The Quest 3 is my new plaything. I've spent well over £150 on software for it, and am having a blast.
It is still wearing on box on your face though, and has slight 'tunnel' vision. The worst part is the display though; I'm too spoilt by OLED blacks, so watching videos on it is good at best.
Other than that, the Switch successor is my only definite buy.
An AMD Wacom EMR device still eludes me, as does a colour E-Ink device with EMR that doesn't phone home to China all the time (seriously, for some of the uses I have for such a device, I simply can't have that).
For relatives and friends, I'm looking at what HMD put out.
I'm torn on the Rokid Max I have. I do use them a lot, but the edge blur is too annoying for desktop use. They also get uncomfortable and warm. So, I do want to try some other XR glasses, but they all seem similar and madd by Chiness OEMs.
Speaking of Chinese OEMs: I've sworn off them. Overpromised products, iffy quality control, and terrible support. Also the import tax dodging they try doesn't sit right with me.
I just purchased 2 pieces of tech before the year end.
I was looking for a 16-inch-ish Pen/Touch Display to get a little more back into drawing. I was contemplating the Movink but I have so many 13-inch-ish devices as is. I also wanted Multi-Touch and didn't want to spend alot. (that's like the unicorn feature of pen displays sadly still)
The 16/17 Cintiq Pros with Touch were a tad bit out of my price range. So I opted for a device by XP Pen, the Artist Pro 16TP. I bought a mint/open box model off Ebay for like $300-ish.
So far I'm loving it, the Pen responsiveness and pressure are all good and the touch works fine. The device itself feels a tad flimsy, and while the pen/tech doesn't feel as good as Wacom Pro Pen 3/Samsung S-Pen EMR, but it is better then Apple Pencil Pro/Slim Pen 2, and still a perfectly fine EMR device for about $300.
The 2nd item was a 43-inch monitor (for the same set up as the XP-Pen). I have this one setup that is three 43-inch LG monitors. A secondary set up I had was an assortment of 4-6 29-inch monitors with the ultra wide 21:9 aspect ratio. However after using the larger 43-inch monitors, going back to 29-inchers is kind of annoying, so I got rid of three of the 29-inchers and bought a Samsung 43" Odyssey Neo G7 4K UHD. Still getting used to the new setup, but its working good for me.
As far as New Year Tech....a Switch 2 would also be on my 2025 list (assuming the rumors and leaks come true)
Also still looking at the base model Mac Mini or another type of NUC to replace a Hades Canyon NUC
And should the rumors of a Foldable or OLED iPad Mini Pro come true, that will be an instant purchase.
Nintendo Switch 2 is the new, new thing I'm definitely getting.
Bailed on the Samsung Galaxy Book 4/5 Pro 360 when I bought a second Book 3 Pro 360, but if Windows 11 remains tractable, and the form factor stays the same, I'll probably get a Book 6 Pro 360.
There's also the Soulcircuit Pilet (Raspberry Pi 5 tablet) launching soon, will definitely be getting at least two.
Hoping for a high-resolution follow-up to the Wacom Movink 13.
I suppose I should replace my Intel MacBook Pro, but the side gig company hasn't offered on that yet....
I downloaded Jump Desktop for my iPad Pro and MacBook Pro. There are a few issues. The Resolution isn't great, nothing that matches the iPad Pro, and it's got some weird glitches so far where the screen kind of ghosts out for a second. It's a bit laggy as well. But, my MacBook Pro is Intel and has some issues anyway, so it might just be that. My VDI for work adjusts the resolution and works fine on my iPad Pro, with less noticeable lag than with jump so far. But again, maybe that's the MBP.
I want to get a Mac Mini and use it primarily on my desk, but if needed access it from my iPad Pro as a Pseudo Mac Pad. But with the experience so far, maybe that's not the best use of my funds. I'm debating waiting for the M4 MacBook Air instead.
My other thoughts are maybe getting something like XReals or similar to connect to my iPad Pro for remoting to the MacMini to resolve the resolution issues, but that brings the price up to MBA territory, so why not just get one of those?
