SmokTech V-Max Review
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Hello Fazed, how's it going. I watched your video, and there was an interesting discussion of it in http://www.e-cigarette-forum.com/fo...-new-variable-voltage-device-smoktech-73.html
In it, I reviewed your review, so I thought maybe you could read that thread from post 727 to its end, in case you want to review my review of your review.
Best regards, John D
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OK, on further reflection: I was just thinking about removing the link to make this seem less confrontational. But I said what I said, I stand by it, it wasn't against forum rules, so I'm just going to leave the link, because what's out there is out there, and I don't think I'd change a word of it anyway. I don't like to label people or things, and think I succeeded at that in that thread, but I still feel compelled to say that your video had all the appearance of what I could only describe as a "hatchet job".
For example, I've spoken to Courtney at AAV, and she tells me they've had one return so far. And a friend and I, neither of whom remotely fit the label of "VMax fanboy", just re-watched your review and just had a really hard time seeing much of what you were seeing. Compare your opinion of the build quality, cap, fit and finish, and 'scope readings even, to Phil's. You didn't even like the vent holes! Now come on, you didn't even like the vent holes ... said they were "odd" ... please work with me here, and please confide in my about whether or not there's just at least a teeny voice inside you that's saying that maybe you really did go a bit overly negative on this "thing", as you referred to it.
Can you see where I'm coming from at all? I sure hope so, because I really don't think this was just my imagination; that review went way too far IMO to try to make the "thing" look bad. I think any reasonable person would come to that conclusion, not just "VMax fanboys". And I don't think that that same reasonable person could read that thread and say that I am one. I've never said the VMax was "better" than the ProVari, except to note the obvious scientific fact that it does have certain inherent advantages in some limited areas due to the fact that it has 7.4-8.4 volts to work with. And that, only a "ProVari fanboy" could disagree with IMO. That said, I wish we could stop using that term so much, and stop comparing the two devices so much, and just enjoy the relative merits of each one, and give each one whatever "props" it deserves, and the ProVari deserves PLENTY, as I have said ad nauseum.
That's it; maybe we can all laugh about this little bump in the vaping road. I certainly hope so, because laughing and vaping are two of my favorite things in this world. I look forward to the possibility of having a civil discussion about what this device might just shape up to be, wherever the science behind it leads us. Thanks.
In it, I reviewed your review, so I thought maybe you could read that thread from post 727 to its end, in case you want to review my review of your review.
Best regards, John D
***
OK, on further reflection: I was just thinking about removing the link to make this seem less confrontational. But I said what I said, I stand by it, it wasn't against forum rules, so I'm just going to leave the link, because what's out there is out there, and I don't think I'd change a word of it anyway. I don't like to label people or things, and think I succeeded at that in that thread, but I still feel compelled to say that your video had all the appearance of what I could only describe as a "hatchet job".
For example, I've spoken to Courtney at AAV, and she tells me they've had one return so far. And a friend and I, neither of whom remotely fit the label of "VMax fanboy", just re-watched your review and just had a really hard time seeing much of what you were seeing. Compare your opinion of the build quality, cap, fit and finish, and 'scope readings even, to Phil's. You didn't even like the vent holes! Now come on, you didn't even like the vent holes ... said they were "odd" ... please work with me here, and please confide in my about whether or not there's just at least a teeny voice inside you that's saying that maybe you really did go a bit overly negative on this "thing", as you referred to it.
Can you see where I'm coming from at all? I sure hope so, because I really don't think this was just my imagination; that review went way too far IMO to try to make the "thing" look bad. I think any reasonable person would come to that conclusion, not just "VMax fanboys". And I don't think that that same reasonable person could read that thread and say that I am one. I've never said the VMax was "better" than the ProVari, except to note the obvious scientific fact that it does have certain inherent advantages in some limited areas due to the fact that it has 7.4-8.4 volts to work with. And that, only a "ProVari fanboy" could disagree with IMO. That said, I wish we could stop using that term so much, and stop comparing the two devices so much, and just enjoy the relative merits of each one, and give each one whatever "props" it deserves, and the ProVari deserves PLENTY, as I have said ad nauseum.
