Ra Clicky Part 3

[wacbzz]

... no one will know till we get our hands on them

But that is kinda my point...how can somebody new to the HDS/RA line be expected to pay upwards of $200 for an EDC light and not know what the emitter is going to be? It's not like that question hasn't been asked in the previous 40 pages. It has. And it has received no reply.

If these lights are already in production-as has been alluded to here in the past few days-then Henry already knows what the LED will be in all the versions of the light.

Why not just let this cat out of the bag? Everything else about the light has been disclosed. Surely one can understand that it is not a completely stupid question to wonder what type of LED I may be getting in a light that I may order. This is the only manufacturer that I have ever seen do this...like it's some sort of secret or something.

 

[luxlover]

I'm off to watch saw5. but I will leave with this statement. It is my belief that when the new Clicky is out it will be THE light to have and the light that will get the job done, period. When all is said and done, even those who are having a hard time with all the changes and delays, will soon get one for themselves and say "you know what, Henry was right!" IMO. DAN

"unless this really offends people then it was my g/f that wrote this"

I don't know what you wrote above, but your girlfriend sure has a nice collection of lights in the picture in your signature line!!! You are one lucky guy to be enriched with a girlfriend with such good taste!

Jeff

 

[gswitter]

Why not just let this cat out of the bag? Everything else about the light has been disclosed. Surely one can understand that it is not a completely stupid question to wonder what type of LED I may be getting in a light that I may order. This is the only manufacturer that I have ever seen do this...like it's some sort of secret or something.

The cat IS out of the bag. It's an LED that puts a minimum of 140 measured lumens out the front on burst, 100 lumens out the front for one hour on max, and if you dig through the info you'll find the spec's for every other level. Name another manufacturer that gives as specific and accurate specs for their lights. Just because other manufacturers base their lights on LED models (with planned obsolescence as soon as the next bin of the LED is available) doesn't mean everyone has to follow suit. By not marketing the Clicky as an "SSC P4", "XR-E R2" or "Golden Dragon Plus", HDS/Ra maintains the option of replacing/upgrading the LED at anytime for any reason without having the rev the marketing literature or re-educating the sales channels.

 

[wacbzz]

The cat IS out of the bag. It's an LED that puts a minimum of 140 measured lumens out the front on burst, 100 lumens out the front for one hour on max, and if you dig through the info you'll find the spec's for every other level. Name another manufacturer that gives as specific and accurate specs for their lights.

Umm...Surefire...Pelican...want me to name some more??? Listing the specs still doesn't list the actual emitter. Plain and simple.

Just because other manufacturers base their lights on LED models (with planned obsolescence as soon as the next bin of the LED is available) doesn't mean everyone has to follow suit.

Did you mean every other manufacturer? How about you do some naming for me...name me one other manufacturer that DOESN'T disclose the emitter being used...

By not marketing the Clicky as an "SSC P4", "XR-E R2" or "Golden Dragon Plus", HDS/Ra maintains the option of replacing/upgrading the LED at anytime for any reason without having the rev the marketing literature or re-educating the sales channels.

Cop out. Good guess though.:nana: See, changing the emitter *whatever it may be* doesn't preclude one from using any other emitter as long as the new emitter meets the specs that Henry says his light will be.

Please don't take this post the wrong way. I just figure that if you can tell exact design of how the lens is protected from breaking due to falls, you should be able to tell your potential customers what type of emitter you are planning on using *and that you reserve the right to switch if they become unavailable so long as the next emitter meets the same specs.*

 

[h2oflyer]

I thought the Prototype(collectors item) were to be assembled
from parts on hand.

 

[LLCoolBeans]

I thought the Prototype(collectors item) were to be assembled
from parts on hand.

Yea, from Henry's original post concerning the protos, he made it seem that they would be availible almost right away. That was back in late August if I remember correctly.

Now it's looking like they will ship out at about the same time the production Clickys will. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they have been put on the back burner and we won't receive them until after the production Clickys.

 

[HDS_Systems]

Wacbzz,

Does it really make any difference which LEDs get used as long as our flashlights meet the specifications? I am sure you would agree that given our specifications, we are rather picky about which LEDs go into our flashlights. There are actually very few LEDs that will meet our specifications. In fact, only two manufacturers produce LEDs that will meet our specifications. And only a few bins within the chosen LED models representing the top few percent will work.

The reason we do not specify a particular LED is that it makes it very difficult to change LEDs later if a better LED comes along. Or to use two different LEDs if that produces better results. Customers get hung up on this LED manufacturer makes better LEDs than that LED manufacturer when such a general statement is often wrong. People confuse "lab" reports and cherry-picked specials with production. LEDs from the "best" manufacturer are worthless if they cannot meet production specifications.

The LEDs we use are not secret. Anyone familiar with the current crop of high power LEDs will have no problem recognizing the LEDs. And there are lots of people who have correctly identified the LEDs we use. We simply choose not to use the LED brand names as part of our marketing.

Henry.

