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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

#381

Post by tadbit »

throw10920 wrote: post #194
stocknoob wrote: post #45

So many people are complaining about price of a first gen enthusiast device. You know the Apple II (~1500 in 1977) is 5k in modern dollars, and sold over 5m units, right? If the device solves a genuine productivity problem for you, 3k is cheap.

A first-gen enthusiast device with first-class Linux support , even. > If the device solves a genuine productivity problem for you, 3k is cheap. Exactly! I expect my productivity to go up significantly when I upgrade from a few 2D monitors to a 3D virtual space. Also, "if you're not paying, you're the product" still applies when you pay $300 for a device like the Quest that slurps your data straight to Zuckerberg as…

> A first-gen enthusiast device with first-class Linux support, even.

This is speculative. We have yet to see how well Simula OS will do and how well it's supported by the company.

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

#382

Post by georgewsinger »

arilotter wrote: post #354

Are any of you dogfooding your prototypes full-time? If it's comfortable for you to use for full workdays in programming, I'd bite the bullet and get one. I've wanted something like this for years, but don't think I'd want it unless it can totally replace my laptop.

Thanks for your interest. I know it's a cliche, but yes, we are actually building a VR computer because we want to use them ourselves (completely replacing our own Laptops/PCs).

Here's an early "dog-fooding" video of me using Simula to develop on Simula: https://youtu.be/FWLuwG91HnI.

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

#383

Post by udbhavs »

mobiledev2014 wrote: post #380
zmmmmm wrote: post #339

I love how breathtakingly audacious this is, and I yearn to pre-order it. However, the same thing (the audacity) is what makes it nearly impossible to put down $3k on it before it really ships and real people really try it. Watch any of John Carmack's keynotes and see the just incredible level of detailed engineering refinement that has to go into solving even basic showstopper issues with VR headsets. That a small t…

6 months from now Apple might have used WWDC to completely flip the table on VR/AR. Extremely interested to see what they have coming and I don't think it's going to be a way to manage traditional flat applications. This doesn't take away from how awesome Simula One looks but it's still an elephant in the room.

Yep, Apple's power is controlling their whole stack. I won't be surprised at all if the main draw for their XR headset is specialised integrations with Logic, Final Cut, or even their Office suite with new ways to interact with the interface in an AR environment and not just a 2d window projected into a 360° view (although that has its usefulness too). Apple tends to target creatives and prosumers in media production so I'm sure they have some special software in the works to complement their hardware.

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

#385

Post by [deleted] »

rvz wrote: post #378
ianbutler wrote: post #310

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think it would, but it doesn't have to because they're not targeting the same market which is pretty obvious. And that wasn't your initial argument either, your argument was a generalization against the whole of VR.

My whole initial argument is both towards the late to market and obsolete first-gen ‘Simula One’ against the crowded competition and predicting the next consumer product that will likely supersede the iPhone and it clearly isn’t VR headsets as I have explained and you have already admitted. > your argument was a generalization against the whole of VR. My generalization of VR is towards its limited market and use case…

[deleted]

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

#386

Post by ianbutler »

rvz wrote: post #378
ianbutler wrote: post #310

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think it would, but it doesn't have to because they're not targeting the same market which is pretty obvious. And that wasn't your initial argument either, your argument was a generalization against the whole of VR.

My whole initial argument is both towards the late to market and obsolete first-gen ‘Simula One’ against the crowded competition and predicting the next consumer product that will likely supersede the iPhone and it clearly isn’t VR headsets as I have explained and you have already admitted. > your argument was a generalization against the whole of VR. My generalization of VR is towards its limited market and use case…

> you have already admitted.

I admitted that the Simula doesn't compete against the Quest, but they're not in competition with one another and they never were. So I'm not sure what you think you've gotten here, other than intentionally misinterpreting me in bad faith to fit a bad argument.

> Also, where are the sources to that 12 million and 20% year over year figures that you just brought up?

Here are some sources,

https://www.pcgamer.com/meta-quest-store-revenue-quadrupled-... https://www.theverge.com/2021/11/16/22785469/meta-oculus-que... https://www.protocol.com/vr-growth-forecast-pwc https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/vir...

Each one of them actually deeply exceeds my quoted growth number, both for hardware and software. The only one to note is it was 10million units back in November of last year based on statements from QUALCOMM, which from how you've been going so far, I'm going to assume you're going to interpret in the worst light possible.

VR is used by a lot of people for chatting, watching movies, fitness, some people work in it pretty regularly for development it's pretty varied and you'd know that if you actually knew anything about the space which is why I really can't take your arguments seriously.

