ZapU
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Cool, did you buy it, or is it a free review unit? (Like my G2)
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FrozenGate by Avery
If You've Actually Received Your Spyder III Arctic - Post Here
- Thread starter vegas
- Start date
Cool, did you buy it, or is it a free review unit? (Like my G2)
qumefox
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I highly doubt WL ever intentionally sent anyone free arctics. They were just so unorganized that they double shipped some orders, or shipped canceled orders.
ZapU
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Actually, they did intentionally send out review units. I was contacted directly by Steve from WL and sent one.
All these members also got one:
Prototype G2 (review unit)
The_LED_Museum G2 (review unit)
Things G2 (review unit)
Eudaimonium 2X G2 (review units)
goninanbl00d G2 (review unit)
From Things:
ZapU
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Also added to the previous list of Arctic owners on LPF:
Prototype G2 (review unit)
The_LED_Museum G2 (review unit)
Things G2 (review unit)
Eudaimonium 2X G2 (review units)
goninanbl00d G2 (review unit)
haveblue G1
bbshamsa
TheTelsaWarrior
udanis (was OK but sold it)
plexus 2X G1
cracked G2
Kenom
DEMONEX
LORDJET G1
JonWienke G1?
jaylang11 G2
siamiam G2
Jaxz G2
Akaalis G2
twhite828
Prototype G2 (review unit)
The_LED_Museum G2 (review unit)
Things G2 (review unit)
Eudaimonium 2X G2 (review units)
goninanbl00d G2 (review unit)
haveblue G1
bbshamsa
TheTelsaWarrior
udanis (was OK but sold it)
plexus 2X G1
cracked G2
Kenom
DEMONEX
LORDJET G1
JonWienke G1?
jaylang11 G2
siamiam G2
Jaxz G2
Akaalis G2
twhite828
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I waited about 8 months for mine. Only contacted them about 4 months after purchasing because I was moving from Hawaii back to the mainland and wanted to make sure WL sent it to the right address (Hawaii is a mail black hole).
Anyways, WL posted on their Facebook page that they would be sending out free tripods to those that had to wait so long. I contacted them last week about it and got an email back from Terry saying he would see what he could do to get one sent out to me. They are at least making an effort. So I might get a sweet tripod out of the deal.
In all I'm happy with my Arctic, though I'm definitely bummed it's underpowered (unconfirmed, but I doubt mine is the special one that is 1W or more in power). Anyways, food for thought.
Anyways, WL posted on their Facebook page that they would be sending out free tripods to those that had to wait so long. I contacted them last week about it and got an email back from Terry saying he would see what he could do to get one sent out to me. They are at least making an effort. So I might get a sweet tripod out of the deal.
In all I'm happy with my Arctic, though I'm definitely bummed it's underpowered (unconfirmed, but I doubt mine is the special one that is 1W or more in power). Anyways, food for thought.
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I am a very sad panda...
What's the E3 output? Any idea?
*******
Oh by the way, Trevor (TWHITE828) - I noticed that you have a 445nm lab project on hold. Here's a link to my latest thrown-together 445nm lab laser!
Dorky Overkill Heatsink for 445nm
I call it the Blue Fun Box.
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Double post!! Please Use the edit button!!
I measured the output with my nospin LPM for like 5secs, fired point black into the thermopile. Output is +/-120mW.
Of course I agree that better lasers can be built for less than the price of the Arctic (although at $200 for the early adopters it was by no means overpriced - Yobresal arguably has the most popular "Arctic killer" on here and it's $180).
On the other hand, I disagree that there are many - if any - hosts out there that beat the Arctic. Even the staunchest anti-WL folks on here concede the host is awesome.
Obviously taste is a subjective thing, but every other host i've seen is a variation on a flashlight. Please, by all means send me a link to even ONE host as distinctive as the Arctic. Sure, THEY just copied the look of a lightsaber, but it's just so... RIGHT.
And at least WL designed and manufactured their own, distinctive host. Every other build I've seen thats being made in any sort of quantity is chosen from a selection of pre-made, flashlight-looking hosts.
The only host I've seen that beats the pants off the Arctic is the custom Star Trek phaser build
On the other hand, I disagree that there are many - if any - hosts out there that beat the Arctic. Even the staunchest anti-WL folks on here concede the host is awesome.
Obviously taste is a subjective thing, but every other host i've seen is a variation on a flashlight. Please, by all means send me a link to even ONE host as distinctive as the Arctic. Sure, THEY just copied the look of a lightsaber, but it's just so... RIGHT.
And at least WL designed and manufactured their own, distinctive host. Every other build I've seen thats being made in any sort of quantity is chosen from a selection of pre-made, flashlight-looking hosts.
The only host I've seen that beats the pants off the Arctic is the custom Star Trek phaser build
qumefox
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I don't concede anything lol. I think the arctic host is gaudy and fairly unattractive. And there are plenty of hosts more distinctive than the arctic. If you want pics go look at the non-flashlight based host of the year thread.
