There are lasers and then there are lasers. The Spyder II GX is a crazy 200-300mW green laser that can burn through paper, balloons, and skin and generally blind you if you’re not careful. How much does all this fun cost? $1,699 including a pair of absolutely essential shades that will keep you from blinding yourself.
I had used WickedLasers before but those models were mere laser pointers compared to this monster. It comes in a Mil-Spec Type III hard anodized case with rubber washers on all the joints and includes two lithium ion batteries that last 60 minutes on one charge. Note that these batteries take a long time to charge, so be prepared to wait.
The first time I tried the laser I was actually able to light a candle. Subsequent tries resulted in lots of smoke but no fire. However, it can easily burn through black paper - just draw a dot with a Sharpie and you can get a hole in a few seconds - and burned dark tissue paper on contact
http://www.techchuck.com/2009/02/20/cg-review-wickedlasers-spyder-ii-gx-laser/
Showing posts with label Wicked Lasers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Wicked Lasers. Show all posts
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Wicked Lasers Executive Series Nexus Laser Pointer Review
Being the technology loving connoisseur that I am, I never knew a subculture existed for laser pointers and the people that use them! I mean, I can vaguely remember attending my share of conferences, where the person giving the presentation used a laser pointer. Suffice it to say, the only thing that kept my attention at some of these gatherings was the colorful glowing beam of light that illuminated from the laser pointer!
The folks at Wicked Lasers go through great lengths on their web site and in their marketing literature to distinguish themselves from the run of the mill laser makers, by referring to their lasers as revolutionary. We here at Chip Chick never turn down an offer to review a product, and took Wicked Lasers up on their offer to take one of its lasers through its phases!
There are several series of Wicked Lasers and we got the opportunity to review the Executive Series Nexus 95mW model ($299.00), which is the fifth of six lasers in the Executive level Wicked Lasers Series. Other series in the Wicked Lasers line up are: Evolution, Elite, Photonic Disruptor, The Core and The Pulsar Series. Each model offers a different degree of beam and longevity of its power as well as the travel distance of the laser beam.
The Executive Series Wicked Nexus laser is quite the looker with its black polished brass body, weighs less than an ounce, looks like a designer ink pen and measures in size at 13 mm x 143 mm. It operates on two AAA batteries and can maintain 2 hours of battery life, has a momentary on/off button and has a life expectancy of 5,000 hours and comes with a 3 year warranty.
On its site, Wicked Lasers has a pretty easy and very informative demonstration as to how lasers work. Also, I found it very any interesting how they explained what distinguishes one laser from another (don’t worry you don’t have to be physicist to understand the concept and the terminologies). Hence, I learned that the stronger the beam output is the better chances of a laser inflicting a bit of damage on burning through plastic or paper. So, it goes without saying, that lasers pointers are not toys.
However, I would be remiss if I didn’t provide the following features that would probably make true laser enthusiasts foam at the mouth: The Executive Nexus laser has a Wavelength range of 38 miles, and a 95mW CLASS 3B Output power. Also, we must not forget about its 550mA Power Consumption! Admittedly, after I watched the brief demo about lasers, I was able to understand the aforementioned info and this indeed increased my laser IQ tenfold!
The steady green light beam from this Nexus laser illuminated my entire dark living room like a bright green shining beacon and the beam distance could easily be seen for about 20 yards outside. And while I didn’t do the light the cigarette test, I was able to actually burn a hole through two sheets of notebook paper as well as through a paper towel. I would strongly suggest not attempting this; however, my reasoning for doing the above was for the purpose of writing this review. And I have to admit, there’s a bit of mischievous child in me! I had so much fun using The Wicked Executive Nexus Laser pointer.
Because of its solid craft man ship, durability, generous warranty of 3 years and overall quality, The Wicked Executive Nexus Laser is a solid performer, and I can even justify spending $299 for this high end premium laser. Provided of course, it’s used on a regular basis. You truly get what you pay for with this powerful device! Also, please keep in mind, that laser pointers are not toys and should only be purchased for someone who knows the proper use.
