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Must admit, as this got closer I contemplated getting it more and more. Especially as I find myself using my laptop a lot on the couch and bed. Just the abilit

Must admit, as this got closer I contemplated getting it more and more. Especially as I find myself using my laptop a lot on the couch and bed. Just the ability to have a larger screen without worrying about my physical Mac screen is a fairly large selling point, plus any other features. I assume there has not been anything about the ability to have multiple virtual Mac screens has there? That would likely make this an instant purchase for me.

__m 3y ago
The marketing showed that use case if i remember correctly
- jdiff 3y ago
  They showed multiple apps, but only one Mac screen.
  - cassianoleal 3y ago
    Correct. The way they showed it, the Mac screen is mirrored once in the Vision Pro. The whole Mac becomes essentially its own 1 app in the virtual space. It's possible they will add the option to have multiple virtual displays for 1 computer but I haven't seen any indication of that. I would have preferred if each Mac window floated in the virtual space as its own thing instead.
jksflkjl3jk3 3y ago
XReal Air are pretty good for that purpose. I can just plug them into my laptop or any phone that supports DisplayPort over USB-C and mirror my full screen. The clarity is good enough for dev work, but my eyes feel a little strained after a few hours of use. I'm curious whether Apple's product will be more comfortable for longer use.
- plagiarist 3y ago
  I was considering those. Is there some sort of accelerometer in there so the screen moves in your field of vision as you turn your head, or does it just kinda float there? I haven't been able to understand that from their product pages.
  - jksflkjl3jk3 3y ago
    I believe that's the functionality added by the "Beam" adapter (which I haven't tried). The glasses on their own just display a static "dumb" display that doesn't respond to one's movement.
    - cassianoleal 3y ago
      It is. I bought a Beam with my Airs. The screen fills up the entire FOV, which is great. The problem is that there's a lag between head movements and the glasses adapting. That means unless you stay very still, there will pretty much always be a part of the screen that's not visible. Furthermore, the lag is (to me) really bothersome. I sent the Beam back and kept the glasses.
  - ajdude 3y ago
    On my Mac I can set up three monitors in the xreal air using their "nebula" software, you need the beam. They also have a beta version of nebula for windows might also have it on Linux. It's three 1080 P screens, one in front of me, and one to either side of me. And yes, they "stand still" when I move my head to between them
- cassianoleal 3y ago
  I coded on one of them. It was ok for a short period. The blurriness and ghosting, especially on the corners and edges made it pretty tiring after a while. They're great for watching videos, movies, TV, etc. though!
  - ajdude 3y ago
    their nebula app (works on Mac and in beta for windows) has helped a lot with blurriness. I also am nearsighted, and once I got prescription lenses for my xreal air it was like a whole new set of glasses!
saagarjha 3y ago
The built-in feature does just one I think.
- nerdjon 3y ago
  Yeah that is all we saw in the marketing, and I figure if it was possible they would have shown it since that would be a killer feature. I am guessing there may be some wireless bandwidth issue with transmitting more than one screen but idk. Guess we will see if it just happens to not have been shown
  - saagarjha 3y ago
    It definitely has the bandwidth to do more than one. Going past two is going to be hard, though.
dougmwne 3y ago
Early reports are that the Vision feels quite heavy to wear. That’s almost certainly going to make it a bad choice for virtual screens for more than an hour or so.
- nerdjon 3y ago
  From what I can tell it is about the same weight as the Valve Index which I have been able to wear for a fairly extended period of time while doing physical activities. If I can wear that while being physical I can probably handle the Vision Pro for extended periods.
  - jwells89 3y ago
    Based on my extensive experience with a Quest 2, overall weight isn’t as much of a factor as balance of that weight is. The Quest 2 wasn’t that comfortable to use out of the box, but after adding a Vive Deluxe Audio Strap connected with 3D printed adapters (which distributes weight better) and a counterweight that’s attached the back of the strap it’s dramatically improved. Still not perfect, but I have no issues wearing it for an hour or longer playing Beat Saber.
    - nerdjon 3y ago
      That is a good point which is really hard to get a good feel for what this will be in that regards without actually trying it. But I just don't think weight alone will be a concern given my experience with the Index. My only problems with the index is the weight distribution while moving around (particularly while playing beat saber and crouching) but I likely wouldn't be doing that with the Vision Pro. And heat while being physically active but that was easily solvable by adding a fan to the front. I already use this thing almost every day. But maybe that's because I am used too it so the jump to something like this is not really that crazy.
  - dpkonofa 3y ago
    I didn't realize it would be the same weight as an Index. That's great to hear. I found the Index incredibly comfortable for long stretches too. Half-Life: Alyx was incredible and spent hours at a time playing it without any discomfort.
sp332 3y ago
It has a built-in browser app though, right? So that might mean you don't need so many Mac-hosted screens.
- saagarjha 3y ago
  It has Safari, yes.
- nerdjon 3y ago
  I was thinking about that, and that is true when one of the monitors is generally Safari. The question will be can I easily copy something from Safari on the Vision Pro to my Mac for example? Or move the mouse from my Mac Display (which will likely just be the trackpad of my laptop on my lap) to that Safari and use it that way. It would need to operate as an extension of my Mac for it to be useful in this scenario.
  - dpkonofa 3y ago
    Since that's basically how Sidecar works, I would imagine that this will work the same way. Copying between Apple devices is seamless with iCloud and Sidecar automatically connects displays via Bluetooth/WiFi discovery. Same goes for AppleTV and that's way more underspec'd than a Vision Pro.
    - nerdjon 3y ago
      Sidecar is isolated though isn't it? Like I know I can use my mouse on my computer to control the Mac screen on my iPad, but I didn't think I could move my mouse over to control iPad apps? I honestly have not used that feature much so if it can do that... that makes me rethink the usefulness of this.
      - dpkonofa 3y ago
        You’re describing Universal Control. Macs have 2 separate features. Sidecar allows you to use an iPad as an additional display for a Mac. Universal control allows you to use one keyboard/mouse to control multiple Apple devices in proximity. If you use both together, you can use an iPad as a second display for a Mac and use that Mac’s keyboard and mouse just as with any other secondary display.
globular-toast 3y ago
Why would you need multiple virtual screens? With no physical limitation you should be able to have one screen as big as you want it.
- nerdjon 3y ago
  Same reason I don't just have an ultra widescreen monitor on my desk and I have 3 monitors instead. Separate monitors allows for better organization of different app windows than a single monitor, especially with different spaces on different monitors. I can keep my main screen on whatever it is I am working on while switching to a different space on another monitor to check email or teams for example. Or just being able to have multiple full screen apps which is what I often do.
  - globular-toast 3y ago
    Hmm... so you use multiple monitors to emulate a tiling window manager, but with far less flexibility (you can't divide your workspace into four equal parts, for example).
    - nerdjon 3y ago
      I would say I use it to augment what already exists. I don't really want my workspace divided into equal parts, I have my primary monitor which is my largest monitor in the middle. A slightly smaller (and lower resolution) monitor to the left for research, teams, etc. And then I have a vertical monitor to the right for things that I need the extra space for. I have more flexibility to setup my workspace exactly how I want, sure I can't change it later but I don't need too. It does what I need it to do since I set it up that way. I tried driving an ultra wide screen monitor at one point and it was probably my biggest regret of a purchase, and I have made some stupid purchases. It sells you on a more flexible ideal that just isn't the reality. If I want to switch context on one of my screens while keeping my main screen where it is (which I do most of the time) I just move my mouse over and swipe to another space. No fussing with widows being over each other or making sure that the OS somehow knows that I only want to move part of my screen.

