I wrote the Vaper's Handbook to help new users figure things out. Give it a read, you won't regret it.
http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/forum/blogs/shoganinja/2998-vapers-handbook.html#comment5864
There are only a few different ways to vape. They all consist of an atomizer and some sort of delivery system to get the juice to the atomizer.
Atomizer/tank cartridge/cartridge: This combo of an atomizer that fits tank cartridges (just juice in a tank) or old-school regular cartridges (that use a filler material medium to hold the juice) is kind of outdated. It's just an atomizer on top of a reservoir of juice that feeds into the atomizer and you vape it. You can also pull off all the cartridges or tanks and use it as a dripping atomizer with a drip tip. The problem with tank systems is that they have a tendency to leak. You can buy replacements for these systems but, to my knowledge, they are only made by original equipment manufacturers of EGO PV's. You can get drip atomizers (designed for dripping) if you look around. Common examples are the 306 LR atomizer, and the Magma series (by volcano ecigs). Overall not a bad vape if you use a tank system, cartridges are terrible, and dripping is awesome if you do it right.
Cartomizer: This is a portmanteau of the words cartridge and atomizer. It's an atomizer that is wrapped with polyfill. You add liquid to it and it keeps the atomizer coil wet with juice when you vape it. Good brands are Boge, Smoketech, and Kanger. Sometimes they are paired with a tank system that uses punched holes in the side of the cartomizer to allow juice to feed into the polyfill and keep it wet. These are kind of like "poor man's tanks" and are not to be confused with Clearomizers. A common example of one of these is the MAP tank system (Most Angry Pirate industries). Cartomizers are what killed the original cartridge system. The nice part about them is they are cheap so it makes flavor swapping easy. They don't last long unless you learn how to clean them properly (I have boges that are almost 6 months old working great still) but their biggest drawback is that the polyfill alters the flavor of the juice. It's an OK vape.
Clearomizer: Usually the CE series of tanks that has either a ceramic or silica based wick wrapped in a coil of either nichrome or kanthal wire. The juice is contained in the tank and wicks up to the coil via (you guessed it) the wick which is non-flammable. These are probably your second best vape on the market. The Vision Vivi Nova and the EGO Vision Clearomizer (The Stardust is it's nickname) are both very good systems. The Clearomizer, in my eyes,
reigns supreme because of its low cost, and the fact that you can learn to rebuild them which not only makes you independent of the market (like if there's an ecig ban you can continue to vape as long as you know how to DIY your own juice as they can't/won't ever ban the chemicals to make ejuice).
When you rebuild them you can swap the wick material out for a (cheaper) cotton wick which improves flavor and wicking properties, but you have to be careful not to ever let the wick get dry since it is flammable.
Genesis: The genesis is a mod tank. Either you make one yourself or you spent a LOT of money (well over $100) to buy one made for you. It's a tank that uses a wick made of stainless steel mesh which wicks the juice up into a coil of kanthal or nichrome wrapped around the stainless steel wick. You will see these referred to as SS. Stainless Steel. This is the most difficult level of vaping and it is often considered the ultimate in flavor. Advanced knowledge of how PVs (personal vaporizers), atomizers, and rebuilding them is required to use one of these systems effectively. Examples of this are either called the Genesis, Scubagen, Scubabat, or Zenesis (a series of genesis atomizer tanks made by Zen, a famous craftsman). Zenesis is considered to be the top of the market as they use a crushed quartz tank, surgical stainless steel parts, and superior stainless steel wicks. They sell for $150+ and have a waiting list of 6 months or more.
