Who honestly intends to keep their AVP?

[macpro2000]

I bought 2. Do I keep one unopened and see what it's worth in 20 years?

 

[adamjackson]

I am never in my life going to understand people who would order something like this and then come here to complain about how it's not for them and they're returning it. What's sillier--buying something this expensive sight unseen and then returning it just to say you did it, or buying something this expensive and then convincing yourself during the wait for it to arrive that it will "suck" so you can then feel better about returning it and not spending the money after all.

I honestly don't get it--what is the point of this charade every time a new Apple product comes out? If it's not for you why not just skip it and go about your business? Even Tim Cook himself admitted this gen 1 version of this product has priced a lot of people out. So be it. Now none of you have to feel left out. Can we stop this now?

A lot of it is internet clout / consumerism.

For me, I'm an Apple Fanboy and I think going to Macworld and Apple Expo for 10 years and standing in line for 24 hours to see Steve Jobs Keynotes to be far more stupid than ordering a device I'm skeptical about. I waited in line for Mac OS 10.1, 10.2 and 10.3 at Circuit City and Apple retail stores. I flew to London for the Regent Street store opening. Those were dumber parts of my apple fanboyism than this pre-order. I'm skeptical but I'm looking forward to experiencing it for more than just 10 minutes in an Apple Store.

 

[mrat93]

I preordered but am expecting to return it (or resell if feasible.)

I’ve owned VR headsets since Oculus Rift CV1 and now use my Quest 3 daily, mostly for games. I don’t see a world in which I don’t regret spending 7x the cost of a Quest 3 for this.

On day 1, I think the killer feature is media consumption, like 3D movies and experiences (like the dinosaur demo). Otherwise, it’s too limited for me:

1. Storage is too expensive. We live in a time where it’s theoretically possible to store dozens of 4K movies and AAA games on a portable device, but if you want that in your Apple device, you’re paying $400 for 1TB of storage, which is too much for too little storage.
2. No sideloading (aka installing software without Apple holding your hand)
3. Limited by App Store rules. No 3rd party browser engines means it’s not feasible to use for work for me.
4. Single-monitor for Mac only. Will there be remote desktop apps which support multi-monitor?
5. Games are still a mystery. Will games with hand tracking compare well to ones with motion controls?

If I wasn’t certain that the value of the headset will
be halved within a year, I’d maybe considering hanging onto it. I’m hoping it can win me over, but I’m not expecting it.

 

[supergt]

I bought 2. Do I keep one unopened and see what it's worth in 20 years?

Return one and buy apple stock for the equivalent amount. Let’s revisit this in 20 years and see what was the better play.

 

[cardfan]

I preordered but am expecting to return it (or resell if feasible.)

I’ve owned VR headsets since Oculus Rift CV1 and now use my Quest 3 daily, mostly for games. I don’t see a world in which I don’t regret spending 7x the cost of a Quest 3 for this.

On day 1, I think the killer feature is media consumption, like 3D movies and experiences (like the dinosaur demo). Otherwise, it’s too limited for me:

1. Storage is too expensive. We live in a time where it’s theoretically possible to store dozens of 4K movies and AAA games on a portable device, but if you want that in your Apple device, you’re paying $400 for 1TB of storage, which is too much for too little storage.
2. No sideloading (aka installing software without Apple holding your hand)
3. Limited by App Store rules. No 3rd party browser engines means it’s not feasible to use for work for me.
4. Single-monitor for Mac only. Will there be remote desktop apps which support multi-monitor?
5. Games are still a mystery. Will games with hand tracking compare well to ones with motion controls?

If I wasn’t certain that the value of the headset will
be halved within a year, I’d maybe considering hanging onto it. I’m hoping it can win me over, but I’m not expecting it.

That's about where I'm at. I preordered to try out. But I don't expect to keep it. That's not 100% but it'd really have to be compelling.

1. I don't care about storage or price. It's already expensive. Just not an issue. That's the way apple rolls.

2. sideloading. Yes, it sucks. I'd rather the vision pro was more of a mac. Didn't require a mac and ran macOS apps. I don't need ipad anything or use ipad apps for hardly anything especially productivity.

3. That's more of subset of #2

4. Still #2

5. Apple has shown no interest in making such things happen. But to be honest, not really interested in vr games. I tried the free one with quest 3 and that's way too much. If we can have simpler vr game experiences I could bite.

I'll add a thought. You mentioned killer feature as media consumption. But as i found with quest, I'm searching for vr 180 content. Not 2d. Not even 3d really. I saw 2d content with the youtube vr app and lasted about about 10 seconds with me thinking looks nice and large but not wearing this to see stuff like this. Even watched part of a rick and morty episode. It was ok? It just wasn't worthwhile knowing there's much better mind blowing content to see wearing goggles. Need the good VR content and most streaming apps won't provide it. Apple is a little nuts not to get Youtube VR on there somehow and we all know they could make it happen if they wanted to.