__m 3y ago

The marketing showed that use case if i remember correctly

jdiff 3y ago
They showed multiple apps, but only one Mac screen.
- cassianoleal 3y ago
  Correct. The way they showed it, the Mac screen is mirrored once in the Vision Pro. The whole Mac becomes essentially its own 1 app in the virtual space. It's possible they will add the option to have multiple virtual displays for 1 computer but I haven't seen any indication of that. I would have preferred if each Mac window floated in the virtual space as its own thing instead.

jksflkjl3jk3 3y ago

XReal Air are pretty good for that purpose. I can just plug them into my laptop or any phone that supports DisplayPort over USB-C and mirror my full screen. The clarity is good enough for dev work, but my eyes feel a little strained after a few hours of use. I'm curious whether Apple's product will be more comfortable for longer use.

plagiarist 3y ago
I was considering those. Is there some sort of accelerometer in there so the screen moves in your field of vision as you turn your head, or does it just kinda float there? I haven't been able to understand that from their product pages.
- jksflkjl3jk3 3y ago
  I believe that's the functionality added by the "Beam" adapter (which I haven't tried). The glasses on their own just display a static "dumb" display that doesn't respond to one's movement.
  - cassianoleal 3y ago
    It is. I bought a Beam with my Airs. The screen fills up the entire FOV, which is great. The problem is that there's a lag between head movements and the glasses adapting. That means unless you stay very still, there will pretty much always be a part of the screen that's not visible. Furthermore, the lag is (to me) really bothersome. I sent the Beam back and kept the glasses.
- ajdude 3y ago
  On my Mac I can set up three monitors in the xreal air using their "nebula" software, you need the beam. They also have a beta version of nebula for windows might also have it on Linux. It's three 1080 P screens, one in front of me, and one to either side of me. And yes, they "stand still" when I move my head to between them
cassianoleal 3y ago
I coded on one of them. It was ok for a short period. The blurriness and ghosting, especially on the corners and edges made it pretty tiring after a while. They're great for watching videos, movies, TV, etc. though!
- ajdude 3y ago
  their nebula app (works on Mac and in beta for windows) has helped a lot with blurriness. I also am nearsighted, and once I got prescription lenses for my xreal air it was like a whole new set of glasses!

