Hi folks - I’m preparing to furnish my cool new bachelor pad in the latest high style and coolitude. The good news is I am starting from absolute zero: I own substantially nothing but clothes, a tablet, a phone, and a car. The bad news is that everything, even forks, requires a fresh decision.
Which brings me to a question about video entertainment playback.
Historically I don’t watch much TV. A couple hours a week max. Often sports, sometimes travel shows, and usually with my tablet open on my lap reading the Dope or a magazine wile looking up at the game now and again. OTOH, there may be more of that in my future.
I could stream vids to my tablet, but never developed the habit. The last “video game” I played was Pac Man for 25 cents at the bar. So I’m a Luddite, but interested to learn. I need to get on the entertainment techno train fairly soon or I’ll never be able to catch up.
Tying up one wall with this black monolith 70, 80, or 90" diagonal, and having to arrange the rest the the room to Face the Altar seems silly.
My planning revolves around me being alone here, not expecting a roommate or live-in GF.
Which leads to some wildly ignorant questions:
I’m curious about the practicality of using a VR headset as a replacement for an ordinary TV display for watching ordinary streaming or broadcast content. I’d lose the ability to read something else at the same time, but if I really want to watch something I should watch something. So called multi-tasking is stupid and a habit I’d like to break, not encourage, for its own sake.
I have been curious about VR travel “shows” or whatever they’re called. Where can I learn more about what’s available, who makes good stuff, etc. I’m interested in other topics besides travel if such content exists in any quantity.
I have been curious about some of the modern games. Not into FPS or fantasy dragon slaying, etc. but things like maybe car racing or other sims might be interesting. Where can I go to get smart on this? What sort of equipment is needed?
etc.
I’m at the stage where I don’t know enough to ask intelligent questions. The whole thing is one large “unknown unknown”. But If anyone can get me over the startup hump I’ll become a fountain of slightly smarter questions. So you all have that to look forward to.
I have next to no personal experience with VR, but I’ll pass on the fact that former Mythbuster Adam Savage said in a recent video that Apple’s new Vision Pro is a terrific way to watch movies, almost as good as seeing them on a large screen. FWIW.
ETA that I’m not sure this is true. Reviews I’ve seen say you can set it up to display multiple virtual screens.
I’m a fan of bigger is better when it comes to flatscreen sets, but you could get one smaller than 70" if you like. You could also hide it behind shutters or disguise it in a cabinet if you don’t want the black monolith look. And some are designed to look like a picture frame and can be programmed to show a painting when not being used to watch TV.
Plus I can wander around the house and ignore the set when the show gets boring. I don’t think you can do that if you’re watching on a VR headset, as it would obstruct your vision. And the VR headsets have limited battery life, so you’re either tied to a charging cable or have to recharge periodically.
You could spend the next six months thinking about it, or just buy a Quest 3 now and start getting your questions answered. Seriously, it’s the least expensive, most versatile option right now and you’ll be fully absorbed for a long time before you feel the need to spend more money on very slightly more advanced technology.
Seriously, until you spend time in VR no one can tell you what will work for you or what won’t.
I bought a Quest 2 some time ago and am still completely swimming in the different experiences it offers. I bought Quest 3s for my two adult children when they came out just because it’s so fun.
Don’t overthink it, pull the trigger and find out for sure.
Most folks won’t want to spend more than a few hours at a time with the headset on, so that’s not really an issue. I just plug in the charging cable whenever I take off the headset and I’ve never run out of battery power while using it.
One of the cooler options (non VR) I’ve seen lately is Samsung’s Frame line of TVs. Discrete/minimal panels that display art works on them in a dimmed matte look. So instead of a black rectangle on the wall you have a big Chagall hanging there.
One should try and get some real time testing with a VR headset before purchase. As many people get motion sickness and or headaches. VR can definitely collide with ones actual senses. It is variable from person to person and the media being experienced. As well as the VR system being used.
I have not used current consumer VR systems. I prefer screens for personal use. I have 65" and 26" 4K displays as main options off the PC and A/V systems. It can be annoying to get them to play nicely together. PC, Bluray, Tuner, OTA, sometimes a cable box.
You can go to an Apple Store and get a demo of the Vision Pro, which as stated above can replicate the experience of a huge screen for normal 2D programs, plus offers 3D movies and what I work on, Immersive Media (a new proprietary format), plus it can serve as all your normal computer monitors/screens and apps.