I don't use my MacBook very much if at all away from my desk, so it's not a huge deal, but it would be nice.
Anyway, other than that, debating between the S25 Ultra when it is released or waiting for the rumoured Mediatek driven Pixel 10.
My husband has been playing around with the various virtual workspace options on the quest and it definitely has him interested in picking up an Apple Vision Pro. Best we can do is one for $2600 on Facebook Marketplace near us and that is still waaaaaay tooooooo hiiiiiiiiiigh.
'm currently enjoying exploring the XR/AR/VR space. Setting up the Quest to work as an immersive virtual workspace is interesting, but the current headstrap on the Quest is not a good fit for my head. I have a new one on order. I'm actually still most happy with the xreal airs, especially with the development of the Breezy gnome app that gives me a virtual widescreen that I can pin in space with no need for extra boxes.
I'm looking forward to seeing how this space develops and what kinds of hardware and experiences will come in the new year.
I'm still intrigued by eink, and use it off and on, but haven't been able to turn any of the eink tablets I have into full time anythings. I like playing with them, but don't use any very regularly.
I don't know what upgrades the new year might have for me. I'm not settled on exactly what device I like working from the best. If I could settle on one thing I might upgrade that one thing. I currently bounce between the laptop I'm on now (an older thinkpad yoga that can't drive the LG DualUp), the Ally (which I have destroyed the already anemic battery on), or the desktop (old and crust, but has a nice video card).
The tablet collection is good here, not looking to upgrade the S9 Ultra or the Pro X. Phone and watch also holding steady.
Unless you're in the ecosystem and can take advantage of it, or there's a very specific app that's only on iPad, I'd skip it. You have a better screen on the S9 Ultra. You aren't saving much from a size comparison for portability.
Idk, I feel like the iPad is one of those devices where, if you have a specific use case for it, you know what it is, and you get the iPad. If not, it sits mostly unused.
It's partially FOMO. Every single musician I know IRL uses an iPad and ForScore. I've used that combo in the past, and it is very good. I'm also curious about iOS's version of OneNote and Stage Manager vs Dex. Is all of that worth the sticker price. Probably not. I'll just watch a few youtube videos about it and then give up.
Most likely I will have to replace my Windows machine, a Surface Go 2. Not looking forward to it.
The Quest 3 is my new plaything. I've spent well over £150 on software for it, and am having a blast.
It is still wearing on box on your face though, and has slight 'tunnel' vision. The worst part is the display though; I'm too spoilt by OLED blacks, so watching videos on it is good at best.
Other than that, the Switch successor is my only definite buy.
An AMD Wacom EMR device still eludes me, as does a colour E-Ink device with EMR that doesn't phone home to China all the time (seriously, for some of the uses I have for such a device, I simply can't have that).
For relatives and friends, I'm looking at what HMD put out.
I'm torn on the Rokid Max I have. I do use them a lot, but the edge blur is too annoying for desktop use. They also get uncomfortable and warm. So, I do want to try some other XR glasses, but they all seem similar and madd by Chiness OEMs.
Speaking of Chinese OEMs: I've sworn off them. Overpromised products, iffy quality control, and terrible support. Also the import tax dodging they try doesn't sit right with me.
I just purchased 2 pieces of tech before the year end.
I was looking for a 16-inch-ish Pen/Touch Display to get a little more back into drawing. I was contemplating the Movink but I have so many 13-inch-ish devices as is. I also wanted Multi-Touch and didn't want to spend alot. (that's like the unicorn feature of pen displays sadly still)
The 16/17 Cintiq Pros with Touch were a tad bit out of my price range. So I opted for a device by XP Pen, the Artist Pro 16TP. I bought a mint/open box model off Ebay for like $300-ish.
So far I'm loving it, the Pen responsiveness and pressure are all good and the touch works fine. The device itself feels a tad flimsy, and while the pen/tech doesn't feel as good as Wacom Pro Pen 3/Samsung S-Pen EMR, but it is better then Apple Pencil Pro/Slim Pen 2, and still a perfectly fine EMR device for about $300.
