Ever had a cheaper light work better than an expensive one?

[mdocod]

labor practices and country of origin are great considerations to make when purchasing something.

I won't consider R&D a consideration on a flashlight until it's a nuclear flashlight. I have yet to see any flashlight made by any company, that uses any technology that wasn't already being used in hundreds of other devices(flame suit going on now). In most cases, the LEDs and Bulbs used in these flashlights, are NOT in any way made by the manufacture of the flashlight itself. They are just ordering parts, and putting them together in a particular order. I made a flashlight out of PVC parts in an afternoon. Yeah, I spent an hour contemplating what to buy in the plumbing section of home depot, that's my R&D, then the manufacturing process took about an hour. We all know the basics of how to build a flashlight.

 

[Brighteyez]

I'm sure someone will be along to tell you about the potential evils of socialized medicine and how it is the first step to evil socialist rule. But it won't be me.

Though on the other side of the coin, having seen the effects of mandated universal healthcare in both European countries and Canada, it can have it's drawbacks and can result in increased healthcare costs for those who can afford and prefer to carry additional health insurance from a private carrier, or result in increased cost to the very small minority who can afford to be self-insured. You'll note that I have intentionally avoided the use of the word 'free' because universal healthcare is not free. It's a very expensive venture and everyone will be taxed quite heavily for it, except those with very limited incomes.

many of my Australian friends are surprised when I explain to them that the richest country in the world doesn't provide free healthcare to all their citizens, nor even provide a months holiday to all its workers. Not having a go, just recalling the shock my friends have when I explain why a job with health care is valued more than a job without.

 

[Glen C]

Brighteyez and Blake, agree entirely, just showing that the grass often seems greener or browner depending on which side of the fence you are standing on. Mdocod, burst out laughing when I read your thread.

Now back to flashlights after that little digression (after I ring Surefire and the other manufacturers I have here to check on their healthcare plans and profit share [joke] )

 

[greenLED]

We can't afford it mate. Because we spend all that money supporing, feeding and giving medical aid to 96% of the rest of the world. God forbid we actually took care of our own instead of giving handouts to the rest of the world.

You might want to check how much of the USA's GDP is devoted to foreign aid.

 

[VidPro]

Ever had a cheaper light work better than an expensive one?.

yup then i found out WHAT really was wrong with it.
sometimes the inconsitancies are subtle, cant be observed when it just came out of the box, and your having fun playing with your new toy.
doesnt show up when shooting a white wall
occurs just after you post Grand reviews of it, and would be embarassed to admit that you great light is nothing more than a waste of good metal
you discover it right after the 1000 piece group buy
you find out right after you sent one to all 17 of your relatives, because one of them told you, right before the other 16 had the same problem, but as a "gift" they didnt want to mention what a cheap giver you are

Like:
sucks batteries dry when OFF
No sufficient Heat removal capacity internally
Thread a BIT loose, eventually bottom falls out completly
Crappy switch that only makes it 200 switches before it stops
Curcuit burns out after many long use times.

being a cheapskate, i know all of the deficincies
being a cheapskate, i also know how to mod them out of the thing.

 

[FlashKat]

I use my $20.00 VINET & LILL from www.dealextreme.com more than my $200.00 Surefire U2 and $60.00 Streamlight 2L 3W. With my VINET "MTE" modified with a CREE it's deinitely brighter than both Surefire and Streamlight.
Price after Cree mod is $30.00 flashlight...Go Figure!!!!!

 

[LEDcandle]

Good thing about 'cheap' lights is that you'll often not fear too much about modding them, and they can thus keep up with the latest LEDs. The expensive lights are often sealed or you'd have to risk warranty, so ironically, they become 'outdated', or you spend more $ getting it professionally modded.

Cheaper things don't always mean lousier things, so I guess that works in the flashlight world too.

 

[pedalinbob]

You might want to check how much of the USA's GDP is devoted to foreign aid.

Yeah, I agree that the sheer amount given is impressive. It is a testament to the power of our economy and overall generosity.

2002 American GDP was 10,480.8 billion.

According to the Johns Hopkins Comparative Nonprofit Sector Project:

In 2002, the US gave 1.85% of our GDP in cash and other gifts (#1). This is 193.8948 billion.
For reference, #2 was Israel, who gave 1.34% of their 103 billion GDP, or 13.802 billion.

All private philanthropy, America gave 3.94% of GDP (#3), or 412.94352 billion.
For reference, #1 was The Netherlands, who gave 4.95% of their 420 billion GDP, or 20.79 billion.
#2 was Sweden, who gave 4.41% of their 240 billion GDP, or 18.522 billion.

Volunteering for America was 2.18% (#8), or 228.48144 billion.
For reference, # 1 was The Netherlands at 4.7% of their 420 billion GDP or 19.74 billion.
France was #5 at 2.98% of their 1423 billion GDP, or 42.4 billion.


By the way, all Americans have access to health care secondary to federal law which mandates treatment for any person arriving in an emergency room--insured or not.
As an insured taxpayer, I pay for my own insurance/health care, insurance for the poor (Medicaid), the elderly (Medicare) and the uninsured (costs of ER visits are rolled into my taxes and insurance premiums).

Not trying to argue...just sayin'.

Back on topic: I am also impressed with the Maglite 3AA LED, as it tends to outperform many more expensive lights.