Microsoft’s HoloLens wearable computer/augmented reality device is still very much in the developer preview stage of its life cycle. HoloLens hardware is currently expensive, the software is still under development, and did I mention that it’s expensive?
But now you can buy one if you want. Microsoft started shipping $3,000 HoloLens development kits earlier this year, but at the time they were only available to developers who filled out an application before paying for the hardware.
Now you don’t need to fill out an application anymore.
Want a HoloLens Development Edition device? All you need to place an order is $3,000, a shipping address in the US or Canada, and a Microsoft Account.
Microsoft notes that some developers who had submitted applications may never have heard back. If they’re still waiting they can just go ahead and order up to 5 units directly from Microsoft now.
Officially, the company is still positioning the device as a product for businesses and developers. They won’t be available from Microsoft Retail stores yet. But you can order the development edition from the Microsoft Store’s US or Canadian online stores.
Or you could wait for Microsoft to turn HoloLens into a commercial product or work with third-party device makers to make it into a platform that runs on a wide range of hardware. Odds are you’ll eventually be able to get an augmented reality “holographic” computer for a lot less than $3,000… and it’ll probably be capable of doing a lot more than these early prototypes.
via TechCrunch