Provari vs eGo Twist.

[meeems]

'oh you little bugger'... ROTFL.
now i know why my brother says i'm 'such an easy mark'...

Jixchel; hahahahah...thats true!

Meems

 

[dDubs]

I mean come on, the satin black mini, with the teardrop pattern, blue LED, it looks so sweet. Also wanted to add it to my collection.

 

[meeems]

I just got rid of that exact mini, couldnt take the battery changing anymore', traded it in the ecf class. for a satin regular with 18650 extension. oh my effin gaaa', 1 & 1/2 days before i even changed my first battery....love it!, But i miss the size of the mini, and the blue led'.

I mean come on, the satin black mini, with the teardrop pattern, blue LED, it looks so sweet. Also wanted to add it to my collection.

 

[dDubs]

meems,
You know, I was worried about the 18350 battery life at first. I got the extension tube for the 18490, but I like how the standard end cap looks much better. But the ext. cap does make it a better length for me to hold. When I first got my mini (a week or two ago), I charged the batts and put the little '350 in. Went from about 3pm saturday to noon monday. Amazing! I thought I was a pretty heavy vaper, but I guess not. I also have about 3 devices w/ me all the time, so I don't really use 1 exclusively, but was using the mini quite a bit. Yea, so I was amazed with how long those little batteries last me. And if they do die, I just put a fresh one in- I always have extra batteries, juice, attys, etc. I'm paranoid about devices failing and then I can't get my fix!

 

[meeems]

I was in a provari mini thread for a few days, and could not believe how many people said how long their 18350 set up lasted', i mean i was blown away, like you, days...i chain vape sure, but mine was lasting 2 & a half hours to maybe 3 max', ...and i was using the imr's, ...its was really beginning to baffle me', and pissss me off to boot'...i was the only one in there with that problem. so i had to trade, but like i said, i love this one now'. win win situation, the guy i sold the mini to, loved it, and never said anything about the battery time'...so everyones happy now.

meems,
You know, I was worried about the 18350 battery life at first. I got the extension tube for the 18490, but I like how the standard end cap looks much better. But the ext. cap does make it a better length for me to hold. When I first got my mini (a week or two ago), I charged the batts and put the little '350 in. Went from about 3pm saturday to noon monday. Amazing! I thought I was a pretty heavy vaper, but I guess not. I also have about 3 devices w/ me all the time, so I don't really use 1 exclusively, but was using the mini quite a bit. Yea, so I was amazed with how long those little batteries last me. And if they do die, I just put a fresh one in- I always have extra batteries, juice, attys, etc. I'm paranoid about devices failing and then I can't get my fix!

 

[VAPNJ350]

That's awesome they fixed some of the issues. Let us know what you think

Some or A LOT of people like the shear POWER to spare factor of the V1 VMAX but in my "opinion", as I have 2 of each version. (V1 & V2) I honestly like the V2 much better. The button is solid like a rock (no rattle,wiggle, or mis hits), the voltage yet still powerful due to the PWM tuning is much more accurate underload(dead accurate, NO drop at all), the ability to turn the display off completely is awesome, the 4am wakeup and out the door by 5am being dark outside still that LED was extremely bright in the car, and the overall quality(paint, end cap,etc..)went up by 30% atleast. I still love my Provari's and I still pull them out of the Organizer every now and again, but it's is rare. The VMAX has just taken the experience to a place I honestly thought I would never find.....until now. Ya know how you order that new mod and the whole time your waiting on it to arrive your thinking and hoping you notice a difference in this mod than alllllll the others you bought in the past.........Then it finally gets here....you fill up a fresh carto/tank.CE-2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 ...or whatever is your poison.......and here comes the draw.......andddddddddd.......aw crap......is that all, hell thats no different than my _______. And then that feeling of....will I ever find a mod that is actually noticeably different when I take that highly anticipated draw ????? Well to be perfectly honest, the VMAX was that device for me. I think that just about sums it up. Take care everyone, and whatever your using.....just love it......it's saving your life.

 

[MikeB]

I haven't read the whole tread, but here are my two cents...

I got a Provari Mini because at the time I was having a terrible time kicking the cigs and it provided a slightly broader range of voltages. I didn't want to be stuck at only 4.8v, and still not off the analogues, and left wondering if 5.3v would have done the trick. I also liked that it would error out if I over cranked the voltage to more than the carto would handle.