All VR devices have the limitation of being only for solo viewing (though simultaneous shared viewing is possible with multiple headsets, and can work remotely).
As others have said, VR is not for everyone and I’m not sure I’d use one for daily viewing even though it is my job, but you might find it addresses your needs.
I personally would feel stupid … having a 75" TV on “24/7” … to display something as newsworthy as a .jpg of a Chagall
but yeah … we should def. use more energy … b/c we can
back to VR … no experience here but it seems this is more of a “cool for an hour or so” thing than something you’d wear for the whole evening or for a longer period of time …
IIWY: try it out and buy it somewhere with a good return policy …
I haven’t tried a VR headset yet, too pricy for my blood, but a friend who has said it was wonderful, right up until he watched something zip by on the “screen” and got immediate motion sickness. So, I’ll add to the “try before you buy” scenario.
I’m going to suggest a jig to the side though. Rather than going whole hog on the slab o’ screen, why not get something like an inexpensive Amazon Fire TV? A smart TV with voice control won’t be too different from watching a Youtube video on the tablet, and gives you access to Freevee, Tubi, and Pluto (I mostly use Pluto) for background noise level TV watching. Voice controls means not having to type searches in (which is my main bitch on a lot of smart TVs) although recognition can be tricky.
Is a 40 inch, moderate quality (only 1080p) but is running under $180 right now on sale. You could easily jump to the 43 inch, 4k model for just under $300 on sale if quality is more important, but if you’re streaming most free content (you didn’t mention subscription streaming services after all) 1080P is going to be about as good as you get.
VR movie watching seems impressive the first few times you do it but you quickly realize that the best medium to watch 2D content is 2D physical screens. Hugo Barra, who was former head of Oculus at Meta had this to say about the experience:
For a single person watching content, the physical size of the screen actually doesn’t matter, it’s the angular FOV that determines how big a screen “feels”. Just take a small screen and put it close to you and it feels like a big screen further away. At it’s limits, for something like a phone screen, it might require it to be so close to you that you have focus issues but there are also plenty of people who love having a phone screen inches from their face in bed or on the train etc.
Far more important than the size of the screen is the ergonomics, quality of the screen (resolution, color accuracy, brightness etc.) and especially the quality of the sound. I watch 99% of all my content on a 15" laptop screen because I do a lot of watching in bed and I prop the screen up sideways and it’s comfortable and feels big because I’m so close to it.
Where big screens really serve their purpose is multiple people watching shared content. A 15" laptop screen propped up on a coffee table with two people hunched around it gives real dorm room vibes.
Instead of VR, also consider a projector instead. The huge advantage of a projector is you have a lot more freedom on where to place it because it can be “invisible” when not in use. The screen can be put where a window/door/fireplace is and rolled up when not watching anything. This is what we did at my parent’s place when they moved into a condo last year. The views from the living room were incredible but there was only a single wall where the TV logically could go and sofas arranged to to face the TV would have faced away from the view. Instead, we put the projector screen in front of an outdoor entrance so the 99% of the time the TV was off, the sofas faced the view. I set up all the automation so with a single push of a button, the blinds go down, the projector turns on and the screen rolls down.
So I would say:
If you never intend to ever have 2 or more people watching the same piece of content in your house ever, then figure out what small, high quality screen works for you. Maybe that means getting a 2nd tablet and a dedicated stand that allows it to be propped up where it’s comfortable for you or to do your primary watching on your tablet and use your phone as a 2nd screen or use a laptop/desktop etc.
If you want to occasionally have people watching the same content, first figure out the layout of the social room you prefer the best (I strongly believe sofas should be arranged to facilitate conversation first) and then figure out where a screen can fit into the layout, if it’s a place that isn’t a big blank wall, consider a projector, otherwise, just throw a big, cheap TV there.
Only if you regularly want to have multiple people watch stuff together should the TV dictate the layout of the room and that sounds like it doesn’t apply to you.
Invest in the sound far more than the picture quality. I’m fortunate that my laptop (15" Macbook Pro) has great speakers but if whatever screen you have doesn’t, figure out if you like wearing headphones or if something like a Sonos/Apple Homepod etc. would allow you to decouple your screen from your sound.