That's it; maybe we can all laugh about this little bump in the vaping road. I certainly hope so, because laughing and vaping are two of my favorite things in this world. I look forward to the possibility of having a civil discussion about what this device might just shape up to be, wherever the science behind it leads us. Thanks.
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So much I want to say here but I will keep my mouth shut cause this website has rules and I plan to being respectful of said rules. Your thread was locked for a reason. Why must you keep stirring the pot? Vmax is no Provari. Anyone that clams that its even close is sadly mistaken. When u add $80 for 2 battery's and a good charger its almost the same cost. Thats about the only way you can compare it to a Provari. Please just stop already with the drama. You seen it live. Broken, not an error code, but broken. It was not a set up.
Enjoy your Vmax. I vape on a home made vv pv that was 1/8th the cost of it and probably works just as well. Not going to stick my foot in my mouth every time some one says it sucks cause it does. Its my PV.
Fazed.... If you think anything I said is out of line, I will have it removed. Dont mean to cause any drama.
Enjoy your Vmax. I vape on a home made vv pv that was 1/8th the cost of it and probably works just as well. Not going to stick my foot in my mouth every time some one says it sucks cause it does. Its my PV.
Fazed.... If you think anything I said is out of line, I will have it removed. Dont mean to cause any drama.
That thread was not closed because of what I said, if one reads it carefully. I received no violations, and don't believe I said anything that was in violation of the forum rules, according to a careful scrutiny by one or more moderators.
I have never equated the VMax with the ProVari, and if one does in fact read that thread very carefully, one might find that I regard the Provari very highly. The fact that I don't currently possess one is a mater of circumstance, not preference. As I've said many times in this forum, I have every intention of acquiring one at the earliest opportunity - preferably with the blue LED - because I think its quality, performance, and dependability might well be unmatched by any PV on the planet, production or otherwise, and that of course includes the "spirited" but obviously unproven Smoktech VMax.
I do find parts of your post offensive though, and I hope you can ramp up the civility just a bit if we continue to exchange views. I'm referring to your implication that I have somehow "put my foot into my mouth", where I think I've made my points civilly while admittedly pointedly, and that each of the points stands pretty well on its own merits, a point-by-point attempted rebuttal of which I would find far more preferable than a blanket characterization of them as solely an attempt to "stir the pot", which I also find somewhat offensive.
That said - not that it is my sole intention, but some pots could arguably use a little stirring. I think it's important that reviews and reviewers remain completely objective and impartial, and I use the video in question as evidence that I find far more compelling than anything I can add by way of critique that that just might not be the case here. I feel that the more attention I can bring to bear on it, the better all future reviews just might be.
The reason that thread was closed is that some people are not very adept at saying what's on their minds without undue hostility. Again, if you study the thread carefully, it was not a post of mine that brought it to its untimely end, and again, i was never formally informed of any wrongdoing, with the exception of having the word "god" redacted in three places. I used it in frustration about the very thing I'm objecting to here; an apparent continuation of a very tedious (to me) head-to-head matchup between the two devices.
My issue is mainly with the methodology of the review in question far more than with its conclusions themselves.
****
Shoot, one or two more things:
"Why must you keep stirring the pot? Vmax is no Provari. Anyone that claims that its even close is sadly mistaken".
By way of recapping, I think that one sentence might point to a misunderstanding of my goal here. it is not to "prove" anything about "ProVari vs. VMax". The Provari is in a special class of its own as far as my understanding of the APV's that are currently available goes. I have never, ever said anything even remotely close to "equating" the two. You can scour all of my posts, but you will find no such sentiment.
And lastly, two AW 18350 batteries are $15, so "no fair" tacking on a $65 charger when an $11 dollar one will do the job just fine, like a Trustfire TR-001. (I'll use their charger, just not their batteries).
And thanks; I do enjoy my VMax, and my Joyetech eGo, and my kGo batteries, and my Woo, and I'm sure I will enjoy my Provari as well. Enjoy your VV mod.
