brightnorm
Flashaholic
- Joined
- Oct 13, 2001
- Messages
- 7,160
As a flashaholic/collecter I buy many lights. But my prime goal is in getting as close as possible to our so far mythical holy grail light: the peanut size, fly weight, 500 lumen, fifty hour light. Between LED creators, and people like Peter Gransee, Paul Kim , some of CPF's own innovators and others we are in a time of quickening evolution, if not revolution.
Market forces will determine what company prevails, with which products. But giant companies and little ones can co-exist as long as they fulfill people's needs. Niche companies will always be around. Many years ago a friend of mine co-invented an audio speaker high frequency add-on device and formed a company around it. He did very well surrounded by the Japanese behemoths like Sony and Panasonic until he sold out to one of them, took the money and ran. He did well because he perceived a market need, created something that filled it (at that time it was the only such product), marketed it with great personal salesmanship and sold it successfully at a fairly high price because people who could afford fine home audio systems were happy to pay for something that really worked and made a perceiveable difference. That's why the ARC AAA sells so well. There is literally nothing else like it (no, not the Ultra; the size creates a qualitative, not just quantitative difference) and it works. (Of the dozen or so I've bought for myself and as gifts, not one has malfunctioned).
The Arc remains on my keyring because there is nothing better. I recently ordered another ARC LS 2nd because the 123 version is unique and fun and a great gift, and the AA configuration is small enough to be one of only two lights that fit that terrific little AAA Mag holster. The other is the Inova X5 Classic.
I have an E2 and will order an E2eHA to match the KL1 I intend to order when some of our favorite dealers get their stocks in. I'll probably keep a MN03 in the E2 and use the E2eHA+KL-1 in place of the MN02 or possibly even my UKE 2L, though I'll always have the 2L along as backup. I will also order the KL3 for my 6P and 9P, and see about modding the famous "E3e" for a longer KL1 run, and possibly even with modded adapters for the KL-3.
I'll continue to watch ARC very carefully, but probably won't get the Rev 3. A one hour LED runtime doesn't fit my goals at this time, though I would like more information on the Rev 2.
I have a special feeling for ARC that I'm sure is shared by many in CPF, and I believe that Peter is a very smart and resourceful man who will land on his feet, even if shoved a bit by the big boys.
If ARC is one of two or more companies producing a product with similar function, specs and price I will buy from ARC, even if their price is somewhat higher.
No flames are ever necessary in this wonderfully verdant flashlight forest where fires dare not tread, because 2400 committed forest rangers keep eternal vigilance.
Brightnorm
Market forces will determine what company prevails, with which products. But giant companies and little ones can co-exist as long as they fulfill people's needs. Niche companies will always be around. Many years ago a friend of mine co-invented an audio speaker high frequency add-on device and formed a company around it. He did very well surrounded by the Japanese behemoths like Sony and Panasonic until he sold out to one of them, took the money and ran. He did well because he perceived a market need, created something that filled it (at that time it was the only such product), marketed it with great personal salesmanship and sold it successfully at a fairly high price because people who could afford fine home audio systems were happy to pay for something that really worked and made a perceiveable difference. That's why the ARC AAA sells so well. There is literally nothing else like it (no, not the Ultra; the size creates a qualitative, not just quantitative difference) and it works. (Of the dozen or so I've bought for myself and as gifts, not one has malfunctioned).
The Arc remains on my keyring because there is nothing better. I recently ordered another ARC LS 2nd because the 123 version is unique and fun and a great gift, and the AA configuration is small enough to be one of only two lights that fit that terrific little AAA Mag holster. The other is the Inova X5 Classic.
I have an E2 and will order an E2eHA to match the KL1 I intend to order when some of our favorite dealers get their stocks in. I'll probably keep a MN03 in the E2 and use the E2eHA+KL-1 in place of the MN02 or possibly even my UKE 2L, though I'll always have the 2L along as backup. I will also order the KL3 for my 6P and 9P, and see about modding the famous "E3e" for a longer KL1 run, and possibly even with modded adapters for the KL-3.
I'll continue to watch ARC very carefully, but probably won't get the Rev 3. A one hour LED runtime doesn't fit my goals at this time, though I would like more information on the Rev 2.
I have a special feeling for ARC that I'm sure is shared by many in CPF, and I believe that Peter is a very smart and resourceful man who will land on his feet, even if shoved a bit by the big boys.
If ARC is one of two or more companies producing a product with similar function, specs and price I will buy from ARC, even if their price is somewhat higher.
No flames are ever necessary in this wonderfully verdant flashlight forest where fires dare not tread, because 2400 committed forest rangers keep eternal vigilance.
Brightnorm
