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                    Apple Vision Pro Arrives 2 February 2024

   Adam Engst

   Apple promised that its Vision Pro 'spatial computer' would be
   available in early 2024, and the company is making good on that with
   [1]today's announcement that pre-orders in the US will start on 19
   January 2024 at 5 AM PST, with availability on 2 February 2024.
   Although Apple has said that the Vision Pro would become available in
   other countries later in 2024, Bloomberg's [2]Mark Gurman reported that
   Canada, the UK, and China were expected to be the first markets to get
   it.

   The Vision Pro will cost $3499. If you use reading glasses or
   prescription lenses, you'll be able to get Zeiss reading glass lens
   inserts for $99 or prescription Zeiss optical inserts for $149. It's
   unclear how you'll specify your prescription during the online ordering
   process or if Apple stores will have sufficient optical inserts for
   every possible prescription.

   Along with the Vision Pro headset, the box will contain a Solo Knit
   Band and a Dual Loop Band so you can pick which best fits your head.
   Also included are a Light Seal, two Light Seal Cushions, an Apple
   Vision Pro Cover for the front of the device, a USB-C charging cable, a
   USB-C Power Adapter, and the all-important Polishing Cloth.

   I admit to some unease about the Vision Pro. On the one hand, it's a
   technological marvel, and having spent my life evaluating technology, I
   very much want to try it. It's easy to imagine a few specific use cases
   where it promises to be appealing, such as providing a large virtual
   workspace when traveling with only a laptop, watching movies alone, and
   playing immersive games. There may also be compelling accessibility
   stories, given that Apple says users can interact with the Vision Pro
   using their eyes, hands, or voice, or any combination they want. And I
   never discount the incredible creativity and innovation of the Apple
   development community'perhaps we'll see a killer app shortly after
   launch.

   On the other hand, I can't imagine spending $4000 (prescription inserts
   plus sales tax) on what seems like it will end up as a glorified
   display for my Mac. I'm comfortable and highly productive with my
   current software and hardware toolset, I don't play video games, and
   Tonya and I watch all TV and movies together. Even as technologically
   interested and tolerant as she is, wearing one in her presence would
   not be conducive to marital harmony. I'm already uncomfortable on the
   few occasions I have reason to wear AirPods around her, and like many
   people, neither of us likes it when the other gets drawn into their
   iPhone. That's also true of our extended families, but perhaps we're
   unusual, and more families are accepting of each member focusing on
   their own digital world, like the people below. (If you're going to
   have a conversation, why wouldn't you take the Vision Pro off?)

   In the end, as far as I can tell, the Vision Pro doesn't do anything I
   want enough better than the devices and peripherals I currently have to
   be worth anywhere near that kind of money. The cost is, of course,
   contextual'some people won't blink at $4000, and I wouldn't turn down a
   review unit from Apple. But from a practical business perspective, I
   can't currently justify the expense for the amount of coverage I expect
   you'll want to read. Perhaps that will change with the Vision Pro's
   capabilities being augmented by third-party apps or increased interest
   from TidBITS readers.

   If you're among the people who plan to pre-order the Vision Pro in a
   few weeks, let us know in the comments what you're planning to do with
   it.

References

   1. https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2024/01/apple-vision-pro-available-in-the-us-on-february-2/
   2. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2024-01-07/apple-2024-plans-challenges-gen-ai-vision-pro-china-sales-app-store-changes-lr3k9p8p?srnd=technology-vp

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