Solved: Mac productivity user looking to possibly purchase... - Meta Community Forums

NJRonbo · ‎12-29-2023

Hi Everyone!

I am an avid Apple user and patiently waiting for the 2nd or 3rd generation Vision Pro which will be more affordable. I realize that may take at least two years to happen.

In the meantime, I am eyeing the Quest 3. I don't necessarily need it for gaming. I want to create a virtual office, connect it to my Mac, and ditch my widescreen monitor for 3 large virtual ones using IMMERSE or HORIZON WORKROOMS.

I have a few questions that will hopefully help me decide if Quest 3 suits me...

1. How is the virtual screen resolution when connecting a Macbook Air or Pro to Quest and creating a virtual office? Can one work in that kind of environment? Do all apps that work on the Mac open and work on the virtual monitors?

2. There is a great post above this one with many accessory recommendations, though it's for Amazon UK. As far as headsets go, is the Bobo M3 the one that is still most recommended?

3. Since the Bobo M3 has battery issues (from what I read), if I get just the standard head strap can you recommend a portable battery and cable that would work well when I am moving around?

4. Can I view movies directly off my Mac?

It's a tough choice to purchase this knowing I will mostly limit it to productive use (though I will try the games). Just want to be sure the technology is good enough that I can use it for a virtual office.

Thanks for the help.

digisam · ‎01-01-2024

Also a Mac user and also not that interested in games. I originally opted for the larger 256GB Quest 2 when the Q3 was announced because of the price drop. I have since upgraded to the Quest 3 128GB version. That would be my first recommendation, get the smaller one, it is more than enough for productivity plus the many games you will end up buying "just to try" as non-gaming content is a little light.

In answer to your questions:

1. Depends on the type of work you do, the way you use the keyboard and mouse is a little odd, and does glitch. It is very clever the way it creates this portal to your real hands, but there is a clear "disconnect" between you and the keyboard and mouse. The resolution is (in my opinion) good enough to work with, I use VS Code and can easily use it the same as I would on a real screen. It is not the same as using a real screen, but the clarity is there and you adapt very quickly to it. Add Virtual Desktop to your list of things to try as well.

All Mac apps work on the virtual screens, they are just seen as displays by your mac and are treated the same.

Whilst you can work in VR, would you want to? The headset is heavy, whilst pretty light based on what is available, compared to nothing on your face it is very heavy. Presses on my nose, it is a bit noisy, focus issues if it shifts down your face a bit, its hot, and it is hard work on your eyes.

I did 3D print out a open style faceplate that makes the Q3 more like the Q Pro, google "MultiverseRoamer" for his reddit post. Found this to be better as you always had a way to look at your keyboard, but the lack of support on the cheeks put all the weight on my nose.

2. I would stick with the supplied headstrap, you won't have power issues if you are at your desk so no need for the battery. And I purchased the Bobo headstrap for my Quest 2 because everyone was raving about how great it was and is sooooo much more comfortable than the stock strap. I hate it, it is massive, bulky, adds more weight, and you feel more stupid wearing it. The Q3 has a subtle (ish) design, clean and simple. The Bobo (or any 3rd party headstrap) intentionally make it look as "Virtual Reality as seen in movies" as possible. Plus you can't lay down wearing it. Horrible thing.

3. Don't worry about power unless playing games, you can just have a wire attached as you sit at your desk.

4. Yes, you can stream video files from the Mac with a upnp app like Kodi running on it, or a specific to the headset player "streamer" installed from Skybox or Moon Player. You give it a folder to make available on the Mac and provided the Mac is on and on the same network the headset player will see the files. You can also browse files via SMB Sharing. Plus you can use a USB card reader plugged into the headset to store videos, though it is not as simple as it sounds and not really worth the effort compared to just watching streamed from your Mac.

In conclusion... I would definitely recommend you get one and try these things out for yourself. Both Amazon and Meta have decent return policies. It really is the only way you will be able to decide if it is for you.

Me? I'm keeping mine.

I don't think it is going to replace a real desk with multiple screens anytime soon. it just doesn't make sense to have to rely on a infrared camera depth mapping your hands into virtual hands that type on a tracked version of your specific keyboard and all the potential glitches that comes with it. when you can just look at your real hands and real keyboard with zero glitches 🙂

But you can so other things with it as well, being able to walk around Sketchup models you have created is pretty cool. Beat Sabre and Synthrider are also lots of fun and you can just jump on on your own for a few minutes and get out again, not sure I could handle the 60 to 130 hours of playtime required for Asgard Wrath or anything with a story (I'm really not a gamer). I'm certainly looking forward to what people start to do with mixed reality.

Go for it.

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digisam · ‎01-01-2024