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Apple plans a slow, appointment-only rollout of Vision Pro

bloomberg.com

31–40 of 729 posts

Re: Apple plans a slow, appointment-only rollout of Vision Pro

#31
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> the fact that you need special fit lenses and a store appointment Sounds like a serious shortcoming if you can't share the device with friends and family.

Do you share your iPhone, iPad, MacBook Pro, AirPods or Apple Watch with friends and family? It’s touted as a work machine first and foremost right? Do you share your work laptop with others? Apple exec logic I’m sure. I get what you’re saying and it’s hard to describe (and never really does it justice) the experience of this technology. It’s something you have to experience yourself to understand.

[deleted]

Re: Apple plans a slow, appointment-only rollout of Vision Pro

#32
post #24

Even if they came to my house to fit me with it I wouldn't buy it. What problem is it solving for someone other than Apple? We've been seeing this AR pipe-dream for 10+ years and it hasn't caught on. Not because the technology was bad, but because people just don't want it. What Apple is missing here is that people wanted the iPhone (a phone with an iPod built in) for years before it was even officially announced as…

> Not because the technology was bad, but because people just don't want it. It’s hard to see how anyone who has been following the technology could make this claim.

People want it, but not in this form factor. Like I've been saying regarding Oculus' products for years: VR/AR isn't a bad idea, but nobody wants to strap a set of heavy, sweaty ski goggles to their face for eight hours a day. Just because the newest models are lighter/more comfortable than the old models doesn't mean they're anywhere near acceptable. I'll be passing on these until they're the size and weight of ordinary glasses.

Re: Apple plans a slow, appointment-only rollout of Vision Pro

#33
post #17
post #13

Recall, as the article does, that Apple also required appointments for the Apple Watch. Now the Apple Watch is an extremely common device.

This is not accurate. You had to have an appoint to try one, but not to buy one.

Fitting a headset is nothing like fitting an armband. If you are going to buy it you will need to try it and get it customized at point of sale

Re: Apple plans a slow, appointment-only rollout of Vision Pro

#34

Having messed with VR/AR tech since the DK2, the Apple Store presence could be the killer app that VR/AR needs. The manual learning process of ordering special fit lenses, adjusting the headsets, etc would be a great fit with Apple’s store model.

The big win I think will be the App Store rather than just the Apple Store. the App Store will provide reducing the need to take the headset off to use general apps.

When you use an oculus, if you need to do something like reply to a text, check an email or reply to someone on social media, you have to take off your headset or kill your current task and switch to virtual desktop.

Having all your iOS apps on it, and being able to multitask means people won’t be taking off their headset as often and they’ll not have to consider dedicated VR time.

To me, that’s the biggest software differentiator

Re: Apple plans a slow, appointment-only rollout of Vision Pro

#35

Having messed with VR/AR tech since the DK2, the Apple Store presence could be the killer app that VR/AR needs. The manual learning process of ordering special fit lenses, adjusting the headsets, etc would be a great fit with Apple’s store model.

Sure sounds like it's adding a lot of friction to the purchase phase

Philip Morris is, or at least used to, selling the electronic cigarettes the same way.

This sort of exclusivity makes some people feel special. It's a viable tactic.

Re: Apple plans a slow, appointment-only rollout of Vision Pro

#36
post #24

Even if they came to my house to fit me with it I wouldn't buy it. What problem is it solving for someone other than Apple? We've been seeing this AR pipe-dream for 10+ years and it hasn't caught on. Not because the technology was bad, but because people just don't want it. What Apple is missing here is that people wanted the iPhone (a phone with an iPod built in) for years before it was even officially announced as…

Uh, this seems a lot better than the other AR things to me. I'm intrigued but will probably sit out the first version.

Re: Apple plans a slow, appointment-only rollout of Vision Pro

#37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sure sounds like it's adding a lot of friction to the purchase phase

I think the friction can come across to some customers as good service, and help launch a category. The Apple Watch was initially sold at fitting appointments in store, and I think that was important in establishing it as a normal thing to wear and even a fashionable thing to wear in some cases, and helped cement the product in the mainstream. Tailored suits is another case where there’s a premium price, premium serv…

> I think that was important in establishing it as a normal thing to wear

Apple did not need to normalize the wearing of watches. Watches have been luxury fashion items for hundreds of years.

Re: Apple plans a slow, appointment-only rollout of Vision Pro

#38
"Gurman says Apple will ensure that the Vision Pro fits the wearer and also outfit the device with prescription lens inserts if needed"

I wear prescription glasses and have gone from single vision to progressive lenses that are stupid expensive. Worse, my prescription changes every visit to the optometrist. How sensitive is the headset's performance to my prescription, how expensive would replacement lenses be, and how difficult would they be to change out? Could I do this myself by ordering updated lenses based on my prescription or would I have to take the headset in?

Re: Apple plans a slow, appointment-only rollout of Vision Pro

#39
post #17
post #13

Recall, as the article does, that Apple also required appointments for the Apple Watch. Now the Apple Watch is an extremely common device.

This is not accurate. You had to have an appoint to try one, but not to buy one.

I was a first-adopter. There were 'fitting' appointments required to purchase the first version.

I purchased my Apple Watch through one of these 'fitting' appointments.

Re: Apple plans a slow, appointment-only rollout of Vision Pro

#40

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah yes, the joys of traveling through high crime mall areas to arrive at a crowded Apple Store. At least one has a permanent police presence at the door.

that’s the killer app for the headset. access to a virtual apple store with no crowding, no wait, and no pilgrimage required. payment charged to apple card using an eyeball scan. hey, siri, let’s go to the mall.

I almost did a spit take. Siri is so painfully bad it could probably even screw that up.
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