Microsoft has recently announced the official HoloLens price and estimated delivery of its highly-anticipated VR device. The first HoloLens represents a designer-oriented product that Microsoft has named “HoloLens Development Edition”. From now on, app creators will be allowed to apply on the website in order to buy one of these awesome gadgets. Such innovative models will not be very cheap: the initial cost is $3,000, while the products will be delivered during the first months of 2016.
HoloLens’ components will be similar to the models presented a few months ago, even if Microsoft has no additional details to communicate regarding particular specifications or abilities. Users already know that the system has an x86 chip, 802.11ac, 60Hz of rate and 2GB of RAM, so they believe that the development version will be almost identical.
The expert-focus and its expensive price make it extremely obvious that this product is not designed to be a simple user-oriented, mass-marketed system. However, the cost will likely represent an unpleasant surprise for many people willing to buy it. Google Glass’ designer version, which required a similar developer accessibility plan, required over $1,500 buy-in. This made it an expensive product, but probably within financial possibilities of many people who wanted this innovative item.
Windows components are a lot more important than Google Glass’ were, as HoloLens represents a completely separate system that has a customized “holographic handling device”. Taking all these factors into consideration, so its high selling price is easy to understand.
The majority of experts anticipated an expensive price, at least at the beginning, this allowing the company to have a certain control over those who buy and use it. The company wants to make sure that all their objectives are at the same standard with the rest of the tech world and its capabilities. Microsoft is not yet willing to offer a mass-market VR device and they want to prevent any disappointment that might come from its customers.
Nonetheless, this is a high cost that will restrict the purchasing attempts of almost all tech enthusiasts or young learners. For the latter segment of buyers, Microsoft requested a series of educational analysis and suggestions earlier this year, in order to help them. The organization will offer $100,000 to five winning groups to finance their projects, in addition to a series of HoloLens Development Version models.
Beyond the designer version price, the major HoloLens discussion point will be the Microsoft VR trial, named Project X. The software producer has described this venture as a combined reality and a customized game playing experience. One person selected as trial pilot used the HoloLens and defended the playing field from a robot invasion. The company mentioned that improvements to the HoloLens let the user to communicate with holograms in a totally new way.
People are now able to get, use and set up a holographic gauntlet as their weapon, while the holograms themselves can also analyze the VR space to personalize their activities accordingly. Microsoft’s new devices are still in development stage and experts try to remain in touch and offer the latest up-dates on their websites and media outlets.
Image source: Telegraph.co.uk