If you’re curious about VR for other reasons, evaluate their usage for that reason. Go try out a VR system in a store and go to friends’ places that have VR systems etc. However, be aware that VR is still very much “not ready for prime time” in that the vast majority of people who buy them end up barely using them beyond their first few weeks of excitement so unless you’re seriously wowed, the chances are you’ll end up in that same bucket.
Multi-tasking is fine, a lot of shows are designed (especially sports) so that there’s something else to do while you’re watching it. Think about it this way, if you’re with a bunch of people and watching sports, you’re expecting to be constantly chatting and taking focus away from the program. Being alone just means you’re doing that with a 2nd screen.
That being said, if you really want to go down the VR route, there’s a headset that’s designed specifically for movie watching called the xReal that costs $300 - $450 which is significantly cheaper & lighter than a full fledged face computer.
@LSLGuy, you appear to be aiming for a theatrical experience. A decent 4K or 1080p projector is by far the best way to get that experience, with a small amount of fuss about mounting the screen and projector (most typically ceiling mounted) and running the wiring.
I have a friend who’s been devoted to building home theaters with projection systems for decades. He’s spent tens of thousands on speakers alone. Being a generous soul, he gave me his former 1080p Sony projection system with 3D capability (and 3D glasses) and screen. I still haven’t installed it because in my situation it didn’t seem that compelling to do so. I like watching movies with a theatrical experience, and I get it by watching movies in bed on my tablet. YMMV.
As for VR for a theatrical experience, I’d say no. Just no, for the reasons stated above. My son is a techono-geek and a few years ago bought the best VR set available – I don’t remember the brand but that’s irrelevant because the technology is changing so fast. Anyway, he was so excited about it that he invited me over to experience it.
The first thing I saw when I put on the headset appeared to be a movie about the Apollo space program. It seemed relatively unimpressive until I looked around and saw a strange lava lamp and other objects that didn’t exist in the room I was in, and looked the other way and saw the projector that was running the film. And then suddenly the whole thing transformed into an actual moon launch experience. The system had two laser-based sensors that could follow you around and sense exactly where you were in the room and the headset could sense what you were looking at.
There was another one where IIRC you were in a robotics lab and could rummage through various drawers and cabinets to build a robot. And an undersea exploration adventure.
I think the moral of the story is that my son the techno-geek eventually sold the system when he got bored of it and realized the limited availability of new content for it.
As for what he does now for electronic entertainment, aside from his computer and tablet it’s a 70" Sony Bravia OLED black monolith. For your viewing habits, even if you almost never watch TV and just watch movies like me, I’d say the options are the black monolith (perhaps in a smaller size), the projection system, and the tablet. But from what I’ve experienced, no, not the VR headset.
sorry, re-read my post - probably too strongly worded, no offense meant, especially not @Hampshire (it was kind of a generic answer and I tend to copy the idea of others which I respond to) …
but, the Idea of offering a device which uses prob. 100w x hour to broadcasts a static photo all day, still makes me cringe … (shakes fist a Samsung and starts yelling at clouds)
I would say that if you’re not that much into gaming, a VR headset is a good choice as it is quite a vivid experience and is also something that guests (of any age or gender) will enjoy trying out.
And as you’re relatively new to gaming, it’s a good thing that VR games tend to be shorter and easier to learn to play than PC or even console games.
But I don’t think it works so well for some of the specifics you mentioned:
Watching a whole movie in VR is not an enjoyable or social experience, for the reasons that @Shalmanese outlined.
Short films? Great. A 3D travel show of you flying over Himalayas? Awesome.
But regular films are better on a screen where you can freely move around, watch with your partner etc.
One thing to be aware of with the VR option: games where you are rotated a lot don’t work so well.
e.g. car racing games don’t work well in VR. When the car turns and your real-life body does not, you are likely to experience motion sickness. I’ve been using VR for long enough that I don’t get motion sickness in games like this any more, but still that incongruity makes me feel like I am not physically there any more.
I have a Quest 2 and have watched some TV programs on it - mostly through Amazon Prime Video. It’s fine - basically comparable to watching a large screen TV in meat space. Given the OP’s parameters
It could work instead of a TV. More than 60-90 minutes at a time is not ideal for me - my face starts to feel squished. What it’s great for in my household is when my wife and I want to watch different things, she can have the TV and I can go in another room with the headset. But to be honest that doesn’t happen very often - I definitely just watch the regular TV 99% of the time.
