James Dyson

[rov1200]

This great British inventor has just come up with the bladeless desktop fan. Why have we suffered for years with the old type when this new invention is said to be superior? Are there any likely flaws in the design?

http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/article/14102/green-tech/dyson-unveils-the-bladeless-fan

[Huderon]

If it's anything like as effective as his hand dryer (which has never managed to dry my hands in 10 seconds), it's unlikely to be superior and may well have flaws

[heathfield]

If it's anything like his vacuum cleaners, it'll probably overheat, clog, have bits fall off it, and make its owners wish they'd never bought it!

[heathfield]

And his Air Blade hand dryer is suspiciously similar to Mitsubishi's Jet Towel thatt's been around for at least 10 years.

http://www.mitsubishijettowel.com/

[ABerrant]

Bladeless? That is surely a contravention of the Trade Description Act.

The blades, i.e. the vanes of the impeller, are housed within the base.

[rov1200]

I think the idea is good as air is forced through a small slit around the rim but I'm surprised something similar has not been produced before leading me to believe there are problems. As you said £200 to pay for this as against about £10 for a convential one would mean only those type of purchasers of Sinclair's C5 go cart would take a second look.

I must agree his bagless vaccum cleaners look ugly and cumbersome and they also have a premium price attached.

[Cheeris]

"Bladeless? That is surely a contravention of the Trade Description Act."

Yes, a major company and inventor has somehow failed to take account of this 1968 statute.

Or!!!

Maybe the Trade Descriptions Act was worded to ensure that 'each product sold must be as described, of satisfactory quality, and fit for purpose as described'.

'As described' doesn't mean that its design (and the words to describe thereof) must match any previous or future equivalent product. It seems to me that usage of the word 'bladeless' doesn't mean that it must conform to any possible definition of a fan blade, only that it conforms to the kind of blades found in the type of desktop fan currently found in most households and offices.

cf. 'smear-free window cleaner'...
'high-mileage engine'...
'a website promoting intelligent debate and discussion'...

[wheaten]

I saw one today, though at first i thought it was an ipod speaker. I want one! Reviews i've read say everything from 'Great, techno-geeks dream' to 'Too noisy'. Will wait for a cheaper one though.
Wheaten