Not only did Microsoft kick-start a new love of potential for me today, but they also managed to get me interested in something that I can strap to my head and wear around my house for reasons that, admittedly, aren’t quite clear. Wearables are the future, eventually, because companies are going to continue to throw them at us until we just succumb, but so far it’s been mostly devices that we strap to our wrists.
Google Glass tried to change that, initially, then wavered, and maybe it’s coming back at some point in the near future, but for the most part it’s all about the smartwatches we want to throw money at. That’s what Apple is expecting a whole bunch of people to do with the Watch that’s rumored to launch in March. And Samsung will have more wearables for us this year, HTC’s rumored to be unveiling its own in March, too.
Wear all the wearables!
Google Glass is something that, while I think it’s a cool idea and it’s always something that looks awesome in sci-fi movies, is not something that I actually want to try for myself. Part of that could be the price of entry, which at $1,500 pretty much makes it a nonstarter for me. Actually, I’m sure that’s all of it. But it’s also the fact I just don’t see a reason for it yet. It’s a great idea, but I know it’ll get better in time.
So, a wearable is fine, I just haven’t been ready for it to be around my head. Not up until now, anyway. When Microsoft unveiled the HoloLens my initial reaction was, “Why is this a thing?” And then they showed it off, and really started talking about it, and suddenly I went from not believing in it to wanting one.
Like, right now.
I think maybe I’m not ready for Google Glass is because I don’t want to wear it out in public. Not because I think it looks ridiculous or anything, because I think it doesn’t look bad at all. But mainly because I don’t think the regular populace is ready for Glass. I don’t care enough about being on the forefront of technology (anymore) to take all those stares, if that makes sense.
That’s one reason why I’m so excited for HoloLens, in the comfort of my own home and doing a bunch of crazy awesome stuff? That sounds amazing. And yet, here’s the rub, I think it’s going to be ridiculously expensive. If I’m sure of anything, it’s that. Microsoft says that this is the future of computing, and I honestly have no reason not to believe that, and I just think that’s code for, “This is going to be super expensive, folks!”
So, here’s my question to you: how much would you be willing to pay for something like HoloLens? $500? $1,000? $2,500? Let me know what you think.