality is meant to isolate you from real people. Either civilization is doomed or Apple is. Steve Jobs is rolling in his grave. This is not what he left Tim Cook.

Doomed? If it doesn’t work out they’ll discontinue it and go another route. It’s highly unlikely doom them. What a strange take.

I think people have doomed civilisation since the first cave paintings were shown. It’s gonna be fine - don’t worry.

And all these sudden best friends of Steve Jobs makes me laugh 😂😂

 

[cupcakes2000]

I’ll make my point simple for you:

It will be hard for Apple to sell the Vision Pro. At any price.

And I’ll make mine simple for you - no it won’t. But it’s also not the goal. The goal is long term. They’re not after a high selling device. They’re after a head start in a segment which will dominate over the next X years like smart phones have over the past decade or so.

 

[jimbobb24]

I’d say the Vision Pro is on par with the Varjo XR-3, which is $7000 + $2000/yr software subscription.

High-Resolution Virtual and Mixed Reality Headsets | Varjo

Highest-resolution virtual and mixed reality headsets that will transform the way you train, create and learn.

varjo.com

One VR focused channel compared it to that and said most people are comparing it to the cheap versions when the feature set is closer to the $7000 devices. The VR channel actually was very impressed with the Vision Pro - no doubt in part because more people supporting VR is good for VR. But they also said it appears apple is really trying something new and different.

 

[persona1138]

And I’ll make mine simple for you - no it won’t. But it’s also not the goal. The goal is long term. They’re not after a high selling device. They’re after a head start in a segment which will dominate over the next X years like smart phones have over the past decade or so.

So why, in your estimation, have VR headsets (which I love and own several) not caught on in the last 7-8 years, despite many high-end products with the exact same software features for years?

VR will “dominate?” I don’t think so. Not until they can make it as easy as putting on a pair of sunglasses.

 

[kingtj1971]

Sonoma is the new Vista. Widgets right on your Desktop. I still remember the idiot "Windows 95/Mac 84" stuff. Now it's MacOS 2023/Windows 2006.
Anyway, this headset could doom Apple. The price is too high and the functionality is meant to isolate you from real people. Either civilization is doomed or Apple is. Steve Jobs is rolling in his grave. This is not what he left Tim Cook.

I'm not big on any of the extremist/sensationalist stuff in either direction. Decent working VR goggles aren't going to doom civilization and overpriced ones that sell poorly aren't going to doom Apple either.

That said? I've been in the camp that predicts this technology is only going to sell for niche uses, largely purchased by big corporations who have plans to recoup the initial cost of them with whatever they're doing with them.

To get these to be as mainstream as something like the Apple watch, it needs to be comparable to a pair of traditional sunglasses/eyeglasses first.

 

[jimbobb24]

My point in that post is to illustrate the extremely low adoption of VR with only 9 million total units sold across all manufacturers.

Certainly there’s a place for high-end headsets. Like the Valve Index, Quest Pro, Pimax, etc…

But my point is that if you can’t already sell them for $300 or $3000 - no matter how good - $3500 is going to be a hard sell.

Apple isn’t selling a VR head set so it might be completely different people would be interested.

 

[cupcakes2000]

So why, in your estimation, have VR headsets (which I love and own several) not caught on in the last 7-8 years, despite many high-end products with the exact same software features for years?

Mainly because, a: they’re low end (in comparison) single minded devices and b: apple device is AR focused - this is much more AR than VR.

Anyway. It’s all opinion- we wil see

Edit - I’m pretty sure that none of the headsets of the past 7-8 years have the ‘exact same’ software features. Care to show me the comparisons? (Leave out movies please)

 

[persona1138]

Apple isn’t selling a VR head set so it might be completely different people would be interested.

Correct. It’s an AR and VR headset. That seamless transition between the two is great.

But it is NOT “completely different.” At all. When I’ve had the same software experiences they showed off for over 7 years at this point.

 

[klasma]

Hmmm. PC. What does that mean again?

Not sure what you’re getting at, but home computers were historically a distinct market segment from PCs.

 

[cupcakes2000]

Not sure what you’re getting at, but home computers were historically a distinct market segment from PCs.

Yes. Completely distinct. As distinct as an st is to the mega st - for example. Soooo, not that distinct. Home computer v PC is like an air v a pro. It’s a label. The distinctions are semantics. The real distinctions are from a mainframe to an Apple Watch. Ymmv obviously and each person has an opinion (amongst other things).

