Lentes Meta Quest 2 Advanced All-In-One VR Headset

First, a little background. I’m 73 years old. Above average in the activity department, adept mentally, although I am literally the only person I know who can lose something when standing perfectly still. I have four grandchildren. I hold down a full-time job as a writer, and a once-a-year gig teaching Rio Grande Board Games at the annual World Boardgaming Championships (WBC).It was at the most recent WBC that I was introduced to MetaQuest 2 and in particular, its bundled game called Beat Saber. I’d tried much cheaper VR systems, the ones that hold your phone and you have to download apps to run on them. This was an entirely different ball game. This was, I should note, not a function of the WBC. It just so happened that one of the site administrators had brought the system along with him and one evening, invited me to give it a try.The first issue that one should note is that once you put the headset for this system on, you are pretty much detached from the reality around you. This is fine as long as it’s just you and the machine, but you can forget about being outside the machine and trying to instruct someone inside the machine about what’s going on. As it happened, the man who introduced me to the system basically set it up for me – put it on his own head, clicked the right buttons – and then transferred the headset to me. With a couple of hand prompts and a word or two, Beat Saber, the program that comes with the MetaQuest 2 when you buy it these days, came on line and there I stood, with two controllers, one in each hand, as my eyes beheld on the screen in front of me, a series of square blocks coming at me, each with an arrow, pointing either up, down, right or left. The controllers operate two light sabers, one in each hand, and the object of this game is to swat the approaching blocks in the direction indicated by the arrow on them. There are also occasional large obstacles coming at you, like skinny walls, which appear like three-dimensional line drawings as they approach. You can’t swat these aside and the idea is to avoid them. In most cases, this entails just stepping out of their way, either to the right or the left, but dependent on some choices you make in Beat Saber, some of these objects can be wide and impossible to avoid unless you duck as they approach. No way to jump over them.And there’s music. At first, you don’t pick up on the idea that your swatting activity with the light sabers can occasionally be rhythmic, linked to the beat of the music. . .Beat Saber. Get it? But you’ll pick up on that fairly quickly. If you don’t dance and would like to, this is a good program that will force-feed you the concept of moving your body in beat with the rhythm of a song. You don’t realize you’re dancing because as far as you’re concerned, you’re swatting colored boxes with virtual reality light sabers. A note of caution. People familiar with the system and how it works will delight in recording video of your attempts to play the game; unbeknowst to you, ’cause you’re wrapped up in the headset and can’t see anything but what the machine is giving you to see. These people recording you will be LOL-ing themselves breathless, as you contort yourself in a relatively confined space, trying to dodge things and swat at the colored boxes.I made the mistake of failing to heed the warning that if I didn’t buy one of these systems soon, its price was going to go up. A lot. And it did. But I bought it anyway and am just beginning to tap into the available free apps and exploring the possibility of buying other ones.There’s a free Epic Roller Coaster app, which is fairly enjoyable, although oddly enough, both myself and my wife (now at home with our own MetaQuest 2) found ourselves getting a little queasy during the experience. Not sure what that’s about. She NEVER goes on real roller coasters and I do it all the time.Also found a walking-on-a-building-skeleton app that had me God knows how many stories high and though not generally afraid of heights (acrophobia), I wasn’t all that keen on walking on the available, skinny steel walkways to approach the edge. I’m in my living room, my mind knowing damn full well that I’m not only not as high as the program makes me think I am, but am, in fact, on solid ground. Yet, in an attempt to approach the edge and have a look OVER the edge, I am literally creeping forward, edging my foot out in front of me, making sure of my balance with each step. My mind absolutely refuses to grasp the concept that I am not in any danger.It should be noted that when you play in virtual reality, the mechanism has you define a space where you are going to be, literally drawing a perimeter line. It’s not because the machine is worried you might step off the big building you only think you’re on, but when you’re playing a game like Beat Saber, you want to make sure that your arm movements don’t knock over a lamp your Aunt Ethel gave you for Christmas last year, or in moving your legs around, you don’t accidentally kick the screen out of your new Smart TV.I haven’t been too excited by any of the first-person shooter kind of apps that are available. That kind of activity never lured me to the various systems that were already on the market. But I did notice and have been on the verge of pulling the trigger on some of the other activities, like table tennis, actual tennis and some other sports activities, like baseball. Am also interested in what is, at present, a small selection of board games, like Tsuro and chess (in a variety of different environments). They offer Catan (originally, Settlers of Catan) and though my interest in board games is strong, I never really liked Catan in real-time, so I’m not going to pick it up in VR.I recommend this system highly. The experience of good VR (and you can buy systems better than the basic one that I purchased) is mind-altering. It’s something to which your mind has never been previously exposed; an alternate reality with its own set of rules that takes some getting used to. It’s more expensive than pot, but unlike pot, it doesn’t just let your head create new connections and free it from everyday anxieties, it creates a reality within your brain that is intriguing to watch, hear and interact with.And as my age indicates, fun for all ages.Oh, and one other cautionary note for those of a certain advanced age. The first time I tried the system, at the WBC, my score at Beat Saber was abysmally low. So I tried again. And again. It wasn’t my hand movements with the controllers or the side-stepping away from approaching objects that got to me. It was the ducking at things that I had to let go over my head. I made the crouching moves necessary with reckless abandon. Once, again, and again. My upper thighs complained to me all of the next day. The good news is that it makes for good, healthy exercise.

