Blu E-Cigs: Electronic Cigarettes for a New Generation. Prices, and a look at how they work.

If you smoke, you probably already know about the new involvement of the FDA in cigarettes. According to the New York Times (You can read the article on cigarette regulation here.) the FDA will be regulating a few very key things, not the least of which are directed at how cigarettes are marketed and reducing or completely eliminating flavored cigarettes. One can also imagine prices raising (even more) and the taste of their cigs changing.

So, what’s the alternative? How exactly do the smokers of the world enjoy a tasty break now from the monotony of life now and again? I know my late-night get togethers wouldn’t be the same without the periodic stand-up and go outside cigarette break. We all love it, and it keeps the environment moving and the social landscape changing.

Believe me when I say I was more than a little interested when I found out there is a nicotine-and-flavor delivery system which dodged all of the FDA issues and was also cheaper than regular smokes. Combine that with some electronic savvy and you’ve got a techy smoker salivating at the idea.

Blu Cigs, E-cigs or Electronic cigarettes are the new wave of smoking technology. Well, smoke is the wrong word for it. Blu cigs are actually small atomizers which deliver a nictotine and flavor vapor instead of carcinogenic smoke. Vapor, you ask? Yes, this is simply a vaporized form of nicotine and flavor which provide a new way to enjoy your cig and take a break.

What about the FDA? Aren’t they going to ban nicotine eventually? Turns out, no. According to the New York Times article:

The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, as it is called, stops short of empowering the F.D.A. to outlaw smoking or ban nicotine — strictures that even most antismoking advocates acknowledged were not politically feasible and might drive people addicted to nicotine into a criminal black market.

Since they seem to see a need to continue delivering nicotine to the masses, this e-cigarette technology will inevitably become the only socially acceptable method of delivery. Bear in mind a few key points of e-cigarettes and inhaling vapor instead of smoke:

• No second hand smoke. You can smoke around anyone, anytime.
• No carcinogens, which are created during the burning and combustion of traditional tobacco.
• Cheaper “packs” of smokes; just $5 for a pack of 5 cartridges, with each individual cartridge (cigarette) lasting the length of 15 traditional cigarettes.
• Flavors are available and now can be delivered with more authenticity due to the vapor-creating process.
• Electronic cigarettes don’t need to be lit, won’t go out, and don’t require you to casually steal lighters from unsuspecting friends.

Blu Electronic Cigarettes represent an evolution in smoking. The setup is based on normal habits which are already supported by the modern smoker. By combing a few things we do every day, the e-cigarette experience is easy to integrate and obviously next-gen. The e-cig smoker will pull out his or her e-cig from the pack, and take a drag. No lighting, no on or off switches, the cigarette is always on. The Blu pack holds a charge, and will charge up your e-cig while it sits in your pocket. If you charge your pack whenever you charge your cell-phone (using the included USB or wall charger) you’ll always have access to your smokes. You can charge the e-cig individually as well, without the pack using the same wall or USB charger. When the e-cig runs out of liquid to vaporize, just toss the cartridge you finished and click on another one. The e-cig even blinks at you to grab your attention and let you know you’ve been smoking a lot recently (although this does not change the vapor in any way, you can keep right on smoking, damnit).

So what is a Blu E-Cig made of really? And how does it work?

First, the e-cig uses power from the battery (which makes up the shaft of the e-cigarette) to assist the flow of liquid into the atomizer as you take a pull. The act of pulling on the e-cig will cause a blue LED at the end of the device to glow softly and then more brightly, the same as the cherry on the end of a regular cigarette. The glow will fade as the drag is finished, during which time the atomizer was releasing the nicotine-and-flavor vapor. (NOTE: You do not need to have nicotine in the vapor. Blu-cigs sell non-nicotine versions of the flavors so anyone can try them without any problems.)

The vapor behaves just like smoke, is inhaled the same way, using the same method, and is exhaled the same way. It even looks the same as it is exhaled. The difference? The vapor dissipates quickly, leaves no odor in the air, and will not dose standers-by with chemicals and nicotine. Awesome? Yes. Futuristic? Yes. Socially conscious? Yes. I dig it.

You can also watch the Blu-Cig official what-and-how video on their website.

Now, I am a smoker. And I smoke Djarum Blacks, which are arguably flavored cigarettes, and I am not pleased with the FDA being involved with them. Yes, regulation would be great in the health area, but come one, taking away flavors? Perhaps enforcing a more subtle form of advertisement for flavors would make sense, but if I’m paying for my vice, let me have it in the flavor I want. Since when do they regulate the flavor and advertisement of alcohol, the most abused substance in the US? Funny how its not ever an issue when compared to cigarettes, even though alcohol abuse by teenagers is at a near 100% rate and is attributed to massive amounts of murder, suicide, unwanted pregnancy, medical issues, and developmental anomalies. But, since great grand-daddy drank it, it’s ok for us too!

As a smoker, I know I will find myself attempting to ash my e-cig, but I suppose new habits must evolve with the new generation of devices. Will I stop smoking regular cigarettes? Hell no. I love Djarum, I will smoke Djarum until they rip the last carcinogenic pack from my cold, dead hand. But even I can hear the death knells of traditional cigarettes, and I am prepared to move to the next place. My Djarum packs cost me just under $9 here in PA, and i can imagine they run much higher in other states. E-Cigarette prices vary from manufacturer to manufacturer, but Blu has set its blu Starter Kit (The Blu cigarette, charging pack, five packs of cartridges, USB and wall adapters, and a spare battery) at $60, which is pretty good considering some packages cost as much as $150. Refill packs cost $5.

To check out Blu cigs, click this nifty link: