Idea for "spec" polls on commonly bought models

Here is a suggestion for the forum for spec polls (if it hasn't already been done and I just wasn't able to find it yet):

(in actual "poll" format where you can see a seperate bar graph of the latest results for each model polled)

Have an ongoing "spec-poll" for the more commonly bought models where those who already have one (or later buys one) of any given model can vote between 1 and 7 where:

1 = "way overspec"
2 = "moderately overspec"
3 = "slightly overspec"
4 = "on spec"
5 = "slightly underspec"
6 = "moderately underspec"
7 = "way underspec"

That way once you get about 20 or more responses you can get a basic idea if that particular model usually tends to be overspec or underspec and to what degree based on actual customer experience.

Of course as we get more and more responses over time it will give an even more accurate idea of what to usually expect.

(with all the members on this forum any given model should likely be able to get at least 25 poll responses on many of the more commonly bought models rather quickly, for example, I would be surprised if at least 25 members have not already bought an Ledshoppe 50mw green and they could vote on a poll for it right away and others could vote later as they receive theirs and check them out)

Also, those who get one moderately or way underspec and contact customer service about it can post a comment as to the results, which hopefully would be something like "first one I was sent was way underspec, they sent a replacement which was slightly overspec (or greater), so that way the companies who give consistent good customer service get credit for doing so.

that would take a LOT OF VOTING... maybe its possible but between the number of members that would actually vote and the number of common lasers, its just not reasonable. sorry, just my two cents...

horhay said:

that would take a LOT OF VOTING... maybe its possible but between the number of members that would actually vote and the number of common lasers, its just not reasonable. sorry, just my two cents...

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No offense taken, and I appreciate your taking the time to share your view, but even if a model only had 25 votes on a spec-poll and 80% or more of the votes were at spec or above it would still give me somewhat more confidence in buying the same model myself, and it would not take long for anyone to vote, just a few clicks

speaking for myself, even 5-6 votes would give me some confidence. 25 votes is a LOT though, apart from some main lasers like the arctic and maybe a couple rayfoss. we already have a ton of reviews on really popular lasers. this would be great if it worked, and i think it should be implemented - but not quite to expect such results.

horhay said:

speaking for myself, even 5-6 votes would give me some confidence. 25 votes is a LOT though, apart from some main lasers like the arctic and maybe a couple rayfoss. we already have a ton of reviews on really popular lasers. this would be great if it worked, and i think it should be implemented - but not quite to expect such results.

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I agree that a spec-poll will shed more light on some models because of more people voting on some than others.

I have read about quite a few people buying the Ledshoppe 50mw so I would think that model could have at least 10-15 people that could vote right away and others voting later after they receive theirs.

I know there are a lot of reviews on various models and that is fantastic for getting a detailed review by individual owners on all the pros and cons of a specific model .......but it would also be very helpful to be able to go to one page (the spec-poll page for a specific model) and read a bar graph to get an overall view of what level of being over or under spec most customers have had with that particular model.

The idea is good but it wouldn't take into account a change in quality. This would skew the results in favour of a manufacturer who initially supplied top quality only to start cutting corners and providing poor lasers after that. This is why the, "Review", and, "companies", sections are there. The search button should pull up results and it's up to the buyer to decide from those results. At least that way they also get the full benefit of an opinion on all aspects of the laser; the quality of product; customer service; price; shipping; etc.

As I said, I think the idea is good, but impractical I think.

No offense either, just my thoughts.

M

Morgan said:

The idea is good but it wouldn't take into account a change in quality. This would skew the results in favour of a manufacturer who initially supplied top quality only to start cutting corners and providing poor lasers after that. This is why the, "Review", and, "companies", sections are there. The search button should pull up results and it's up to the buyer to decide from those results. At least that way they also get the full benefit of an opinion on all aspects of the laser; the quality of product; customer service; price; shipping; etc.

As I said, I think the idea is good, but impractical I think.

No offense either, just my thoughts.

M

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Good point about the quality changing over time, but people could note such a change in a reply on the poll thread, especially if there was a change in a relatively short period of time.

I went ahead and started such a poll for the Ledshoppe 50mw Green Laser Pointer in the Reviews section so we all can see how it goes.

I can't vote yet because I am still waiting on mine to arrive, but it will be interesting to see how people vote who already have one.

It would need to be stickied to be useful too don't forget. As soon as it falls off the front page, it will become forgotten.

I don't see it having legs but trying doesn't hurt. It was a bit pointless asking for advice about the poll before getting more feedback though wasn't it? Not trying to be overly harsh but you had two people reply to this thread. Should just have gone ahead with the poll.

M

Morgan said:

It would need to be stickied to be useful too don't forget. As soon as it falls off the front page, it will become forgotten.

