With Half Life: Alyx launching imminently, it appears that the new game has lead to widespread shortages of Valve's VR headset, the Valve Index. Hardware production of the headset has been impacted by the outbreak of Coronavirus, but there will be new units going up for sale, early next week. On Monday, March 9th, the Index will be available for the first time since January, with sales beginning at 10 am PT. Supply is limited, but this will likely be your last chance to grab an Index prior to the release of Alyx. They'll be sold through Steam at the standard price of $999.99. For those unable to grab an Index, Half Life: Alyx will launch on multiple VR headset platforms, including the Oculus, Vive, and Windows Mixed Reality.

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[ClickCLK]

I hope I'll be quick enough to buy it this time, as the last time I was late by just one day.

 

[Xzi]

Can't speak to the headset but I LOVE the Index controllers, such a massive improvement over the Vive wands in every way. Been using them quite a while now since I was lucky enough to get in an order within five minutes on the first day they were made available.

 

[Youkai]

So how is this better then the Oculus which you can buy for less then half the price ?

 

[Xzi]

So how is this better then the Oculus which you can buy for less then half the price ?

Index: 1440x1600 per eye resolution, 120Hz refresh rate (up to 144Hz experimental mode), LCD screens (50% more subpixels than OLED).
Oculus: 1200x1080 per eye resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, OLED screens.

Seems like you can get a slightly better FoV out of Index too, about +10 degrees. I have a Pimax 5K+ which blows all this out of the water (except in refresh rate), but it's also considerably more expensive than either unless you backed it on Kickstarter like I did.

 

[shaunj66]

I'd love to be able to afford one of these. But even a Rift is out of the question. Looks like I'll be avoiding HL:Alyx spoilers for a long time!

Let's hope HL:A sees some success and that it helps bring the cost of entry for VR down.

 

[Pipistrele]

Let's hope HL:A sees some success and that it helps bring the cost of entry for VR down.

I personally bet on companies like Xiaomi or Huawei to come up with budget headsets and turn the VR market around. Xiaomi already built its reputation on "following future trends with past technology" (first by dominating "smart bracelet" market with ultra-cheap activity trackers, then by successful line of genuinely good budget phones), and considering that a lot of old-gen VR headsets can be realistically built in $100-130 price range, it won't surprise me if they'll decide to cover that niche too.

 

[kumikochan]

Index: 1440x1600 per eye resolution, 120Hz refresh rate (up to 144Hz experimental mode), LCD screens (50% more subpixels than OLED).
Oculus: 1200x1080 per eye resolution, 90Hz refresh rate, OLED screens.

Seems like you can get a slightly better FoV out of Index too, about +10 degrees. I have a Pimax 5K+ which blows all this out of the water (except in refresh rate), but it's also considerably more expensive than either unless you backed it on Kickstarter like I did.

Think ur forgetting about the latest HP one that blows the rest away or the odessey i'm using

 

[nolimits59]

ultra-cheap activity trackers

Cheap in price, but the results are quite good, especially for Huawei/Honor with the band 5, SPO2, 6axis accelerometer, a quite good sleep analysis, music control etc for like 20-30€? What a bargain !

 

[Pipistrele]

Cheap in price, but the results are quite good, especially for Huawei/Honor with the band 5, SPO2, 6axis accelerometer, a quite good sleep analysis, music control etc for like 20-30€? What a bargain !

Not arguing that they're bad, used one of those for quite a while in fact Planning to buy Mi Band 4 eventually, looks like a neat gadget.

But yeah, that's where I'm coming from - those folks know how to take cheap semi-outdated technology and squeeze the most out of it to compete with modern trends (kinda like Nintendo of the past), and I hope that the same approach will eventually be applied to VR headsets, where ridiculous prices are the biggest disadvantage.

 

[Axido]

Think ur forgetting about the latest HP one that blows the rest away or the odessey i'm using

I have to object. The HP Reverb (which you seem to be talking about) might have its high resolution, but it also doesn't fare well when it comes to sharpness outside of the kind of narrow sweet spot, which pretty much cancels out that advantage.

The Samsung Odyssey, however, is definitely not in the league of the Valve Index (though it was definitely the most viable option available until the Index got released). I'd say no consumer HMD can compare to the Index right now.

That being said, I'm totally fine with playing on my Quest using Oculus Link and the Index controllers (using USB receivers to track them). I don't even bother using my Pimax 5K+, which is just a loaner that's supposed to be replaced by an 8KX that I backed on Kickstarter.

 

[Hanafuda]

Just being a smartass. I'm actually thinking about getting the Index for sim racing. I just don't know that I have the time to justify the expense (not just headset, but also steering wheel, pedals, etc).

 

[Vila_]

Laughs in Google Cardboard

 

[kumikochan]

I have to object. The HP Reverb (which you seem to be talking about) might have its high resolution, but it also doesn't fare well when it comes to sharpness outside of the kind of narrow sweet spot, which pretty much cancels out that advantage.

The Samsung Odyssey, however, is definitely not in the league of the Valve Index (though it was definitely the most viable option available until the Index got released). I'd say no consumer HMD can compare to the Index right now.

That being said, I'm totally fine with playing on my Quest using Oculus Link and the Index controllers (using USB receivers to track them). I don't even bother using my Pimax 5K+, which is just a loaner that's supposed to be replaced by an 8KX that I backed on Kickstarter.

I commented in regard to your primax 5k comparison with the reverb and samsung. You stated that being second best but the ones i mentioned are better

 

[Mama Looigi]

If you’ve only tried phone VR, you haven’t seen anything yet.
So to those who aren’t getting a headset because they had a bad experience with Samsung or Google Cardboard or whatever you tried:

Those are trash compared to the Steam and Oculus headsets. Go to Best Buy or something and try out those ones before you make any decision

 

[SS4]

I'm still using my original Rift + touch. Was hoping for a Rift 2 instead of the sidegrade Rift S . . . Even valve went with LCD instead of OLED on the index. . . Good thing they learned their original controllers were garbage coz the new ones are a slight improvement over the Touch from Oculus!
Also, the Quest knocked it out of the park as the best bang for your bucks for true VR experience helping push VR into mainstream so i'm sure in a couple of years we will have some affordable high end VR available if more ppl get into it.

 

[Jayro]

I just want hackers to bind the VR controls to keyboard and mouse, so all of us can play the game, not just rich-ass VR owners.

 

[Mama Looigi]

I just want hackers to bind the VR controls to keyboard and mouse, so all of us can play the game, not just rich-ass VR owners.

That’s quite easy if you know what you’re doing ;3
(It’s easiest on SteamVR)

 

[Tom Bombadildo]

It's a shame getting the Index controllers to work with WMR is a pain, otherwise I'd totally try and pickup at least the controllers.

Oh well, would totally pickup an Index if I were made of money but alas I'm not.

 

[urherenow]

Yea, I grabbed a Rift about a year and a half ago, because the price was $399 (FINALLY reasonable). I do have enough money now, but I can't justify a $1k price tag to slightly update the rift. I'd almost rather drop $3k for a Rift S and a Laptop that can power it.