Cost of owning Apple's new $3,500 VR headset

Investment Analysis Clubs Macro Economic Trends and Risks
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If you’re charging the price of a car, we better analyze it like an automobile purchase.

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/31/technology/personaltech/apple-vision-pro-headset-cost.html?unlocked_article_code=1.R00.AVxc.sd1SbTbGowXO&bgrp=a&smid=url-share

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I don’t know any cars priced at $3500 or even the $4600 all-in price in the article.

So, not much of analogy.

Even a vacation costs more than that.

Lots of people have that sort of money to spend.

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Sure, but on a VR headset that doesn’t provide any functionality beyond much cheaper alternatives?

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The not providing much functionality is common for new bleeding edge products. But it usually changes as new apps come along.

But not providing “any functionality beyond [the] much cheaper alternatives” is completely wrong according to almost every reviewer and “field user” so far. They are almost uniformly impressed with how much better it looks to their eyes, how much better the new UI is, and how smooth everything is … compared to the cheaper alternatives. I haven’t tried it yet, and I’m not ready to spring close to $5k for something like that. And if you add up all the options and stuff you want with it, it is way closer to $5k than to $3.5k (as I mentioned in a previous comment a few weeks ago)!

Now we wait and see what “real” users say about it (real = paid full price for it).

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From the article

{{ The headset, which Apple has marketed as a computer, movie player and gaming machine, will arrive in stores on Friday. Ahead of its release, the discussion has focused on its price: Many have wondered why people would pay so much to do what they could already do with their computers, TVs and game consoles. }}

I 'll wait for the “first adopters” to spend their money – then pick up a refurbished model in a few years time if it proves to have any value.

I’ve been amazed at the customer service I’ve received from Meta on the $250 VR headset I bought about 6 years ago. Even sending me a new pair of touch controllers well after the warranty expired. I assumed they must be betting on future on-line gaming revenue, but I only use the headset for PC-based Flight Simulator.

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Makes the new welding helmet I want look cheap.

Andy

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I suspect my 20-yr old, very reliable Atima with the new set of tires would sell for $3,000 to $5,000, once I buy a new car at the tail end of the EV market meltdown.

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