-- Product aimed at silent/quiet market
-- Misleading by virtue of name, promotion, packaging, etc.
-- Flaw(s) not easily evident before purchase makes it virtually useless
No lambasting of honest mistakes or products not quite right yet. We want to encourage the innovators, not beat them up, so please, no frivolous posts. Admin will keep an eye out and take action on such.
Anyway, here are my first votes; naturally you are welcome to comment / agree / disagree.
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the Stealth is a bit noisier than the Panaflo
Vantec Stealth 120mm -- clickty clack is what I's say about them. Haven't heard the 120mm Panaflo L (or any 120mm Panaflo) but if they're anywhere close to the Stealth, I'd be really disappointed.
For the record, I think the Vantec "Stealth" line is one of the very worst offenders in the Lies in Advertising/Marketing sweepstakes. The whole Vantec "Stealth" line is mostly a misnomer there's hardly one product that lives up to its name. Their 80mm fan might be the only exception and it ain't that good either. It's the old branding & repetition trick: Say it is so repeatedly and people will believe. Too often, it works.
There I've said it finally and that feels great!
I've said it before: This market sector is ripe for hype because there are no mandatory standards for noise declarations in PC components. Look at the "w/noise killer" tags on all those noisy PSUs w/no noise specs, for example, and Enermax's continued (laughable) use of the word "whisper". It'll get worse before it gets better.
EDIT Jan 7/03: On reflection, the heading of this thread -- "Dubious Marketing" -- probably falls into the category of nonsensical repetition, much like smelly dung or windy tornado or corporate greed. Marketing by its very nature is always at least a bit dubious.