[taeric]

I'm still very curious exactly what people had in mind for this. Like, from all reports, it is a very good VR headset. But... what do people think they will use a VR headset for?

Heck, the PS5 VR headset seems to be having trouble selling, and it is very good at what it is designed for. Anyone buying the PSVR2 knows they are getting it to play games. Solo games, at that. Yes, you can do a party mode for Beat Saber and a few other games. No, it isn't much more compelling than any other "group" version of video games. It is very immersive, though.

So, what did the non-gamer community hope for from this? What is there to feed those hopes?

[Eugr]

It's a very good XR headset. My primary use is to use it as a portable display, so I'm not chained to my desk all day. Also great for travel. Great to watch movies too.

Since it runs most iPad apps, it can be used for some light productivity workflows even without a Mac. You can use Bluetooth keyboard if you need to type a lot, but the virtual keyboard is surprisingly decent for quick replies.

[taeric]

I'd be interested in seeing stats on how often people actually "get away from their desk" in a way that needs a computer. Specifically ways that aren't already covered by a phone.

[drozycki]

I want the full Mac experience while sitting in an Eames lounge chair at the office or at home. A laptop forces you to look towards your lap, while a headset would allow you to make full use of the headrest as you gaze at the ceiling. I am young and healthy, with the Aeron chair, Ergotron VESA arm, adjustable desk, etc. all dialed in, and yet my body aches after the sixth hour of computer use. So I look forward to having one more ergonomic position for real computer work when I purchase the Apple Vision Air 2 someday.

[taeric]

Something tells me your neck would ache after the sixth hour of a headset on it. Though, I'm largely sympathetic to the idea. I get that looking down feels off. Oddly, I'd also wager it is more similar to how things have historically been done. Used to writing and such was much more "at hand level" than it was elevated. Even physical work is often such that you are looking down more than up.

Sucks to say, but it is almost certainly the case that you need fewer 6 hour stints of work. Go for a walk. Think. Do some physical labor. All things are likely a good idea to help with aching bodies.

[drozycki]

The best practice is to vary your posture throughout the day. Think two hours sitting at desk, two hours standing, two hours lounging in the headset. I take breaks as needed but there’s value in a new technology enabling one to work for longer ie new tech unlocking productivity gains is generally desirable. I should mention that I am tall, and that laptop in lap gets less comfortable the longer your torso is.

[taeric]

Right, I try not to be too prescriptive, so apologies for taking the worst read of what you said and assuming you wanted to be in the headset straight 6 hours. :D

I'm not short, so I definitely appreciate having a desk where my monitors let me hold my head higher. I just don't know how much the extra monitor space really helps me. Especially tough as any change in setup usually gives me an initial boost.

I find the VR ideas interesting, but I am rather turned off from the ideas that were shown in the advertising for this one. Games and maybe in flight use seem nice. Games I already have with the psvr2. In flight... I just don't fly that often. Everything else, my home is way too chaotic for some of it, maybe?

At any rate, annoyed with myself for seeming like I'm attacking your idea here. That was rude of me. I'm genuinely curious on what got people to pick this up over other VR solutions. I think VR has gotten way better than folks realize and that most people have written it off.

[cheschire]

This message reads like the scene from Fight Club where Jack describes his apartment.

[whywhywhywhy]

Just putting it out there that it might not actually be dialed in if it’s hurting you

[Eugr]

I work from home, so I like to move around the house during the day or even work outside, which is surprisingly great with AVP as there are no reflections on the screen. Also, my lounge chair is vastly more comfortable than my desk chair, and with AVP I can maintain a good posture while keeping my laptop on my lap.

[mrguyorama]

>So, what did the non-gamer community hope for from this? What is there to feed those hopes?

There are still so many people who have never touched VR who are somehow hyped up and convinced this is somehow more magical or more special than everyone elses headset.

Basically it's just the normal reality distortion effect. Sooooooo many comments of "the original iPhone wasn't perfect either". So?

[taeric]

What is weird, is I suspect it is flat out a good headset. At the price, almost certainly better than the alternatives.

VR has come a LONG way and it works surprisingly well for anything where you aren't expecting to walk. Gran Turismo could legit work as a teaching tool for driving. Yes, you lose some force feedback from the likes of braking; but a good steering wheel goes a long long way to the rest of the experience. (Heck, reality is the wheel alone is probably good for an immersive experience.)

I still don't get why folks would be so pumped over the rest of the ideas. Especially with how cheap large decently high resolution monitors have become.

[numpad0]

> what do people think they will use a VR headset for?

Or, what other than VRChat factors for AR/MR/VR/XR/"Spatial Computing Device" to not go flatline and fold?

[toddmorey]

I'm most interested in the virtual screens (no more large monitors) and the opportunity for AI assisted instructions / guidance as I do tasks like home repair.

[taeric]

This sounds neat, but I confess I'm already not clear that my large monitors count as a massive productivity increase over my laptop monitor. Certainly helps in some ways, but once I know what it is I need to do, the laptop is never a blocking item.

The home repair ideas is certainly a neat one. Guessing it will be a while before the content is readily available in large quantities?

[kromem]

The PSVR2 is less comfortable than the original, and they completely dropped first party support for it after launch.

It's a shame, as it could have been pretty great.

[taeric]

Curious what first party support you mean? They just aren't building a lot of games?

And I didn't have the original, so I can't compare. I do like the thing, and I use it about as much as I thought I would. Any game where you "walk" is a bit much for me. Any game where you are controlling something that moves, or you have things fly at you is fine. Toss, I think, is an in between that also works really well.