While some may cringe at the price tag of the Wicked Executive Nexus Laser, this laser pointer is truly worth its weight in gold for anyone that gives lectures and presentations on a daily or regular basis (you’ll just need to carry some extra batteries with you if your event goes longer than 2 hours). Heck, I can even see the uses for this laser pointer on a camping trip or even as a flashlight! However, I doubt if it can roast marsh mellows, but it sure can burn paper!!
Additionally, Wicked Lasers has Green 532nm Laser Shades ($39.99) that are used to protect eyes from excessive green laser rays. Thus, this allows one to safely experiment cutting, burning and popping in complete safety. Now, I guess I could’ve used some of these during my laser experiments!
http://www.chipchick.com/2008/11/wicked_lasers_executive_series.html
The folks at Wicked Lasers go through great lengths on their web site and in their marketing literature to distinguish themselves from the run of the mill laser makers, by referring to their lasers as revolutionary. We here at Chip Chick never turn down an offer to review a product, and took Wicked Lasers up on their offer to take one of its lasers through its phases!
There are several series of Wicked Lasers and we got the opportunity to review the Executive Series Nexus 95mW model ($299.00), which is the fifth of six lasers in the Executive level Wicked Lasers Series. Other series in the Wicked Lasers line up are: Evolution, Elite, Photonic Disruptor, The Core and The Pulsar Series. Each model offers a different degree of beam and longevity of its power as well as the travel distance of the laser beam.
The Executive Series Wicked Nexus laser is quite the looker with its black polished brass body, weighs less than an ounce, looks like a designer ink pen and measures in size at 13 mm x 143 mm. It operates on two AAA batteries and can maintain 2 hours of battery life, has a momentary on/off button and has a life expectancy of 5,000 hours and comes with a 3 year warranty.
On its site, Wicked Lasers has a pretty easy and very informative demonstration as to how lasers work. Also, I found it very any interesting how they explained what distinguishes one laser from another (don’t worry you don’t have to be physicist to understand the concept and the terminologies). Hence, I learned that the stronger the beam output is the better chances of a laser inflicting a bit of damage on burning through plastic or paper. So, it goes without saying, that lasers pointers are not toys.
However, I would be remiss if I didn’t provide the following features that would probably make true laser enthusiasts foam at the mouth: The Executive Nexus laser has a Wavelength range of 38 miles, and a 95mW CLASS 3B Output power. Also, we must not forget about its 550mA Power Consumption! Admittedly, after I watched the brief demo about lasers, I was able to understand the aforementioned info and this indeed increased my laser IQ tenfold!
The steady green light beam from this Nexus laser illuminated my entire dark living room like a bright green shining beacon and the beam distance could easily be seen for about 20 yards outside. And while I didn’t do the light the cigarette test, I was able to actually burn a hole through two sheets of notebook paper as well as through a paper towel. I would strongly suggest not attempting this; however, my reasoning for doing the above was for the purpose of writing this review. And I have to admit, there’s a bit of mischievous child in me! I had so much fun using The Wicked Executive Nexus Laser pointer.
Because of its solid craft man ship, durability, generous warranty of 3 years and overall quality, The Wicked Executive Nexus Laser is a solid performer, and I can even justify spending $299 for this high end premium laser. Provided of course, it’s used on a regular basis. You truly get what you pay for with this powerful device! Also, please keep in mind, that laser pointers are not toys and should only be purchased for someone who knows the proper use.
While some may cringe at the price tag of the Wicked Executive Nexus Laser, this laser pointer is truly worth its weight in gold for anyone that gives lectures and presentations on a daily or regular basis (you’ll just need to carry some extra batteries with you if your event goes longer than 2 hours). Heck, I can even see the uses for this laser pointer on a camping trip or even as a flashlight! However, I doubt if it can roast marsh mellows, but it sure can burn paper!!
