Hope no one posted this already. But since Xunshu said
I thought it would be good to dedicate this topic to list out all the problems, so their update next week will hopefully address each of these issues more specifically and thoroughly.
Good job to collect the issues and point to the source.
I suppose, but of course cannot be sure, that there is a bit of redundancy in terms of different people using different descriptions for the same issue:
points 1 + 2 likely are the same issue (possibly caused by a noticable border between two different kinds of lenses)
point 4 is likely a mere result of points 3 + 5/6/9
points 5, 6 + 9 all probably go back to the IPD and convergence issue; though I might be wrong here and it is two separate issues, some weird distortion (then possibly related to points 1 + 2) and the IPD convergence issue as a second problem.
point 10 is a really weird one - I tried the V2, and it was really lighter than the Vive, around the same as the Rift. But the V5 is possibly more sturdy, has new (heavier ?) lenses. But why on earth are a few users reporting an HMD heavier than even the Vive, and others seem to experience more or less the V3 weight ? The simplest answer would be that Pimax switched back to V3 when it showed that V5 is a mess. But then it would have had the open sensors. Perhaps they had the V4 with them, which none of us has seen, and that one may have had covered sensors but less weight due to non-production tooling and old lenses ?
Thanks…
Well, I really can’t be sure if some of the points are the same problems as some of the other points. I tried to list them all out, so that Pimax can address them one by one and determine for themselves whether the some of the points are related to one another. If they are related, it can only mean a good thing. Less work for Pimax. But I would hope that they can address them in the point format I listed above, so we can be clear about each of them.
I thought that if I am unsure, it is better to list them all out, rather than have Pimax miss out on a potential issue just because I was assuming they are caused by the same underlying problem, and I was wrong.
I don’t think the blurred vision outside of the 120 degree FOV is an “issue”.
Every VR headset has its own “sweet spot” in the middle that the user finds when putting on the headset, things outside of that “sweet spot” are generally a little more blurry.
Pimax the lenses of the Pimax 8K are massive the “sweet spot” is much larger but things to the sides are blurred.
"V5 is the first prototype after the tooling for mass production. It requests lots of tuning works.
However, we still decide to bring it to CES to showcase the backers the latest version.
We made several changes with v5 before CES.
For example, the lenses and the mechanical design of the lenses are both new tooling version. The change may lead to new issues, e.g. the reflections, but the issues will be eliminated and the benefit of the new design will reveal after fine tuning.
To reach approximate 30% increase in terms of brightness level, we added 3 more LEDs in the backlight panel from 12 to 15 and increased the LED current supply to the panel as well. As a result, the current supply in other parts decreases and new issues occurs e.g. tracking performance. It’s not hard to resolve, the team is working on it.
We use valve tracking technology, the tracking performance won’t be an issue at all in the final product.
After hardware and software fine tuning and all the issues resolved, we plan to ship limited number of testing units to selected backers, and may bring the units to more backers to test via roadshows.
this month.
The details of the issues and analysis, along with shipping schedule will be updated later "
Seems to me to be a reasonable approach. I see nothing in the Pimax response to CES concerns that would indicate a lack of understanding as to the “known issues”. It would seem reasonable to wait for the above mention analysis before assuming they don’t.
I, for one, find nothing surprising that a new prototype with new hardware and a new assembly process and a day old and no fine tuning would exhibit some anomalies not seen in earlier versions. Nor do I see any reason to think Pimax does either.
I do not see anything strange either, that’s why I’m very surprised that Pimax did not have a “plan B” prepared, and just took some recently finished prototypes, that barely tested the day before, to an event as important as CES; having version 3, which had given such a good result, or version 4, if it was version 3 with improvements.
They could have taught version 5, noting that they had just made it the day before and it still had to be adjusted.
In my Personal selfish opinion as a backer, I don’t mind them bringing out a less than perfect headset to whatever show is out there. Because, it is those shows that gives people the opportunity to try it out and give reviews. Otherwise, we wouldn’t have known the things that needs to be straightened out.
But I can understand that those who know nothing about the headset will feel disappointed with it. OR FEEL AWED, if they know nothing about VR or the Pimax headset. But right now, Pimax is not trying to get new users anyway. Once the perfect headset is out there and Pimax is ready to produce in large quantities, it will not be too late for people new to VR to read good reviews about it or try it out then.
For now, I don’t care if the next few prototype versions have less than stellar reviews (with at least some improvements) because Pimax is willing to let VR knowledgeable people try it out. As long as the final version is great, it is all good. Bring it on and show your progress Pimax and don’t be afraid to let people try it. Don’t take too long though.
They could also have been preparing a version to show to the public, even if it had not been done with the mass manufacturing tools; it would have been enough to inform the backers privately about the lack of adjustments, instead of having them waiting and then letting them take the unpleasant surprise through the only information they received: criticism from the world media.
CES is more to demonstrate what can be done; they would have shown the system with the least distortion and the best tracking they could have achieved.
If they talked about showing a demo of an Oculus game, it was that they knew that people wanted to see someone trying a game with Revive; If they wanted to show so much, why did not they show at least a Luckey’s Tale in the end?
I agree that they could have informed the backers about the lack of adjustments first, that would have made us more prepared.
But personally, I would prefer them showing the latest prototype that they feel is most close to the final product, no matter how bad the reviews will turn out. Any explanation and clarification on their side would easily put my mind at ease. I feel that demoing an earlier prototype, even if it seems better at that time, would not be as useful for them to get feedback on how to improve to the final product. I am quite confident that even tnough V3 had better reviews, V5 must have improvements over V3 that are worth it. And even if there are kinks, they can be straigthened out without much effort, considering the fact that they have been able to earlier on in V3.
Let’s just hope for the best. Let’s hope V6 will make it seem obvious that the headset is an improvement over V3 and definitely V5
you already backed, you wait till they finish product, you don’t waste you emotione and time on unfinished prototypes…sick people everywhere these days:/
Dont have to get emotional there cams86… unfinished prototypes with feedback are very helpful for the developers to improve on their products. Chill…
The droning on about CES choices (moot) over a week later is starting to achieve EverReady Bunny status. I am getting visions of that old original Doom mod where we could blow the crap out of that little bugger.
Pimax people are missing for around a week now. I really hope they will address each of the points above. Why can’t they assign one or two people to reply to messages in the forums, instead of having everyone completely disappear for days or weeks all at one time?