It’s not required to have the screen on “24/7” to display art. You could, if you choose, only do so while visitors are over for a party, or for an hour during dinner. Certainly there’s no point in leaving it on when you’re out of the house or asleep at night. It’s just an alternative to the “black monolith” look.
I’ve had an Oculus Rift for a few years. I use it mainly for games. I have never tried to watch a movie in it, and would not be inclined to try, for two reasons: the headset is too uncomfortable, and the resolution is poor compared to a physical large-screen TV. I think it would be like watching on a VGA monitor. Maybe the latter problem is improved on newer models, but the Rift is 1080x1200, and in a VR environment you would get only a fraction of that as the actual screen pixels; the rest is simulating the virtual room environment. A real 4K TV is 3840x2160, more than 6 times as many pixels and all dedicated to the movie.
Lots of good info here. Here’s some responses and additional feedback from me / requests for feedback from y’all:
Good thought. I’m not far from that but wanted the very basics of “Is this possible or am I deluded?” answered first. But yeah, yeah, a couple hours fiddling will offset a couple years of review reading. And thanks for the specific model recommendation.
A great idea orthogonal to my assumptions. Might be just the ticket; thanks.
I flew fighters for USAF. I don’t get motion sickness. But yeah, that is definitely a consideration for many people. My soon-to-be-ex would probably start barfing within seconds of any visual / vestibular mismatch.
Awesome to hear from a pro. Thanks; I will definitely give that a whirl.
@Shalmanese; you win the thread (so far). Thank you from one end to the other.
This is very much my situation. The view is there 24/7 but is best in the day, while TV is occasional use and 99% at night. But the ideal room layout for one is opposite for the other.
This will be a rented apartment, so my ability to build-in things is kinda limited. But not zero.
Cool.
FTR, I watch exactly zero movies or conventional drama TV series whether broadcast or streaming. I’d rather have a root canal than watch an episode of e.g. Game of Thrones or some sitcom or whatever the hell is on network TV these days.
I’m sitting at my desk now typing on my 12" diagonal Surface Pro tablet with detachable keyboard. The idea of sitting here in the same chair watching an e.g. baseball game on this device sounds dreadful despite the ~2800x1900 pixel display. Trying to wrestle with the tablet in bed or on a couch or coffee table sounds worse.
I have never understood having a TV on in the presence of another person. If somebody else is with me, they should be my focus & vice versa. A group party is a different thing, but that’s not the use case I’m aiming at now.
TV is a drug consumed solo in my world.
That’s very interesting and a bit surprising / confusing. Suggesting that I have a defective preconceived notion perhaps you can dispel.
If I was using the VR headset to watch a movie, TV show, or sporting event, I’m thinking of the headset as simply the limit case of “small screen up close” that I don’t need to hold in my hand(s) since it’s strapped to my head. I would not expect there to be a “virtual room” anywhere in that scenario.
Am I confused about how these things work? Certainly there is entertainment meant to be immersive where you can wander around a virtual environment. But I wouldn’t expect that in the context of displaying non-VR based entertainment.
All:
Budget is not a consideration at all. At least not at the scale sensible home electronics cost. I 'm not gonna buy $1000/each digital Monster Cables to connect my components , but whether the headset is $500 or $2000 does not matter.
I suppose one of the things this thread is showing me is how incoherent (as well as inchoate) my ideas are about what I think I want. Thanks all for helping me tease that out. Hmmm
I can use Google as well as the next guy, but if anyone has names of specific equipment or entertainment sources or reviews or experts to consult I’d appreciate that. Google only works after you have vocabulary, and even then telling quality from popular or paid-placement can be difficult.
Where that’s trustworthy should I be going to learn more?
Well, as I said I never tried watching a movie, so I’m not sure how it works myself. There are two possibilities, either you are in a virtual room with a virtual TV in it, or the TV image completely fills the VR screen. I was imaging the first case, in which you are losing a lot of resolution to the virtual room. The second case, where the screen follows your eyes around when you move your head, seems like it would be unnerving. In a few cases I’ve experienced a bug in a game where this happened; the VR tracking stopped working and the image was just static on the screen. It felt really weird to have the image stuck in front of my eyes like that. But even in that case, 1080x1200 is still pretty poor resolution; less than HD and even less than 720p horizontally.