Additionally, Wicked Lasers has Green 532nm Laser Shades ($39.99) that are used to protect eyes from excessive green laser rays. Thus, this allows one to safely experiment cutting, burning and popping in complete safety. Now, I guess I could’ve used some of these during my laser experiments!
http://www.chipchick.com/2008/11/wicked_lasers_executive_series.html
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Meet The Wicked Lasers Team
We're a bunch of laser enthusiasts, maybe even laser maniacs, who - like you - have been searching all over looking for the highest powered, highest quality, affordable laser pointers. Those cheap laser key chains found at local electronics stores are a ridiculous joke at most. We found ourselves frustrated, very frustrated. The selection of laser pointers found on internet sites we visited were very run of the mill and cheaply made. Where is all the unique stuff? Where are all the true lasers that can burn, cut, and project a laser beam hundreds of miles away?
We finally realized that if we wanted lasers up to par with our standards, we simply needed to create it ourselves. And so Wicked Lasers was born.
We carefully manufacture the most brilliant lasers in a variety of colors ranging from green, red, blue, and violet. Of course, we couldn't stop there, not only do we have the most comprehensive list of laser products; we also have the most laser accessories. Every laser is tested and then tested some more to make sure our lasers are perfect in every possible way. We also made sure that the price you pay here is the absolutely the most competitive. (If you find a laser manufactured by Wicked Lasers online for a lower price, just tell us. We'll match it!) We sell only the best possible laser pointers, at the best possible price.
http://www.laserenthusiast.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47
We finally realized that if we wanted lasers up to par with our standards, we simply needed to create it ourselves. And so Wicked Lasers was born.
We carefully manufacture the most brilliant lasers in a variety of colors ranging from green, red, blue, and violet. Of course, we couldn't stop there, not only do we have the most comprehensive list of laser products; we also have the most laser accessories. Every laser is tested and then tested some more to make sure our lasers are perfect in every possible way. We also made sure that the price you pay here is the absolutely the most competitive. (If you find a laser manufactured by Wicked Lasers online for a lower price, just tell us. We'll match it!) We sell only the best possible laser pointers, at the best possible price.
http://www.laserenthusiast.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Wicked Lasers Executive Series Review
Wicked Lasers Team or Team Wicked (as they are popularly recognized by their admirers) has been making it big in the field of affordable yet quality and high-powered laser pointers. Apart from a variety of colors (green, blue, red and violet) in brilliant lasers, Team Wicked also offers a comprehensive list of laser accessories.
Team Wicked has come up with innumerable number of series in Lasers, which include Executive Evolution, Photonic Disruptor, Elite, the Pulsar and The Core. Each of these models offers a distinct degree of beam and longevity of its power. Again, you can also see the difference in the distance travelled by their laser beam. The most popular of its creation has been the Executive Series.
Executive Series Lasers: Unique product from Team Wicked
Executive Series lasers are a unique product that the Team Wicked has come up with. The laser in the series has been constructed by using premium and imported laser diodes. If you’ve used lasers previously, then you will easily make out that Executive Series Laser is the most powerful product that money can buy. It is an ultimate laser tool and can be used for burning from long distance. At the same time, it can be utilized for maintaining small dots at a far distance.
Officials of Team Wicked have engineered Executive Series Green Lasers with excellent quality and provided precision in the product for giving their clients the most reliable product at an unbelievably affordable price. What you’ll find attractive about the series is that they have a stylish redesigned casing. This is why there is no wonder that almost each of the laser enthusiasts across the globe owns at least one Laser product from the Executive Series.
Powered by a 2AAA battery, Executive Series Lasers are the lowest beam divergence green laser pointer of the world. The green laser beams coming from the lasers are able to cover large distances without much difficulty. At the same time, they maintain their excellence in burning materials with precision.
Products available in Executive Lasers Series
This Executive Lasers Series is available in 6 different types, varying in terms of power (15mW to dangerously intense 125mW).