I have never equated the VMax with the ProVari, and if one does in fact read that thread very carefully, one might find that I regard the Provari very highly. The fact that I don't currently possess one is a mater of circumstance, not preference. As I've said many times in this forum, I have every intention of acquiring one at the earliest opportunity - preferably with the blue LED - because I think its quality, performance, and dependability might well be unmatched by any PV on the planet, production or otherwise, and that of course includes the "spirited" but obviously unproven Smoktech VMax.
I do find parts of your post offensive though, and I hope you can ramp up the civility just a bit if we continue to exchange views. I'm referring to your implication that I have somehow "put my foot into my mouth", where I think I've made my points civilly while admittedly pointedly, and that each of the points stands pretty well on its own merits, a point-by-point attempted rebuttal of which I would find far more preferable than a blanket characterization of them as solely an attempt to "stir the pot", which I also find somewhat offensive.
That said - not that it is my sole intention, but some pots could arguably use a little stirring. I think it's important that reviews and reviewers remain completely objective and impartial, and I use the video in question as evidence that I find far more compelling than anything I can add by way of critique that that just might not be the case here. I feel that the more attention I can bring to bear on it, the better all future reviews just might be.
The reason that thread was closed is that some people are not very adept at saying what's on their minds without undue hostility. Again, if you study the thread carefully, it was not a post of mine that brought it to its untimely end, and again, i was never formally informed of any wrongdoing, with the exception of having the word "god" redacted in three places. I used it in frustration about the very thing I'm objecting to here; an apparent continuation of a very tedious (to me) head-to-head matchup between the two devices.
My issue is mainly with the methodology of the review in question far more than with its conclusions themselves.
****
Shoot, one or two more things:
"Why must you keep stirring the pot? Vmax is no Provari. Anyone that claims that its even close is sadly mistaken".
By way of recapping, I think that one sentence might point to a misunderstanding of my goal here. it is not to "prove" anything about "ProVari vs. VMax". The Provari is in a special class of its own as far as my understanding of the APV's that are currently available goes. I have never, ever said anything even remotely close to "equating" the two. You can scour all of my posts, but you will find no such sentiment.
And lastly, two AW 18350 batteries are $15, so "no fair" tacking on a $65 charger when an $11 dollar one will do the job just fine, like a Trustfire TR-001. (I'll use their charger, just not their batteries).
And thanks; I do enjoy my VMax, and my Joyetech eGo, and my kGo batteries, and my Woo, and I'm sure I will enjoy my Provari as well. Enjoy your VV mod.
Wow. Well I made my point and I dont feel like i need to write a book to defend it. This is now a conversation that I dont want to have. not sure I feel the need to put words in anyone's mouth, and I can see that you take offense to what a lot of people have to say. Not a constructive way to spend my time. Thanks.
You are certainly free to make your posts to whatever length you see fit, and I hope you respect my right to do the same. I also reserve the right to be offended by what I deem to be offensive, and decline your tacit offer to determine for me what those things should be.
I respect your wishes to terminate our interaction, and wish you well.
*****
To whom it may concern, I offer another review of this device that I invite any readers of this thread or the one I linked to to view, and to compare and contrast to the one under discussion here as a possible means of arriving at a better understanding of the "thumbs downs" included in my review of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpK9-9OcUes
As always, my reviews of reviews are honest, unbiased, and not beholden to anyone.
I respect your wishes to terminate our interaction, and wish you well.
*****
To whom it may concern, I offer another review of this device that I invite any readers of this thread or the one I linked to to view, and to compare and contrast to the one under discussion here as a possible means of arriving at a better understanding of the "thumbs downs" included in my review of it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WpK9-9OcUes
As always, my reviews of reviews are honest, unbiased, and not beholden to anyone.
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I stand by my review. It stopped working. I even recorded the failure. I didn't make that up. The replacement, while still working, still has quality issues that if I had paid for it instead of getting it through Ecigadvanced, I'd be very upset and demanding a refund. Issues such as the 18350 batteries don't fit in it. The ID of the end cap is too small. Yes there will be a follow up review.
You mentioned the word fanboy a lot in your post. Interesting! Nobody is getting worked up here but you. Maybe you should calm down, count to ten, and try again.
