HTC claims the Vive VR headset racked up more than 15,000 pre-orders in less than 10 minutes. The orders for the HTC-Valve Vive started on February 29, .The company will start shipping the device on April 5. Now, here's everything you need to know about HTC Vive price, release date, specs and features.
The HTC Vive costs $799 for a VR headset, which includes two controllers and the two base stations that scale the virtual-reality world. Interested buyers should make sure that they powerful PC to enjoy the VR device. Therefore, the early adopters would have to spend around $1,500.
Here are HTV Vive's system requirements for gaming PC, courtesy of CNET.
- CPU: Intel i5-4590, AMD FX-8350 or equivalent
- Graphics: Nvidia GTX 970, AMD R9 290
- Memory: 4GB+
- Video Output: HDMI 1.4 or DisplayPort 1.2
- USB port 1x USB 2.0
- Operating System : Windows 7 SP1 or newer
If the 15,000 figure in sub-10 minute period is correct, Tech Crunch estimated that Vive developers earned $12M in revenue in just ten minutes. Compare to Oculus Rift, which is $599, the Vive has heftier price However, the VR headset from HTC will give users a much more immersing virtual-reality experience.
The Vive should be even more alienating than other upcoming VR gadgets. It supports seated experience, and users can roam around on a larger area.
Most of the VR gadgets from other companies involve placing a camera in front the user, but in the Vive, two tiny black boxes have to mount in two corners of the user's room. These two black boxes will paint the virtual reality world. They can cover an area for up to 15 by 15 feet.
Furthermore, the most interesting part in using HTC Vive is its controllers. Users can hold an object while swinging around a virtual sword or shooting a virtual gun. Some gamers say that is a lot more fun than using a mouse and keyboard.
In terms of comfort, the HTC Vive weighs a little more than a pound. The device is also a bit heavy on the front, because most of its hardware is tucked up there. There are straps on the side to adjusts the device on the user's head.
We'll give more updates once the HTC Vive hits the market on April.
Interestingly, investment bank Goldman Sachs predicted virtual reality gadgets could reach $110 billion in spending by 2020, so expect tech companies to develop much-improved VR gadgets in the future.