Classic
Advanced
Extreme
Phoenix
Nexus
Fusion
Features of Executive Series Lasers:
Executive Series Lasers from Team Wicked are quite the looker with most of them available in brass body polished black. They generally weigh less than one ounce and give an appearance similar to a designer ink pen and are found to measure 13 mm x 143 mm in size. As already mentioned, the lasers in the series operate on 2 AAA batteries. Their batter life varies between 1.5 - 2 hours depending mainly on the type in consideration. They have a momentary on & off button and a life expectancy of around 5,000 hours. What laser enthusiasts will find even more interesting is that any product is the series is available with a 3-year warranty.
http://www.techtreak.com/2008/11/26/wicked-lasers-executive-series-review/
Team Wicked has come up with innumerable number of series in Lasers, which include Executive Evolution, Photonic Disruptor, Elite, the Pulsar and The Core. Each of these models offers a distinct degree of beam and longevity of its power. Again, you can also see the difference in the distance travelled by their laser beam. The most popular of its creation has been the Executive Series.
Executive Series Lasers: Unique product from Team Wicked
Executive Series lasers are a unique product that the Team Wicked has come up with. The laser in the series has been constructed by using premium and imported laser diodes. If you’ve used lasers previously, then you will easily make out that Executive Series Laser is the most powerful product that money can buy. It is an ultimate laser tool and can be used for burning from long distance. At the same time, it can be utilized for maintaining small dots at a far distance.
Officials of Team Wicked have engineered Executive Series Green Lasers with excellent quality and provided precision in the product for giving their clients the most reliable product at an unbelievably affordable price. What you’ll find attractive about the series is that they have a stylish redesigned casing. This is why there is no wonder that almost each of the laser enthusiasts across the globe owns at least one Laser product from the Executive Series.
Powered by a 2AAA battery, Executive Series Lasers are the lowest beam divergence green laser pointer of the world. The green laser beams coming from the lasers are able to cover large distances without much difficulty. At the same time, they maintain their excellence in burning materials with precision.
Products available in Executive Lasers Series
This Executive Lasers Series is available in 6 different types, varying in terms of power (15mW to dangerously intense 125mW).
Classic
Advanced
Extreme
Phoenix
Nexus
Fusion
Features of Executive Series Lasers:
Executive Series Lasers from Team Wicked are quite the looker with most of them available in brass body polished black. They generally weigh less than one ounce and give an appearance similar to a designer ink pen and are found to measure 13 mm x 143 mm in size. As already mentioned, the lasers in the series operate on 2 AAA batteries. Their batter life varies between 1.5 - 2 hours depending mainly on the type in consideration. They have a momentary on & off button and a life expectancy of around 5,000 hours. What laser enthusiasts will find even more interesting is that any product is the series is available with a 3-year warranty.
http://www.techtreak.com/2008/11/26/wicked-lasers-executive-series-review/
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
150mw Laser Pointers Are Excellent For Astronomy Lovers!
In general, laser pointers are typically implemented during presentations when the speaker has to point to a specific area on his or her display screen. However, laser pointers can be used for more than enhancing a presentation. In particular, there is a class of green laser pointers that carries exceptional performance and is spectacular in appearance.
In my opinion, the Elite 150mw laser pointer is one of the best devices you can give to any Sci-Fi lover. It is one of the highest quality laser pointers available for purchase today and it makes an ideal gift for someone of any age. It has a very powerful, green laser beam that can be seen as far as a mile away in the darkness. In addition to being used for traditional purposes, the Elite 150mw laser pointer can be used to light matches, light firewood for a campfire, melt ice, pop balloons, or even stargaze should the desire strike you! The Elite 150mw laser pointer is comprised of the latest in laser crystal and optical technology, which makes its beam superior to other green laser pointers available on the market today. Being that I have a background in engineering myself, I would not hesitate to say that this item is engineered to perfection and that it is, without a doubt, the most durable and effective laser pointer that I have used to date. The Elite 150mw laser pointer is designed in steel, black chrome that will prevent any slippage and it rests easily in your hand. It is the size of a pen, and has a sleek, smooth design that makes it very easy to carry around in your pocket. The winning combination of high performance and elegant design definitely make the Elite 150mw laser pointer one of the greatest achievements in the laser pointer industry. I would highly recommend this to any laser point aficionado or stargazer.