 

[mattopotamus]

The fact that there were no comprehensive reviews allowed before the pre order and merely “hands (or eyes?) on” makes me extremely skeptical. That said I don’t really expect anything beyond what was described at the unveiling: too expensive, too heavy, too little battery, not enough practical uses, amazingly futuristic.

Welcome to every Apple product. The reviews will come 2-3 days before the launch.

 

[supergt]

Welcome to every Apple product. The reviews will come 2-3 days before the launch.

Yeah I guess that’s the usual timeline after all. Still think it’s strange they didn’t bother with a launch event and there’s no doubt the media campaign and rollout is meticulously planned. More than any other Apple product in recent memory.

 

[flofixer]

I plan on returning mine but fully hope that it's a compelling enough 1.0 that this is not a consideration.

1. I bought the first 300Mhz G3 iBook in 1999
2. I bought the first G4 iBook in 2001 along with OS X 10.1
3. I bought the first iPod in 2001
4. ...the first LCD iMac in 2002
5. ...the first iPhone in 2007
6. The first iPad in 2010
7. The First Apple Watch in 2015 (went with the Space Black and still use the link bracelet today on my Ultra

I'd be much richer had I skipped every gen one device and spent an equivalent amount of cash on AAPL instead but I've really enjoyed the 1.0s...not in retrospect, most of them sucked but more romantically like it was great to wait in line, have fellow geeks at work or at conferences say "Is that the new...?" when I was using my watch, iPad, iPhone or iPod. It's been fun to enjoy and experience the platform grow and mature and play with new paradigms of computing.

With that said, this is a $4,000 device not a $500 (Phone, iPod, iPad and Watch) and it's also not a $999 iBook. It's a $4,000 headset and I'm old now, busy with kids and a full time job. I still have everything Apple makes but all of it has a productive benefit in my life. AirPods go with me on runs and hikes, the watch keeps me connected when working on the yard or walking the dog, the MacBook Pro makes me money, the iPad w/ cellular is always with me for long form communication and internet research or using GTD apps like Things and Fantastical.

The Apple Vision Pro is, right now, a big mirroring device for my Mac and a large television. I'm one of those weirdos who never took up watching video on anything but my 75" television. I had the first AppleTV and before that, a home theater PC. I have 3,000 movies in Plex. I watch YouTube and Plex on my TV. I don't have YouTube on any of my devices. I have surround sound and my wife and I watch a movie every night together. To come home after a long day, throw on a headset and watch Die Hard all alone in my office sounds effing stupid. My wife will just be like "am I single now?" Movies all day on Sunday is our thing. Sitting alone with a VR headset...IDK. We play multiplayer games on the Switch and Xbox. To play that all alone sounds stupid. FaceTime with a fake version of me...sounds dumb. Going from two huge screens to just one (MacBook mirroring) sounds like a step back.

I'm pretty bearish on Apple Vision Pro 1.0. Without a killer use case that unlocks a new paradigm of productivity and creativity for me, I'll be returning the first one within the 14 day window. If it was $1,000, I'd save it for airplanes and road trips but for $4,000, I'm incredibly skeptical that it's going to provide me that much value. Apple Vision Pro 2 or 3 are going to be far more mature with a few killer apps and offer me a Macintosh and iPad experience that exceeds what I have today is going to be very compelling and I look forward to it.

Infinite timeline, my kid is going to love it when she's a teenager (in 13 years). My wife is going to love decorating our home, making meals while following step by step videos overlayed over her reality, we'll have a house full of them and can watch TV alone together each with our own 1:1 field of view big screen and Mac apps no longer have screens...they're just windows and I can move infinite Mac windows all around me for super productivity. It's going to be amazing. I don't think the 1.0 will do that but I ordered one for 2/2 delivery and I'm going to hope I'm wrong.

I very much enjoy the big screen experience watching movies, but even my 77 inch OLED isn't as immersive as a quality movie theater screen. You obviously love watching movies as I do and it is a social event. I ordered the AVP and plan to keep it. I anticipate that the immersion the AVP may provide will be an experience that although solitary, will be enough for me to enjoy and be a worthwhile expense for me. I recently retired at age 57 and have time to things with others as well as by myself. I do understand your points however but there is a good chance you may have a hard time returning it.

 

[Chuckeee]

I bought 2. Do I keep one unopened and see what it's worth in 20 years?

Just curious. If by early March you could get more than double of the purchase price, would you sell or would you keep on holding it for the future?

 

[4sallypat]

Welcome to every Apple product. The reviews will come 2-3 days before the launch.

This is what I am waiting for!

Embargo lift date!

 

[eekcat]

I'll keep it if it's significantly better than the Quest 2 or 3 (i.e. looks/feels like a retina-level monitor), and I'm able to find a use case for it, for work.