You're so confidently negative without actually having used any of it, not a great look, but that's your choice I guess.

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

#387

Post by vineyardmike »

georgewsinger wrote: post #365
vineyardmike wrote: post #345

Earlier quoted context omitted.

First, congrats on all the progress you've made. I've been part of your mailing list and watching from the sidelines for a while. I really do hope you succeed, and i love the idea, i just don't have the spare cash to pre-order. > At a high level, SimulaOS is going to be NixOS + our VR window manager. I don't know all the technical details about Nix and the various VR development SDK/tools available, but when i see so…

Thanks for following our progress. I think this is a good question. Before getting into "reasons for NixOS", I just want to note that our headset is still an open-source Linux flavored project, which means that if you don't like our choices, you are free to install whatever Linux distro you want on it. =] You'll probably want to use Simula's window manager, but even here there will be other choices as well (xrdesktop…

Thank you for the great reply! I hope I didn't come across as mean spirited, I spent the whole day worried. My comment was meant to be critical but not dismissive - I feel like your response truly educated me as to how Nix could provide meaningful solutions.

Again, keep up the great work, and hopefully one day in the near future I'll be able to try out Simula in person!

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

#388

Post by zmmmmm »

DIVx0 wrote: post #16

This is a really interesting project I hope it succeeds and future iterations are either more affordable OR gains so much traction that its easy to justify the cost. At this price point I could only talk myself into it if the Simula was my primary computer which I think I'd have a hard time using it as such. Anyway, I am probably one amongst many who are watching this space waiting for experience reports and emerging…

> if the Simula was my primary computer

It basically includes a whole computer. I am curious if one can simply plug in a regular monitor somehow and use it that way. If so, it would be something of a hedge against it being a useless brick if the VR part doesn't work out. Compact computers are kind of fun for lots of other reasons.

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

#389

Post by rvz »

ianbutler wrote: post #386
rvz wrote: post #378

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My whole initial argument is both towards the late to market and obsolete first-gen ‘Simula One’ against the crowded competition and predicting the next consumer product that will likely supersede the iPhone and it clearly isn’t VR headsets as I have explained and you have already admitted. > your argument was a generalization against the whole of VR. My generalization of VR is towards its limited market and use case…

> you have already admitted. I admitted that the Simula doesn't compete against the Quest, but they're not in competition with one another and they never were. So I'm not sure what you think you've gotten here, other than intentionally misinterpreting me in bad faith to fit a bad argument. > Also, where are the sources to that 12 million and 20% year over year figures that you just brought up? Here are some sources,…

> VR is used by a lot of people for chatting, watching movies, fitness, some people work in it pretty regularly for development...

So basically specialist VR apps and VR training. Who is going to run in the park with that contraption on their head or go to a restaurant with that? Even previously with the first-gen AR glasses, we had the Glassholes. Now we have a first-gen VR contraption that claims it can be used in public with AR. And it is even worse.

> I'm going to assume you're going to interpret in the worst light possible.

There is a reason why I said the Simula One is late to the market and is obsolete on price, form-factor and its target market against Meta Quest, HTC Vive, or even the expensive HoloLens 2. I don't see why anyone other than Linux VR developers / geeks spending thousands would want a first-gen contraption like that. A very very limited target niche market for the Simula One.

> It's pretty varied and you'd know that if you actually knew anything about the space which is why I really can't take your arguments seriously.

I can assure you that no one will take the adoption of VR beyond VR games or VR training seriously, or even as the next platform of computing like the PC and iPhone, unless it shrinks into the form of glasses. That will certainly come from either Meta, Apple or Google and certainly not from hobbyist gadgets like the Simula.

> You're so confidently negative without actually having used any of it, not a great look, but that's your choice I guess.

Given one of the sources you linked [0] and [1] [2] I am even more confident that AR glasses (or even XR only in the form of glasses) are the next mass adopted computing platform after the iPhone. Not the current VR headsets or even the Simula which is appeals to its limited market of Linux VR enthusiasts.

[0] https://twitter.com/anshelsag/status/1460631153564659716/pho...

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

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

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

#390

Post by ganzuul »

renewiltord wrote: post #171
ganzuul wrote: post #78

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is strange that paying for being a product that is sold has become normalized. Then again slavery was common not long ago.

That is right. Being shown a targeted advertisement is exactly the same as being forced to pick cotton in the fields by day under threat of life and limb. As a matter of fact, the real question is whether the slaves suffered even a fraction as much as I did browsing Instagram. An argument could be made that even thinking about the slave trade is inconsiderate when billions are shown ads on Facebook properties today.

Nobody thinks that.
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