I have $100 dollars to buy a laser!

so I am new to this place, but i know all about lasers, so I am just wondering what you guys would give me (I expect at least a 30 mW), but I'm just happy to put money in the laser economy.

Well you could get this laser.. http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1372
It will average around 70-80mw, although its not really a "quality" laser but for the price it can be hard to complain, also the shipping is free so its right in your dollor amount.

If you want a quality laser but less power i would go with this...
http://www.novalasers.com/NOVAstore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=3&idproduct=83
It would have more power than they advertise, the average will almost always be around 35mw and peak will be higher, they are very good quality lasers and the company has excelent customer service.

Also if you want to pay 20 more dollors you can get one with double the power....http://www.novalasers.com/NOVAstore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=3&idproduct=84

...lazer.... ;D ;D ;D

If it were me, I'd put it towards savings for a bit more laser. You open up some pretty impressive possibilities once you hit the $200-350 range. At $100, you would probably be best off buying from dealextreme.com. The lasers they sell are very poor quality - its a really a crapshoot what you're gunna get, but they sure are cheap per the mW. At $100 you could get a "true 100mW" which should net you 60-90+mW of actual 532nm laser.

EDIT: Well, looks like wlaser beat me to it! (yeah, like I'm gunna try adding all those 'O's)

Yes, if i were you i would save up $209 then you could buy this laser...
http://www.novalasers.com/NOVAstore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idcategory=3&idproduct=86

It can light matches, pop baloons from many feet, light firework fuses and all without a lense.

...lazer... ;D ;D ;D

wow you guys are nice and helpful, this is a great community. Just wondering if I did save up 20 bucks more, could I burn stuff with that 50 mw, and what constitutes a quality laser?

A quality laser has an ir filter, better quality crystals, usualy better focusing. A quality laser is one that will last quite a long time, you have a very small chance of it breaking and if that unfortunantly happens there customer service is so great it is no problem at all, most of the time they will even upgrade you to the next one, like if you had a problem with the laser and sent it back to them most of the time they would upgrade it to the x-75 or just send you a very high spec 50mw.

A 50mw can pop a baloon without a lense and it could light a match if you just take a magnifying glass to focus the spot down to the smallest you can get it.

..lazer... ;D ;D ;D