 

[Jensend]

To come home after a long day, throw on a headset and watch Die Hard all alone in my office sounds effing stupid.

Some friends of mine that live in other states and countries have an annual tradition where we watch a Die Hard movie together in VR around Christmastime. We’ve watched four of them so far… only one left.
More fun than a real movie theater because you can talk during the movie. Everyone is seated in a row, and with spatial audio there is a sense that they are in the room with you. Yeah, they are represented by crude avatars, but you’re in a dark room anyways.

 

[KPOM]

Yeah I guess that’s the usual timeline after all. Still think it’s strange they didn’t bother with a launch event and there’s no doubt the media campaign and rollout is meticulously planned. More than any other Apple product in recent memory.

They had their “event” last year. Times are different now. Between YouTubers, ”influencers,” etc. there are many ways to generate buzz. This is very much a prototype for Apple, even more so than the original Apple Watch, which had versions affordable to the masses from Day 1. It won’t be a big seller. It isn’t intended to be, at least not yet. Those of us taking the plunge should use it and help Apple figure out what works and doesn’t work.

 

[KPOM]

I'll keep it if it's significantly better than the Quest 2 or 3 (i.e. looks/feels like a retina-level monitor), and I'm able to find a use case for it, for work.

It’s got close to 3 times the resolution, so it should be better.

 

[adamjackson]

I very much enjoy the big screen experience watching movies, but even my 77 inch OLED isn't as immersive as a quality movie theater screen. You obviously love watching movies as I do and it is a social event. I ordered the AVP and plan to keep it. I anticipate that the immersion the AVP may provide will be an experience that although solitary, will be enough for me to enjoy and be a worthwhile expense for me. I recently retired at age 57 and have time to things with others as well as by myself. I do understand your points however but there is a good chance you may have a hard time returning it.

I am afraid we're going to love AVP so much that my wife ends up wanting one. Could have gotten an amazing home theatre for $8,000 (price of 2)

 

[macpro2000]

I am afraid we're going to love AVP so much that my wife ends up wanting one. Could have gotten an amazing home theatre for $8,000 (price of 2)

For $8,000? That doesn’t even buy you an amazing projector.

 

[richard371]

Next fri will be interesting for sure. It's a bit different then most products I've purchased. I buy a lot of Apple products and the last thing I returned was the Apple AirPods Max.

 

[LiemTa]

The fact that there were no comprehensive reviews allowed before the pre order and merely “hands (or eyes?) on” makes me extremely skeptical. That said I don’t really expect anything beyond what was described at the unveiling: too expensive, too heavy, too little battery, not enough practical uses, amazingly futuristic.

I strongly believe Apple knows reviewers will rip Vision Pro to shreds as all their experiments fail. For example, for new products, MKBHD and friends usually accept requests for things to try. I have a feeling the answers to many of these questions will be “you can’t do that” or “you can’t do that, but here’s an ass work around with an iPad app”

 

[adamjackson]

For $8,000? That doesn’t even buy you an amazing projector.

I disagree completely. but I'm afraid of getting in a peeing contest with an audiophile and I'm not gonna do it. Let's at least keep things in perspective. $8,000 is a LOT of money to most of America and the world and you can build a great home theatre setup for $8K that most of the country would be envious of.

 

[KPOM]

I strongly believe Apple knows reviewers will rip Vision Pro to shreds as all their experiments fail. For example, for new products, MKBHD and friends usually accept requests for things to try. I have a feeling the answers to many of these questions will be “you can’t do that” or “you can’t do that, but here’s an ass work around with an iPad app”

I'm sure most of the reviews will be "It's not worth $3,500+, wait for the cheaper version coming in a year or two and re-evaluate." That's why the rollout is limited.

 

[klasma]

people from overseas can't even access the App Store.

They can by switching their Apple ID to a different country in Settings.

 

[4sallypat]

They can by switching their Apple ID to a different country in Settings.

Or use a VPN to emulate an IP address in the US.

 

[Khabbi]

Apple never drops the price on anything.. Get this and be happy, or be left empty handed. I'm keeping it.

 

[svnty6rs3]

It all comes down to the display quality for me. If the display is truly retina level to where I can't see any pixels and don't get a screen door effect then I am keeping it. The software will continue to mature and what has already been shown is more than enough for me to find a number of uses for.

The few other VR headsets ive tried just had too much pixelation for me to want to use it. If this actually looks the way it does in the promo videos and the walkthrough, then it's a keeper.

 

[4sallypat]

It all comes down to the display quality for me. If the display is truly retina level to where I can't see any pixels and don't get a screen door effect then I am keeping it. The software will continue to mature and what has already been shown is more than enough for me to find a number of uses for.

The few other VR headsets ive tried just had too much pixelation for me to want to use it. If this actually looks the way it does in the promo videos and the walkthrough, then it's a keeper.

100% agree!

Apps will follow once people start adopting this new spatial computing platform.