Now... well, I know what I'm doing better. I understand Volts, Ohms, Amps, Watts, and the tolerances of my hardware. I also have found that I don't really like vaping over about 4.8volts at 3ohms... less for lower res of course. So.... I would have been find with a Twist, but I didn't know that at the time.

As to the price... It wasn't an issue for me. I spent about $50 a week on analogues, so I knew if it worked and I got off the cigs, I'd have it payed off in just a few weeks. No biggie really when you compare the cost of vaping against smoking. Had I already been a vaper, would it have been worth the cost? That's hard to say. I don't regret getting it. I love my Provari -- the fit and finish, the features, the look, the function -- it's awesome, but it might not have been my choice if I hadn't been where I was at the time I bought it.

 

[GIMike]

Not sure if this has been mentioned since this thread has e'sploded since my last post in it, but I just wanted to say, the ego-w tanks work great with the twist. I'll be ordering some more on payday

 

[mostapha]

It would mean that the voltage measurements on the Provari are just as approximate as the ones on the Vmax.

That's not necessarily true, and it's one of the problems I have with pbusardo's reviews: he's awesome, funny, very experienced, and very smart……but he'd not great at math. Vav isn't necessarily what matters with PWM depending on exactly how the device works. Vrms would be better.

Because of the timings involved, it seems like power delivered is what's important. And a coil doesn't care which direction the current flows inside it (you can put a battery into a mechanical mod backwards and never notice……as long as they're not stacked batteries facing opposite directions). Vav counts the negative voltages against what the coil is actually getting…Vrms counts it the way it should. So, basically, none of his numbers are accurate for PWM devices.

I have no idea what purpose PWM would serve on a boost mod but, the Provari is using it.

The same as on something that steps down voltage. By creating a square wave with a DC offset (so it goes higher on the +V side than the -V side, for example) you can alter power output by changing the "duty cycle" (or when in the cycle V is > 0). Stepping up vs. stepping down is a matter of circuitry.

But, if you can get 120V AC (sine wave) off a 12V DC car cigarette lighter plug……I think getting a ~10Vpp (peak to peak) square wave with a DC offset off a 3.7 V battery is no big deal.

Here's a few (hopefully subjective) points to consider:

Awesome post.

If you're an average vaper, all you need is a way to get the voltage to a point where the atty/carto/clearo + juice combination tastes best and produces adequate vapor for you. For ease of use, the Twist stands out because you can easily just tweak the dial a little in one direction or another and vape to find that sweet spot.

Agreed. Wholeheartedly. That's why the Provari doesn't appeal to me. I would never be happy using that button. Frankly, I don't understand why anyone puts up with it. I'm sure it's an awesome vape, but I think it's a horrible design made by someone who has no idea what user experience is. Obviously people disagree with me there. But the Provari only fits into my "toolbox" as well as a kick in any mod that can accept it and is only marginally better than any 3.7V mod.

I would have been find with a Twist, but I didn't know that at the time.

The funny thing is that I feel very similar about my Twist. I'm interested in a lot of stuff because I'm kind of just a gear ..... in every hobby I have. But where I'm running the Twist, I know I can be okay with low-res stuff & a 3.7V mod. And I have a VV device available if something shows up out of spec. I'm way more likely to buy a provape-1 than a provari……and I probably will because it seems to give you the build quality and the gorgeous aesthetics without the BS interface. If I had a provari, It'd end up getting set and never changed……probably right at 3.7-4.0, which you can get by just swapping batteries when it gets too cold.

 

[MickeyRat]

That's not necessarily true, and it's one of the problems I have with pbusardo's reviews: he's awesome, funny, very experienced, and very smart……but he'd not great at math. Vav isn't necessarily what matters with PWM depending on exactly how the device works. Vrms would be better.

Because of the timings involved, it seems like power delivered is what's important. And a coil doesn't care which direction the current flows inside it (you can put a battery into a mechanical mod backwards and never notice……as long as they're not stacked batteries facing opposite directions). Vav counts the negative voltages against what the coil is actually getting…Vrms counts it the way it should. So, basically, none of his numbers are accurate for PWM devices.

