The 'experts' .....

[wizardofozone]

Call me crabby but I'd really like the utube 'pros' who review and receive free products to just stop and think about how a lot of us have come to rely on their pro and con opinions and how devastating it could be to a new product to have repeated comments by several utube reviewers that simply are petty or in some cases simply inaccurate.

Currently the eleaf istick 200 watt tc comes to mind. I almost passed it by ... after all , the 'experts' were all in agreement that one will of necessity have to forgo trying to use an index finger because of the button position which we will instantly find leaves only a ham fisted squeeze to operate or to finally settle on the thumb as the obvious and almost only way to fire this 200 ....

Mine arrived this morning and what a bunch of crap that repeated 'con' is .... To make it more confusing I'm left handed and I'm here to say your index finger is as easy or even easier to use as your thumb ... I have no idea where this groupy like complaint comes from ...

A second beef of mine is how totally 'helpless' these experts seem to be when it comes to easily handling ways to correct their con complaints ... such as those that just hate that their clearos have a micron thin space where it meets a box mod's base .... Hardware stores have beautiful thin ,colored, black, dull, shiny, rubber or chrome and stainless washers that in fact often enhance the overall look while filling that 'gap' these pros are always complaining about .. Is it possible some clearo makers just don't want their clearos to dig in and scratch expensive mod surfaces ? I personally like it if they float a bit over the metal and not dig in ... in any case all the above mentioned washers solves that problem as well.

I think too,that what is the most maddening about the more trivial 'con' opinions is the fact that some cons truly ARE a pain yet are never spoken about ...

A good example of a real pain and a true 'con' is how the plus and minus buttons are always placed on a box mod in a position where you find your fingers lay across both buttons as you are in a fire button hand position ... during the day you'll often find the watts have changed up or down even though the buttons were 'locked'. Or usb port positions that ruin clean lines of some truly beautiful units

If the experts want to list cons, let them mention the truly annoying ones , I care less that the chrome like buttons are plastic instead of metal, or how heavy or light a box is in my hand, or the color of the LED screen.

 

[MMW]

There's also a few well knowns who try one build and if it doesn't work out for them, they assume it's the atty. Then they are on to the next item, not considering that they were the reason the build sucked.

 

[Hitmetwice]

I gotta agree OP, the big rush to get the review up nets the reviewer more hits with a new device. The downside is they don't have the luxury of spending a lot of time on getting to know the unit in depth. This makes for superficial reviews with little value, other than getting to see the device in use. They need to point out the little petty things as some folks are very particular(to put it nicely), plus if they poo poo nothing they run the risk of being called out as a shill. Cheers.

 

[Eskie]

I think part of it is remembering it's only an opinion. It's not like there can be an objective scoring, short of "does this have the features I need/use?" For example, I'm new to all this, and coming from cigs, am a MTL vaper. It's amazing how many reviews I've seen where even if it's mentioned, the reviewer will state over and over "I haven't done MTL in a long time. not sure I remember how. Well, it seems alright for that".

Besides, they get the stuff for free to review. Some of this stuff is kinda expensive. While they hopefully will point out major flaws, it's hard to imagine they're going to bash many products before being out of the "review business". It's not quite the same as say a movie or video, where the cost of a ticket is particularly valuable. Or an auto review. They don't get to keep those expensive cars. Even among restaurant reviewers (real reviews, not marketing reviews) they will go in anonymously and pay the bill at the end, typically out of a budget from whatever media they're working for.

Still, as a new vaper, I find the reviews helpful just to see how these things work and are put together. As for the value of their opinion, I guess I pay attention to just how believable their enthusiasm is for a product.

 

[wizardofozone]

There's also a few well knowns who try one build and if it doesn't work out for them, they assume it's the atty. Then they are on to the next item, not considering that they were the reason the build sucked.

