I purchased the Apple Vision Pro with the thought that this was the ultimate display for law school writing or other assignments, law review work, or doing reading or other work. With my first laptop purchase, in which I compromised on the quality of the screen in favor of slightly superior computing power, I realized that few things are as important to a workstation as the visual interface with which one interacts with one's computer. The 4K microLED image provided each eye is simply incredible, and I can size my computer screen to a massive size (perhaps around 10 feet). There is no doubt in my mind that this type of technology is the wave of the future.
However, at this point, the native Vision OS software is not great. The Vision OS version of Microsoft has never been updated since the release version, and it crashes often. Consequently, I need to use the headset with my laptop or desktop, and with this Mac Virtual Display, I can only have one massive screen. I greatly prefer working with dual screens rather than using split screen to shift. Hence, working with the Vision Pro just is not as pleasant or as efficient as working with my two flat screen computer monitors. In addition, there is often an automatic dimming issue, which may be improved now with Vision OS updates, in which a Microsoft word screen will automatically dim, making it text less crisp.
Where the Vision Pro excels is movies—especially 3D movies. In my opinion, 3D movies on the headset is an even better 3D experience than movie theaters, in which 3D glasses inevitably dim the images slightly. On a recent long airplane trip, I used the Vision Pro to watch a 3D movie rather than watch the small and lopsided LCD screen built into the economy class setback in front of me. Movies on the Vision Pro using the Apple TV app according to apple can reach a maximum size of 100 feet. The immersive videos wrap around with a much wider canvas gives one the true sense of being transported into the scene.
I have dowloaded the Vision Pro Beta software, which Apple states will soon have an ultra wide Mac Virtual Display option, which will hopefully serve the same purpose as dual screens for me. I have not at all given up on my dream of a massive office workspace with an infinite number of massive screens that I can set forward at a comfortable and more eye strain friendly viewing distance. At this point I have no plans to replace either of my aging flat screen LCD computer monitors. Nor do I have any desire to replace my Pioneer Elite Kuro 60 inch plasma TV, which has somehow survived 15 years and is going strong!
I've been eyeing the Apple Vision Pro, thinking it would be perfect for various tasks and reading. However, I've heard that the Vision OS software is still glitchy, with frequent crashes and limited screen options. While it sounds incredible for watching 3D movies, I'm hesitant to give up the efficiency of my dual-monitor setup just yet, so I'm sticking with my trusty flat screens for now.
ReplyDeleteEdward, you wrote "I realized that few things are as important to a workstation as the visual interface with which one interacts with one's computer." This is an astute observation.
ReplyDeleteMost mid-priced and above computers have ample computing power for law office needs. The importance of the human interfaces cannot be denied. A good display, quality keyboard and trackpad, and a good mouse (if you use an external mouse) are essential to working with comfort.
Even if you use a laptop as your primary computer, I always recommend at least one high quality external monitor, a good mechanical keyboard, and a comfortable wireless (typically Bluetooth) mouse. The top of the monitor should be at eye level when sitting upright. It may not seem like a big issue now, but many hours (and years) of hunching over your laptop screen sitting unelevated on your desk will cause neck and shoulder injury.
Though I was pretty sure the Apple Vision Pro was some sort of Oculus looking thing, I had to do a quick Google search to confirm. I mention this to give you an idea of how "stone age" I can be in terms of some of the newer technology that's come out in the last few years. With that being said, I look forward to plenty more posts outlining the pros and cons of new tech and how it might supplement or replace how I prefer to do my work. Thanks for the intriguing post!
ReplyDeleteWhile the Apple Vision Pro is not quite there for industry specific applications, it will eventually get there I'm sure. Some of the features they should really hone in on for Law or Business would be telecommunications for meetings and hearings to make those events more seamless and less laggy for all parties involved. Can you imagine attending a hearing and being able to do a small hand movement to present evidence to the court? It would be like Ready Player One but for court and if that means I don't have to leave my office to attend court I am all for it!
ReplyDeleteI went to try on the Apple Vision Pro a few months ago at a local Apple store and it really feels like the future of computing. For me, personally, the experience was both bad and good. The downside was the weight of the headset. After about 10 minutes of wearing it it became uncomfortable. For this reason I don't see myself purchasing it in the near future. Also the price was a bit high. I have heard Apple is making a budget friendlier version for the near future so I am excited to see what that has to offer. For now, I will continue to use my MacBook Pro. I find not only is it great for my law school tasks, but also for my creativity needs such as photography and videography.
ReplyDeleteThe idea of a massive, immersive workspace is compelling, but the current software limitations and stability issues you mentioned highlight the challenges of early tech adoption. While the display quality and movie experience are impressive, relying on proven technologies like dual monitors seems practical for now. It's exciting to consider how VR could shape our future office environments as the technology improves. It's crazy how much has changed in the last 20 years, and I look forward to seeing how much more will change in the next 20 years.
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