 

[AdonisSMU]

Apple will be getting my money this time. This is a good product.

 

[Night Spring]

So why, in your estimation, have VR headsets (which I love and own several) not caught on in the last 7-8 years, despite many high-end products with the exact same software features for years?

VR will “dominate?” I don’t think so. Not until they can make it as easy as putting on a pair of sunglasses.

As far as I'm aware, no VR maker has pitched their device in such a way that made me feel like it could replace my computer/monitor setup. Apple's presentation made me feel like that's a real possibility. Whether it actually works that way, we have to wait to see until it's released and actual users get to use it for actual work. But if it really can replace my computer/monitor, I'd certainly want one.

And agree that getting it to come down in size to something closer to regular glasses will speed adoption.

 

[persona1138]

As far as I'm aware, no VR maker has pitched their device in such a way that made me feel like it could replace my computer/monitor setup. Apple's presentation made me feel like that's a real possibility. Whether it actually works that way, we have to wait to see until it's released and actual users get to use it for actual work. But if it really can replace my computer/monitor, I'd certainly want one.

And agree that getting it to come down in size to something closer to regular glasses will speed adoption.

Virtual Desktop Classic on Steam

Virtual Desktop is an application developed for the Oculus Rift / Rift S, HTC Vive, Valve Index and WMR headsets that lets you use your computer in VR. This app is NOT for the Oculus Quest or Pico headsets. You can browse the web, watch movies, Netflix or even play games on a giant virtual screen.

store.steampowered.com

I’ve been using Virtual Desktop in VR headsets since 2016.

Anyway, I’m sure the optics on the Vision Pro are fantastic. (They’d better be, at that price.)

But there’s nothing new here, other than a seamless transition between AR and VR, which is cool.

 

[klasma]

Yes. Completely distinct. As distinct as an st is the a mega st - for example. Soooo, not that distinct. Home computer and PC os like an air v a pro. It’s a label. The distinctions are semantics. The real distinctions are from a mainframe to an Apple Watch. Ymmv obviously and each person has an opinion (amongst other things).

The OP used a clunky first-edition IBM PC as an example of a home computer. IBM PC were decidedly not home computers. These were business computers. They were called “personal” computer, because unlike the previously prevalent minicomputers and mainframes, they were not time-sharing (multi-user) computers, but instead only used by one person at a time. Home use only became common a couple years later with cheaper IBM-compatible clones, which also became slightly more compact.

 

[cupcakes2000]

The OP used a clunky first-edition IBM PC as an example of a home computer. IBM PC were decidedly not home computers. These were business computers. They were called “personal” computer, because unlike the previously prevalent minicomputers and mainframes, they were not time-sharing computers, but instead only used by one person at a time. Home use only began a couple years later with cheaper IBM-compatible clones, which also became relatively more compact.

Again semantics. I think you know what the OP was getting at.

 

[Stevenyo]

I'm not grumpy at all, I'm just being honest. Not only do AirPods continue to look ridiculous, there are far better options out there in their price range when it comes to audio quality and in app EQ modifications and customizations.

Airpods aren't about audio quality. They're about seamless device switching, lack of pairing pain, etc. All I need to start using my airpods with a new device is to sign in to my apple ID. My best other BT headphones, high end sony ones that I love, can pair to two devices and must be manually unpaired to be able to pair to a third. They're much "better" headphones, but much worse to use day to day. I use crackly, dirty, almost dead airpods over 95% of the time because they "just work," even if they sound like crap.

 

[Night Spring]

Virtual Desktop Classic on Steam

Virtual Desktop is an application developed for the Oculus Rift / Rift S, HTC Vive, Valve Index and WMR headsets that lets you use your computer in VR. This app is NOT for the Oculus Quest or Pico headsets. You can browse the web, watch movies, Netflix or even play games on a giant virtual screen.

store.steampowered.com

I’ve been using Virtual Desktop in VR headsets since 2016.

Anyway, I’m sure the optics on the Vision Pro are fantastic. (They’d better be, at that price.)

But there’s nothing new here, other than a seamless transition between AR and VR, which is cool.

As I see it, Apple built this function into the Virtual OS, whereas this Virtual Desktop is a third-party app you buy separately. When I viewed Meta's promotional material for the Quest, there was no mention of this Virtual Desktop. Yes, this is Apple being better at PR than Meta, but it's also a difference in product focus, that I suspect would end up in better virtual desktop experience on Apple's platform.

