Basically, it projects VLM like patterns onto any surface. I've just ordered one with a £50 gift vouchers I won a while back.
Remember the nebulous, psychedelic sky from Flash Gordon? (We're talking 'Gordon's Alive?' Flash, not the rickety old B/W series). Well imagine looking at it through a kaleidoscope from inside Jim Morrison's altered state of mind and you'd begin to understand the mesmerizing beauty of the Laserpod.
Yes indeed, light lovers; using the latest in laser, LED and crystal optics, the incredible Laserpod brings science and nature together to create ever-changing organic light forms of profound beauty. At least that's what it says on the box. But in this case, we'd have to agree.
Laserpod Created by lighting artist extraordinaire Chris Levine in conjunction with top fashion snapper Mario Testino, the cast aluminium Laserpod contains a class 2 laser and blue LEDs which it projects through a rotating cut glass crystal onto two specially coated, clip-on plastic diffusers. Are you still with us? Good.
Laserpod The effect is not dissimilar to a kind of hi-tech, souped-up lava lamp. But all this is just a preamble to the main event. Because with the diffusers in place, the Laserpod acts as a spectacularly captivating piece of ambient lighting. Remove them, though, and the room is immediately transformed into a mind-boggling supernova of nebulous kaleidoscopic light. Try saying that after a few pints of loudmouth soup! (Which, incidentally, is probably the best time to appreciate the marvellously mind numbing qualities of the Laserpod). You can choose between two dazzling displays – red laser for a scintillating astral projection or a red laser / blue LED combination for awesome cosmic cloud effects.
LaserpodWe don't need to tell you what a brilliant device this is for when you seriously need to chill. Indeed, the Laserpod makes all other light show-type devices look about as impressive as those traffic light affairs that end-of-the-pier DJs employ when playing the disco version of 2001: A Space Odyssey.
Despite its power, the Laserpod only requires 3 x AA batteries, but it can also be operated using the supplied mains adapter. (Handy, as time becomes an abstract phenomenon when you're busy being visually assaulted by the Laserpod).
This is one item that really has to be seen to be disbelieved, and we confidently predict the Laserpod will move off our shelves faster than you can say 'Wow, man; these shape-shifting beams of light are really twisting my melon.'
Got an email an hour ago saying it's ready for shipping. Being posted to work, which means that it's going to be Monday night at the earliest before I get to plug the sucker into the mains.
Got it yesterday and had a quick 10 minute session on it last night. No music and I was pretty clean so I imagine things will get better when those two things are addressed.
Anyway, the unit it a lot smaller than i thought it would be. It's like a fat can of coke. The two lids, which make the item look like a lava lamp, are pretty much useless if you want any sort of VLM like display. For that, you have to keep the lids off and let the laser and leds shine through just the crystal and diffuser glass.
Once you've got that set up, it's time for the on switch. It has three positions: off, laser and LEDs and laser only. The top picture above is laser and LEDs and the bottom one is laser only. Patterns are very pretty and I've not noticed ant repeating, so I guess the movement of the crystal (motor powered, introducing a slight hum that was perceptable in the silence I was watching in) and the nature of the diffuser glass must produce quasi-random results?
All in all, a nice light toy which I'll be using a lot more in the future.
PROS
- cool gadget
- VLM-style effects projected onto ceiling
- two modes (laser, laser and LEDs)
- can be battery powered
CONS
- power adapter lead is not very long.
- lids are next to useless for VLM effects
- slight hum emitted by motor
- manual is next to useless
I saw one of these in a shop on Saturday. I was surprised how small they were - I was expecting something a lot bigger.
I didn't really get much idea of how effective they were, as it was quite brightly lit in the shop. In fact it looked a bit crap with the lid on it, and I had to hold it quite close to the wall to see the effect without the lid.
How far does it project in a dark room without becoming too faint?
They had a home planetarium in the same shop - one that projects star constellations around the room. My credit card was telling me to buy them both and combine the two, and it took a hell of a lot of willpower to resist.
Munki wrote:I saw one of these in a shop on Saturday. I was surprised how small they were - I was expecting something a lot bigger.
Yeah, me too.
Munki wrote:I didn't really get much idea of how effective they were, as it was quite brightly lit in the shop. In fact it looked a bit crap with the lid on it, and I had to hold it quite close to the wall to see the effect without the lid.
How far does it project in a dark room without becoming too faint?
Far enough. I think the ceiling of my bedroom is 10-12ft high (old Victorian house) and the Laser Pod fills the whole ceiling when positioned at floor level. The lids are for "lamp mode" only, the diffuser (and any more diffusers I can pick up) are what it's all about.
Munki wrote:They had a home planetarium in the same shop - one that projects star constellations around the room. My credit card was telling me to buy them both and combine the two, and it took a hell of a lot of willpower to resist.
matt wrote:Far enough. I think the ceiling of my bedroom is 10-12ft high (old Victorian house) and the Laser Pod fills the whole ceiling when positioned at floor level. The lids are for "lamp mode" only, the diffuser (and any more diffusers I can pick up) are what it's all about.
I'm going to have to leave my wallet at home if I go anywhere near the shop now. Time to start dropping some heavy hints with Christmas coming up.
matt wrote:Any link to this?
matt
I can't remember the name of the shop. I was too busy looking in the window to notice the sign. It was one of those Gadget Store style shops - called something like Earth Store or Planet Store?
I've just ordered one with a £50 gift vouchers I won a while back.
It was one of those Gadget Store style shops - called something like Earth Store or Planet Store?