http://150mwlaserpointer.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/150mw-laser-pointers-are-excellent-for-astronomy-lovers/
---------------------- Branding Promotional Products ---------------------
What's the best ways to get your business known? Branding Promotional Products.
It's a great idea to promote business, and also a tremendous way to pass your brand on by word of mouth.
You can purchase anything from pens and clocks to housewares, easily imprinted with your company's logo for reasonable prices. Imagine how many homes and offices your logo imbedded pens might end up in, Or maybe you want to spread your branded logo around on caps or T-Shirts, talk about a walking billboard.
This is really a wonderful way to be in front of everyone, whether you are a small business owner, or corporation giving away corporate gifts, or maybe your an artist or a musician. Whatever reason you have for wanting or needing to brand promotional items you should check out this great resource I recommend for some of the best promotional products you can find. You never know, you may get some ideas you never had before.
In my opinion, the Elite 150mw laser pointer is one of the best devices you can give to any Sci-Fi lover. It is one of the highest quality laser pointers available for purchase today and it makes an ideal gift for someone of any age. It has a very powerful, green laser beam that can be seen as far as a mile away in the darkness. In addition to being used for traditional purposes, the Elite 150mw laser pointer can be used to light matches, light firewood for a campfire, melt ice, pop balloons, or even stargaze should the desire strike you! The Elite 150mw laser pointer is comprised of the latest in laser crystal and optical technology, which makes its beam superior to other green laser pointers available on the market today. Being that I have a background in engineering myself, I would not hesitate to say that this item is engineered to perfection and that it is, without a doubt, the most durable and effective laser pointer that I have used to date. The Elite 150mw laser pointer is designed in steel, black chrome that will prevent any slippage and it rests easily in your hand. It is the size of a pen, and has a sleek, smooth design that makes it very easy to carry around in your pocket. The winning combination of high performance and elegant design definitely make the Elite 150mw laser pointer one of the greatest achievements in the laser pointer industry. I would highly recommend this to any laser point aficionado or stargazer.
http://150mwlaserpointer.wordpress.com/2008/08/14/150mw-laser-pointers-are-excellent-for-astronomy-lovers/
---------------------- Branding Promotional Products ---------------------
What's the best ways to get your business known? Branding Promotional Products.
It's a great idea to promote business, and also a tremendous way to pass your brand on by word of mouth.
You can purchase anything from pens and clocks to housewares, easily imprinted with your company's logo for reasonable prices. Imagine how many homes and offices your logo imbedded pens might end up in, Or maybe you want to spread your branded logo around on caps or T-Shirts, talk about a walking billboard.
This is really a wonderful way to be in front of everyone, whether you are a small business owner, or corporation giving away corporate gifts, or maybe your an artist or a musician. Whatever reason you have for wanting or needing to brand promotional items you should check out this great resource I recommend for some of the best promotional products you can find. You never know, you may get some ideas you never had before.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Review: Wicked Lasers Elite 125+
When the guys at WickedLasers contacted me to review one of their products I must admit that I originally wasn’t very interested. In glancing over their website I figured the company just offered laser pointers and as far as I was concerned a laser pointer wasn’t going to make for a very good review. Well, I was very mistaken to call what they offered just simple laser pointers.
Don’t get me wrong. The company does offer laser pointers, but not many laser pointers are military quality grade or have enough power to melt rubber and plastics or light cigars and cigarettes. The company offers blue, red and green lasers. In fact, they sell the highest powered green laser pointers in the world.
