School me on Virtual Reality goggles.

[Big Chudungus]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092LBLT7P/ref=twister_B09GTW2XWQ?_encoding=UTF8&th=1

Apple's $3500 MSRP unit is running into production issues and only 1/2 promised production now scheduled (and I'm not gonna bid against hard-core Apple fan-boi, nor will I be camping out in line in front of Apple Store). Plus AFIAK the Apple goggles has a bunch of features I'm not really needing.

All I want to do is run the goggles off my laptop doing some CAD and websurfing and movie watching, but on a really good "screen" that is immune from glare and sunlight, etc.

I've got some basic questions about existing units, such as above (one of the more expensive but still could be a bargain if I value my time at $2/hour).

Will it do the basic "replace PC monitor" function, off BlueTooth or other wireless, or even wired connection?

Do you go completely blind to outside world or do they have a "dual vision" were you can still see normally, or a simulated "outside" from what looks like cameras where your eyes would sorta be?

I've never seen these being demonstrated in stores, but maybe I haven't been lately? Do they got these to test at Best Buy or Sharper Imagine or similar brick and mortar? Is that a big "No" for the same reason retailers wont want offer Free Test Drive of latest video games?

Anyone tried these and what are your impressions for newbies? All the reviews seem geared for people that have a clue, and compare against other unit's fine points.

Now I hearing maybe this is what I'm looking for, says "PC" but in fine print says "for Apple only, PC coming soon".https://www.amazon.com/XREAL-Micro-O...zcF9hdGY&psc=1

[ibanezfoo]

I dunno if they will replace monitors. We have been kicking around the idea of using them at work for our CAD guys. Partially to save desk space from multiple big monitors, most guys have 3 32” monitors. Another is we design everything in 3D using Revit, Navisworks, Revizto, Solidworks, etc. We already use the construction version of the HoloLens for AR tasks in the field or the shop when building skids.

I use the ones for PlayStation to play games and it works fine for that. I figured out how to run them with my PC and it’s fine for games but weird to use for normal tasks.

You can try it right now using Google Cardboard and your phone and an app on your PC that links to it so you can use VR. It actually works ok. This will give you a rough idea of how it works without dumping a lot of cash on a legit headset.

The newer ones do have an external camera to see the outside environment if necessary.

[Big Chudungus]

GameStop kid says he don't think it can replace monitor for PC use.

They sell VR headsets but no demos.

I'm looking for somewhere do demo off my laptop with Solidworks.

Maybe I'll hit up private sales on Craigslist for info if nothing else.

These sorta seem to claim to work with a PC, if you download some app. https://www.amazon.com/ask/questions...sAnswered=true

But if they worked as decent monitor replacement, for barely more than a good sized monitor, why ain't everyone and their uncle screaming about how cool that all is? Maybe I'll traipse around to local Best Buy and another Game Stop or similar and see if I can suss out some info.

[ibanezfoo]

GameStop kid says he don't think it can replace monitor for PC use.

They sell VR headsets but no demos.

I'm looking for somewhere do demo off my laptop with Solidworks.

Maybe I'll hit up private sales on Craigslist for info if nothing else.

These sorta seem to claim to work with a PC, if you download some app. https://www.amazon.com/ask/questions...sAnswered=true

But if they worked as decent monitor replacement, for barely more than a good sized monitor, why ain't everyone and their uncle screaming about how cool that all is? Maybe I'll traipse around to local Best Buy and another Game Stop or similar and see if I can suss out some info.

Yeah you'll need to get one on your head and see how you like it. Some people get disoriented and vomit. It takes a bit of getting used to.

Part of the reason they aren't used as monitor replacements is the resolution isn't as good. The newer ones are getting better of course.

In a business environment there is also a trust issue. Without mirroring the output to an external monitor so the boss can see whats going on theres no way to know if the guys are just sitting in there watching porn all day.

[nishanh]

I have the Vive Pro (version 1). I don't think this is a good fit for CAD usage. You still need heavy keyboard interaction for that work (I assume). You can't readily see through these for that.

[Darto]

The two most used these days, are the HP Reverb G2 and the Meta Quest 2 (Used to be called Oculus Quest 2 before Zuckerberg renamed his company).

The Meta Quest 3 is about ready to be released. HP (Hewlett Packard) is about to abandon VR.

I have a Quest 2 also, but I love the HP Reverb G2 more.

[ibanezfoo]

I have the Vive Pro (version 1). I don't think this is a good fit for CAD usage. You still need heavy keyboard interaction for that work (I assume). You can't readily see through these for that.

