VIVE
Pros
- High-res displays with fantastic visuals
- VR space feels natural
- Remarkable virtual worlds All real-world actions that are reproduced in the
- Impressive intuitive controls
- Good battery life
Cons
- It is expensive
- Requires a lot of space and power points to use
- Requires a High Spec PC
- Tricky installation process
- Can become uncomfortable to wear after long periods
An experience like no other, after a few minutes of walking around with the VIVE Headset, the real world becomes a distant memory.
Best Deals for HTC VIVE
The Vive VR Headset is brought to you by HTC and Valve. Vive delivers on the promise of VR with best-in-class technology and content. The headset is still the best 360-degree, room-scale virtual reality. It works almost exactly like Steam does on a big screen — using one of your controllers like a laser pointer, you can buy and install games; see notifications; and even browse the web, including streaming video sites like Netflix and YouTube
Key Features
- OLED display.
- 90Hz refresh rate.
- 1080 x 1200 resolution per eye.
- 70 sensors.
- Lighthouse 15 feet by 15 feet tracking.
- Front-facing Chaperone safety camera.
- 110-degree field of view.
What do you need to get started with the HTC VIVE?
The first thing that you should be made aware of when looking to buy the HTC VIVE is that it is a tethered headset meaning it uses additional hardware to function. You will need at least three power sockets and If you have looked in to buying your first VR Headset then you’ll know that you’ll need a high spec PC. These are the PC specifications required in order to get started with your HTC VIVE:
- Graphics Card: GeForce GTX 970 or AMD Radeon R9 290 or better
- CPU: Intel Core i5 4590 or AMD FX 8350 or greater
- RAM: 4GB or more
- Video port: HDMI 1.4, DisplayPort 1.2, or better
- USB port: 1 USB 2.0 or faster port
- Windows 7 SP1 or newer
VIVE VR Review – Design / Comfort
The HTC Vive includes a display featuring two 1080 x 1200 screens, one for each eye. Which gives the Vive a total resolution of 2160 x 1200 pixels, and an aspect ratio of 9:5 as opposed to other headsets’ more standard 16:9.
The headset is not as comfortable as other high end VR goggles such as the Oculus Rift, its almost like wearing a pair of swimming goggles and the weight of the cables does pull from behind a little. The VIVE features a camera on the front so you can see whats in front of you without removing the headset!
The headset is held together with three velcro straps that wrap around the top and sides of the Vive and meet in the back forming a bowl to securely fit over your head. Adjusting the tension on the straps can also be awkward if you plan on passing the headset amongst family and friends.
VIVE Tracking Review
The Vive’s advanced tracking system is easily the best in VR. It consists of two mounted base stations which plug into the mains to beam invisible lasers into your playing space. Sensors on the Vive’s headset and controllers use those lasers to calculate their precise positions in space; this is how they can track hand and head movements and your position. You can buy 2 shelf mounts and we recommend mounting them at around 6ft and be angled between 30 degrees and 45 degrees downwards. If setup correctly, the result is pinpoint accuracy. In the six months of owning the Vive. After getting over the initial setup, I have never experienced any issues with the Vive’s tracking .
Common Vive Tracking Issues:
Some of the common issues that can affect VR Tracking with the Vive are listed below
- Check your base stations are mounted correctly – These should be mounted ideally above 6ft and be angled between 30 degrees and 45 degrees downwards.
- Tweak the HTC Vive’s camera – You can disable the HTC Vive’s camera, bandwidth required to transfer high-quality video can affect the transmission of tracking data.
- Perform a New Room Setup – Recalibrating your play area is often a quick fix to correct any issue
VIVE Setup Review
The first time I setup my HTC VIVE it took around 45 minutes and most of that was software installation. Once the necessary applications are installed on a VR-capable Windows PC, you must outline your space on the screen using the controller. VIVE gives you several options for your gaming preferences; seated, small area or larger area. Obviously, this depends on how much space you have but the bigger the space the better your VR Gaming Experience will be.
The VIVE requires installing 2 satellite lighthouse sensors in the corners of your room above 6ft. This is for tracking since it is room scale. You will need a fairly big area, really 2 x 2 metres in the minimum! The wire is very long and does require USB 3 ports (apparently this works on USB 2.0 ports now) to work correctly. the longest and most tedious part of setup for myself was downloading & installing the software, the hardware side was fairly simple
So Should You Buy The VIVE VR Headset?
I could talk about how much I’ve enjoyed my time testing the Vive headset but, without trying it for yourself, it’s tough to fully to explain and appreciate how fun and immersive VR actually is. For the first time ever in video gaming history, you are actually pulling the trigger on the gun, or flying the plane.
The HTC VIVE VR Headset is a solidly constructed piece of equipment. It feels more durable than both the Oculus Rift and the PSVR headsets and is the market leader in VR Headsets at the moment. Because the Vive is the leading virtual reality headset many of the best ideas for interactive VR are being developed on the Vive. Though, it’s not all good news… the price tag also reflects this… so don’t be thinking about buying the HTC VIVE unless you’ve got a spare grand lying around.
The HTC VIVE ships with two controllers in the box allowing you to grab, and interact with virtual objects from the off. The immersion is insane and very intuitive. The fact that you can grab, push and more stuff with your hands makes you’re VR experience exponentially better… The potential is enormous.
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HTC VIVE