After reading about them, I had to try out one of the company’s green lasers. So, they sent me one of their Elite Series 125+ lasers. Again, this isn’t just a laser pointer. After all, the laser they sent me has a retail value of US$599.99. That’s a price you would expect from a pen sized laser which can actually melt and burn objects.
http://www.geek.com/articles/review/review-wicked-lasers-elite-125-20081119/
Don’t get me wrong. The company does offer laser pointers, but not many laser pointers are military quality grade or have enough power to melt rubber and plastics or light cigars and cigarettes. The company offers blue, red and green lasers. In fact, they sell the highest powered green laser pointers in the world.
After reading about them, I had to try out one of the company’s green lasers. So, they sent me one of their Elite Series 125+ lasers. Again, this isn’t just a laser pointer. After all, the laser they sent me has a retail value of US$599.99. That’s a price you would expect from a pen sized laser which can actually melt and burn objects.
http://www.geek.com/articles/review/review-wicked-lasers-elite-125-20081119/
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Wicked Lasers, Elite Series Review
Nearly everyone has seen a laser pointer that lets you highlight presentations from a distance. While such lasers are useful, they’re also relatively harmless unless you stare directly at the laser for long periods of time. If wielding a mild laser pointer is too tame for you, then look at the Elite Series of lasers from Wicked Lasers.
These lasers are slightly larger than a ballpoint pen (15mm by 155mm) and made out of chrome finished brass, giving it an elegant appearance. It runs on two AAA batteries, which give the laser a battery life of approximately 90 minutes. This may seem like a short amount of time, but it’s mainly because this Elite Series of Wicked Lasers is nothing more than a low-powered weapon.
At close range, it can easily pop balloons, light matches, and burn exposed skin. Point this laser at a PowerPoint presentation on the wall and you’re liable to scorch the wall. Point this laser at an attacker at close range, and you have a high-tech self-defense weapon.
Its output power ranges from 100mW – 200mW with a beam divergence of 0.8mRAD – 1.2mRAD and a beam diameter of 1.6mm. If you’ve ever wanted a real laser, the Elite Series puts that power in your hands.
Due to the high-energy this laser emits, this is definitely not a toy or an ordinary laser pointer for casual office use. This is a powerful weapon that needs to be treated with care, so you’ll want to keep this out of the hands of children and other unsuspecting people who may play with it and hurt themselves by accident.
If you visit the Wicked Lasers web site, you can read testimonials from soldiers in Iraq, who have battle-tested this unit and praised its performance. If you need high-tech firepower in any situation, the Elite Series of Wicked Lasers will more than meet your demands.
There are a few notable drawbacks to this laser. For one, it sucks the life out of its two AAA batteries far too quickly. If you use this laser frequently, you’ll churn through AAA batteries fairly often, so the cost of additional batteries will add up. Another problem is that the on button is flush with the unit, so it’s difficult to turn it on by mistake (such as when carrying it in your shirt or pants pocket). However, perhaps a cap or some kind to cover over the lens would be helpful just as one more barrier to protect people. That way if you want to use it, you’d have to remove the cap and then deliberately point it at something. The way it is without a cap, it’s too easy to point it at something and turn it on, only to find out that you’re pointing it at something fragile like someone’s eye or on your exposed skin of your arm.
http://www.gadgetreview.com/2008/11/wicked-lasers-elite-series-review.html
These lasers are slightly larger than a ballpoint pen (15mm by 155mm) and made out of chrome finished brass, giving it an elegant appearance. It runs on two AAA batteries, which give the laser a battery life of approximately 90 minutes. This may seem like a short amount of time, but it’s mainly because this Elite Series of Wicked Lasers is nothing more than a low-powered weapon.
At close range, it can easily pop balloons, light matches, and burn exposed skin. Point this laser at a PowerPoint presentation on the wall and you’re liable to scorch the wall. Point this laser at an attacker at close range, and you have a high-tech self-defense weapon.