 

[klasma]

Again semantics. I think you know what the OP was getting at.

Semantics is what matters. My understanding of the argument is that the form factor counts in what people are willing to use at home. Clunky headsets are fine when that’s what’s necessary for work, but not so much at home for recreational use.

 

[persona1138]

As I see it, Apple built this function into the Virtual OS, whereas this Virtual Desktop is a third-party app you buy separately. When I viewed Meta's promotional material for the Quest, there was no mention of this Virtual Desktop. Yes, this is Apple being better at PR than Meta, but it's also a difference in product focus, that I suspect would end up in better virtual desktop experience on Apple's platform.

I’m certain that Apple’s integration will be great.

But remember that Meta, Valve, Pimax, etc. (all of which are compatible with Virtual Desktop and obviously many other VR apps) are PC. PC folks have an open sandbox for many different types of applications that offer the same experiences as what Apple demonstrated.

Again, I’m sure Apple’s integration of these ideas will be even better. That’s what I love about Apple.

But that doesn’t make them “new,” is my point. (Also, it’s still pretty damn easy on PCVR.)

I just don’t see this as a killer feature that will suddenly convince a lot of people to buy into AR/VR who haven’t already… When it’s been around for 7 years. Personally, with a lot of VR experience.

 

[cupcakes2000]

Semantics is what matters. My understanding of the argument is that the form factor counts in what people are willing to use at home. Clunky headsets are fine when that’s what’s necessary for work, but not so much at home for recreational use.

Proving everyone’s point again. What was once a computer filled room is now on a watch. What is now a face filled computer will eventually on a contact lens.

 

[klasma]

Proving everyone’s point again. What was once a computer filled room is now on a watch. What is now a face filled computer will eventually on a contact lens.

Well, progress isn’t linear, so I don’t believe in extrapolating the future from the past. Let’s wait and see when those contact lenses will come along. I’d certainly welcome them!

 

[cupcakes2000]

Well, progress isn’t linear, so I don’t believe in extrapolating the future from the past. Let’s wait and see when those contact lenses will come along. I’d certainly welcome them!

With tech it’s almost a proven thing so far. But yes! Let’s see. The future is promising and there can be no denying that this product (from initial impressions and disregarding apples ability to both ‘make amazing’ and ‘utterly gimp’ a product at the same time) - looks very very promising.

 

[AdonisSMU]

MR, that keeps leaking Apple secrets, got a press pass? 😳

MR is doing its job and serving its purpose.

 

[persona1138]

If these other options work for you, great! But to suggest that what many of us are expressing as something novel in the Vision Pro is imagined and not real is to discount our own positions as consumers in the market place.

Apple is bringing best-of-class technology married to a mature eco-system. It elevates the idea of the AR/VR tech. When I look at it and realize that I can seamlessly use apps and an OS that I'm extremely familiar with, along with a trust in Apple's ability to deliver unique tech and experiences, I'm sold. None of these other devices have given me anything close to that vision. All the examples you've given were targeted at narrow use-cases or enterprise adaptation to very narrow uses. That's not this. This is relevant to the average Apple consumer in the way that the laptop was newly relevant to those using a desktop. The way that the iPhone was relevant to those using laptops. The way the iPad carved a new niche to those already invested in the ecosystem.

I see this replacing my laptop. I already know how/why I'll use it. And it fits perfectly into the investment I have in the ecosystem, leveraging and expanding it. It will make me more productive in the work I do. Period. All the other examples you've given were largely focused on gaming or gimmicks. This is focused on general purpose computing with an already mature OS and ecosystem.

Apple easily sells 1 million of these in the first year. And it grows exponentially from there.

Narrow use cases?

I use the same headset for work. And for gaming. And for chatting with other people (with a virtual avatar). For entertainment. For general computing.

It’s… literally the same thing.

Granted, probably integrated even better by Apple, with fantastic optics. I’m an Apple fan (currently typing to you on 2 ProDisplay XDR’s with nanotexture).

I’m glad the Vision Pro appeals to you. I’m sure the hardware is great. But they are 7 years behind the times, when it comes to the software they’ve demonstrated. It is not a “mature ecosystem” that they have, when it comes to VR.

Personally, I may be interested when a second or third generation Vision Pro gets released and the software IS more mature. And when I can do more than watch Avatar, browse photos and the web, and work on a Word document.