saagarjha 3y ago

The built-in feature does just one I think.

nerdjon 3y ago
Yeah that is all we saw in the marketing, and I figure if it was possible they would have shown it since that would be a killer feature. I am guessing there may be some wireless bandwidth issue with transmitting more than one screen but idk. Guess we will see if it just happens to not have been shown
- saagarjha 3y ago
  It definitely has the bandwidth to do more than one. Going past two is going to be hard, though.

dougmwne 3y ago

Early reports are that the Vision feels quite heavy to wear. That’s almost certainly going to make it a bad choice for virtual screens for more than an hour or so.

nerdjon 3y ago
From what I can tell it is about the same weight as the Valve Index which I have been able to wear for a fairly extended period of time while doing physical activities. If I can wear that while being physical I can probably handle the Vision Pro for extended periods.
- jwells89 3y ago
  Based on my extensive experience with a Quest 2, overall weight isn’t as much of a factor as balance of that weight is. The Quest 2 wasn’t that comfortable to use out of the box, but after adding a Vive Deluxe Audio Strap connected with 3D printed adapters (which distributes weight better) and a counterweight that’s attached the back of the strap it’s dramatically improved. Still not perfect, but I have no issues wearing it for an hour or longer playing Beat Saber.
  - nerdjon 3y ago
    That is a good point which is really hard to get a good feel for what this will be in that regards without actually trying it. But I just don't think weight alone will be a concern given my experience with the Index. My only problems with the index is the weight distribution while moving around (particularly while playing beat saber and crouching) but I likely wouldn't be doing that with the Vision Pro. And heat while being physically active but that was easily solvable by adding a fan to the front. I already use this thing almost every day. But maybe that's because I am used too it so the jump to something like this is not really that crazy.
- dpkonofa 3y ago
  I didn't realize it would be the same weight as an Index. That's great to hear. I found the Index incredibly comfortable for long stretches too. Half-Life: Alyx was incredible and spent hours at a time playing it without any discomfort.

sp332 3y ago

It has a built-in browser app though, right? So that might mean you don't need so many Mac-hosted screens.

saagarjha 3y ago
It has Safari, yes.
nerdjon 3y ago
I was thinking about that, and that is true when one of the monitors is generally Safari. The question will be can I easily copy something from Safari on the Vision Pro to my Mac for example? Or move the mouse from my Mac Display (which will likely just be the trackpad of my laptop on my lap) to that Safari and use it that way. It would need to operate as an extension of my Mac for it to be useful in this scenario.
- dpkonofa 3y ago
  Since that's basically how Sidecar works, I would imagine that this will work the same way. Copying between Apple devices is seamless with iCloud and Sidecar automatically connects displays via Bluetooth/WiFi discovery. Same goes for AppleTV and that's way more underspec'd than a Vision Pro.
  - nerdjon 3y ago
    Sidecar is isolated though isn't it? Like I know I can use my mouse on my computer to control the Mac screen on my iPad, but I didn't think I could move my mouse over to control iPad apps? I honestly have not used that feature much so if it can do that... that makes me rethink the usefulness of this.
    - dpkonofa 3y ago
      You’re describing Universal Control. Macs have 2 separate features. Sidecar allows you to use an iPad as an additional display for a Mac. Universal control allows you to use one keyboard/mouse to control multiple Apple devices in proximity. If you use both together, you can use an iPad as a second display for a Mac and use that Mac’s keyboard and mouse just as with any other secondary display.

globular-toast 3y ago

Why would you need multiple virtual screens? With no physical limitation you should be able to have one screen as big as you want it.

nerdjon 3y ago
Same reason I don't just have an ultra widescreen monitor on my desk and I have 3 monitors instead. Separate monitors allows for better organization of different app windows than a single monitor, especially with different spaces on different monitors. I can keep my main screen on whatever it is I am working on while switching to a different space on another monitor to check email or teams for example. Or just being able to have multiple full screen apps which is what I often do.
- globular-toast 3y ago
  Hmm... so you use multiple monitors to emulate a tiling window manager, but with far less flexibility (you can't divide your workspace into four equal parts, for example).
  - nerdjon 3y ago
    I would say I use it to augment what already exists. I don't really want my workspace divided into equal parts, I have my primary monitor which is my largest monitor in the middle. A slightly smaller (and lower resolution) monitor to the left for research, teams, etc. And then I have a vertical monitor to the right for things that I need the extra space for. I have more flexibility to setup my workspace exactly how I want, sure I can't change it later but I don't need too. It does what I need it to do since I set it up that way. I tried driving an ultra wide screen monitor at one point and it was probably my biggest regret of a purchase, and I have made some stupid purchases. It sells you on a more flexible ideal that just isn't the reality. If I want to switch context on one of my screens while keeping my main screen where it is (which I do most of the time) I just move my mouse over and swipe to another space. No fussing with widows being over each other or making sure that the OS somehow knows that I only want to move part of my screen.