Its output power ranges from 100mW – 200mW with a beam divergence of 0.8mRAD – 1.2mRAD and a beam diameter of 1.6mm. If you’ve ever wanted a real laser, the Elite Series puts that power in your hands.
Due to the high-energy this laser emits, this is definitely not a toy or an ordinary laser pointer for casual office use. This is a powerful weapon that needs to be treated with care, so you’ll want to keep this out of the hands of children and other unsuspecting people who may play with it and hurt themselves by accident.
If you visit the Wicked Lasers web site, you can read testimonials from soldiers in Iraq, who have battle-tested this unit and praised its performance. If you need high-tech firepower in any situation, the Elite Series of Wicked Lasers will more than meet your demands.
There are a few notable drawbacks to this laser. For one, it sucks the life out of its two AAA batteries far too quickly. If you use this laser frequently, you’ll churn through AAA batteries fairly often, so the cost of additional batteries will add up. Another problem is that the on button is flush with the unit, so it’s difficult to turn it on by mistake (such as when carrying it in your shirt or pants pocket). However, perhaps a cap or some kind to cover over the lens would be helpful just as one more barrier to protect people. That way if you want to use it, you’d have to remove the cap and then deliberately point it at something. The way it is without a cap, it’s too easy to point it at something and turn it on, only to find out that you’re pointing it at something fragile like someone’s eye or on your exposed skin of your arm.
http://www.gadgetreview.com/2008/11/wicked-lasers-elite-series-review.html
10mW laser from Wicked Lasers.
Hey everyone,
On Monday I finally caved in to a wish that I've had for years and bought a green laser pointer. For those who don't know, these are awesome little buggers that are different from the normal red lasers you get because your eyes are most sensetive to green, making them ideal for pointing out constellations and such in the night sky. Unfortunately, they're a fair bit more expensive as well which means it's worth your while to scout out prices before settling on a particular one.
The first thing I learned while scouting out my laser is the wattage you find is key: if you're not in a dark area even a 5mW laser will cause complaints because not everyone will be able to see the laser beam when you point it upwards. Due to the fact that I'd primarily be using the laser in the middle of Cleveland, that and I'm a nerd!, I decided to splurge on a 10mW laser from Wicked Lasers. It was by far the cheapest one I'd found online for that type at $90, and a friend refered me to them in the first place so it seemed cool enough.
The first surprise was the speed with which it got here: the lasers are shipped from Shanghai, China yet it got here in five days! Given, the required shipping took a little extra out of my pocket but still, the distance involved there got me quite excited! That and there's something quite exotic about getting something in the mail with Chineese charecters written all over it...
Batteries were a slight problem as it needed relatively high quality AAA ones, so I ended up stealing some semi-used ones from my roommate's remote control in exchange for some cheap Energizer ones. (Note to self: get to store sometime and get fresh batteries!)
Now time for the actual testing! My Physics and Astronomy Club was having an event tonight at the Case observatory, so it seemed an ideal time to test it after all! Of course, it was bright, but no one had any troubles whatsoever tracing its beam up to the constellations I was tracing out amidst the Cleveland light pollution. I must admit, it's a lot easier to point out "ok, this is the summer triangle" when you can just use a laser! So for someone like me who increasingly finds themselves in positions where you're pointing out the basics I highly recommend one of these buggers. I'm actually kind of sad I didn't invest in one earlier.
And, of course, I'm a physics nerd so after the crowd started petering out we decided to begin testing the range of the laser! Of course we're not ones to wish blindness onto anyone and needed a good way of doing it without endangering anyone who might happen to be looking outside; luckily we were on the roof of a building at the heart of campus and most of the lights were out as it was Friday night. We reached all the buildings around us with ease and even tried a few other non-lit ones with the same result that were well over a mile away! Then, of course, we ran out of suitable buildings with the notable exception of the very distant Cleveland skyline, but there's no way you could see a point that far away even if it makes it there so we're stuck. I mean I'm sure there's an equation out there I can use to check it all out but that's just not as fun; that and it's more fun any day to be an experimentalist rather than a theorist! Someone mentioned that in the lab of one of the physics professors on campus there's a special machine to tell how far a certain laser intensity will travel involving a lot of mirrors and such, but somehow I don't think she'd let a bunch of physics majors come in and play with it. Quite a pity!
