I don't see how this is in any way competitive with the current options. It would't be competitive at sub-$500 pricing, nevermind $2000+.
And then there's the platform bit which is the final nail on the coffin. Let's not kid ourselves here, VR at this point in time is all about the ecosystem rather than hardware and if there is no ecosystem [or backing from the heavyweights], odds are one is going to end up with a very expensive paperweight.
1. There aren't any other portable Linux VR Computers, as far as I'm aware. (There isn't even a portable Windows VR Computer, unless you count the Hololens/AR headset).
2. The Simula One has a higher PPD than any other portable VR headset on the market. This is one of the things driving its cost, but we think it's worth it when we're trying to build something so good that people will want to work in it for hours a day.
3. Our raw headset (not including the detachable compute pack) is competitive on specs with the Varjo Aero (priced at $2K), but the Aero is tethered and doesn't have Linux support. If you just want a Tethered version of our headset (for tethered Windows gaming, or if you want to provide your own Linux compute), it will be available on our Kickstarter for $2K.
4. Other fully portable headsets with comparable prices to ours: the Hololens 2 ($3,500) and the Magic Leap ($2,300). We're offering a Linux VR Computer with excellent specs for $2,800, without any economies of scale or venture backing.
5. Though our headset is competitive with other portable VR platforms (offering higher PPD, etc), it's in some sense not fair to compare it to them. We're offering something for people to work in. We'd like you to also compare the Simula One to premium laptops, which offer less screen real estate.
I think Simula One is competitively priced for enterprise hardware, but I think of Kickstarter as more of a B2C platform.
It might be best to reproduce a B2B playbook like getting a government contract or one large enterprise contract to fund the next phase. I wonder if there is an under served market that overlaps with your goals.
This helps with some of the anxiety I had when I first saw the email update this morning. A bit of sticker shock - but the pricing makes some sense when placed in this context.
And then there's the platform bit which is the final nail on the coffin. Let's not kid ourselves here, VR at this point in time is all about the ecosystem rather than hardware and if there is no ecosystem [or backing from the heavyweights], odds are one is going to end up with a very expensive paperweight.