Yes but, what I find ironic is he used a PWM device as a performance reference because he couldn't measure the performance of a PWM device. If you accept that you can't determine accurate voltage with PWM, it's just as accurate to say that the Provari reads a higher number than the Vmax therefore the Provari's voltage numbers are wrong. If you can't determine accurate voltage with a PWM device, you have no basis to say one is more accurate than the other.

The same as on something that steps down voltage. By creating a square wave with a DC offset (so it goes higher on the +V side than the -V side, for example) you can alter power output by changing the "duty cycle" (or when in the cycle V is > 0). Stepping up vs. stepping down is a matter of circuitry.

I understand completely what PWM does. What I don't understand is why you need to use it when you're boosting. I thought you could vary the boost and not need PWM.

 

[MikeB]

That's why the Provari doesn't appeal to me. I would never be happy using that button. Frankly, I don't understand why anyone puts up with it. I'm sure it's an awesome vape, but I think it's a horrible design made by someone who has no idea what user experience is. Obviously people disagree with me there.

You know, as a former graphic designer and interface designer, I'd have to agree with you -- and not just on an "It's my opinion" level, but also on a professional level. For the type of function it's performing, an analogue knob is much more suited to the user experience. Note here that by "analogue" I don't mean any of the circuitry that drives its function. I mean a knob would be "analogue" in its function... assuming of course any digital circuitry behind it had enough steps to be meaningful...

That said, I own a Provari, and honestly the interface is unobtrusive. Never thought I'd say that before owning one, and I had heard plenty of people make similar claims before. The interface was one of my biggest concerns before placing my order. Now though, I can honestly say that it's so intuitive that the instructions are pointless and in just a day or so its completely transparent as far as the user experience (in my case).

Having said that... an analogue control interface is still more suited to such a function. A knob, slider, or wheel just makes more sense in terms of design, and I believe it would provide a more natural experience, though given the ease of the current design, how much improvement it would make is debatable.

 

[slipdiskk]

I own both a provari and an ego twist. The vape is EXACTLY the same up to 4.8 volts. If you think you need to go higher the the provari is the way to go. They both work great.

 

[Flyer]

I don't know, but I don't find the 5 button press to open the UI all that obtrusive or difficult. It's a clean 1 button design that is pretty intuitive. I also like the durable, precision build and the fact that I can count on a solid 24+ hour out of it. And, when the battery dies, I don't throw it away.

 

[mostapha]

I'll give you that I'm sure it works, but I already spend a lot more on Apple computers because I hate the Windows interface (and can't live without a shell) and prefer hardware synthesizers despite greatly increased costs and less functionality than software synths because I think knobs and buttons are just plain better than mice. It doesn't make any sense for me to put up with an interface I know I won't like when there are better options available. If provari was the only VV game in town, fine. I'd use it. But I'd also "upgrade" as soon as I had an option.

It's a personal thing. And I'm kinda just trying to say that while I'm sure the Provari is great, I think there are perfectly good reasons to choose something like the Twist over it even if you have an unlimited budget. And I think the comparison the OP wanted is completely valid.

I have the money for both in my vape budget, and I'll buy more twists long before I'll buy a Provari. If someone wants to give me one…fine. But I don't want to deal with returning it at my expense because I know that's what'll happen.

 

[DPLongo22]

I think that every discussion related to the button on a ProVari is absolutely hilarious.

Our lives have become consumed with buttons, most requiring significantly more effort than the ridiculously simple ProVari interface. Personally, I need to punch six times just to unlock my phone, about a billion times per day (give or take). And that's just scratching the surface...

So, seriously???

 

[mostapha]

I've also thrown my iPhone across rooms countless times because of getting fed up with it. I don't deal well with bad interfaces (and, no, I don't agree with people who say the iPhone has a good interface…when it comes to technology "best" does not imply "good").

Let's say you're unlocking your iPhone with the same interface as the provari and your passcode is 2468.

Press the button 5 times to enter the menu.
Press it some number of times to get to the power on.
Twice for the 2, then wait a second.
Four times for the 4, then wait a second.
Six times for the 6, then wait a second.
Eight times for the 8, then wait a second.
It unlocks.

25 button clicks (plus a couple to get to the power-on option), 4 seconds wasted, and god help you if you make a mistake.

