My comments after about one week:
- Demo experience: The demo began with a 3D scan that was supposed to identify the right light seal for my face. That didn't work for me, so I ended up with a narrower one than the software recommended. I then proceeded to learn the basics of the UI and then went through a scripted presentation narrated by the sales person that was designed to show off the AVP's high points. It had the desired effect - I ordered one later that day.
- Comfort: All the reviewers have lamented the AVP's weight and overall feel. The loop band, which goes behind your head, doesn't support the AVP well. I wouldn't want to use it for more than 30 minutes or so. I soon replaced it with the dual band, which has a second vertical strap and is much more comfortable. I've worn it for up to 2-3 hours, though the loops could use some padding. I hope a third party offers some alternatives.
To prevent light from entering, the AVP comes with the light seal I mentioned above. It's made of a soft, pliable material, but the pressure on my face is noticeable when I tighten the loop(s) too much. I sometimes have to fiddle with the straps to achieve the right balance. Comfort hasn't been close to a deal-breaker for me so far, though.
- Field-of-view: The virtual or real world you see through the AVP (actually, both are virtual, since the latter is represented by a high-resolution video display from the external cameras) is surrounded by a dark border that depends on the light seal and add-on lenses. The closest analogy I can think of is looking through binoculars. After a few days, I became less conscious of it, possibly because I've spent most of my life wearing glasses. Incidentally, the AVP has been fine for me even without the add-on prescription or reader lenses, likely because I have implants.
- Spatial computing: It didn't take me long to grow accustomed to looking at objects to select them and using my fingers and hands to control them. Despite that, it's still sometimes hard to maintain focus on small UI elements. During the training process, you go through three rounds of looking at dots in a circle and "clicking" with your thumb and forefinger. You can redo the process any time if you have difficulty.
One of the advantages of the AVP's world is the ability to position multiple windows in your space and resize them at will. I've tried the AVP for a few "productivity" tasks like checking email and word processing. The virtual keyboard, which floats in front of you when you need to enter text, is surprisingly effective, but I can't use it with more than an index finger. Fortunately, dictation is usually available, and you can pair a Bluetooth keyboard. I also used the AVP with my Mac and didn't find it as effective as using my monitor. To be honest, I wouldn't recommend the AVP for anything but light work for the time being.
- Watching TV and movies: As you've probably read, this is one of the AVP's strengths. Looking at a massive virtual screen is incredible, and 3D movies really pop. The AVP's built-in sound is also excellent — I haven't felt the need to use my AirPods.
- Looking at pictures and "home" videos: Another plus. Panoramas fill the space side-to-side and feel close to being there. The same is true of spatial videos captured with my iPhone 15 or AVP.
- Immersive video: This is the AVP's killer app, IMO. You'll get a taste of it during the demo. For Apple TV+ subscribers, there are a few additional immersive experiences, including one of a woman high lining and another of a rhino sanctuary. The clarity and ability to see the world around you impart an incredible sense of realism. I hope third parties will offer ways for end users to capture videos like this. I've had a similarly satisfying experience with a planetarium app, Sky Guide. I won't go into further detail, but it's the type of application the AVP was made for.
- Miscues: There are many, mostly not unexpected for a first release. Some will be fixable with software updates. For example, you can't rearrange apps into folders, and the digital Persona the AVP creates for video calls is as weird as you've read. Other UI actions we take for granted, like Undo, are also missing. It also seems Apple wants the AVP to only be used by one person. There's a Guest Mode, but the person using it has to go through the training every time.
- Cost, value, and conclusion: There's no denying the AVP's high cost. Whether it's worth it to you is a personal decision, but I have zero regrets and no intention of returning the AVP. In some ways, it makes me feel like I did when I got my 128K Mac in 1984, knowing better versions would be on their way. As I've said here before, I'm an early adopter, and I relish being among the first to try a new technology. I can't tell if the AVP will flourish in the marketplace, but I sure hope it does. Meanwhile, I'm having a blast!
I'm happy to answer any questions as honestly as I can if you have them.
Great, well organized comments. Thanks!
Concerning Mac, I realised there would be an issue when I Iearned the AVP’s ‘Mac monitor’ is confined to 2560x1600 or so. This makes sense given the current resolution of AVP is 4K.
But I have two questions. Not sure you can answer either or both, but appreciate any light you can cast:
1. What if one has a multi-monitor set-up? Does one get a window for each, albeit confined to 2560x1600?
2. What about if one uses spaces? I use them liberally to ‘expand’ the limitation of my 2-3 monitors. If one has, say, 3 spaces set up on a monitor, does AVP oblige by offering a window for each?
I suspect the answer to both questions is "no", but that either VisionOS enhancements or later hardware iterations will change the answer.
For
my productivity purposes I think I
need yes answers, although I could envision having a lot of fun implementing most of my productivity stuff as iPad and later visionOS
apps, obviating the need to duplicate (most of) how I use a Mac and leveraging instead the paradigm shift inherent in this device.
Thanks again for an enlightening and well-considered set of comments.
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