A lot of the CAD guys use these little totem controllers in their left hand and the mouse in their right so there isn't as much keyboard interaction as you'd think.

[Big Chudungus]

sounds like VR goggles or "glasses" are most like a no-go for CAD, but maybe new Apple super goggles could work.

still looking for an in person demo, still might hit up private party seller on Craigslist for that.

right now I'm on a 15" laptop screen, which is "OK", so if goggles were even close to that but cut out all glare etc and I could stash the PC and go bluetooth for goggles, mouse and (full size)keyboard that STILL sounds like a winner. Even if goggles had cord to laptop that would be OK.

[ibanezfoo]

sounds like VR goggles or "glasses" are most like a no-go for CAD, but maybe new Apple super goggles could work.

still looking for an in person demo, still might hit up private party seller on Craigslist for that.

right now I'm on a 15" laptop screen, which is "OK", so if goggles were even close to that but cut out all glare etc and I could stash the PC and go bluetooth for goggles, mouse and (full size)keyboard that STILL sounds like a winner. Even if goggles had cord to laptop that would be OK.

15" for CAD? Ouch. Look into an external monitor if nothing else. What kind of graphics card does it have? I was running a 980Ti and it worked ok for VR but the 3070 works way better.

One weird thing we've done is use VR to demo AR. In the field we use hololens, but to show how it works in the shop you put on a VR headset, then in the VR world grab the AR headset and put it on. Works pretty good believe it or not. For construction and CAD modeling AR is more useful at the moment. They can use it similarly to how they use Trimbles for points and stuff. We've used AR to show an owner that one giant piece of equipment is not as good for him as 2 smaller pieces. We had him put in the AR headset in his own building and put the scaled models on the display for him to walk around and "see" how it looks right there in front of him. We've used VR to help layout operating rooms in hospitals. Have the doctors put on the headset and move around to do mock surgeries or whatever to get a real world feel of where things should be.

I still think VR would be useful for stuff like Solidworks, or doing walkthroughs in Navisworks or Revizto. Revizto actually has a lot of VR stuff built into it. Theres another one Modlo or Modelo or something like that which is similar. They came in and did a demo and it was cool but not really useful for our business.

https://revizto.com/en/igloo-case-study-2020/

[JohnnyMtn]

Get yourself an Oculus Meta Quest 2 for a few hundred dollars to see what they are all about.

I see their main use being games and other simulations. Watching videos, YouTube, etc? I would rather watch on a flat screen with my eyes far from the monitor. But for games? They are amazing for games!

My kid (and sometimes me) plays a game called Onward which is a FPS. The immersion has to be experienced in order to understand it. It is not just visual either because your hands and their actions add so much to the immersion. For example, I grab an M249 with my right hand and while holding the gun I use my left hand to flip up the top cover, snap in an ammo bag, grab the belt and feed it through, close the top cover, and then pull the charging handle to charge it. All of that requires hand gestures and feels extremely realistic because the touch points and where your hands need to be in space are very precise. Or, you have a rifle with a 1X red dot plus a 3X flip mag. When you grab and flip the 3X back and forth it feels very tactile and feels like you are moving elements on the gun. This all probably sounds weird but it has to be experienced in order to understand it.

I play another game where you fly WWII planes. While the graphics could be a bit more photo-real, the immersion in the game is amazing. Many, many times I find myself peaking over the side of the cockpit to look at targets I am flying over. And you do something like that with subtle head movements and that makes it so life-like.

One other thing - I am NOT one to get motion sickness easily but the motion/immersion in an Oculus is so good that sometimes I can get weazy doing extreme maneuvers. Try doing barrel rolls while looking sideways out the cockpit towards the ground. That will get your stomach moving.

I could go on and on. Sorry. But for games they are really, really amazing.

[JohnnyMtn]

I almost forgot, I play this game called Clay Hunt VR.

https://www.shotgungaming.com/clayhuntvr/

That is one great game because the way you have to hold the guns with both hands, the way you articulate the action of the guns, the way you have to move your head to look down the gun sights, it is all done so realistically that it truly feels like you are shooting clays. Pretty much the only thing that is not there is the recoil.

[JohnnyMtn]

And OP, I work in technology and am up on all the trends. I do NOT see VRs becoming what we all wear as monitors. It is just too weird for the average person to be completely isolated from the world in order to do work. That is just my opinion.

But for games and other simulations that require immersion, they are amazing.

You mention CAD. I have no experience with that but I could see applications where you want to navigate through a building design or landscape. That would be much more realistic in a VR than just on a monitor.