The 2nd item was a 43-inch monitor (for the same set up as the XP-Pen). I have this one setup that is three 43-inch LG monitors. A secondary set up I had was an assortment of 4-6 29-inch monitors with the ultra wide 21:9 aspect ratio. However after using the larger 43-inch monitors, going back to 29-inchers is kind of annoying, so I got rid of three of the 29-inchers and bought a Samsung 43" Odyssey Neo G7 4K UHD. Still getting used to the new setup, but its working good for me.
As far as New Year Tech....a Switch 2 would also be on my 2025 list (assuming the rumors and leaks come true)
Also still looking at the base model Mac Mini or another type of NUC to replace a Hades Canyon NUC
And should the rumors of a Foldable or OLED iPad Mini Pro come true, that will be an instant purchase.
Nintendo Switch 2 is the new, new thing I'm definitely getting.
Bailed on the Samsung Galaxy Book 4/5 Pro 360 when I bought a second Book 3 Pro 360, but if Windows 11 remains tractable, and the form factor stays the same, I'll probably get a Book 6 Pro 360.
There's also the Soulcircuit Pilet (Raspberry Pi 5 tablet) launching soon, will definitely be getting at least two.
Hoping for a high-resolution follow-up to the Wacom Movink 13.
I suppose I should replace my Intel MacBook Pro, but the side gig company hasn't offered on that yet....
This is a first for me. I am not looking forward to anything tech-wise in the new year. No hint of tech lust at all.
I'm kind of torn on what I want to do next.
I downloaded Jump Desktop for my iPad Pro and MacBook Pro. There are a few issues. The Resolution isn't great, nothing that matches the iPad Pro, and it's got some weird glitches so far where the screen kind of ghosts out for a second. It's a bit laggy as well. But, my MacBook Pro is Intel and has some issues anyway, so it might just be that. My VDI for work adjusts the resolution and works fine on my iPad Pro, with less noticeable lag than with jump so far. But again, maybe that's the MBP.
I want to get a Mac Mini and use it primarily on my desk, but if needed access it from my iPad Pro as a Pseudo Mac Pad. But with the experience so far, maybe that's not the best use of my funds. I'm debating waiting for the M4 MacBook Air instead.
My other thoughts are maybe getting something like XReals or similar to connect to my iPad Pro for remoting to the MacMini to resolve the resolution issues, but that brings the price up to MBA territory, so why not just get one of those?
I don't use my MacBook very much if at all away from my desk, so it's not a huge deal, but it would be nice.
Anyway, other than that, debating between the S25 Ultra when it is released or waiting for the rumoured Mediatek driven Pixel 10.
I'm waiting for used Apple Vision Pro's to drop to $600. So like in 2030. Other than that I hope to go new-device-free in 2025, shame on me!
'm currently enjoying exploring the XR/AR/VR space. Setting up the Quest to work as an immersive virtual workspace is interesting, but the current headstrap on the Quest is not a good fit for my head. I have a new one on order. I'm actually still most happy with the xreal airs, especially with the development of the Breezy gnome app that gives me a virtual widescreen that I can pin in space with no need for extra boxes.
I'm looking forward to seeing how this space develops and what kinds of hardware and experiences will come in the new year.
I'm still intrigued by eink, and use it off and on, but haven't been able to turn any of the eink tablets I have into full time anythings. I like playing with them, but don't use any very regularly.
I don't know what upgrades the new year might have for me. I'm not settled on exactly what device I like working from the best. If I could settle on one thing I might upgrade that one thing. I currently bounce between the laptop I'm on now (an older thinkpad yoga that can't drive the LG DualUp), the Ally (which I have destroyed the already anemic battery on), or the desktop (old and crust, but has a nice video card).
The tablet collection is good here, not looking to upgrade the S9 Ultra or the Pro X. Phone and watch also holding steady.