To me the arctic looks like a toy.. it was marketed like a toy, and by most people who bought one, it gets used like a toy, and not like a dangerous high powered laser, which it is.
To me the arctic looks like a toy.. it was marketed like a toy, and by most people who bought one, it gets used like a toy, and not like a dangerous high powered laser, which it is.
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Oh give me a break, we ALL treat every laser we buy like a toy, that's all they are!
If anyone on here is using them for scientific research they are in the vast minority. If an outsider were to spend an hour sifting through posts here they would come away with the conclusion that the main reason people buy lasers is the thrill of having a very expensive, hi tech lighter.
Look at 90% (or more) of the newb questions - always the same thing, "can it burn stuff?"
90% (or more) of the Youtube demo videos of lasers are burning vids - the ones that aren't have far fewer views.
A handful of people use them for light shows (like me), but other than burning stuff and playing with it in the dark every now and then, what else IS there to do?
Face it, they are all toys. We get them because the nerd in us thinks it's friggin cool to own a laser with a beam you can see and that can actually blow stuff up (sort of) like in the movies.
That's it!
I'm not saying that a one watt laser in the hand of a 13 year old is a good idea, and I'm not saying they SHOULD be treated like toys, but there's just no other way to view them.
Something you spend good money on that has no practical value other than you think it's cool IS A TOY.
If anyone on here is using them for scientific research they are in the vast minority. If an outsider were to spend an hour sifting through posts here they would come away with the conclusion that the main reason people buy lasers is the thrill of having a very expensive, hi tech lighter.
Look at 90% (or more) of the newb questions - always the same thing, "can it burn stuff?"
90% (or more) of the Youtube demo videos of lasers are burning vids - the ones that aren't have far fewer views.
A handful of people use them for light shows (like me), but other than burning stuff and playing with it in the dark every now and then, what else IS there to do?
Face it, they are all toys. We get them because the nerd in us thinks it's friggin cool to own a laser with a beam you can see and that can actually blow stuff up (sort of) like in the movies.
That's it!
I'm not saying that a one watt laser in the hand of a 13 year old is a good idea, and I'm not saying they SHOULD be treated like toys, but there's just no other way to view them.
Something you spend good money on that has no practical value other than you think it's cool IS A TOY.
qumefox
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High power lasers are NOT toys, nor should the be used as such, or advocated as being used as such. And examples like you've posted are the type of immature behavior and usage that's making this hobby come under legislative fire. 'Burning crap' is just fine so long as it's done in a safe and responsible manner.. However most who are in the hobby solely for that activity, generally do not think or care about safety. This is what I have a problem with..
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I think the argument is based on the fact that two different definitions of the word "toy" are being referenced here.
Definition A: An amusement; a pastime
-vs.-
Definition B: To treat something casually or without seriousness
I definitely think lasers are Definition A, unless they are being used in one's work;however, even more important, they should never be confused with Definition B.
Definition A: An amusement; a pastime
-vs.-
Definition B: To treat something casually or without seriousness
I definitely think lasers are Definition A, unless they are being used in one's work;however, even more important, they should never be confused with Definition B.
Trevor
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The problem with the Arctic was marketing. First, they design a laser that to an older audience looks "badass" and to a younger audience looks like a lightsaber. Next, they go on a viral marketing campaign on facebook and sites like Gizmodo to reach the gadget market, because they can sell thousands to that market as toys.
Companies like CNI and Viasho make powerful handheld lasers for applications that require a laser running on non-mains power. They look like lab equipment. They are lab equipment. Laser hobbyists sometimes purchase them.
Wicked Lasers makes laser toys. They look like toys, and are not designed for use in a lab. They are designed to reach a market of people who are looking for toys, not people who are interested in lasers as a hobby.
When a laser enthusiast says they play with lasers, it's like a car enthusiast saying they play with cars. They enjoy them, are fascinated by them, and work with them frequently. The laser enthusiast does not treat lasers like toys, and the car enthusiast does not treat cars like toys.
The way the Arctic was designed and is marketed, Wicked Lasers means it to be purchased as a toy. Their market is not laser enthusiasts. Their market is people who want to play with interesting gadgets, and to treat those gadgets as toys.
-Trevor
Companies like CNI and Viasho make powerful handheld lasers for applications that require a laser running on non-mains power. They look like lab equipment. They are lab equipment. Laser hobbyists sometimes purchase them.
Wicked Lasers makes laser toys. They look like toys, and are not designed for use in a lab. They are designed to reach a market of people who are looking for toys, not people who are interested in lasers as a hobby.
When a laser enthusiast says they play with lasers, it's like a car enthusiast saying they play with cars. They enjoy them, are fascinated by them, and work with them frequently. The laser enthusiast does not treat lasers like toys, and the car enthusiast does not treat cars like toys.
The way the Arctic was designed and is marketed, Wicked Lasers means it to be purchased as a toy. Their market is not laser enthusiasts. Their market is people who want to play with interesting gadgets, and to treat those gadgets as toys.
-Trevor