hmm
@BustedAstromech need an expert opinion here
Busted’s Index is great, but it is also One Thousand Dollars.
The HP Reverb G2 is right around the corner and is a mix of the “inside-out” (i.e. no external base stations that need power/data) tech Felix has and Valve’s design refinements for $600.
HP Reverb G2 on Steam (steampowered.com)
Used you could probably find an HTC Vive for less but the base stations might be a pain in your space and the controllers are clunky next to the smaller ones used by Index/Windows MR/Oculus.
if I’m jumping from the $200-300 tier to the $600-700 tier for uncertain reasons, I’m not sure that the cosmos isn’t significantly better than the reverb…
I’d read that the Reverb G2 basically feels like the Index in terms of comfort (including the floating speakers instead of headphones) and I’d prefer that to the ratcheting halo (“bike helmet”) design. It definitely looks like the fit/finish are the same materials as the Index.
oh, yeah, I like the bike helmet much better – sometimes it puts pressure on my forehead, but otherwise the top of my head feels all cramped and sweaty
you know, like giuliani
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@Father.Torque if you tried both at Branson you probably have an idea of which style you like more (the PSVR is the bike helmet and Lenovo licensed the design from Sony)
As for Reverb G2 vs. Cosmos, Reverb G2 has almost 2x the resolution with a slightly wider FOV. Even if you don’t care about e.g. 4K on a TV, every bit helps on a headset. Valve also had a hand in the lenses which are excellent on the Index.
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yeah the Valve one is Too Expensive, I had to be very creative to justify that one to myself
Outside of that I’ll defer to Doolittle and Felix, my other experience is in Oculus headset which really are excellent between $250 and $400 but I wouldn’t buy one, either
sounds like we are once again in If You Want a Good Cheap PC Option That’s Not Tied to a Bad Company You Have To Get An Old One territory
I’m honestly shocked we’re still getting Windows MR kits but that’s no excuse for them to come in above $500
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FWIW the Reverb G2 has four cameras, two facing forward and one each facing left and right, so the tracking is better laterally than the WMR V1 headsets. Issues arise when you’re holding static positions very close or directly above/below the headset.
As for why Valve doesn’t have their own inside-out… IP? I guess?
I have the Oculus headset Lenovo built that’s a cousin of the $199 one Felix linked but with five cameras and it’s good except for the One Thing. Incidentally, if anyone wants to buy it off me…
Stubbornness? Insularity? This might be a case where their structure lets them jump on new interesting pc ecosystem problems but prevents them from reacting to others
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You think this thing will come out and get shipped before Christmas
Ah Google Daydream is semi-officially dead, guess I can chuck my headset and controller soon
Doesn’t look like it.
Then there’s this: HP Reverb G2 Virtual Reality Headset – Shipping Update
tl;dr some people have their preorders and some are in retail channels but they’re slightly behind on fulfillment and an order placed today will be filled in January.
If you need something by Christmas, I’d probably go with the Lenovo Felix linked or a Samsung Odyssey Plus (used example here). The Odyssey+ has the same Microsoft tracking system but with a nicer OLED screen. IMO the Cosmos has unacceptably mixed reviews for $700.
If you’re curious, I got on the Valve Index waitlist on September 17 after Oculus completed the heel turn and got an email on November 17 to finalize purchase by November 24th for shipping in 2-3 days. I’m going to pass on it because who knows what VR will look like when Facebook Judgment Day comes in 2022. I suppose hit me up if you want that spot in line.
This is for the full thousand bucks? Hm. I think that’s outta my price range on this one but I’ll get back to you before tomorrow.
Yeah, it’s the headset, “knuckles” controllers (with the fancy finger tracking), and the base stations. I’ll keep the order open, np.
i’ve basically stopped testing in the headset because the oculus strap apparatus makes it feel like i’m being clamped into the unit forcibly
you know, like work
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Ok forget everything I said, I’m gonna get a PSVR for my PS4. I gather there’s a couple models of headset? Is there anything I should be looking out for in particular?
oh yeah, get the V2 if you can, the primary distinguishing attributes are built-in earbuds and an upgraded HDMI passthrough box that doesn’t break HDR, otherwise they’re identical
PSVR is honestly v good despite markedly worse resolution than even my first-gen WMR headset – it’s cheap and it works and it has access to like 2/3 of the best VR titles (PC also has about 2/3, with 1/3 overlapping).
it seems like the bundles actually aren’t as cheap as they were a couple years ago (I wouldn’t go over $200-250 for the hardware itself, depending on what software you want), but defo get RE7 / wipeout / astro bot / sprint vector, and hitman 3 when that comes around
Yeah get those games but also get Virt-A-Mate, perv out and tell me what it’s like. I need to know that for research purposes, as I want to write my doctor thesis on porn games soon and I don’t have a VR device
(joke post because that’s only on PC obviously but if anyone else wants to try it out and tell me about the experience I’m all ears)