Compare that to an iPhone.

Think about changing voltages with 5 button presses, plus possibly another one, plus another n to change by n tenths of a volt……or just twist the bottom of the battery. Or hold 2 buttons for a couple seconds and start pressing. Or slide a dial.

The device itself is gorgeous, but the person who designed the Provari interface should never be allowed to design products again. The fact that you can live with it doesn't change the fact that it's atrocious. I'm going to wait for something better.

 

[DPLongo22]

I admit being envious that your life is such that either the iPhone or ProVari would be noticeable complications. I would pay fairly large sums of money to give either a thought.

My wife is anything but technically inclined, and semi-disabled to boot. I got her an iPhone & iPad, because I knew she'd find Android (my devices) too frustrating. She also uses a ProVari. She is challenged by none of them.

Like I said earlier, I find the fact that it's even a topic of discussion hilarious.

I've also thrown my iPhone across rooms countless times because of getting fed up with it. I don't deal well with bad interfaces (and, no, I don't agree with people who say the iPhone has a good interface…when it comes to technology "best" does not imply "good").

Let's say you're unlocking your iPhone with the same interface as the provari and your passcode is 2468.

Press the button 5 times to enter the menu.
Press it some number of times to get to the power on.
Twice for the 2, then wait a second.
Four times for the 4, then wait a second.
Six times for the 6, then wait a second.
Eight times for the 8, then wait a second.
It unlocks.

25 button clicks (plus a couple to get to the power-on option), 4 seconds wasted, and god help you if you make a mistake.

Compare that to an iPhone.

Think about changing voltages with 5 button presses, plus possibly another one, plus another n to change by n tenths of a volt……or just twist the bottom of the battery. Or hold 2 buttons for a couple seconds and start pressing. Or slide a dial.

The device itself is gorgeous, but the person who designed the Provari interface should never be allowed to design products again. The fact that you can live with it doesn't change the fact that it's atrocious. I'm going to wait for something better.

 

[Eaglegsw14]

Mostapha. In all actuality your analogy is completely wrong. If you take a second to think. If you have to unlock your iPhone to get to the home screen it's a push of exactly 5 buttons if you have pass code lock on (assuming one is not using android lock on their iPhone). To get to the home screen. Then it's yet another button to get to whatever app you want to go into. Plus the countless amounts of other buttons to press within the app. Then yet another button to return to the home screen. Then another to lock it. Now look at the provari. 5 clicks to pull up its menu. Which just do happens to be turning volts up. Now you can increase volts from 3.0-6.0 in .1 increments. 30 clicks to start back the beginning. Then just stop clicking to return to lock screen. In all actuality there is a lot less clicking with a provari to get into and out of it than there is with an iPhone. So tell me how it's inconvenient to use the provari interface over the iPhone interface? I do own a provari. And love it much more than my LT and my twist. And I think the interface is more user friendly than the iPhone. And my girlfriend, who I might add can barely use a computer agrees. All this is sent from my iPhone 4s and I have owned every iPhone there has been.

 

[mostapha]

@eagle, You missed the point. I was giving you an idea of how much more complicated it would be to unlock the iPhone if it were based on the one-button provari interface. The rest of your counterargument is irrelevant because an iPhone does a lot more.

@DP, the reason they're complications are that I know how I like to think and work. If you're bad at computers, you won't have developed preferences……and for that the iPhone is perfect. Just like the Provari. My preference comes from a lot of other sectors, but I just don't think it's worth the money to deal with the interface. Other than the Vmax, every other VV device I've seen adjusts voltage in a more straightforward way than the Provari.

Fix the interface, and I'll buy one of the first ones.

 

[DPLongo22]

Point taken, but I'll be honest - I don't even notice it. I rarely change it, but do check the battery on occasion. The only comparative experience I can offer is via my son. He got a BPro because he heard all the "horror stories" about the button. When he visited me, he immediately picked up the ProVari, played with it for about a minute, then said - "Umm - OK so, that's pretty (expletive) simple."

I dunno. All I care about is the vape. I continue to hope & pray that this button somehow becomes a complication in my (currently VERY complicated) life. I aspire to absolutely curse it one day. "DAMN YOU, BUTTON!!!"