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I ditched my laptop for a pocketable mini PC and a pair of AR glasses

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Re: I ditched my laptop for a pocketable mini PC and a pair of AR glasses

#61

Post by dr_kiszonka »

herpdyderp wrote: post #25

How good are actual VR headsets at being virtual desktop screens? Specifically I've been interested in the Bigscreen Beyond 2 due to its extreme lightweight, but most people seem to use them for gaming instead of doing work. I want more screens (or, even better, an infinite screen) but I don't have the desk space for them. I know the Vision Pro sort of does this but I need the full power of my maxed out MacBook Pro,…

I am very curious about BB2 too. I can't really imagine using them outside (cafe, train) because without a pass through I wouldn't feel comfortable, but at home it shouldn't be a problem. (Unless, you have cats maybe.)

Re: I ditched my laptop for a pocketable mini PC and a pair of AR glasses

#62

Post by kelvie »

This is how I use my Framework laptop around 80% of the time. So much so that I wish I could just detach the screen (and re-attach it easily).

I have the xreal air 1, and have the xreal one's on order, they seem to be the leader in this space with their on-glasses processing for "anchor" mode.

I got these primarily to start gaming, but really, I just use the one hour of downtime before bed to do side projects (usually coding) while laying down, and it's been great. And the spouse does not complain about the bright screen.

Another advantage is that the muscles around my elbows are a lot less sore, as a laptop really isn't ergonomic to stare down into, unless you build one with a much taller screen [1].

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIm6Dhxn3Ak

Re: I ditched my laptop for a pocketable mini PC and a pair of AR glasses

#63

Post by mrbonner »

jwr wrote: post #21
mrbonner wrote: post #17

The Xreal is a nice device. I got the first gen for $199. I'm able to plug this into the MacBook pro and watch Netflix in bed. The fonts do look a bit blurry and small. I don't think I can work with it full time. I don't have myopia (or my number is small to notice).

Thanks for posting this! I'd be very interested in more real-life usage comments from people, I don't trust YouTube "reviewers" (who get stuff for free and want cosy relationships with companies). I wonder specifically if their high-end devices (Xreal One Pro?) would be OK for some amount of coding work, or is it just a movie-watching screen. Even if it is only for watching movies, it might still be interesting for f…

I would not use this for coding, even with their high end glasses and corrected vision. I don't use all of the fancy 3D, VR features either. They just feel like gimmicks with buggy software for me.

If you keep that expectation and use it like an external dumb monitor, it is great.

Re: I ditched my laptop for a pocketable mini PC and a pair of AR glasses

#64

Post by throwaway290 »

mdp2021 wrote: post #29
TrueDuality wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have the Xreal Air and it's alright. Low resolution and a bit blurry text still. It's the nature of optics right now. It's a single virtual display by default unless you run a fairly unstable piece of software. I use it mostly on plane flights. It feels like the tech is almost close enough to really be useful but it's just not quite there yet. It's useful but not pleasant.

> a bit blurry I found the Epson Moverio very crisp. ...Of course, though, I used at around 12..14 lines per screen. You have virtual relatively small screens in front of your eyes...

Can it be a dumb screen and connect to your own PC like the article?

Re: I ditched my laptop for a pocketable mini PC and a pair of AR glasses

#65

Post by raffraffraff »

I tried this with the Viture Pro XR glasses last year and it sucks. Can't use it with Linux, except in dumb monitor mode. No head tracking unless you're using a supported OS. Android app sucks becaus you can't use it with any old app, eg productivity apps (their app is like a demo of head tracking that only supports stuff like YouTube and local media). Maybe I should have purchased the Xreals?

Re: I ditched my laptop for a pocketable mini PC and a pair of AR glasses

#66

Post by gostsamo »

CasperH2O wrote: post #57
jareds wrote: post #26

I got excided looking at this hoping there was a laptop with out a screen. I'm totally blind so the power draw of a screen is pointless. I currently use my ROG Alli with a Bluetooth keyboard to connect to my more powerful laptop which has a keyboard that's going bad. While this setup works well and the battery life is pretty good it would be much nicer if I didn't have to put a keyboard on my lap, and the Alli on a t…

Since you mentioned the ROG Ally, if you are looking for a handheld without a screen (basically a controller with a built in computer) you may like the Tecno Pocket Go. Also, great pun with being blind and "excited looking at this".

> Also, great pun with being blind and "excited looking at this".

I'm also blind and this is not a pun. No one blind I know would change their usage of language to avoid using vision verbs for the sake of underlining how blind they are.

Re: I ditched my laptop for a pocketable mini PC and a pair of AR glasses

#67

Post by raffraffraff »

sathackr wrote: post #30

I've been doing this a few months now with an xreal one and minisforum um790. Same ability to power via usb-C and have other ports available. It's worked very well, the 1920x1080 resoultion of the glasses is pretty clear but I find "anchoring" the screen to be most usable because the edges do get a little blurry, but with the screen anchored you can just "look around" a little to bring them into focus. The biggest dr…

Same with the Viture Pro. The OLED is crisp and colourful but the resolution is too low to be useful for productivity unless they really nail the head tracking, and can support lots of virtual monitors (and they haven't done that).

Re: I ditched my laptop for a pocketable mini PC and a pair of AR glasses

#68

Post by raffraffraff »

ctrlp wrote: post #56

What do you do if you already wear prescription lenses?

The Viture Pro XR have myopia dials. They work well. But I couldn't recommend them for any type of productivity. They're a novelty toy that suits in my drawer, depreciating.

Re: I ditched my laptop for a pocketable mini PC and a pair of AR glasses

#69

Post by raffraffraff »

java-man wrote: post #2

I don't understand. Is this an ad? How long this setup lasts on a single charge? For half the price, one can get a macbook air with fantastic battery life and a good keyboard.

You're right. This setup just doesn't work for most people. I've tried it (slightly different hardware but effectively a pair of 1080p OLED glasses with myopia dials, wirelesS 75% mech keyboard + mouse, MeLe Quieter 4C with battery pack. It's unwieldy, low res and awkward in real life. The battery doesn't last as long as a decent laptop.

The only setup like this that works is the Apple, but it's due-wateringly expensive and heavy.

If I was going to expand my mobile setup I'd just get a portable rechargeable monitor to stick beside my laptop.

Re: I ditched my laptop for a pocketable mini PC and a pair of AR glasses

#70

Post by nine_k »

mrbonner wrote: post #63
jwr wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Thanks for posting this! I'd be very interested in more real-life usage comments from people, I don't trust YouTube "reviewers" (who get stuff for free and want cosy relationships with companies). I wonder specifically if their high-end devices (Xreal One Pro?) would be OK for some amount of coding work, or is it just a movie-watching screen. Even if it is only for watching movies, it might still be interesting for f…

I would not use this for coding, even with their high end glasses and corrected vision. I don't use all of the fancy 3D, VR features either. They just feel like gimmicks with buggy software for me. If you keep that expectation and use it like an external dumb monitor, it is great.

I can imagine that such glasses would allow to really work, or at least read comfortably, on an airplane, flying economy class.
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