Want a Microsoft HoloLens headset? It'll cost you £2,719

That's a mere three and a half times the price of an HTC Vive

Microsoft has finally got around to taking pre-orders for the company's HoloLens augmented reality headsets, which will ship in the UK in late November - just in time for Christmas.

However, the Development Edition, which Microsoft says is for developers only, starts at £2,719 in the Microsoft Store.

The Microsoft HoloLens Commercial Suite, which is aimed at "developers and enterprise only", comes with more business-focused features such as Kiosk Mode, BitLocker data encryption and VPN support, and costs £4,529 in the UK.

If you have deep pockets and are thinking of buying one, doing so comes with a stern warning. Microsoft said that you must not resell it, and that all purchases are non-refundable and come with a limited warranty.

The company is pretty chuffed with itself regardless. Alex Kipman, technical fellow at Microsoft's Windows and Devices Group, said: "Since the launch of Microsoft HoloLens we have seen really passionate developers and world-class companies develop ground-breaking computing experiences only possible on HoloLens.

"When we set out to pioneer the mixed-reality category, we knew that many of the best innovations would be discovered when others got their hands on the technology. It has been quite inspiring to see what our partners have built and what individual developers have created.

"Together, we have only scratched the surface for what mixed reality can do. I can't wait to see what happens next as we welcome these new countries to our holographic landscape."

Some businesses have already taken the plunge. Airbus, for example, is testing Microsoft HoloLens as a way to link consumers with digital information, while Audi is using the futuristic tech to improve service quality and cut the time and costs required for maintenance.

"A technology like Microsoft HoloLens could open up new opportunities for our services in many ways. From engineering reviews and collaboration to after-sales scenarios and new ways of customer experiences, there are many uses to be realised," said Jan Pflüger, a consultant on co-ordination, augmented reality and virtual reality at Audi IT.

Inger Lawes, Saab Australia's mixed-reality applications programme head, said that the device has huge potential.

"Microsoft HoloLens is the perfect platform for learning, collaborating or visualising complex information," he said.

"For example, in the training environment, it allows trainers and trainees to share a visually rich interactive experience where the real world can be overlaid with fully interactive holograms."

Computing reviewed the Microsoft HoloLens earlier this year: Folie à deux: Hands-on with Microsoft HoloLens in a shared user environment