I agree ... I guess I should admit too, that I am aware that there is a reason for some of the 'cons' .... for example, they are right about the index finger deal on the Istick 200, but it's because that so many of the reviewers have that ham fisted technique of needing every mod they own to be firmly nestled tightly in the groove between the thumb and index finger like one holds a beer when they are dying of thirst, or as one might hold an unpinned hand grenade ... with the exception of the reauleaux RX 200 (or now 250) which just begs to be 'hamfisted' I hold all other box mods in many different ways (lol, including the one pinkie up fashion as if I'm a freekin' vape millionaire)

 

[Rixsta]

Unfortunately with the overwhelming products they are sent and the rush to get them out, most (not all ) simply don't spend enough time with the devices. It's more subscription hits these days than anything else.
Never take the word of reviewer, best to come on here when members have used them for a while and have gave their opinion, that is usually the best way..

 

[Bad Ninja]

Youtube reviews?
Consider the source and how they profit.

I refuse to watch them.
Every single one is more about the reviewer than the product.

There are unbiased reviews of every piece of gear available right here by experienced vapers who do not profit from the industry and know more about gear than the wannabes on the tube.

 

[Baditude]

Youtube reviews?
Consider the source and how they profit.

I refuse to watch them.
Every single one is more about the reviewer than the product.

Oh, I don't know. I like PBusardo. He spends at least a week using the device before he reviews it. Pretty unbiased as far as I am concerned. He does a and of every point you could think of, and is also the only reviewer that I am aware of who puts a regulated mod on an oscelloscope to see how accurate and precise its power output is.

 

[Jdurand]

I only watch the reviews if I can't figure something out, like proper wicking etc. As for quality or suitability for use, I use my own judgement. I also have a tendency to wait until something has been out a while, I'm not the guy sitting and waiting for his pre-order. Then I'll watch for threads pertaining to the gear I'm looking at. This forum is where I get most of the info I need to decide on purchases.

 

[crxess]

Seems to me, I am like you and can easily adapt. I usually find minor annoyances or oddity's easily overcome.

However Often, Some are more adept than the Many. Do not forget this.
The Reviewer is trying their best to judge a product as to how it will fit in for the Majority of users.

I have always considered myself unique in some ways, not special - just different. Since joining ECF that thought has only gotten stronger. I have also found many others with Unique talents.

Not everyone Fits that bill, and not everyone can be expected to adapt or overcome as easily.

Most Reviewers, in MY opinion are attempting to point out the positives and the POSSIBLE negatives of the Products they Review.

 

[Bad Ninja]

Oh, I don't know. I like PBusardo. He spends at least a week using the device before he reviews it. Pretty unbiased as far as I am concerned. He does a and of every point you could think of, and is also the only reviewer that I am aware of who puts a regulated mod on an oscelloscope to see how accurate and precise its power output is.

The info is usually good however
Phil B spends way too much time playing to the camera.

I dont need to see the reviewer.
Im only there for the information, not to watch self promotion.

Written reviews are far far better.
Easier to comprehend, to the point, no peacocking.

 

[Rule62]

I rarely will look for a review of a device. I use a pretty narrow range of products (REOs), and as far as atomizers, I've been at it long enough to pretty much know what will work for me, and what won't.
I will occasionally search out a video that deals with technique. I've watched videos dealing with things like making Clapton wire, wicking with rayon, Scottish roll cotton, etc. There's always a possibility that someone else has figured out a way to do something easier or better than me.

 

[Baditude]

The info is usually good however
Phil B spends way too much time playing to the camera.

I dont need to see the reviewer.
Im only there for the information, not to watch self promotion.

Ahhhhh. I LIKE Phil. I'd like for him to be my friend.

 

[Rule62]

Ahhhhh. I LIKE Phil. I'd like for him to be my friend.

Phil is a good guy. Fun to be around. He's attended a couple B&M shop opening parties of some friends of mine, who are also friends of his.

 

[Bad Ninja]

Ahhhhh. I LIKE Phil. I'd like for him to be my friend.

Lol seems like a nice guy.
He talks too much. He likes to hear himself talk, I guess.
His videos are way way too long.
He tends to overcomplicate basic issues, when IMHO he should focus on simplification.

