Can you afford the $3,000 price tag? The consumer edition is likely to be lighter on your wallet though. The downside is the waiting time.

Although in the past, Microsoft had kind of limited the ability to purchase its augmented reality headset, in a strategic move aimed at widening its user base rapidly, Microsoft has given consumers the ability to purchase its HoloLens head set as long as they meet three criteria:

1. The user has to have a Microsoft account. Given Microsoft’s penchant for rigorously tracking user habits vide its various telemetry services, with many stating that Windows 10 is a keylogger, it wouldn’t be surprising if it would want to know who is using its devices, how they are being used and what content is being used on them.

2. Your shipping address has to point to a location in the U.S or Canada.

3. Can afford the $3,000 price tag.

Although the device is officially available to only developers, consumers can snag one as long as they meet the above criteria.

So if you are wondering how to pay your rent next month in order to afford the current version of Microsoft’s HoloLens, it would be prudent to skip it till the consumer edition is out. Your wallet will thank you for it.

It is very likely that the consumer edition will be a lot lighter on your wallet.