So anyway, that's my little review of my green laser pointer, the conclusion of which is that they're really cool to play around with (though if you don't really plan on using it often and just want to play with a laser get a significantly cheaper red one). Hope this review helps out anyone considering getting one!
__________________
http://www.bautforum.com/astronomical-observing-equipment-accessories/32831-green-laser-pointer-review.html
On Monday I finally caved in to a wish that I've had for years and bought a green laser pointer. For those who don't know, these are awesome little buggers that are different from the normal red lasers you get because your eyes are most sensetive to green, making them ideal for pointing out constellations and such in the night sky. Unfortunately, they're a fair bit more expensive as well which means it's worth your while to scout out prices before settling on a particular one.
The first thing I learned while scouting out my laser is the wattage you find is key: if you're not in a dark area even a 5mW laser will cause complaints because not everyone will be able to see the laser beam when you point it upwards. Due to the fact that I'd primarily be using the laser in the middle of Cleveland, that and I'm a nerd!, I decided to splurge on a 10mW laser from Wicked Lasers. It was by far the cheapest one I'd found online for that type at $90, and a friend refered me to them in the first place so it seemed cool enough.
The first surprise was the speed with which it got here: the lasers are shipped from Shanghai, China yet it got here in five days! Given, the required shipping took a little extra out of my pocket but still, the distance involved there got me quite excited! That and there's something quite exotic about getting something in the mail with Chineese charecters written all over it...
Batteries were a slight problem as it needed relatively high quality AAA ones, so I ended up stealing some semi-used ones from my roommate's remote control in exchange for some cheap Energizer ones. (Note to self: get to store sometime and get fresh batteries!)
Now time for the actual testing! My Physics and Astronomy Club was having an event tonight at the Case observatory, so it seemed an ideal time to test it after all! Of course, it was bright, but no one had any troubles whatsoever tracing its beam up to the constellations I was tracing out amidst the Cleveland light pollution. I must admit, it's a lot easier to point out "ok, this is the summer triangle" when you can just use a laser! So for someone like me who increasingly finds themselves in positions where you're pointing out the basics I highly recommend one of these buggers. I'm actually kind of sad I didn't invest in one earlier.
And, of course, I'm a physics nerd so after the crowd started petering out we decided to begin testing the range of the laser! Of course we're not ones to wish blindness onto anyone and needed a good way of doing it without endangering anyone who might happen to be looking outside; luckily we were on the roof of a building at the heart of campus and most of the lights were out as it was Friday night. We reached all the buildings around us with ease and even tried a few other non-lit ones with the same result that were well over a mile away! Then, of course, we ran out of suitable buildings with the notable exception of the very distant Cleveland skyline, but there's no way you could see a point that far away even if it makes it there so we're stuck. I mean I'm sure there's an equation out there I can use to check it all out but that's just not as fun; that and it's more fun any day to be an experimentalist rather than a theorist! Someone mentioned that in the lab of one of the physics professors on campus there's a special machine to tell how far a certain laser intensity will travel involving a lot of mirrors and such, but somehow I don't think she'd let a bunch of physics majors come in and play with it. Quite a pity!
So anyway, that's my little review of my green laser pointer, the conclusion of which is that they're really cool to play around with (though if you don't really plan on using it often and just want to play with a laser get a significantly cheaper red one). Hope this review helps out anyone considering getting one!
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http://www.bautforum.com/astronomical-observing-equipment-accessories/32831-green-laser-pointer-review.html
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