Why might you be interested in getting Apple’s new headset? You shouldn’t think about it as a fun gadget, I was told.
For disappearing into work?
I hadn’t been to an Apple store for the longest time.
Nothing’s gone wrong with my Apple devices over the last couple of years, and it’s not as if Apple has released products that especially give me a thrill.
But now Apple was promising at least a thrill and a half with the launch of the Vision Pro headset, so I wanted to feel the pre-launch excitement.
As I wandered into a Bay Area Apple store last week, I looked to see what had changed. Please let me tell you: not much.
Phones here, laptops there, and watches and iPads over there. All on very clean tables.
Surprisingly, however, there were no ads for the Vision Pro. None. Nowhere. In fact, there was no sign that the Vision Pro was coming within less than 100 hours.
Which felt a little odd.
But before I could bathe in that oddness, a charming saleswoman wandered over and asked if she could help.
I leaped straight in. „Do you have any of those goggles, by any chance?“ Well, it didn’t hurt to ask.
She paused for a moment, as if she wasn’t aware the store sold goggles. Then she realized I was talking about the Apple Vision Pro.
„Friday,“ she said. „Come at 8 a.m., line up and you can try one on. First come, first served.“
She saw my marginal disappointment and quickly added: „But it’s going to blow your mind.“
„Oh, have you tried one on?“ I wondered.
„No, but I’ve been trained on them.“
„What does that training entail?“
„Well, we’re not allowed to talk about that, but I promise you, it’s incredible.“
She insisted on proving her point. She walked me over to a MacBook, opened the Apple website, and clicked on the Vision tab.
She began to play a demonstration video that, dare I confess, is quite moving.