 

[jimmy1970]

Wacbzz,

Does it really make any difference which LEDs get used as long as our flashlights meet the specifications? I am sure you would agree that given our specifications, we are rather picky about which LEDs go into our flashlights. There are actually very few LEDs that will meet our specifications. In fact, only two manufacturers produce LEDs that will meet our specifications. And only a few bins within the chosen LED models representing the top few percent will work.

The reason we do not specify a particular LED is that it makes it very difficult to change LEDs later if a better LED comes along. Or to use two different LEDs if that produces better results. Customers get hung up on this LED manufacturer makes better LEDs than that LED manufacturer when such a general statement is often wrong. People confuse "lab" reports and cherry-picked specials with production. LEDs from the "best" manufacturer are worthless if they cannot meet production specifications.

The LEDs we use are not secret. Anyone familiar with the current crop of high power LEDs will have no problem recognizing the LEDs. And there are lots of people who have correctly identified the LEDs we use. We simply choose not to use the LED brand names as part of our marketing.

Henry.

Well said...

I personally couldn't care less what brand led's are used, I just want to know that I have the best available....
jr/

 

[edumacated]

Yea, from Henry's original post concerning the protos, he made it seem that they would be availible almost right away. That was back in late August if I remember correctly.

Now it's looking like they will ship out at about the same time the production Clickys will. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they have been put on the back burner and we won't receive them until after the production Clickys.

...this is exactly the impression i have come to as well.

disappointing/ predictable.

 

[Dead_Nuts]

I haven't been around here all that long and maybe I'm naive. But all I really care about is that Henry's lights work -- every time, in every situation. That's what I am paying for.

 

[copperfox]

Does it really make any difference which LEDs get used as long as our flashlights meet the specifications? I am sure you would agree that given our specifications, we are rather picky about which LEDs go into our flashlights.

We all appreciate that you care a lot about producing a high quality product. But that doesn't quench our curiosity.

The reason we do not specify a particular LED is that it makes it very difficult to change LEDs later if a better LED comes along.

WHY?! You don't have to print the type of LED in your flashlight user manual, but that doesn't explain why you won't tell us right now. We're not lawyers, we are not the BBB, we will not report you to the authorities if you change the LED in 2 months. We simply want to know. We are enthusiasts with curiosity, and lots of us have enough knowledge to understand that changing LEDs is sometimes a normal part of the process.

The LEDs we use are not secret. Anyone familiar with the current crop of high power LEDs will have no problem recognizing the LEDs. And there are lots of people who have correctly identified the LEDs we use. We simply choose not to use the LED brand names as part of our marketing.

And yet, you still haven't told us! Is this your way of saying that the Clicky will have the same LEDs as the twisty?

What I think this comes down to is the difference between a whitepaper launch and a reveal launch. We all want a whitepaper launch while you, Henry, want to yank back the white sheet at the last moment and go "ta da!"

 

[HoopleHead]

personally i couldnt care less about a whitepaper launch. id much rather stop bugging the company and let them do their work to produce the product we all seem to be hoping for, and get the actual light in our hands. first impressions and runtime graphs and beamshots mean a lot more to me than a "whitepaper launch."

just dont include me in your "we" :nana:

 

[ChocolateLab33]

personally i couldnt care less about a whitepaper launch. id much rather stop bugging the company and let them do their work to produce the product we all seem to be hoping for, and get the actual light in our hands. first impressions and runtime graphs and beamshots mean a lot more to me than a "whitepaper launch."

just dont include me in your "we" :nana:

:twothumbs I agree

 

[gswitter]

Did you mean every other manufacturer? How about you do some naming for me...name me one other manufacturer that DOESN'T disclose the emitter being used...

Surefire...Pelican...

I just figure that if you can tell exact design of how the lens is protected from breaking due to falls, you should be able to tell your potential customers what type of emitter you are planning on using *and that you reserve the right to switch if they become unavailable so long as the next emitter meets the same specs.*

Ask the manufacturers who were building lights based on the K2 and Rebel how well that worked out. Maybe start with Arc.

 

[orcinus]

Ask the manufacturers who were building lights based on the K2 and Rebel how well that worked out. Maybe start with Arc.

Hey! Mine has a K2. I had to pay a hefty sum for it, but it's built as advertised

 

[Dadof6]

We're not lawyers, we are not the . . . "

Speak for yourself. I am a lawyer and I appreciate Henry's approach.

 

[dtsoll]

Well, the Clicky is supposed to be shipping this coming week, how ya bettin? Doug Man, I hope so!!!!!!!

 

[Kid9P]

Well, the Clicky is supposed to be shipping this coming week, how ya bettin? Doug Man, I hope so!!!!!!!

I'd say Feb 09, anyone care to bet?

 

[luxlover]

I'd say Feb 09, anyone care to bet?

Hush your mouth, Ray! However, on the bright side, that's just in time to give as a Valentine's Day gift to a wife, a girlfriend.....OR BOTH!

 

[manoloco]

Lux that date would be perfect to ASK for one to a girlfriend/wife ; unless the woman is a flashaholic your going to have it thrown back to you.... hey wait a minute, thats not a bad idea...