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Comment by ajdude | Hacker News Reader

I bought the xreal air one last year. Just looks like a pair of sunglasses, plugs into my MacBook Air via USB-C, and Projects three 1080 P monitors in my field of vision. I set my laptop up at a café, black out my macbook's screen, and it works pretty well. Been doing this almost every day for months.

They also have a device that let you cast to the glasses wirelessly so I can go for a walk and have a little YouTube video in the bottom right corner of my field of view (think of those old picture in picture TVs)

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I don’t think we’re ready for a world where sunglassed people in a cafe sit there staring blankly. Imagine what it’s like for the various patrons as you adjust your field of view towards their direction. Just awkward.

While this probably makes it sound worse, since it projects two 1080 P monitors on either side of the one in the center, I'm often looking back-and-forth between the three monitors.

Essentially it's like having a large 1080 P monitor in front of you, and then two on either side at an angle.

three large monitors, none of which will be visible to anyone else.. (unless AR glasses go mainstream and share data)

It was similar when wireless earbuds became popular and people were walking towards you on a sidewalk or standing next to you in a tram and started talking, without a phone in their hand. You get used to it.

I don't think I ever will.

Are there any downsides for doing work with these? I really can't wait for the first time I can work with a laptop from anywhere (just need multiple monitors and a Internet connection)

If you are easily motion sick they will not work for you. They’re a great product though, and I love the idea. Unfortunately I move my head around too much when sitting still I get motion sick trying to read text.

The Nebula software they have anchors the screens in a stationary spot which helps alleviate the motion sickness.

As someone who suffers from motion sickness since I was a child, as well as with the earlier headsets, the advent of passthrough mode has been delightful. Seeing the world around you is a game changer in that sense.

I get plenty of hacking done in bed with 'em. I don't even bother with the multi-display stuff AR.

It’s like working on a projector. Having 3 projectors in front of you is amazing compared to a small laptop, but it’s still not bettter than a proper desk setup.

I do find it annoying how isolating the glasses are. It’s hard to look around and daydream

Very cool. The article mentions a newer version that has two 1080p screens, one for each eye. Does this mean the older version you're using is more capable in this regard?

Both versions have a 1080p screen for each eye, but when you plug them into the computer they anchor 3 virtual 1080p screen in front of you in AR. It's similar to if you had 3 monitors in front of you.

This is such anti social behaviour. Only a HNer would find this appropriate

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