Why Facebook's Oculus Rift Has Already Lost the Virtual Reality Battle

          Oculus Rift is a Facebook owned virtual reality juggernaught that seemed like could not be stopped.  We all knew it was only a matter of time before we are strapping the VR goggles on our heads, and chatting with Grandma as we skydive into an active virtual volcano.  But is there a David in this story to match this Facebook Goliath?  The answer is yes.  Surprisingly enough, Google is the David in this story.  You see, Google,the other internet Giant has managed to pull off a nearly impossible marketing feat.  It is looking like the little guy in the fight of it's life.  And we all want to root for the underdog right?
          Sure, Facebook's Oculus Rift has been shaking the foundations of the tech world for so long now, we can hardly wait to see it in action.  (We being the general public).  But that is kind of the problem.  It has literally been years since we first started hearing about the Oculus Rift.  I am quite certain it will be amazing when it comes out, but I feel like it may be too late.  The rest of us will have at least tried Google's silly (genius) trip into virtual reality by the time Oculus hits.  More importantly, we will have tried hundreds of apps.  And Yes, some of if not most of the apps will be terrible, but some will utterly impress.  In short, by the time the Oculus arrives, we will have already been sold on the idea that a piece of $15 cardboard actually holds the key to some pretty awesome virtual reality experiences. Will we then be willing to turn around and shell out 20 or 30 times that price for a $300-$500 Rift? 
          The Oculus will have to answer some very tough questions in order to gain customers.  The first major question will be, "Can the Oculus deliver a VR experience that is twice as good as Google's little Cardboard wonder.  That is laughable.  Of course Oculus can.  What about 3 times as good?  Yep.  It sure will.  Ok, how about 5 times as good.  Well ... probably?  10 times? 20 times? 30 times as good?  Ehe, maybe not.  Think about it.  When something is twice as good as something else.  That is pretty fantastic.  When it is 5 times as good, that is out of this world and really uncommon.    Yet Oculus will have to deliver 30 times as good of a product in order for the customers to be willing to pay 30 times the price.  Good luck, Oculus.  Even if the customer sees the value of the Oculus as 30 times the price of Cardboard, they may not be able to afford such a luxury device.  Now, I know full well that a Lamborghini is worth 20 times the price of my Jeep, but that does not mean I am in the market for a Lambo.  While it is posssible that there will be enough room in the virtual reality market for 2 major players, I have a hunch, that is not the kind of run-away success Facebook was looking for when it bought the Oculus Rift for 2 billion dollars.     

How to Be Better than Facebook

So, in addition to being a geek dad who loves or even lusts after geeky things:), I also have a PhD in marriage and family therapy.  Yay! So, for me part of writing this blog about being a geek dad, is also about writing this blog about being a dad and a husband.  Thus, from time to time, I will include a few things I have learned from time to time to help us all be better spouses and parents in our own little galaxy of the geek universes we inhabit. 

Now, I know many of us, myself included, feel that Facebook is the end all be all to keeping family members updated on the goings and comings of our lives.  It is so convenient right?  It truly is.  I am not a Facebook hater.  In fact, I update the vast majority of my friends and family members by way of photos and videos on Facebook.  I don’t even describe the pictures usually! 

However, I do believe there is something to be said in receiving hand written items in that thing we call the mailbox.  For some reason, it just seems like you care more when you go through the process of picking out the pen, the paper, the envelope, the stamp, writing down the address, and personalizing a message to someone.  I guess the reason it seems like you care more is that it takes more care to do it.

Each week, I write a letter to two people in my life that I fell appreciate getting letters from me.  I don’t think they hang on my every word or anything.  I just think they enjoy opening the mailbox and seeing an update on my crazy family with 6 children.  Both of these people are close enough with us as a family, that they would appreciate being in the know of our lives.  More important than that, I think they just like the feeling that perhaps they have not been forgotten.  Or, that they are important to someone. 

Thus, if you can, write someone a hand written Birthday note, or an anniversary wish.  Use stamps.  Let someone know they are important and meaningful to you.