4sevens:
The L0D Q4 is a great flashlight.
Building on that platform, the LD01 demonstrates a very conservative marketing approach. I suppose I expected to see a revolutionary new product, rather than an evolutionary one. But then again, that's easy for me to say - it's not my dollar being risked on a new product launch.
My two cents worth on making this a distinctly different product:
+1 on more color options. Not sure about Olive. However, I think Silver might be a good seller?
+1 additional knurling along the body and close to the tail, for better grip and to establish a more distinct (more attractive) identity when compared with the previous model.
+1 for a smoother beam with a warmer tint. Perhaps a stock OP reflector and/or stock lens optics combined with a Golden Dragon emitter could do the trick.
(I'm not asking for R&D to design a new reflector or a new lens optic. After all, there's only so much that can be done with the AAA form factor.) Basically, we're talking about sacrificing throw for a more aesthetic beam.
+1 on greater differentiating modes. 3/15/75 sounds good to me. (Although personally, I'd prefer 4 modes: 2/10/30/80 to maximize utility and runtimes.
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2 to 3 lumens is plenty of light to negotiate around the house in the dark, provided the light has a nice, smooth beam.
Note: Although I understand the logic of having the flashlight turn on in the most commonly used mode, I'd suggest that the more natural user interface is from low-to-high. People would cycle through from low to the desired mode without a second thought. And since they start low, there's a greater chance of them utilizing the lowest output level to accomplish the task - a practice that would conserve batteries in the long run.
