General notes on look and feel.
These notes are applicable across the board, to all devices. Ive been compiling them and adjusting them as I experiment with new brands and devices. I realize that some of these notes will be common requests, and thus repetitions, but in the interest of a thorough post, I have included everything. At present I have 11 different brands and devices. The Ruyan pipe offers the best flavor of any device I own. I would like a significantly greater volume of smoke, especially on exhale, but that said, I feel that flavor is the more important of the two, and thus am the most satisfied, of all my devices, with the pipe. The majority of the notes, however are on the cigarette-type devices, and not the pipe. ( My favorite cigarette is the the Super Cigarette that I got from e cigs shop. It has the largest volume of smoke, decent taste, small size, and is fairly reliable. Also, e cigs shop sells atomizers for $7, so I can stock up - although I'm still on my first after 2 weeks.)
The best aspect of electric smoking is that it does not harm the body like tobacco smoke. This is its main benefit and primary selling point. In every other respect, it should be as close as possible to tobacco smoking - starting with the aroma and volume of smoke, and continuing to the visual and tactile sensations of the device itself.
-The tip is important. I feel the gem-like casting is the wrong direction, it is too feminine. The proper direction is the ash tip, which will benefit from a more organic casting. Deeper more concentric grooves, more similarities to actual ash. The center plastic should be thinner than the sides for a more organic glow. The air holes on the side must be irregular in size and distribution across the circumference.
- wash of dark grey paint on the ash tip creates a more realistic look both when lit and when dark. See here:
-LED on the tip requires more fluidity in operation. Upon the initial drag, it should go from dim/dark to full bright in 1 second. After the drag has stopped, it should go from full bright to dim in 3 seconds. It should remain at the lowest possible dimness for 20 seconds, or as long as a minute, and then go black. This will create a more living feel to the faux ember.
-Shorter more lightweight battery.
-At this point, the easiest way to hold cigs in the mouth, unaided, is with a mouthpiece. Shorten mouthpiece by 5mm to better facilitate holding between teeth. Of all the mouthpieces Ive used, the e-cig.com mouthpiece is the easiest to hold unaided in the mouth. It is more rounded, shorter, theres more of a taper going up to the barrel., and the nub at the end is larger, so it goes behind the teeth more solidly. It could primarily be improved by making it 5mm shorter.
-Different color mouthpieces in traditional colors : amber, off-white or cream, and tortoiseshell are good.
-Pipe mouthpieces should have more of a curve, almost a hook, to facilitate hanging from teeth, unsupported by hands.
-Flavor of smoke is lacking. The Ruyan pipe has the most flavor of all smoking devices Ive tried, but it is still pretty minimal. I think that if the flavor was intensified across the board, there would be less of a barrier to the novice.
-Matte finish on the batteries is pretty good. It should be even more matte though. Cutting down on the reflections of all light is important. Also the matte finish is easier to grip and has a better patina over time. The gloss finish starts to dull and get scratched in spots, and it doesnt age well.
-Light tan banding on the batteries is good. This could be improved further by a durable logo mark or stamp in either the same tan, dark red, or gold.
Notes on the smoking experience.
-The smoke itself is perhaps the strongest element of the smoking experience. The smell of the smoke and its movement around the face and in the environment. A just-lit cigarette triggers many feelings with the scent of the burning tobacco. The better the smell and taste of the smoke, the easier people will convert. Of all the smokers that have sampled my electric cigarettes, every one of them has said that the smoke tastes too sweet.
-Size of cigarette. A half-smoked cigarette is just about the perfect size. Slightly fatter than a regular cigarette, as most mini electric cigarettes are now, is fine, but the extra length is not good. Firstly because it is difficult to hold - the weight of the battery makes it awkward to hold as a regular cigarette. Secondly, longer cigarettes are feminine. Men are more put off by long cigarettes than they are by stout ones. I would be excited to see an electric cigarette that has the form factor of a half-smoked cigarette. Or cigarillo, or cigar, for that matter. It would be less cumbersome, and more familiar.
Classic smoking has a rich heritage of beautiful designs to reference. The vast majority of tobacciana is masculine in nature, and this is an aspect of electric smoking that can be improved upon dramatically. The disposable Ruyan cigar is a good first step in this vision, but still can benefit from improved materials.