I don't see it having legs but trying doesn't hurt. It was a bit pointless asking for advice about the poll before getting more feedback though wasn't it? Not trying to be overly harsh but you had two people reply to this thread. Should just have gone ahead with the poll.

M

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Well, after thinking about it I just thought why not just go ahead and give it a try !

Good idea about seeing if it can be made a sticky - how is that done, does a moderator have to decide to mae something a sticky as I did not see any option to do so ?

(probally would be best to have a sticky folder for the various spec-polls if other people start more such polls so it would not take up as much room on the first page if there were a lot of spec-polls started)

Yes, a moderator decides. No, I don't think it will happen until the poll proves itself.

Maybe you should make it clear in the first post that this thread is dead then.

M

I, for one, think that spec polls are a great idea. Yes, reviews are out there, but so many of the cheaper lasers have large enough variance from sample to sample that I would really appreciate getting at least a general idea of how likely an order is the be over or underspec.

Yes, that's just the point... The quality changes and a poll gives next to no information on how good the next laser to be sold will be. It may seem to help those that want to shortcut the reading but it won't be based on detailed facts and STILL comes down to luck of the draw. You need more than just a, "It's good", or, "It's not good". You need the measurements and qualification that a review thread has. There is more to a pointer than how bright someone, 'feels', it is. That's the point to proper reviews. LPF is not a laser magazine; it is a laser forum. We discuss and properly evaluate, we don't condense and, 'sound bite', the findings. To find a good, value for money laser from a consistently good supplier, you have to put the work in.

[EDIT: It seems this thread isn't dead after all.]

M

Morgan said:

Yes, that's just the point... The quality changes and a poll gives next to no information on how good the next laser to be sold will be. It may seem to help those that want to shortcut the reading but it won't be based on detailed facts and STILL comes down to luck of the draw. You need more than just a, "It's good", or, "It's not good". You need the measurements and qualification that a review thread has. There is more to a pointer than how bright someone, 'feels', it is. That's the point to proper reviews. LPF is not a laser magazine; it is a laser forum. We discuss and properly evaluate, we don't condense and, 'sound bite', the findings. To find a good, value for money laser from a consistently good supplier, you have to put the work in.

[EDIT: It seems this thread isn't dead after all.]

M

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I encourage members to study the detailed reviews and not rely on just a "spec poll" alone, but the spec poll can help give at a quick glance what general spec levels owners have had thus far.

AstroLaser said:

I encourage members to study the detailed reviews and not rely on just a "spec poll" alone, but the spec poll can help give at a quick glance what general spec levels owners have had thus far.

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I have to say I disagree as that's exactly what people would do if it was stickied, no matter what you encouraged them to do. They would rely on it, and not bother spending time reading what they really need to know. I'm not trying to shoot your idea down here. Just trying to make you aware why it may not work, and not to be disappointed if it doesn't. They're the reasons I would not look at a poll, (in any form, in any place), because there's not enough detail, the goalposts keep changing and the opinion is only arrived at from a narrow set of choices.

I hope it works for you, and others may find it useful but you asked for opinions and mine is that it doesn't offer enough to be truly useful.

Good luck with the poll though.

M

Morgan said:

I have to say I disagree as that's exactly what people would do if it was stickied, no matter what you encouraged them to do. They would rely on it, and not bother spending time reading what they really need to know. I'm not trying to shoot your idea down here. Just trying to make you aware why it may not work, and not to be disappointed if it doesn't. They're the reasons I would not look at a poll, (in any form, in any place), because there's not enough detail, the goalposts keep changing and the opinion is only arrived at from a narrow set of choices.

I hope it works for you, and others may find it useful but you asked for opinions and mine is that it doesn't offer enough to be truly useful.

Good luck with the poll though.

M

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Thanks for the input, it is appreciated !

When I was doing a LOT of searching on info about a model I was considering ordering (and finally did) I had read several different levels of performance from various owners, from underspec to overspec, and just thought it would be good to see all the spec levels in one place on a bar graph to see a general overview.

I appreciate that. It does seem to be a logical thought. Looking at the poll now though, I think you would probably come to the conclusion to buy something else. However, it only shows 5 votes, and doesn't offer anything as to how the conclusions were made. I mean, does the owner have anything to measure the output or were they just diappointed and the actual output was fine?

These are the sort of things I feel you need to know about.

Another thought came to me whilst looking at the poll. What's to stop me just voting, even if I've never heard of this make but own a company with a different model, or just for plain devilment?

Proof is in the pudding and I don't want you to think I'm getting at you becaue I'm not. As I said in my first post, I think it's a nice idea, just implementing it has problems. I still think your heart is definitely in the right place though.

M