Most people are aware of the “Screen-door effect” that plagues these devices (and some other stuff like godrays which are less bothersome) and that can be an instant turn off. I did notice the lenses are more round and not oval which appears to cause a bit of blurring if you try and use your eyes to look left and right? The next thing we noticed is that in the dark, the headset appeared to struggle a bit with tracking.
This was easily fixed by turning on a small lamp, it was a bit of an annoyance and could affect how you use the device.
To be fair, I don’t think any of that is a deal breaker for the kind of clarity this thing offers and the potential it has with low end machines. We spent the better part of 1 1/2 hours trying to force Windows 10 in to the Fall Update 1709.
We had assumed it launched with Steam VR support, but it did not and Vorpx does not have a mode for Mixed Reality yet. There’s going to be a huge divide in content between the Oculus and the MR headsets with this kind of thing, sadly.
Any good Dell Visor reviews or experiences? : WindowsMR
Most important question, should I take it back and switch it out for another unit (FYI I tried for the Samsung, but it’s sold out and they wouldn’t let me wait for one to become available).
Product Review: Dell Visor Windows MR Headset
And when you take into account the convenient flip-up display, for those moments when you want a slurp of tea or a quick biscuit, Tech Trends can happily give this the comfort stamp of approval. Yes, the Visor can be used with a variety of apps and services such as SteamVR but as an official Windows Mixed Reality Headset, we will limit this review to the hardware and its capabilities on that platform. Set up in Windows 10 was a doddle, easily one of the most misery free VR setups I have done yet but please note you do need to ensure your Win10 machine is current with the latest Microsoft MR capable updates or it simply won’t work. After that, the built-in Windows Mixed Reality program whizzed me through the rest of the process and dumped me into VR with a silky-voiced lady telling me what was happening and running me through a few basic functions before leaving me to mess about on my own.
Standing in the Cliff House (Microsoft’s VR version of a universal desktop) I got used to the tools and functions on offer and was pleasantly surprised that the flimsy-looking hand controllers worked as well as any other I had used. When the next gen of much higher resolution, fast-refreshing screens become available, immersive experiences will really make an impact on the public who quite rightly have been a little underwhelmed by what is on offer today. The Visor doesn’t have built-in headphones which is a shame as it would make putting it on and off a bit easier but it’s not a huge deal for me, the short cables are annoying though.
Dell’s Visor is a gorgeous VR headset, but Windows Mixed Reality still needs polish
On October 17 Microsoft will preside over the largest VR roll-out in history, overseeing the release of Windows Mixed Reality headsets from Dell, Lenovo, Asus, Acer, and HP, alongside the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update . Dell also lifted some of the best ideas from Sony’s PlayStation VR headset or Microsoft’s own HoloLens, eschewing the bulky straps seen on the Rift and Vive in favor of a welding helmet-style ring.
The Visor is beautifully balanced, resting effortlessly on your head and gently cinching in place. If you want to take a drink, check your phone, use your mouse, or whatever, you simply lift the screen part of the Visor up out of the way. Dell’s PAX demo had me playing through Superhot VR, which is a fairly active game. I was ducking, kneeling, squatting, leaning, and so on to evade enemy bullets, but the lenses never fogged up, nor was my face covered in sweat afterward.
It gets hot, but air channels near the nose and in the center of the forehead help keep you slightly cooler than the competition does. The Visor will also run at 90Hz, same as the Rift and Vive, though I’ve heard other Windows MR headsets will target 60 frames per second instead.
[Update: A Microsoft spokesperson has clarified that all Windows MR headsets are capable of 90Hz, but some will run at 60 depending on a person’s hardware. With Oculus, these are cameras that plug straight into your computer and analyze the position of the Rift and the accompanying Touch controllers. With HTC, Vive’s tracking is done by the headset and controllers themselves—the wall-mounted base stations are just dumb boxes that blast lasers into the room.
Dell Visor hands-on
It’s all go for Windows 10-based ‘Mixed Reality‘, with Dell launching its Visor headset to compete against the likes of the Lenovo Explorer, as well as kit from Acer and HP. As with the competition, the Dell Visor hooks into Microsoft’s Mixed Reality Platform, which will launch with the Fall Creators Update on October 17. It’s a problem common to most VR headsets, but once you relax your eyes and concentrate on the action, the effect lessens and you start to ignore it. Dell hasn’t built headphones in the Visor, so you’ll be left to use external sound or provide a pair of your own. All are roughly similar in features, and I haven’t managed to try all of them yet, but Dell’s comfort is certainly a plus point for glasses wearers like myself. The bigger threat is that both the HTC Vive and Oculus Rift keep getting cheaper, and buyers may prefer to go with the established platforms rather than trying something new.
Dell Visor hands-on review
With no fixed headphones, you’re free to add your own, and cable hooks help keep wires under control – not that there are many, mind, with just one leading out of the headset and splitting into HDMI and USB at the end. This is huge news for glasses wearers, as it’s much easier to find a comfortable fit without the faff of taking your specs off each time you need to adjust the straps.
Dell Visor preview: A Windows Mixed Reality headset that will b
The experience is fully immersive, just like VR, and while compatible devices do have cameras on their exteriors these don’t pass through the real world to the wearer at any point – instead they’re used for sensing surroundings for quick setup and, in the demos we’ve experienced thus far, that’s all they do. The Dell Visor has the best fitting of the three: it also uses a rotational wheel to loosen/tighten the headband, but this is contained within a counterweighted portion so the balance of the whole device doesn’t put excessive pressure on the wearer’s nose.
In addition, Dell has added the ability to pop-up the main visor section, which is positioned on a hinge, which is really useful for seeing the real world and grabbing the controllers. Once it’s well aligned, however, the Dell solution offers a 90Hz playback, ensuring smoother visuals than the competition – only the Asus headset can match this equal-to-Oculus quality. The fit of the controllers is great, much like those included with Oculus Rift, but there’s one poorly thought-out element: the Windows button is positioned too close the where the rear of your thumb knuckle will be naturally placed, making them far too easy to press by accident. Doing so will transport you back to “Cliff House” – which is like the home base of the Windows Mixed Reality – which is infuriating if you’re in the middle of a game experience.
The six degrees of freedom – the ability to move freely through virtual space, with forward/backward, up/down, left/right and pitch, yaw and roll rotations – means the Dell Visor is every bit as adept as its pricier competition. Add in 90Hz playback and there’s the potential for Oculus Rift-rivalling quality from a standard Windows 10 laptop or PC, without the heavyweight cost.
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