The Meta Quest 2 has revolutionized my gaming experience like never before. This cutting-edge virtual reality headset has completely transformed the way I interact with games, movies, and even social experiences. From the moment I put it on, I was transported to a world of limitless possibilities, making it an absolute must-have for any gaming enthusiast.The first thing that impressed me was the Meta Quest 2’s stunning display. The high-resolution, fast-switch LCD panels deliver crystal-clear visuals, providing sharp details and vibrant colors that truly immerse you in the virtual environment. Whether I was exploring fantastical realms or engaging in heart-pounding action, the visuals were breathtakingly realistic, pulling me into the gaming world like never before.The Quest 2’s performance is unparalleled. The powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon XR2 processor, coupled with 6GB of RAM, ensures seamless and lag-free gameplay. I experienced smooth frame rates, minimal loading times, and overall responsiveness that kept me fully engrossed in my gaming adventures.Comfort is a significant factor in any VR headset, and the Meta Quest 2 excels in this department. The lightweight design, ergonomic straps, and soft facial interface provided a comfortable fit even during extended gaming sessions. Additionally, the adjustable IPD (interpupillary distance) settings ensured that I could fine-tune the headset for a custom fit, enhancing the overall comfort and visual experience.The Meta Quest 2’s Touch controllers are a joy to use. They are incredibly responsive and intuitive, mimicking my hand movements with impressive accuracy. From wielding a virtual sword to manipulating objects in the virtual world, the controllers effortlessly translated my actions into the game, creating a sense of true immersion and control.The wireless nature of the Quest 2 is a game-changer. No more tripping over wires or being tethered to a PC; the freedom to move around without any constraints elevated my gaming experience to a whole new level. With its built-in tracking capabilities, I could explore vast virtual worlds without being tied to a specific spot.The Quest 2’s library of games and experiences is vast and continually growing. From thrilling action titles to captivating exploration games, there’s something for every gaming preference. The Meta platform also offers a social space, allowing me to connect with friends and family in virtual reality, bridging the gap between gaming and social interaction.Setting up the Meta Quest 2 was a breeze. The guided setup process and user-friendly interface made it easy to get started quickly. The headset’s integrated guardian system helped create a safe play area, preventing collisions with real-world objects while I was fully engrossed in my virtual adventures.In conclusion, the Meta Quest 2 is a game-changing virtual reality headset that has transformed my gaming experience. Its stunning visuals, powerful performance, and comfort-enhancing design immerse me in virtual worlds like never before. With its vast library of games and social interaction features, the Quest 2 has become an essential part of my gaming setup, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to elevate their gaming experience to new heights.Pros:- Stunning high-resolution display with vibrant colors- Powerful performance and smooth gameplay- Comfortable and customizable fit- Intuitive and responsive Touch controllers- Wireless design for unrestricted movement- Expansive library of games and social interaction featuresCons:- Limited battery life during intensive useOverall, the Meta Quest 2 deserves its place at the forefront of the VR gaming revolution, and it has undoubtedly earned its spot as a flagship device in the virtual reality market.

