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Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

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Re: Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

#161
post #68

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> If the device solves a genuine productivity problem for you, 3k is cheap. I don't know why anyone would buy this contraption that costs more than a Oculus / Meta Quest or a HTC Vive and is targeted at consumers. Like you said; it is a 'first gen' which usually means this is an instant don't buy. Even if you wait for it to be cheaper, the use-cases are already limited with the consumers getting frustrated and will j…

So the Quest 2 sold over 12million headsets in the last year. And over the last few years VR has seen a growth rate of over 20% YOY. I always wonder if when people like you make a comment if you actually look at figures or just go with your gut because you don't like something. I'm guessing the latter. The mass adoption is happening right under your nose, an entire generation of US kids are growing up with VR right n…

> So the Quest 2 sold over 12million headsets in the last year. And over the last few years VR has seen a growth rate of over 20% YOY.

Right. So how on earth does this 'Simula One' stand a chance against the rest of the competition, especially when Apple, Sony, Microsoft plan on or are already competing against Meta?

Compared to the competition, price and adoption, the 'Simula One' is a first-gen obsolete contraption.

> I always wonder if when people like you make a comment if you actually look at figures or just go with your gut because you don't like something.

Then you are just as bad as I am. Pulling figures without sources and then saying 'actually look at figures' isn't evidence. Where is the source for the 12 Million and 20% YoY? Just Google it isn't evidence either.

Then this this also you:

> an entire generation of US kids are growing up with VR right now because of the perfect storm of lack of consoles, a pandemic keeping them home...

The US is not the world and people (and kids) simply won't stay in-doors forever, since lockdowns aren't forever. It's quite silly to think that kids would want to stay in-doors like they did in the pandemic to justify the 'need' for VR other than playing games in the metaverse.

For devices like Simula One, it's dead on arrival due to the mindshare of the Oculus / Meta Quest. If there was the next device to surpass the iPhone, it is simply AR glasses. Otherwise, why exactly is Google [0] Meta [1] trying to get there before Apple eventually does?

> ...and widely available cheap hardware from Meta.

Thank you for confirming that the 'Simula One' stands no chance at all against Meta Quest.

[0] https://www.cnbc.com/2020/06/30/google-acquires-north-augmen...

[1] https://www.roadtovr.com/project-nazare-ar-glasses-facebooks...

Re: Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

#163
post #153
post #56

I see a lot of comments on the pricing of this hardware. It's going to be more expensive (for the end user) to build a headset (and FOSS window manager) than a product like the quest. Meta has a suite of products bringing in capitol by selling user PII. Valve has a distribution platform to offset costs. If you want to see a product that is open end to end and is not part of an ecosystem selling your information, then…

This is all true, but it also doesn't mean the that the current high price was the only possible approach. I see decisions made in the design that don't look great from cost-benefit standpoint. For example, this is being marketed mainly as a productivity tool. Wireless is certainly important for gaming when you are moving around in your environment, but people using this are primarily going to be in a stationary posi…

It doesn't make upgrading impossible. The compute pack is detachable, replacable, and can even function independently.

The benefit is pretty crucial: friction. If you have a tethered VR headset, the amount of work you need to do to set it up is insane. Especially with lower-level software like Simula.

Re: Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

#164
post #63

I love that they fully embrace the "sitting at the coffee shop with my VR headset" aesthetic. I'm totally ready to support this vision and preorder one and let my freak flag fly at my local coffee shop!

I also love the fact that the guy can't drink his coffee because it clashes with the headset. They should have had the actor order a drink with a straw.

I think he could (barely) drink it without a straw

Re: Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

#165
post #144

This looks like a decent deal looking deeper into it. Things that weren't obvious on first pass: (1) The VR specs are much higher than consumer level. I suspect this is what makes it reasonable to read text on it. The comparison headset is this: https://varjo.com/products/aero/ (They named it, but didn't google it) (2) They said "VR Computer" but don't define the term. They mean that it's a full PC with a headset ins…

The coffee shop video is the sole reason I purchased it. Not that I'd really ever use it that way, but I want to live in a future where I could in principle do so without shame LOL

Actually I'd like to see AR mode when outdoors!

Re: Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

#167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Upvoted for the excellent feedback. 1. We'll do a better job defining the term "VR Computer" in our sales page. 2. We'll consider adding a keyboard/mouse as optional add-ons. We have thought about including a "keyboard apron" as an item add-on that is actually differentiated from other keyboards, and one that would be particularly useful for VR computing (with the added freedom of movement).[1] Would something like t…

> 2. We'll consider adding a keyboard/mouse as optional add-ons. We have thought about including a "keyboard apron" as an item add-on that is actually differentiated from other keyboards, and one that would be particularly useful for VR computing (with the added freedom of movement).[1] Would something like this interest you? Note that we'd use a more accessible keyboard than the 40% "Corne keyboard" one shown in the…

SimulaVR has a "webcam view" that allows you to see your mouse and keyboard through passthrough video:

https://github.com/SimulaVR/Simula#mouse--keyboard-view

Re: Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

#168
I'd be interested to see some real hand tracking and passthrough. How warped is the passthrough video and what is the hand tracking FOV? In my experience a lot of these headsets forget I'll want to interact with things not directly in the center of the screen.

Text comparison image is kind of annoying. More zoomed in and more favorable angle for the good side. Why isn't this a pixel perfect comparison?

Re: Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

#169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Upvoted for the excellent feedback. 1. We'll do a better job defining the term "VR Computer" in our sales page. 2. We'll consider adding a keyboard/mouse as optional add-ons. We have thought about including a "keyboard apron" as an item add-on that is actually differentiated from other keyboards, and one that would be particularly useful for VR computing (with the added freedom of movement).[1] Would something like t…

I have the opposite opinion as the parent post re: keyboard/mouse. If I'm buying a piece of kit like this I have very strong opinions already re: my input devices. Unless you can make good margin on the keyboard/mouse option I think you're just adding friction and expense to your internal processes to support it. As an aside: I've tried to learn a chording keyboard in the past without much success. In a desktop setti…

Frankly the keyboard included doesn't matter. Include it as an optional add-on, but _put_it_in_the_picture_. So it looks like a complete system, not just a headset.

Re: Show HN: Simula One – Portable Linux VR Computer

#170

Man, what has HAPPENED to this place? I'm the biggest curmudgeon in the room, I'll have six feet of dirt on my face before I agree to use this daily, but damn, folks, this IS cool. Everyone complains about boring stagnating consumer tech, locked-down hardware, and Mark Zuckerberg making a real go at personally stalking every single person on the planet - this is the _exact opposite of that_. This is high-end, incredi…

Exactly.

I often look at vintage tech and lament how boring everything is now. Will anybody look back on our modern devices in 30 years? We are surrounded daily by utterly soulless slabs chained to walled-garden ecosystems.

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