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To me it looks like a good choice for someone who hasn't bought a VR headset yet. But if you already own one you probably wouldn't upgrade?

BoorishBears 9y ago
Imo, Vive can't compare to Oculus because the Touch controllers are just that good. The ergonomics are just too perfect.
- ChrisClark 9y ago
  Yeah, I haven't bought any headset yet. I'm waiting for the new Valve Knuckles controllers to be released to decide which one I want.
  - BoorishBears 9y ago
    An HTC rep strongly implied that Knuckles is a very long way off and that Valve is really experimenting with it as opposed to building up to a possible release. If you're interested in a headset I'd take advantage of one of several sales that have put the Rift as low as 300$
- errantspark 9y ago
  I have and use both sets on a daily basis and I find the tracking quality of the Vive outclasses the Oculus night/day. More than enough to cover any shortcomings in the controllers. I cannot use an Oculus for more than ~45 minutes without getting nauseous, even sitting down. I've spent 3+ straight hours in the Vive without any noticeable discomfort.
  - christoph 9y ago
    Same story as you. I use both extensively and the tracking on the Vive is just in a completely different league to me in day to day use.
  - BoorishBears 9y ago
    I had both for some time (got rid of my Vive before a recent move since I'm not as interested in dev use as I used to be) and found the Oculus tracking being good enough. In fact, since I moved I haven't ordered a new mount for my 3rd sensor but 2 sensor hasn't felt much different unless I'm holding my hands together in a dead spot I had to dig for. My comment is oversimplifying why I consider the Oculus the better headset. For the "layperson" looking at VR I feel we've reached the point where either choice works, but the Rift is 200$ cheaper. The Rift home is much more beginner friendly and imo offers a better UX. The Rift has integrated headphones. I also think that while the type of people who frequent HN (including me) might prefer the Vive's more open environment, laypeople will benefit more from value coming from Facebook backed Oculus. I mean they already do right off the bat, there's no way the Rift would be 400$ (Often even on sale for 350$ these days) without Facebook backing, and there's some high production value content that's probably funded by them (and no Revive fiddling to get it). That's not to say the Vive doesn't have strengths. Vive roomscale is much cleaner to setup for example (Rift can do fairly solid roomscale with just 2 sensors but it's not advertised by Oculus during setup because roomscale with Rift does end up taking routing wires around your room). But the Rift being cheaper is enough to smooth over a lot of complaints. The way I'd put it is, if you need to ask someone which headset to buy, buy a Rift because they're both neck in neck for most people, but the Rift is cheaper.
  - outworlder 9y ago
    I see no issues with tracking on the Rift when playing in the sitting position, I guess this is down to individual sensitivities. How many sensors did you have?
  - leoc 9y ago
    That’s highly unusual, unless you have USB issues or an odd camera setup. It’s generally accepted that Vive and Rift tracking quality are very much comparable given a proper setup.
- prophesi 9y ago
  It's a shame. You either get good controllers, or good roomscale tracking. I couldn't forego the latter, so I'm just hoping the Vive Knuckles are released soon.
  - BoorishBears 9y ago