So, there are two sides to this product. From a hardware standpoint, I really don’t have any complaints. The headset is comfortable enough with one of the better adjustable head straps I’ve ever seen on any head-worn device. (I recommend wearing a cloth skullcap or even washcloth so that the strap isn’t pulling on your hair (a baseball cap won’t work), and the towel will collect sweat, although I’ve yet to sweat in it. There’s a learning curve with the controllers, though it’s not bad. Be careful, you could easily break them quickly, smashing them into each other, or punching into a wall or objects, though the guardian carrier does work effectively in keeping you from running into things once you set it up, so make sure you set it up properly. This product can NOT be operated in less than an 8ft square space. You may want to own a house with a dedicated room, or have some space in your apt. Don’t expect to use this in an apt with no central open space. The audio isn’t as good as some newer iphones, but its not bad either, however, I hope sending it out to a stereo is seamless. I have a feeling it won’t be. Connecting to the internet was not a problem at all.My real issue is I don’t feel the browsing of apps and functions is OPTIMAL considering how much fanfare Facebook is blowing about the metaverse. The nav took me a bit to get used to, but then it became fairly logical. The issue is some apps are much better at navigating than others. Having to boot out with the Oculus button varies app to app, and it almost never takes you back to the previous menu which you dove in from. The control console always shows up, but the menu of what you were in doesn’t always. Case in point – the tv channel, which includes various travel VR scenes of Paris, Cairo etc. The Paris footage was great, if short, but I tried to boot out of Cairo, and the TV icon became visible, and I clicked on it, and I went right back into the video where I was, NOT to the previous menu of selections. I NEVER got back there, and ended up NOWHERE near where I started. Facebook needs to crack down on those apps not meeting the nav standards, but they prob don’t want to lose previous content, which takes some effort to create, it is clear.You have to give this time. Some apps will disappoint, others will amaze, and there’s no way to predict it, because this is a new sort of medium. The demos are often not adequate to be sure you want to pay for the app, and that can be a bummer, because if you don’t like it, you just paid for zippo.For instance, one app claimed to be free, then dumped me into a big showroom where you have to buy your weapons. Other apps have demos good enough to make it clear buying the app will be worth it over time. Facebook should do more to demand adequate demos from developers.An app like Superhot is phenomenal and makes you happy you bought this. The demo gives you a taste of what the game about, and then the game seems like a good deal, and you’ve got a satisfying experience. I HIGHLY recommend the ISS space experience downloads if you want to see what floating in orbit is like. It’s quite astonishing. The travel experiences make you want to go to those places. The issue is if you don’t get into the right apps, you might find yourself saying ho hum.The travel TV segments look great if a bit dated. The famous fitness program Supernatural instantly put me into a 14-day trial that will go straight into monthly payments if I don’t cancel it. Can’t you just show me the program for an hour without getting my payment info? This isn’t your iphone where you know iOS is there to protect you. This is Facebook, and yeah, I have a bias towards Apple, and I’m here to tell them that this market is open to take away from Facebook, because they aren’t doing it 100% optimally.Another problem I have is the utility VR programs that tap into desktop software I want to use that are more specialized work through Steam and the PC. I want the Quest 2 to interface with Apple, and that may not be happening.I’m not saying that VR isn’t a stunning experience, and the physical side is really well figured out. It truly is, but the software side (as often is the case) could be tighter. This is Facebook, and they claim to own this space so they deserve more pointed criticism. The issue is also that VR is a somewhat new medium, so some patience is to be expected. It will take a few tries to get used to the basic operation, and then you can start assessing the apps. However, if you get dud apps before you get used to the operation, you may find it all overrated. I just think Facebook should match their introduction to the physical use of the headset to a good cross section of apps to bring you in further. Echo VR is another app that shows you the potential of the medium once you get into it. However, I’m not really about meeting up with people I don’t know to play games. These apps should have single-player options by default. The VR environment instantly puts you into a space where you’re making choices, and sometimes you don’t like the choices the app you’re in has made. You want to do something else.People complain about the interface of the accounts with Facebook. I wasn’t crazy about it at first, but you can create multiple profiles under the main one, so it’s not the end of the world. Of course, many of the settings have to be reentered from scratch, and so far the apps don’t seem to cross across the accounts, so not sure if that’s optimal.Also, literally ZERO apps come with the console. There are free apps, but you wouldn’t know it, since how to find them is NOT immediately apparent (once again, squeezing your own customer instead of being their pal), some of which are more or less lying, and others which are highly boring. You would think Facebook would have the brains to greet new users into their wondrous world by just having a mainstay of 3 seamless good apps for everyone that got you feeling good about the console you just bought.So I give it 4 stars for setup of the headset itself, and 2 stars for not really introducing the user properly to a set of apps that shows them the power of the medium overall.

Update: I’ve raised this to 4 stars. Meta support finally responded and sent a replacement headset that is as good as my original unit. It still has the boot loop issue, but I believe them when they say they’re working on the issue. I’m working with them now on a possible fix. The headset really is a nice unit, and I would take this to five stars, but my experience with support was a quite frustrating at times.=========================================================================Nice headset while it worked. Then I started having a boot loop issue. Customer support was responsive at first. They sent a replacement re-furbished headset. It turned out that replacement headset not only also has the boot loop issue, but the left lens was also scuffed. They send me another re-furbished replacement. This one not only has the boot loops issue, It boots completely on its own when I disconnect the external battery, the display is distorted (which they say is normal…lol) and it has been randomly locking up on me. I added this issue to my trouble ticket, but now I’m being ignored.I have been more than patient for more than two months. All I want is a working headset. That is what I purchased, but I’ve come to terms that I may have spent $300 for a single year of fun.If you decide to purchase, I do wish you don’t have to deal with Meta support, and if you do, you don’t have the horrible experience I’ve had. Just be prepared to forfeit the money you’ve spent.

“Meta Quest 2 is an incredible product that offers an unparalleled experience, transporting you to an entirely new world that will leave you in awe. Its impressive features and capabilities truly make you feel like you’re stepping into a virtual wonderland filled with limitless possibilities. This amazing device has been designed with utmost precision and attention to detail, allowing you to immerse yourself in breathtaking landscapes, thrilling adventures, and engaging interactive experiences like never before. With Meta Quest 2, you can explore vast digital realms, connect with friends in virtual social spaces, and enjoy an array of captivating games and applications that cater to your every interest. It’s an exceptional piece of technology that takes entertainment and productivity to a whole new level, making it a must-have for anyone seeking an extraordinary escape from reality.”