The HTC's Wow Factor May Trump Shortcomings for VR Fans

The HTC Vive drew accolades from a hyped-up base of gamers and virtual reality enthusiasts when it launched earlier this month -- just days after the release of the Oculus Rift.

However, the Vive is proving to be an experience that is not for the faint of heart, the light of wallet, or the short of patience.

HTC earlier this year unveiled the Vive to an enthusiastic audience at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona. Among its differentiating features is the Vive headset's ability to let users receive and respond to phone calls and text messages while immersed in the VR experience.

The Vive is a collaboration between HTC and Valve, developer of the SteamVR online gaming platform.