Why the 901 over the 401?

[Nuck]

Whenever a newbie comes to the forums and asks which would be the best starter kit, there is inevitably a flurry of responses that recommend the 901 but when I see all the side by side comparisons between the 401 and the 901 I don't think I've ever seen the 901 come out on top.

What is it that makes the 901 the best choice for newbs?

 

[freddo]

I would say the 901's ease of use. I think the main factor is it is simple and easy to up. I found with the m401 i was getting liquid in the mouth alot more than with the 901. m401 is a bit more fiddly, same with all supermini's. I have had a range of e cigs, and i have constantly found myself ending up smoking the 901 over the others.

 

[jennydotz]

I have to agree with Freddo, just about verbatim. I love the aesthetics of the 401, the look and feel, but I don't like fooling with them. The carts are small and a pain (I have lost a couple tiny "fluffballs" trying to clean/rinse them). I am also always afraid of breaking the 401 atomizer, they are more delicate. The 901 is just more convenient and I don't notice a big vapor difference between them. I also got liquid in my mouth with the 401, but never with the 901.

 

[Nuck]

I've been recommending the 401 to people that ask because I've had really good luck with them, but I'm a dripper so I didn't have any cart issues. I guess I better get a 901 (after my penstyle) to check it out.

Thanks.

 

[e-pipeman]

I've never been that impressed with the 901. I've had issues with leaky carts, don't like the poor battery life and general reliability. Worst is that the vapour for me is delivered oddly - lots of visible vapour but not enough in the mouth. Yes, they're easy to top up, but that's about the only thing I can find in the 901s favour.

My Evo, however, has great battery life. I've not had a problem with an Evo atomiser yet and started using them at the end of November last year. The vapour goes where I want it to (in my mouth/lungs). Yes, the carts are fiddly to fill until you get used to it.

I think a beginner would be well advised to chose a 401/Evo because the short learning curve re: topping up is more than compensated for by being a more satisfying and reliable product imho.

 

[jennydotz]

I could see the 401 making sense for dripping.

 

[Sun Vaporer]

Whenever a newbie comes to the forums and asks which would be the best starter kit, there is inevitably a flurry of responses that recommend the 901 but when I see all the side by side comparisons between the 401 and the 901 I don't think I've ever seen the 901 come out on top.

What is it that makes the 901 the best choice for newbs?

Nuck--I see your point. The problem is the 401 was not out in the masses until Steve started seeing them at Puresmoker. A lot of the old timers still swear by the tried and true 901. They do have a point to a certain extent because of the easy of use, compatablity, and supply of parts with many vendors. Personally I use the Penstyle for its long battery and cartridge life. The 401 is just as good a unit as the 901 and advocating a 401 to a new user is just as good advise as the 901. The only issue that concerns me is the batteries that are so sensitive on the 401 --but many report it as a non-issue--------Sun

 

[smokingclam]

I have the 901 and the 401. Since buying the 401 I have not even used the 901. I find the 401 to be much more reliable and consistent. True it doesn't hold as much juice but refilling isn't that big a deal as long as you carry a paper clip with you. Battery life is about the same I just find I've had more issues with the 901 atomizers providing a steady consistent vapor where the 401 so far has been perfect.

 

[ceejay]

I prefer my m401 over the 901. i don't really have issues with liquid in my mouth because i use a paper clip which isn't really that hard to do. i get better throat hit and vapor with the 401. guess i've had bad luck with the 901 because i've had 1 dead atomizer, and 2 weak atomizers in less than one months time. the 901 is recommended more because everyone carries it and has more accessories for it.

 

[tribalmasters]

I still use my 901 on its passthrough, to me it seems to provide more satisfying vapour and throat hit than the 401 especially white atomisers for some reason tho battery life is very poor.

 

[Fedor]

I might as well .... in too...

My vote goes for the 401 as well. Works better overall. Refilling has never been a problem. You can use a paper clip but i use a syringe and it solves all problems.

901 has never worked for me. Poor battery life and atomiser. The last time i used the 901 was when i took pictures for my avatar.

