by fancy_pantser on 1/9/24, 1:26 AM with 4 comments
by MichaelMug on 1/9/24, 2:26 AM
On a whim, I bought the Quest 3 at launch with low expectations due to its price, but it pleasantly surprised me. The headset is lightweight, doesn't fog, and performs well. The gaming experience, along with hand tracking and XR capabilities, surpassed my expectations. I find myself using it more than my iPad for YouTube and web browsing. I understand Apple's positioning of the Vision Pro as a living room entertainment replacement.
However, I believe Meta missed an opportunity to enhance the OS for productivity and entertainment. Downloading movies and TV shows for offline viewing is not straightforward, and managing multiple browser windows can be convoluted. Not all apps support running in a window, limiting the device's flexibility.
Having experienced disappointments with first-gen Apple products like the Intel Mac, iPhone, and Watch, I'm hesitant to jump into the Vision Pro unless Apple takes gaming seriously and offers PCVR compatibility. The transformative experience of playing MSFS with Quest Link in VR has been a game changer.
by Topfi on 1/9/24, 7:00 PM
I am also skeptical about long-term comfort for my specific head shape and size. While I am confident that Apple has taken more than sufficient time designing the head strap and weight distribution, my experience with head straps and headsets of all shapes and sizes has taught me that only a "halo" design truly works for multiple hours without discomfort for me. Any weight pressing on the area around my eyes and nasal bridge causes tension headaches; shifting that to my forehead alleviates that greatly, turning an otherwise uncomfortable experience into something with which I can even work for multiple hours at a time. I hope to be proven wrong here, as the head strap appears to be far more integral to the Vision Pro than the Quest, making me doubtful that there will be significant aftermarket offerings.
It surprised me to see that Apple's head strap design, outside using a material very similar to what has appeared on the AirPods Max, seems so close to tried and tested solutions from existing manufacturers, such as the Quest Elite Straps. I'd be more optimistic about the potential comfort if they had gone in a completely different direction, driven by data that told them what design worked for most people, as we have seen with their EarPods release deviating greatly from other earphones at that time. But again, having never tested the Vision Pro or knowing how the materials and weight distribution will end up affecting comfort, perhaps my skepticism is misplaced. Still, I have a hard time seeing how there couldn't be at least some weight around the eye area.