    Tbf, you "mend the gap" Rift roomscale tracking today by either getting a 3rd sensor or getting mounts and tuning your space for 2 sensor 360 degree tracking. It won't be pretty (extension cables everywhere), but it is pretty smooth. But you can't get the better controller today, and Vive has made it clear that Knuckles isn't their product, and that it's Valve's undertaking and from their point of view it's still closer to an experiment than a product.
- modeless 9y ago
  I have both but I prefer the Vive optics and tracking to the point that I never bring the Rift out. The only thing about the Touch controllers that I miss is the grip button; I think the Vive controllers are fine otherwise.
  - BoorishBears 9y ago
    The Vive controller isn't bad, but the Touch controller's intuitiveness is something else. Every time I've given someone their first VR experience with the Rift there's been this magical moment where their hand just magically slips into the Touch controller and I say "These are your hands" and it just clicks for them. Instantly. It's amazing to watch it happen over and over. There's no explaining, it's just, "these are your hands". And it's like there's almost no way for them hold it wrong or suboptimally, it literally "slips" into their hands like water and they instinctively move their fingers and they see them move and it's always the second "wow" moment after the first one when you explain moving the headset to focus and look at their first clear look content. When you're using both long term you adjust to either, but it's just that magical experience for users from the get go that I think a lot of first time users would prefer.
    - Sohcahtoa82 9y ago
      I think it's an issue of gamers vs non-gamers. As a gamer, I've used several different controllers over the years, so picking up a Vive controller didn't feel different or unnatural at all. But many non-gamers will hold it near the bottom of the wand and then be unable to even find the trigger button. I haven't used a Touch controller, but looking closer at it, it looks like overall the controller is smaller and more ergonomic. There's only one way to hold it, and it's obvious. It definitely looks more friendly to smaller hands.
- strictnein 9y ago
  I have both. The Oculus can't compare to the Vive because room scale is game changing, if you have the space.
  - BoorishBears 9y ago
    Oculus has roomscale with 3 sensors. Even 2 sensors is "good enough" (comparable with 3 sensors if you use mounts)
- moron4hire 9y ago
  I can't use Oculus Touch for more than 15 minutes without severe cramping in my hands. Vive Wands and Windows MR controllers do not do the same to me, I can use (and have used) both for hours.
talmand 9y ago
I have a Vive and I doubt I'll upgrade. That is, unless there's a highly generous upgrade path. For instance giving me near purchase price for my working headset and I only pay a hundred bucks or something. Although the wireless accessory is interesting but no price so far that I've seen. The cord isn't that annoying so I would have a price limit on that.
- T-A 9y ago
  For me it really comes down to price and what the reviews will say. If it's just a few hundred bucks (I wouldn't bet on it) and the reviewers go "OMG I can really read text on my in-world desktop now!" I might upgrade. The wireless adapter is a more likely candidate. The cable does limit my movements due to the way the PC is placed (beyond one corner of the play area, rather than along one long side, as would be optimal; I need it under my desk) and I was already tempted by TPCast, but holding off due to not-so-enthusiastic reviews and reports that HTC was working on a better solution with Intel.
zamalek 9y ago
I'll probably be skipping this one, but will definitely be purchasing the knuckle controllers and the wireless adapter. The screen-door-effect and lense artifacts aren't as much of a bother as the cable, and the knuckle controllers genuinely seem like Gen2 rather than a mere resolution bump.