 

[bettyboop]

I prefer my m401 over the 901. i don't really have issues with liquid in my mouth because i use a paper clip which isn't really that hard to do. i get better throat hit and vapor with the 401. guess i've had bad luck with the 901 because i've had 1 dead atomizer, and 2 weak atomizers in less than one months time. the 901 is recommended more because everyone carries it and has more accessories for it.

Ya i have had no luck with the 901 until i finally got an atomizer that works kick ..., i had no idea what i was missing, the batterys need to come with an attached charger..lol or maybe a buzzer to let me know when it's going to try to fry the atomizer..lol
m401 from intellicig is getting a new atomizer at that time i hope i like the 401 better also..

 

[Zach]

I prefer the m401 over the 901 and i recommend it to new e-smokers.
I also recommend the rn4072 pen style if they don't care how it looks and they just want a good vape.

 

[ceejay]

Ya i have had no luck with the 901 until i finally got an atomizer that works kick ..., i had no idea what i was missing, the batterys need to come with an attached charger..lol or maybe a buzzer to let me know when it's going to try to fry the atomizer..lol
m401 from intellicig is getting a new atomizer at that time i hope i like the 401 better also..

2 of the weak atomizers were amazing at first, but after several days of use they just got weaker. i was blowing them out and draining them every night too. tried the coke thing and didn't really do much. so far my m401 atoms have been working well

 

[f7eleven]

OK, I'm another that prefers my 401's over the 901. But I still take both out (and a couple more too, actually) and if I meet someone interested in trying an e-cig, I always have them try the 901 first. There's no issue with needing to know how to drag (long and slow) and because of that, there's also no liquid in the mouth. The 901 is just so easy.

Give a 401 to a rookie without mentioning how to drag and they will inevitably suck hard and quick, generate little to no vapor and may get to taste some straight juice. THEN you remember to explain "long and slow" and they procede to suck so softly that they don't light the LED (and possible get more juice in their mouth).

 

[Lochstar]

I have an 801, a 901 and a 401. I think overall the 901 is the most stable of the 3. I'd recommend it to a new vaper not because so much the performance (it's not *quite* to the m401 level, but close) but because the price and available options/parts for cheap. Vaping is great until something breaks that first time, and being able to quickly and cheaply replace the parts, to me, would make a new vaper much more likely to stick with it. That, coupled with the larger range of options for the 901's such as multiple styles of charger and USB passthrough.

I love my 401, and use it when I'm out and about, but I tether the 901 to my desk at work for all night vaping bliss. The 801 I keep at home because I like the feel of the larger device on a slow evening...odd but eh, it's what we like.

 

[strayling]

I still rate the Dura/510 as a great starter. It produces plenty of vapour and is close to an analog in the feel of the draw. It's the one I let interested people try out and they manage to get a good hit first time. I do like my Pilot/M401 but it isn't as immediately easy to use for a beginner.

 

[housewife]

Having multiple EVOs, pilots, and 901s, I have to say I usually find myself smoking the 901 the most. I LOVED the 401 for its shape and size, and think that was pretty important helping me switch over from analogs. But now that the size thing isnt as important anymore, I just find the 901 to be more reliable. As others have said, with the 901 I spend less time drinking juice, its easier to top off, and the drag just feels slightly more natural to me. I still keep the 401s in constant rotation, but have also had to resort to using 901s only when going out to see live shows or hanging out in noisy bars. Overall I think either of them would be great for someone just getting into it, even though each has its own ups and downs.

 

[MonsterKenny]

New e-Smoker here, I have a DSE-901 and have had it for 4 days now. Im really enjoying it, but the only problem i am having with it is the throat hit. I would like to have a little more kick to it that it can offer me.
I'm looking to upgrade to a super-mini sold by TW or a m401. I know the super-mini has a great throat hit cause my roomy has one. But not to sure about the 401. Im looking at the hybrid m401 on puresmokers.com. Has anyone tried this or own this?
I thought i would ask someone who would know a little better than i would.
thanks.

 

[Vapor]

I have the EVO and 901. I find myself reaching for my 901 with the passthrough any day where theres a usb plug available. I have the TW 901 and i have read here in the forums that some people are having a better experience with them than other 901's, like better reliability. For me i cannot say because the only 901 i own is from TW. Oh and my TW 901 atomizer has lasted me a month of heavy use now.