Lastly, dude, it is just a review (ie, my opinion). As, in my opinion, after testing this device extensively, my opinion is that it needs a lot of refinement before I would recommend someone purchase it especially at the ridiculously inflated price point Smoktech makes their vendors sell it at.
You obviously have a different opinion of the device. Good for you. I'm glad you like yours. I hope it gives you years of trouble free service and keeps you off the analogs. Afterall, isn't that the point?
As an aside, I would like to commend All About Vapor. They are an excellent retailer with excellent customer service. It's not their fault the device wasn't ready for market yet. They, like so many other vendors when dealing with unproven new devices from China sometimes get a raw deal. They handled themselves with poise and professionalism, and that deserves mention.
Sent via cellular communication device...
You mentioned the word fanboy a lot in your post. Interesting! Nobody is getting worked up here but you. Maybe you should calm down, count to ten, and try again.
Lastly, dude, it is just a review (ie, my opinion). As, in my opinion, after testing this device extensively, my opinion is that it needs a lot of refinement before I would recommend someone purchase it especially at the ridiculously inflated price point Smoktech makes their vendors sell it at.
You obviously have a different opinion of the device. Good for you. I'm glad you like yours. I hope it gives you years of trouble free service and keeps you off the analogs. Afterall, isn't that the point?
As an aside, I would like to commend All About Vapor. They are an excellent retailer with excellent customer service. It's not their fault the device wasn't ready for market yet. They, like so many other vendors when dealing with unproven new devices from China sometimes get a raw deal. They handled themselves with poise and professionalism, and that deserves mention.
Sent via cellular communication device...
My Provari V2 did not come with
1) batteries
2) charger
3) extension cap
at 159.95 you get none of those things.
I do not think it is fair to try to say "what do you get for the price of 128.95"
You get just a tube too with the Provari...please compare apples to apples here.
The Provari Starter Kit which would have the items that are mentioned above is 211.95 with batteries and charger.
This price still does not include the extension cap at 24.95.
All I am saying is compare apples to apples. We certainly cannot say that all you get is a tube, when in both cases that is all you get. It should not be said "that is all you get" as if it was negative when referencing the VMax. That tone infers that you get more with the basic Provari and you do not.
I have them both and love them both. I am not for or against either one. They both have their own merits.
I just don't think it's fair when people do not properly compare "apples to apples"
1) batteries
2) charger
3) extension cap
at 159.95 you get none of those things.
I do not think it is fair to try to say "what do you get for the price of 128.95"
You get just a tube too with the Provari...please compare apples to apples here.
The Provari Starter Kit which would have the items that are mentioned above is 211.95 with batteries and charger.
This price still does not include the extension cap at 24.95.
All I am saying is compare apples to apples. We certainly cannot say that all you get is a tube, when in both cases that is all you get. It should not be said "that is all you get" as if it was negative when referencing the VMax. That tone infers that you get more with the basic Provari and you do not.
I have them both and love them both. I am not for or against either one. They both have their own merits.
I just don't think it's fair when people do not properly compare "apples to apples"
For the record,the top cap is not "stamped steel" (put a magnet against it,see for yourself)
And I wouldnt do a review with a broken device and post it on the intertubes!
My Vmax has none of the flaws you have described either...its solid all over and if you lube that battery cap just a lil bit,its on par with everything else on the market as far as scratchy noises are concerned (dont you lube all the parts/caps on your APVs??)
And yeah,about the price point...
Most vendors I have seen work around that and offer free batts or a discount/coupon code on your whole basket.
Mine amounted to about $100 and its working flawlessly.
And that new oscilloscope thing the reviewers are using;I could make any APVs look bad by changing the time scale between waves to suit whichever argument I want to pass too.
Thumbs down to that review.
And I wouldnt do a review with a broken device and post it on the intertubes!
My Vmax has none of the flaws you have described either...its solid all over and if you lube that battery cap just a lil bit,its on par with everything else on the market as far as scratchy noises are concerned (dont you lube all the parts/caps on your APVs??)
And yeah,about the price point...
Most vendors I have seen work around that and offer free batts or a discount/coupon code on your whole basket.