I like Phil too but hes too long winded.
He could cut about 75% off the run time and get his point across.

 

[Rickajho]

The info is usually good however
Phil B spends way too much time playing to the camera.

^^^ That.

Phil is a great guy and he may know his poop but the idea of watching a one hour+ video to glean the 10 minutes of relevant information out of it puts me off from even bothering.

 

[Bad Ninja]

^^^ That.

Phil is a great guy and he may know his poop but the idea of watching a one hour+ video to glean the 10 minutes of relevant information out of it puts me off from even bothering.

Exactly!
BTW
The Fasttech product discussions are a treasure trove of legit reviews on clones and authentic products by members that live and die for vape gear.

 

[bwh79]

You know you can speed up or slow down YouTube videos with the ">" and "<" keys, yeah? I've taken to running Phil's videos on 1.5x or 2x normal speed, it seems to work out pretty well. He normally talks so slow that even at 2x speed I can still catch almost everything he says, and only rarely do I need to back up and slow it down a little.

 

[HauntedMyst]

I think there are some good reviewers, even PB. I just jump to the inside shot, the jump to the pros and cons and skip all the blather in between.

 

[7sixtwo]

Call me crabby but I'd really like the utube 'pros' who review and receive free products to just stop and think about how a lot of us have come to rely on their pro and con opinions and how devastating it could be to a new product to have repeated comments by several utube reviewers that simply are petty or in some cases simply inaccurate.

Currently the Eleaf Istick 200 watt tc comes to mind. I almost passed it by ... after all , the 'experts' were all in agreement that one will of necessity have to forgo trying to use an index finger because of the button position which we will instantly find leaves only a ham fisted squeeze to operate or to finally settle on the thumb as the obvious and almost only way to fire this 200 ....

Mine arrived this morning and what a bunch of crap that repeated 'con' is .... To make it more confusing I'm left handed and I'm here to say your index finger is as easy or even easier to use as your thumb ... I have no idea where this groupy like complaint comes from ...

A second beef of mine is how totally 'helpless' these experts seem to be when it comes to easily correctable ways to correct their con complaints ... such as those that just hate that their clearos have a micron thin space where it meets a box mod's base .... Hardware stores have beautiful thin ,colored, black, dull or shiny rubber washers that in fact often enhance the overall look while filling that 'gap' these pros are always complaining about .. Is it possible some makers just don't want clearos to dig in and scratch expensive mod surfaces ? I personally like it if they float a bit over the metal and not dig in ... in any case the rubber washer solves that problem as well.

I think that what is the most maddening about trivial 'con' opinions is the fact that some cons truly are a pain yet are never spoken about ... A good example of a real pain and a true 'con' is how the plus and minus buttons are always in a position where you find your fingers lay across both buttons as you are in a fireing hand position ... during the day you'll often find the watts have changed up or down even though the buttons were 'locked'. Or usb port positions that ruin clean lines of the unit .... if the experts want to list cons, let them find the truly annoying ones , I care less that the chrome buttons are plastic instead of metal, or how heavy or light a box is in my hand .....

What you're saying here is that your opinion/s are subjective and differ from those of many others, (in this case vape critics). Well... duh. However, most of the rest of us do care about the materials things are made of, their weight, and other physical characteristics. I am one of those who think that the iStick 200W TC is pointless with the RX200 already on the market. It makes little sense to me. I guess Eleaf just wanted to put out a product to compete with Wismec's, (really JayBo's), superior design, and their parent company; Joyetech, was ok with that. I s'pose they think it's good for "the kids" to compete with each other.

The problem I have with many "reviews" is that they're based on a couple dozen hours', (in some cases, even less), experience with the product being "reviewed". A lot of potential issues with how a product is constructed/assembled rarely come to light in such a short amount of time. The focus of too many critics is just to crank out as many videos as possible, to keep that vape swag comin, and up their channel views. They have some value as general overviews, but that's it.