The Windows VR headset is a piece from the larger Microsoft puzzle

I’m thankful to Microsoft. My awareness of the computing world is completely enabled by Redmond. Since my days in school, my journey with technology included Pacman, Logo programming, and Prince of Persia on a monochrome screen powered by a ‘state of the art’ 25MHz 486 PC. Since then, I’ve closely watched Microsoft. I felt I was pretty decent at GWBasic, and wished someday I’d have a career with the tech giant. Before you laugh at me, weren’t many boys aspiring to be Top Guns? [caption id=“attachment_297852” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”] Image: Reuters[/caption] I didn’t know Apple back then. Google didn’t exist. Intel was the next big thing. Since the 486 to a wide gamut of devices – from the RaspberryPi to a tabletop Surface – Microsoft has evolved. Its latest operating system grew leaner and found itself on newer product categories. The new Microsoft under Satya Nadella There’s now a big shift in the way Microsoft is perceived. Specifically coming to the Surface line of devices, there’s the Surface Pro, Surface Book and now Surface Studio. It showed that Windows devices could be brilliantly designed. Another product that was getting widespread attention was the HoloLens. I had the privilege of trying out the HoloLens early on. And it felt that these headsets finally made sense. As a person, I’m admittedly claustrophobic. I like my world to be airy. I love long walks. I love magnanimity in space. Yes I live in Mumbai where space is limited. It’s a desire, and I’ve come to terms with it. But no way am I putting my head into an enclosure for any more than a couple of seconds. That’s what I think when I try on an Oculus-compatible product. The world of VR – is enclosed. But the world of MR (or mixed reality) is open. It brings about a sense of being in an expanse. You see the real world and you can interact with virtual characters as well as augmented data. It’s brilliant. It’s probably what the Google Glass could be. But wasn’t. Then, yesterday, during the Surface event, Microsoft showcased a new VR headset. It had the perfect ingredient. A price of $299. But. But, it wasn’t the same as the HoloLens. This piece of technology, is pocket friendly (nearly) when compared to the real thing which is priced at $3000. [caption id=“attachment_316571” align=“aligncenter” width=“640”] Students from Case Western Reserve University don the new HoloLens during the keynote address during the Microsoft Build 2016 Developers Conference in San Francisco, California March 30, 2016. REUTERS/Beck Diefenbach/File Photo[/caption] So what exactly were we expecting at a tenth of the price? The product has turned from a mixed reality to virtual reality. Did I mention Microsoft is an investor in Facebook? Wouldn’t a better way forward be having Oculus closer to the Surface environment. Instead, what we have a whole new product that sits in a new category. It’s far above the basic Google Cardboard, but below the other noticeable devices such as the HTC Vive. The Vive is priced at $799. Effectively, Microsoft just expanded the zone in which it was working. Rather than just going with mixed reality and the HoloLens, which was also astronomically priced, it just created a new segment that is more affordable and matches with existing competition. All said and done, experience will play an important factor. Because it’s pointless being a Top Gun but experiencing motion sickness while trying out a virtual reality headset.