Mine amounted to about $100 and its working flawlessly.
And that new oscilloscope thing the reviewers are using;I could make any APVs look bad by changing the time scale between waves to suit whichever argument I want to pass too.
Thumbs down to that review.
Noticed the price fixing thing seems to have been dropped now looking at some of the Offers,converting my price to US$ comes in at about 85$ US for the Vmax Body 
Is there a dedicated VMax section on here seems a bit of a nuisance to keep posting on unrelated Vmax threads ?????
I stand by my review. It stopped working. I even recorded the failure. I didn't make that up
I take that to mean that you would not change one single thing about it, is that a fair statement? If so, do you, for example, think that it's fair to the viewers of it to come away with the impression that the end cap will be loose and rattly on all VMax's? I know for a fact that that is not the case. As I said, mine fits like a glove. That is why I made the observation that your unit was either ********************* or b) was a "factory second" that failed to be manufactured according to the specifications and machining standards that are evident in my example of the VMax "1.0", and was "gleefully seized upon" (as I said in the "Long VMax Thread") by someone who saw his acquisition of it as a serendipitous occurrence that could be used to good effect to further a particular agenda, or c) just happened to be a lemon. And no one that I know of, myself included, has ever said that you staged the failure of the unit, and am frankly puzzled as to where you got that idea. This would be a good time to repeat something that I've previously stated; that it might have been a nice touch to review a functioning device, and rightly refer in it to the fact that a prior example of the VMax had failed during your testing of it.
"ridiculously inflated price" to me just underscores what I see as a lack of objectivity. Your opinion that you would still have to give the VMax a "good think" at half of that price does nothing IMO to boost my assessment of your objectivity.
"You mentioned the word fanboy a lot in your post. Interesting! Nobody is getting worked up here but you. Maybe you should calm down, count to ten, and try again".
I'm puzzled by your view that I'm "worked up", and I'm liking my first try just fine.
And what is it exactly that you find interesting? Is that a veiled reference to a psycholgical pnenomenon that William Shakespeare had in mind when he wrote the words "The [dude] doth protest too much, methinks." [From Shakespeare's Hamlet, Act III, scene II, where it is spoken by Queen Gertrude, Hamlet's mother. The phrase has come to mean that one can "insist so passionately about something not being true that people suspect the opposite of what one is saying]. In simpler prose - are you intent on dismissing my stated objections to your video by attributing them to "Fanboyism"? Undertones like that are why the term "Fanboy" seems to keep popping up, it seems to me.
"dude, it is just a review"
First, I find the appelation "dude" to be somewhat dismissive and disrespectful, and if you must use it in addressing me, I would prefer you referred to me as "Mr. Dude". TIA for that.
As for, "it's just a review"? well ... that's what we're talking about ... a review .... so I don't quite "get" that one. If your implication is that because it's "just a review" that anything contained in it can be presented in any manner at all, without being a valid topic of critique, including its fairness and objectivity, then I respectfully disagree. Similarly, if someone were standing on your toe, and their response to your query "Hey, could you please not stand on my toe?" was "hey, it's just a toe", you might gain some appreciation for my outlook on the phrase "it's just a review". Again, in simpler terms; you do reviews, you posted this thread in part to seek feedback on it, and I'm giving you mine.
Some quick points:
About 18350 batteries "not fitting into the device"(?). This again leads to to believe that your specimen is an "outlier"; one that is far from the norm. I have never heard that from anyone but you. The batteries do fit very snugly, but that might be considered a plus in an open mind. I put one (AW 18350 IMR) battery into the tube, the other one into the end cap, and presto, you're done. If you try it, you might see what I mean, unless, as I say, your test unit is very different from mine, acquired from AAV from the first batch of black ones. i think that probably at least 90% of all VMax owners use that battery, and if it truly "did not fit the devcie", I have to believe that we would be hearing from from more than just one person; namely, you. The apparent fact that you are the only one categorically stating that they do not fit once more goes directly to your credibility, which I am sincerely trying to help you maintain.
