Comments on: Laserpod Review http://the-gadgeteer.com/2004/12/20/laserpod_review/ Gadget reviews and news by Julie Strietelmeier and friends since 1997 Fri, 10 Feb 2012 18:02:17 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: gshepherd http://the-gadgeteer.com/2004/12/20/laserpod_review/comment-page-1/#comment-20725 gshepherd Mon, 27 Dec 2004 23:34:27 +0000 #comment-20725 I just bought a Laserpod. It literally arrived the next day via UPS ground (WA to OR is usually one day). I'll add a few bits of info not present in the review: The packaging is rather Apple-inspired and nicely done. Internally the unit consists of three red laser diodes and three blue/violet LEDs. These six emitters are aimed at the slowly spinning crystal. The crystal is about 3/4" diameter and is the multi-faceted kind some people hang from their rear-view mirrors. It seems to have a clock motor spinning it, so it rotates about once a minute, thus the projected patterns do repeat about once a minute. Adding the refraction glass on top of the unit creates an endless possibility for new patterns depending on how you orient it. The unit runs off batteries for a long time. Mine is still on its original set of 3 AAs. That includes letting it run overnight once when I fell asleep watching the patterns on the ceiling. What I would like to see as an improvement would be a socket for a tripod or mounting bracket. This would allow mounting the unit for projecting horizontally onto a wall, or down onto the floor. Two of these units projecting onto a floor or ceiling would be interesting. One of the best uses for this thing is an endless form of entertainment for cats. They will chase the red dots around, which is especially amusing if you add some catnip to the mix. I just bought a Laserpod. It literally arrived the next day via UPS ground (WA to OR is usually one day). I’ll add a few bits of info not present in the review:

The packaging is rather Apple-inspired and nicely done. Internally the unit consists of three red laser diodes and three blue/violet LEDs. These six emitters are aimed at the slowly spinning crystal. The crystal is about 3/4″ diameter and is the multi-faceted kind some people hang from their rear-view mirrors. It seems to have a clock motor spinning it, so it rotates about once a minute, thus the projected patterns do repeat about once a minute. Adding the refraction glass on top of the unit creates an endless possibility for new patterns depending on how you orient it.

The unit runs off batteries for a long time. Mine is still on its original set of 3 AAs. That includes letting it run overnight once when I fell asleep watching the patterns on the ceiling.

What I would like to see as an improvement would be a socket for a tripod or mounting bracket. This would allow mounting the unit for projecting horizontally onto a wall, or down onto the floor. Two of these units projecting onto a floor or ceiling would be interesting.

One of the best uses for this thing is an endless form of entertainment for cats. They will chase the red dots around, which is especially amusing if you add some catnip to the mix.

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2004/12/20/laserpod_review/comment-page-1/#comment-20724 Julie Tue, 21 Dec 2004 14:47:32 +0000 #comment-20724 dsunde: Great idea! :D dsunde:

Great idea! :D

]]> By: dsunde http://the-gadgeteer.com/2004/12/20/laserpod_review/comment-page-1/#comment-20723 dsunde Tue, 21 Dec 2004 14:25:10 +0000 #comment-20723 They really need to make it sound activated so that it responds to the music playing in the room. They really need to make it sound activated so that it responds to the music playing in the room.

]]> By: Julie http://the-gadgeteer.com/2004/12/20/laserpod_review/comment-page-1/#comment-20722 Julie Tue, 21 Dec 2004 03:34:53 +0000 #comment-20722 Post your comments here on the Laserpod Review. <a href="http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/laserpod-review.html">http://www.the-gadgeteer.com/laserpod-review.html</a> Just click the POST REPLY button on this page. Post your comments here on the Laserpod Review.

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