You can go wrong with the Provari's price. Often that is not stated. It's just a tube with some circuits and an LED screen. It also hasn't undergone any major design changes while the Ecig world changes around it, as evidenced by the fact that it doesn't fit Stardusts (vision clearomizers as you referred to them as). Not that the Stardust is an awesome clearomizer, it USED to be, but now there's the E1-V and the Vivi Nova Mini, but that's the point. You NEVER know what's coming next and versatility is key in this market. What if tomorrow there's a new clearomizer that uses ego cone threads like the Stardust? With the Provari you'd need an adapter. If I was wrong about the Provari's price point then there wouldn't be a lavatube market. It is that same market that will likely make the Vario a lavatube killer. If it performs well and is durable it may even be the Provari Killer. But let's not speculate. Let's take this one step at a time.
I'll be in touch with Tim as he gets the Beta review model here shortly and I will let you know what he says. I am going to get some face time with him and do an interview about the Vario ASAP.
As you said, there are few things you can do to improve the Provari, but Provapes hasn't been doing them. The Vario is attempting to change the game. The one thing that would be cool about the Vario is if you could change the tube sleeves. That would be an awesome feature.
Well.. there are things about the Imotion2 V+/Vario that don't look that great going forward.
I'm just going to assume that they have fixed the F2 errors on atties below 3.0 ohms. So that's a moot point.
But going forward, this unit is heavier than a Provari, and heavier than a Provari mini. The finish is easily damaged. There's issues for low watt vapers- this thing does not turn itself down far enough which means the duty cycle/power output of the PWM is not accurate against the displayed voltage. Smoktech made that error with the VMAX and paid for it.
Does the regulation work? Yes- it appears so. But I've not put it on a scope. No idea yet about voltage sag under load...
I do have a final version coming to me which should have the following (Note- just told by Skype it will ship today):
1. Spring in the end cap.
2. Vent holes.
3. F2 errors solved.
So, assuming those problems are solved, is it a good PV?
Yes.
A Provari killer?
No.
It might appeal folks due to cheaper price. But it's not comfortable as an all around PV. It's an enthusiast item. And if the voltage calibration remains uncorrected it's going to leave low watt (less than 7 watts) vapers out in the cold unless they use 3.0 or higher atties/cartos- that's the majority of vapers.
I'm glad people are jazzed about a new device comign out. I'm a Provari owner, and I'm really looking forward to something better coming out. Because then I'll be even happier right?
But this doesn't really compete. It destroys just about every Lavatube revision out there and leaves Evolv/Provape product standing tall. It matches the VMAX in performance, but not durability. The Zmax, which I have seen the specs for, Might actually be a "Provari killer"- but it will cannibalize Evolv sales as well.
If the final product revision makes a change to those impressions- any review I do will reflect that.
I just hate to see a lot of hype floating around a unit like this. It's a good PV. Better than *anything* we ever dreamed of when I started vaping. But against the current crop of VV/Regulated mods it's pretty middle of the road. Based on it's projected price, it will sell. And no one should be ashamed to own one. But it's not going to put anyone out of business- let alone Provape.
If the ZMAX does what it's supposed to do... then you will see the market change. But specs on a spreadsheet aren't enough to predict that.