Lastly, did you happen to read posts 727 throught 765 of the thread I linked to, and if so, do you have any disagreements with any of the sentiments expressed in it. If so, I'd be interested in engaging in a further civil discussion of any of the points made in it. Just as you stand by your review, I stand by my review of your review, and hope that you can keep an open mind despite your understandable fondness for the subject of my review.
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Interesting that you said something about the vent holes. Most people complain about the normal pinhole that most China factories use. I like the fact that this mod has more than just one.
As for clanky threads...have you heard of Noalox or Vaseline? It helps to lube the threads. The ones on mine are just fine without any of the sideways or squeeking stuff you were experiencing.
Cheap feeling...now that's one I've never heard. Sorry I guess I like the "cheap" feeling.
Batteries not fitting was something else you mentioned. I have 12 sets of AW 18350's and all of mine, and yes I checked them all, fit just fine. Is it the spring tension you're having an issue with. It will put some resistance on the bottom cap while screwing it on.
Comparing it to a ProVari...WHY ARE PEOPLE DOING THIS? One is American made and the other is China made and neither are the same mod as the other. Is it because they resemble one another in appearance? I really wish people would stop the comparison. You're comparing apples to oranges.
Your switch blew because you were running 1.5ohm dual coils. I don't care what the manufacturer or any manufacturer claims, running a dcc on a mod with a mother board isn't a good thing but it's your money so do as you wish.
I'm really disappointed that you reviewed a defective mod. Every mod made has the potential to be defective and you base your opinion on it just because of that? You should have done a review with the replacement.
Overall, I love my VMax and have 3 more on the way. As for cheap feeling, not in my opinion. It's more conductive than any mod I own because it's a coated copper tube. As for performance, it's just as good as anything else on the market.
Oh...and the price point. You made the remark that it should be half price. Why? Because it's made in China? Sorry but they have the ability to produce just as a quality mod as Americans can. Another point I disagree with.
Oh, and please don't call me a fangirl. I own well over 50 mods and like each one for a different reason. I don't stick to just one and brag about it.
As for clanky threads...have you heard of Noalox or Vaseline? It helps to lube the threads. The ones on mine are just fine without any of the sideways or squeeking stuff you were experiencing.
Cheap feeling...now that's one I've never heard. Sorry I guess I like the "cheap" feeling.
Batteries not fitting was something else you mentioned. I have 12 sets of AW 18350's and all of mine, and yes I checked them all, fit just fine. Is it the spring tension you're having an issue with. It will put some resistance on the bottom cap while screwing it on.
Comparing it to a ProVari...WHY ARE PEOPLE DOING THIS? One is American made and the other is China made and neither are the same mod as the other. Is it because they resemble one another in appearance? I really wish people would stop the comparison. You're comparing apples to oranges.
Your switch blew because you were running 1.5ohm dual coils. I don't care what the manufacturer or any manufacturer claims, running a dcc on a mod with a mother board isn't a good thing but it's your money so do as you wish.
I'm really disappointed that you reviewed a defective mod. Every mod made has the potential to be defective and you base your opinion on it just because of that? You should have done a review with the replacement.
Overall, I love my VMax and have 3 more on the way. As for cheap feeling, not in my opinion. It's more conductive than any mod I own because it's a coated copper tube. As for performance, it's just as good as anything else on the market.
Oh...and the price point. You made the remark that it should be half price. Why? Because it's made in China? Sorry but they have the ability to produce just as a quality mod as Americans can. Another point I disagree with.
Oh, and please don't call me a fangirl. I own well over 50 mods and like each one for a different reason. I don't stick to just one and brag about it.
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Fazed, did you attempt to take the batteries out and reinsert them into the faulty unit? I'm aware of a couple of instances where this has served to 'reset' the vmax. Might be worth a try if you have not done so already.
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I will take this moment to remind you...when someone does a review, it is their opinion of the product.
Ripping up someone elses opinion and telling them their opinion is wrong ?....really...Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
If you have your own opinion of the product, do your own review.
I will take this moment to remind you...when someone does a review, it is their opinion of the product.
Ripping up someone elses opinion and telling them their opinion is wrong ?....really...Everyone is entitled to their own opinion.
If you have your own opinion of the product, do your own review.
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