Thoughts on ION, SP, Hype.. other makers..

[Baby Huey]

Business

From a business perspective, you can count on the fact that SP is making money off the sale of these. They would not be producing them if they were not. If this were the cost I am sure they would have jacked the price to $335. And at $335 it is still a good price for what you get.

[Lohman446]

Judging by the sharp decline in sales of AGD, WDP (I'm guessing), WGP and the sudden "jump" to DM4 / 5's of recent years I'm guessing there is not much brand loyalty in paintball. Its whatever is hyped the most at the time.

[Baby Huey]

Judging by the sharp decline in sales of AGD, WDP (I'm guessing), WGP and the sudden "jump" to DM4 / 5's of recent years I'm guessing there is not much brand loyalty in paintball. Its whatever is hyped the most at the time.

I have noticed a HUGE jump to the DM4/5 in the last few months. I think we underestimate the word of mouth factor. I needed a mech gun for scenerio's (to backup my shocker in case it was raining) and through these forums I bought a RPG Paradigm (Rogues RT custom) because of people talking about their mags and through hearing great things about RogueFactor. A great way to reach people is in these forums. And its free. Maybe this forum should take out a couple ads in magazines to get people here, and then through this forum they may turn to the Mag. Just a thought. God Bless.

[FSU_Paintball]

Why are people comparing the Evo to the Ion?

In my eyes the Ion is far superior. True, they both have similar ROF, in a similar price range and have eyes... but the Ion is smaller, is probably lighter (I've never held them), and most importantly, the Ion is NOT A SEAR TRIPPER. The Evo is a blowback sear tripper. That fact alone lifts the Ion above the evo in my eyes. I don't think it's quite fair to say the Evo is just as good.

[jewie27]

blowback is a good design for 100 dollar guns, not 300 dollar guns.

Exactly.......










So explain why everyone and thier mom wants or has an Intimidator? Just because of Bob Long's name?????




It's a Spyder with a modified trigger system.

[jewie27]

i have an ion (may be trading for an angel) this gun is the best thing you can get for the money. i have no idea how sp made this gun so cheep i would like to hear from plp who keep theirs in a year or so. they seem to hold up but ther are made by sp so you never know.

You know how?


They probably made so much money from Eclipse (Eblade) liscensing fees, they lowered the price of the Ion. LOL

Those Nazi's are trying to monopolize on everyone.

[Lohman446]

Those Nazi's are trying to monopolize on everyone.

Explain to me if you can how you compare a business practice in a capitalistic society governed by a patent system and various laws to the third reich. Please

[abunkerer]

those evil, yet bussiness savvy Nazis, they always patent everything!
**insert tasteless examples of things that the Nazis would patent here**

[VFX_Fenix]

Actually part of the "move" from one gun to another is largely based on where you live, at least from what I've experienced. Here in Nor*Cal we have a lot of SP and Bob Long guns, head to So*Cal and you get into the so called "Heart" of DYE territory where "everyone" is a walking DYE/Proto advertisment. On the East Coast the tourney scene sees a lot of Schockers and Angels (according to a friend I have in New York).

Even back in the "Good Ol Days" Autocockers were West Coast and Automags were East Coast.

The Ion is something of a unique beast, based on just what serial numbers I've seen they must be just selling these things to everyone and their brother. Brand Loyalty will get you so far, consider that the true fans of any company (like AGD) will *always* buy what that company has to offer. C'mon, if AGD were to release a new gun pretty much everyone on this forum would trip over themselves trying to buy it.

[Miscue]

I don't like what Smart Parts has done, but I can't ignore them either. For under $300 you get a marker that works like a Matrix, versus a $300 PMI or something that works like a Spyder. I'm not going to bother explaining why I favor how the Ion works.

I think that the high-end market is saturated, and has been for a long time. I predict more markers like the Ion will come out from other companies, and we're going to see super guns at $300-450. Inexpensive, not cheap - like was mentioned. Eventually there will be little to no distinction between these markers and the "high-end" markers besides cosmetics/body work/minor stuff.

[Recon by Fire]

I have not paid attention to the hype or hate about the Ion. I got to check out an Ion today; I was not impressed at all. If anything, it convinced me that I would never want one. The overall impression of this marker is cheap, and I am not referring to the price. But sure enough right in front of my eyes today someone rushed in to buy one. If you guys like it, that's great, but I could never see handing over any cash for the thing.

[Lohman446]

I have not paid attention to the hype or hate about the Ion. I got to check out an Ion today; I was not impressed at all. If anything, it convinced me that I would never want one. The overall impression of this marker is cheap, and I am not referring to the price. But sure enough right in front of my eyes today someone rushed in to buy one. If you guys like it, that's great, but I could never see handing over any cash for the thing.

What didn't you like about it, I'm curious. I had teh exact opposite, I bought one, ordered one to see what they were like expecting it to feel cheap - I was pleasantly surprised when I picked it up.

[alouba]

sorry but i didn't bother to read all the posts so if someone already said this, my bad
just want to clear a few things up

the ion is NOT a true electro, well, at least not in my definition. i consider an electro to be completly pneumatic. if i'm not mistaken the ion bolt is returned by a spring, just like the bko/b2k.

this brings me to my next point, the ion is NOT a spool valve, a spool valve, as exhibited in the matrix and the shocker, is a system that uses air to press against "sails" on the bolt in order to recock, once again, the ion's bolt is srping assisted. in essense, the ion appears to be a polymer mag that uses electronics to controll the firing of the valve.

and i must repectfully disagree with fireblade who posted somewhere in the begining on his point that the ion isn't considered by some as a $800 marker for $300. have any of you visited the b/s/t forums on pbnation? many owners selling they're trix, timmy, e-cocker, viking, borg, and other high end guns have a little line in their post that goes something like this "no trades, just looking for cash. but will consider ion" why would they want to trade for an ion and not somerthing of comparable value? i dunno what i can call it besides hype

so there, i'm done
i like to argue, so please disagree with me

[Lohman446]

sorry but i didn't bother to read all the posts so if someone already said this, my bad
just want to clear a few things up

the ion is NOT a true electro, well, at least not in my definition. i consider an electro to be completly pneumatic. if i'm not mistaken the ion bolt is returned by a spring, just like the bko/b2k.

this brings me to my next point, the ion is NOT a spool valve, a spool valve, as exhibited in the matrix and the shocker, is a system that uses air to press against "sails" on the bolt in order to recock, once again, the ion's bolt is srping assisted. in essense, the ion appears to be a polymer mag that uses electronics to controll the firing of the valve.

and i must repectfully disagree with fireblade who posted somewhere in the begining on his point that the ion isn't considered by some as a $800 marker for $300. have any of you visited the b/s/t forums on pbnation? many owners selling they're trix, timmy, e-cocker, viking, borg, and other high end guns have a little line in their post that goes something like this "no trades, just looking for cash. but will consider ion" why would they want to trade for an ion and not somerthing of comparable value? i dunno what i can call it besides hype

so there, i'm done
i like to argue, so please disagree with me

What spring

http://www.automags.org/forums/showthread.php?t=167092&highlight=ion

[alouba]

after a quick check i must agree with you
so it apears that i'm wrong
not sure what made me believed it was spring return in the first place

this does increase my opnion on the gun to a degree
yet the hype issue is still there and my overall position has not changed