It seems like it's been 3 decades and no one ever learns the lesson that normal people don't want to put a computer on their face. It's a weird thing to do.
As for productivity, typing would have to... work...? For this product to be useful.
A lot of people have made a lot of money arguing that users want immersive computing, and the more immersive it is, the more they'll pay for it — therefore, the next biggest VR product is gonna be The Big One. It doesn't seem like it's going to pay off.
unfortunately, AVP has ignored gaming altogether (to apple it is an annoyance). At least it could have had some kind of push forward of the industry in that front.
The resolution is not yet good enough for work either. The only thing that it does well right now is laid back video/media entertainment, and that's it.
I don't think they ignored gaming; they just knew they would fail if they designed a gaming-first device.
Their best bet to bootstrap the platform is to make it computing-first around the iPad platform, and that means leading with multitasking, AR/MR, and with computing-oriented inputs.
Actually they should’ve limited it to being a spatial computing productivity headset to enhance the productivity of actual professional Mac users, like 3D artists, music producers, programmers, etc. They could’ve severely reduced the size and weight of the headset, maybe even made it glasses form, if they simply anchored it, wirelessly even, to a nearby Mac.
From there they could’ve expanded the spatial capabilities over time and eventually create a consumer version. The Vision Pro is the Newton of mixed reality.
Seems like a pretty large market of people who want to watch something in bed while their partner sleeps or watches something else. but it would need to be a lot cheaper for just that use.
I used the Hololens it was pretty janky. I will say the AVP is the first device I used that nailed the AR interaction/display stuff PERFECTLY. It really is just lacking the software ecosystem but they've got the fundamentals worked out at least. I'm hopeful it doesn't die and keeps getting developed
This feels like a thing where Apple needs to be very clear on who their early adopters are. The only situation I could see myself wanting this is if I was on a plane/train for several hours a day and needed to work or just wanted a good place for entertainment.
Seems like they haven’t really pinned that crowd down though and not being able to have multiple virtual monitors is a sales killer imo.
Cost (and style… and comfort… and…) aside, I can’t see spatial computing taking off until co-located experiences become well refined.
For instance, can a small group of people play a table top game together where half are in the room, half are remote, and the experience feels quite fluid.
The only companies that can be considered to have changed humanity are the various European East Indian Companies. Apple is not even close to that ballpark.
As for productivity, typing would have to... work...? For this product to be useful.
Otherwise, VR remains a gaming product.