For new readers of this blog who want a summary of what to expect, this is my summary of the PAX describing how I've used it and my experience.
Form and fit:
It's very well engineered (it's missing an Apple logo). It's brushed metal; has a nice weight and a great feel. It's very very portable and fits into a shirt pocket - in fact you could probably fit in 3. You can take it anywhere, any place, any time .... and that's my only criticism of the device, which I'll get into at the end.
How I use it:
I'll fill up the 'oven', which is a little stainless steel oven compartment on the bottom of the unit. Depending on the setting you select, it gets heated to 370 to over 400 degrees F., via the Lithium-Ion battery. When you suck air in through the top mouthpiece, the incoming hot air goes through the herb causing the cannabinoids within to sublimate. This is what causes the vapor which is inhaled through a stainless steel tube that goes into the mouthpiece.
I fill the oven full with an amount that I would normally use for a small joint. I turn the unit on, wait for the green light (30-45 seconds), then I take about 3 - 4 drags then shut it off. That's enough to get me nicely high (I have very good herbs).. Smoke more and you get more blasted. Then later on if I want to continue the buzz, I click it open and its good to go in another 30 seconds; I take a few more hits and I'm good again. Very very simple, easy and the affect is as good smoking it. Each full oven will last 3-4 sessions with 3-4 draws each session. I may stir it after the second session to mix up the green (weed that hasn't been stripped of THC with the gold pot which has).
Regarding battery life - After About 4 sessions the battery indicator went from green to orange which indicates more than halfway to go. It goes red at about 25%. So, battery will never be an issue.
The best part is that this thing is always ready to go within 30-45 seconds. The next night after my first one, I just started it up and it was ready in 30 seconds. No mess, no fuss - no matches, pipes etc.
Notwithstanding the health benefits, the main difference in usage between smoking a joint, pipe or bong and using a PAX is that you can't really pass the PAX around. You could share it with 2 people but more doesn't work, because multiple people drawing on it continually would cool the heater down faster than it could keep optimal and that would affect the vaporization.
The smell is minimal but is very different from burning weed. It kind of smells like popcorn. Also there is a very distinct taste that vapor people know about. After a few minutes or so the smell dissipates completely. Using it outside produces nothing that indicates it's weed - its actually hard to smell anything - unlike burning weed. Neighbors smelling something funny is now a thing of the past.
The social impact: If this PAX or PAX-like vaporizer type becomes common, the tradition of 'passing it around', may be a thing of the past.
Conclusion: I am totally impressed with the PAX. For me, this has completely changed the way I get high. There is absolutely no going back. Think of the iPod revolution (I never went back to records/cds - in fact I threw them all out).
And therein lies my one and only criticism. It is so flipping easy to use that one can be continually tempted; the PAX makes it just that easy. I think it actually talked to me yesterday morning as I was leaving. I swear I could hear it saying "Daddy, aren't I coming?"..........
This is the cat's ass baby. You gotta get one.
yum
