This site NEEDS som serious mods....... here are some facts I know about Jake.
1) I asked him all sorts of advice on how to build, along with a few others in here. Like everyone else, he answered courteously.
2) When I said that I wanted to build lasers and sell in the future, he replied that that wouldn't bother him one bit.
3) I bought one of his MXDL builds based on the original DDL design, and have to say that it is quite a nice laser. Since then I have been talking to him often on YIM, and he still helps me out any way he can.
4) About a week and a half after buying the laser, it broke down(diode died). I contacted him and he sent me another diode, along with a few more to boot.. I tried them, and they worked perfectly for a few mins, and went out.. now I tested the driver, but I am new to all this, so it's on it's way back for him and he's fixing it up for free(He is making SURE no matter what that I get what I paid for).
5) He talked with me about the "Milos" laser.. and here are the facts. His laser is different than Milo's laser i am sure.. His price is also LOWER( I know his reserve and will not say but its MUCH lower than Milos's). Thjis is because they are not EXACTLY the same, and Jake knows he does not have the same equipment to make them.. Now, Milos doesnt have a patent, and Jake happened to find the same box as Milos. The inside I bet is quite a bit different, not to mention Milos does NOT manufacture the case. Milos, do you have a pattent? If so speak up and prove it, otherwise there is NOTHING you can do.
It boils down to this.. if a buyer can afford TOP DOLLAR for a laser made of a fairly low priced(but albeit nice looking) adjustable case, containing a harvested diode froma $30 laser unit, and the homemeade contents to make it work(not much in parts), BUT tested and built by a well-known builder, than buy Milos' laser........BUT, if you are someone who likes Milos' laser and doesnt have tons of $$ to spend on such a laser, but likes Milo's box, get Jake's. You'll be taking a chance that it may break down in some way, but Jake is quite nice to deal with, and he WILL fix it and make it right. What happens if someone breaks a Milos laser(I dont know this so I am asking), will you fix it free Milos? Jake will even have a meter soon, to actually test the output.
6) Milos, you CANNOT sue Jake, it just won't work. This is the US, free enterprise abound, and face it.. you build a laser with a 3rd party enclosure, a PS3 sled and a homemeade driver(which is different than Jake's I am sure). Like I said, do you have a patent? I doubt it. What you make you take pride in yes, but so does he. He just wants the chance to compete with yours. BOTH of your lasers are built with the common knowledge of 50% of the members of this forum.
Jake is a good guy, just leave him alone. You each have your own kind of customer. The customers that want your lasers wont buy Jakes, because he is new and people know it. On eBay, there's nothing you can do either. Try justifying your price in your auction and you'll keep your buyers. I myself would NEVER pay what you ask for one, just knowing how it's built and that I can buid the exact same thing(or close enough) for at least $80-100 less.
I am sorry(and I tell ya what nobody better smack my rep for this), but these are facts. So, Jake copied you(to a point), but hey, this is the US.. Happens everyday. After all this is a hobby, and most of us know what the differences will be, and how to make the same thing anyhow.
I am in a CRT forum where everyone whines their hed off klike this. To tell you the truth, it does more harm than good for everyone involved. Every one of you that is griping should look at yourselves in the mirror. Milos, you are only stinging yourself in the ass by throwing THIS much of a stink about it.
Rant over...