BoorishBears 9y ago

Imo, Vive can't compare to Oculus because the Touch controllers are just that good. The ergonomics are just too perfect.

ChrisClark 9y ago
Yeah, I haven't bought any headset yet. I'm waiting for the new Valve Knuckles controllers to be released to decide which one I want.
- BoorishBears 9y ago
  An HTC rep strongly implied that Knuckles is a very long way off and that Valve is really experimenting with it as opposed to building up to a possible release. If you're interested in a headset I'd take advantage of one of several sales that have put the Rift as low as 300$
errantspark 9y ago
I have and use both sets on a daily basis and I find the tracking quality of the Vive outclasses the Oculus night/day. More than enough to cover any shortcomings in the controllers. I cannot use an Oculus for more than ~45 minutes without getting nauseous, even sitting down. I've spent 3+ straight hours in the Vive without any noticeable discomfort.
- christoph 9y ago
  Same story as you. I use both extensively and the tracking on the Vive is just in a completely different league to me in day to day use.
- BoorishBears 9y ago
  I had both for some time (got rid of my Vive before a recent move since I'm not as interested in dev use as I used to be) and found the Oculus tracking being good enough. In fact, since I moved I haven't ordered a new mount for my 3rd sensor but 2 sensor hasn't felt much different unless I'm holding my hands together in a dead spot I had to dig for. My comment is oversimplifying why I consider the Oculus the better headset. For the "layperson" looking at VR I feel we've reached the point where either choice works, but the Rift is 200$ cheaper. The Rift home is much more beginner friendly and imo offers a better UX. The Rift has integrated headphones. I also think that while the type of people who frequent HN (including me) might prefer the Vive's more open environment, laypeople will benefit more from value coming from Facebook backed Oculus. I mean they already do right off the bat, there's no way the Rift would be 400$ (Often even on sale for 350$ these days) without Facebook backing, and there's some high production value content that's probably funded by them (and no Revive fiddling to get it). That's not to say the Vive doesn't have strengths. Vive roomscale is much cleaner to setup for example (Rift can do fairly solid roomscale with just 2 sensors but it's not advertised by Oculus during setup because roomscale with Rift does end up taking routing wires around your room). But the Rift being cheaper is enough to smooth over a lot of complaints. The way I'd put it is, if you need to ask someone which headset to buy, buy a Rift because they're both neck in neck for most people, but the Rift is cheaper.
- outworlder 9y ago
  I see no issues with tracking on the Rift when playing in the sitting position, I guess this is down to individual sensitivities. How many sensors did you have?
- leoc 9y ago
  That’s highly unusual, unless you have USB issues or an odd camera setup. It’s generally accepted that Vive and Rift tracking quality are very much comparable given a proper setup.
prophesi 9y ago
It's a shame. You either get good controllers, or good roomscale tracking. I couldn't forego the latter, so I'm just hoping the Vive Knuckles are released soon.
- BoorishBears 9y ago
  Tbf, you "mend the gap" Rift roomscale tracking today by either getting a 3rd sensor or getting mounts and tuning your space for 2 sensor 360 degree tracking. It won't be pretty (extension cables everywhere), but it is pretty smooth. But you can't get the better controller today, and Vive has made it clear that Knuckles isn't their product, and that it's Valve's undertaking and from their point of view it's still closer to an experiment than a product.
modeless 9y ago
I have both but I prefer the Vive optics and tracking to the point that I never bring the Rift out. The only thing about the Touch controllers that I miss is the grip button; I think the Vive controllers are fine otherwise.
- BoorishBears 9y ago
  The Vive controller isn't bad, but the Touch controller's intuitiveness is something else. Every time I've given someone their first VR experience with the Rift there's been this magical moment where their hand just magically slips into the Touch controller and I say "These are your hands" and it just clicks for them. Instantly. It's amazing to watch it happen over and over. There's no explaining, it's just, "these are your hands". And it's like there's almost no way for them hold it wrong or suboptimally, it literally "slips" into their hands like water and they instinctively move their fingers and they see them move and it's always the second "wow" moment after the first one when you explain moving the headset to focus and look at their first clear look content. When you're using both long term you adjust to either, but it's just that magical experience for users from the get go that I think a lot of first time users would prefer.
  - Sohcahtoa82 9y ago
    I think it's an issue of gamers vs non-gamers. As a gamer, I've used several different controllers over the years, so picking up a Vive controller didn't feel different or unnatural at all. But many non-gamers will hold it near the bottom of the wand and then be unable to even find the trigger button. I haven't used a Touch controller, but looking closer at it, it looks like overall the controller is smaller and more ergonomic. There's only one way to hold it, and it's obvious. It definitely looks more friendly to smaller hands.
strictnein 9y ago
I have both. The Oculus can't compare to the Vive because room scale is game changing, if you have the space.
- BoorishBears 9y ago
  Oculus has roomscale with 3 sensors. Even 2 sensors is "good enough" (comparable with 3 sensors if you use mounts)
moron4hire 9y ago
I can't use Oculus Touch for more than 15 minutes without severe cramping in my hands. Vive Wands and Windows MR controllers do not do the same to me, I can use (and have used) both for hours.

talmand 9y ago

I have a Vive and I doubt I'll upgrade. That is, unless there's a highly generous upgrade path. For instance giving me near purchase price for my working headset and I only pay a hundred bucks or something. Although the wireless accessory is interesting but no price so far that I've seen. The cord isn't that annoying so I would have a price limit on that.

T-A 9y ago
For me it really comes down to price and what the reviews will say. If it's just a few hundred bucks (I wouldn't bet on it) and the reviewers go "OMG I can really read text on my in-world desktop now!" I might upgrade. The wireless adapter is a more likely candidate. The cable does limit my movements due to the way the PC is placed (beyond one corner of the play area, rather than along one long side, as would be optimal; I need it under my desk) and I was already tempted by TPCast, but holding off due to not-so-enthusiastic reviews and reports that HTC was working on a better solution with Intel.

zamalek 9y ago

I'll probably be skipping this one, but will definitely be purchasing the knuckle controllers and the wireless adapter. The screen-door-effect and lense artifacts aren't as much of a bother as the cable, and the knuckle controllers genuinely seem like Gen2 rather than a mere resolution bump.