Consumer version of Oculus Rift so expensive because there is too much money

Last night was not double 11 or 12, but there is some enthusiastic fans in front of the computer, such as scalping. They want to grab the consumer version of virtual reality equipment Oculus Rift, and when the $ 599 price was announced, everybody realized that this really is not a shopping day. augmented reality glasses

Immediately they ridicule, saying prices were too high, almost to $ 1000 plus to match a powerful PC, will scare a lot of interested consumers; of course, it is not difficult to find that there are a number of people willing to pay for-than-expected prices, even after waiting for several months to get the line. After all, everyone's budget is different for VR, acceptance of new products is also different.

But in the past few months or few years, Oculus could have less impact of price shocks, but it is constantly hinted that Rift will be very affordable, at least not like this.

Price hide

People think the biggest cause of Rift will be affordable, may be the Developer Edition price. DK1 is $ 300, 2014 with the DK2 is $ 350, it's easy to think consumers will at least be a lot lower than the 599. Developer Edition is not a perfect product, but by last summer, still sold 175,000 units, most of which buyers don't belong to the VR software can be developed among the staff.

Oculus itself also had some impact on price drops. If it is bought by Facebook in March 2014, founder of Palmer Luckey says, trade allows them to "significantly reduce the price of Rift." A few months later, Luckey also stated that the consumer version of the price will be $ 200 to $ 400, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg himself has said, will be "the lowest possible price" sale.

Recently, Oculus began to improve the bottom line of Rift. Last September, the company's product VP says "at least US $ 300", October, Luckey said the consumer version will be more expensive than the $ 350 DK2. They said yes, but gives the impression it is 300 or 350 should be the final price, how many dozens of such, and now the difference is too great.

If you carefully analyze the Oculus executives had expressed, you will find that they are indeed hinted at slightly higher prices. Oculus CEO Brendan Iribe said in May, a Rift and PC in the $ 1500, and Oculus did say in today's announcement are bundled to sell at this price "Oculus certified" PC package. Oculus also didn't expect the Rift to quickly become a mass consumer goods.

However, Oculus should let buyers prepared. It earlier said the Developer Edition components than finished products cheaper, and set the Xbox One handle, Oculus accessories such as Remote will let prices higher, even as other companies announced prices as early as a few months or weeks. But it did not.

Why are prices so high?

In a recent interview, Luckey said, Facebook money so that "many things have changed", they did it on the product even better quality than previously thought, but the price is rising.

DK2 Oculus planned upgrades, into consumer versions, although they also designed some dissatisfaction. And the frame rate is too low, will allow users to see Flash, resolution is not satisfactory. But let them see more Facebook, they want to know is for virtual reality and what would be the effect of the Panel, the frame rate can be pushed much higher, encapsulates much of optical screens and interpupillary distance adjustment and what happens? virtual glasses

Oculus in the ultimate way to walk away, according to Luckey's argument, they later made a prototype of the Crescent Bay, when compared with the previous version it, and found the gap is significant, that they are embarrassed to say that the previous upgrade will allow consumers to use.

We also know, that high prices. Luckey says, do the best virtual reality equipment than do a good, the cost is much higher.

Oculus this indirect price suggests that is probably intentional policy, the objective is to promote interest in virtual reality. If the price is relatively low, virtual reality of outsiders may come sooner in the future, such as knowing the Rift and HTC Vive will launch earlier in the year, a lot of people found in 2016 will be "first year of virtual reality".

But the tactic is likely to have the opposite effect. $ 599 price, there are a number of potential consumers have been scared. But even earlier Oculus price won't be cheap, true love powder still look forward to a possible revolution in virtual reality, their price sensitivity is not high, the watchers will have to wait for more people at the moment. If the product quality, over a period of time after the publicity would attract the interest of consumers, without hope as they are now.