Isolation Day 58: Facebook has some tempting products
I Bet You Never Thought You’d Hear Me Say That
You heard me right… I know, shocking! Jim Hope thinking about buying things from Facebook.
For those of you who don’t know, I’m not a fan of Facebook. The fact that they have so much data on everyone, whether they use their services or not, is terrifying—not to mention the data breaches and political scandals. I try to avoid them where I can, which is part of why I’m such an "Apple fanboy." I like my data to be mine.
All that aside, my head has been turned by two of their products recently. If these had been created by anyone else, I’d be writing a glowing post about how cool they are. Instead, you get this rant followed by "these products are actually quite good."
Portal TV
For a while, I’ve been toying with the idea of moving my Mac mini into the living room to use as an overpowered Apple TV, complete with a webcam and microphone for video calls. The problem? I already get moaned at for the "rat's nest" of cables behind the TV. Then, the Portal TV popped up on my YouTube feed.
It sits on top of your TV and turns it into a massive video calling screen. It has clever AI that zooms in and tracks you as you move around the room, or zooms out if someone else walks in. It’s got Alexa built-in (I know, Amazon is just as bad as Facebook, but I trust them a bit more than Google).
At £149, it’s not bad—cheaper than buying a separate high-end webcam, microphone, and remote. I’d love to use this for our weekly family video calls so we don't have to keep holding a phone or tablet at awkward angles. Plus, it would be permanently plugged in, though we’d definitely keep the camera covered and the mic disabled when not in use.
Oculus Quest
For ages, I’ve wanted a VR headset—initially so I could be in a "virtual venue" while programming lighting. Nowadays, I want to use it to visualize my 3D projects properly, rather than just staring at my MacBook screen.
When the Oculus Quest hit the scene, I wanted one instantly. Then Facebook bought them, which really put me off. But lately, I’ve been trying to get over my hatred of all things Facebook. I love that the Quest works both with and without a computer. The inside-out tracking (using cameras on the headset instead of external sensors) is a massive plus, as it means fewer cables for my wife to complain about!
I’m not a huge gamer, but I’d love to play Minecraft or some racing games in VR. Being able to see my 3D designs come to life in front of me would really push my modeling to the next level. At £499, it’s a steep price to pay, but it’s definitely something I’ll be saving up for.
Note: Since writing this, I should add a quick update for 2026. If you're looking at these products now, be aware that the Portal TV has been officially discontinued and most of its features (like Zoom, voice control, and photo frame functions) have been shut down. As for the Oculus Quest (the original), it has also reached its "end of life" and no longer receives updates. If you're looking for VR today, the newer Quest models are the way to go!
Do you have the same concerns as me about companies having so much info about us? Should I just let my anger at big tech go and enjoy the gear? Let me know in the comments below!