I have notice that there are tons of infomercials and radio ads for e-cigs now.
Semi off-topic:
I want to buy one for my dad. What's the best bang for your buck, low cost option to get him started on one?
the ones on the radio are generally shit and cost 10x what they are worth
as far as what to get him started on... it really depends on what he needs from it
when i got mine i needed to get one that was as similar to a regular cig as i could... otherwise i would not have taken it seriously... it would have been a novelty like it has been for several of my friends
other people like clayton need something that maximizes nicotine delivery and are not effected by the aesthetics of the device as much
in the end reguardless of what style... you need to WANT to use it... you need some self discipline... and you need to commit to it... otherwise much like anything else you will not stay with it
it is
NOT the exact same thing as smoking... its similar... and its a hell of a lot more like smoking than the patch or gum or any of the other nicotine alternatives ive seen...
it also leaves the choice up to you whether or not you want to quit, or just use it as an alternative to regular cigarettes...
i got mine because i didnt want to quit smoking... i enjoyed smoking but i hated the way it was making me feel... so i switched to the e-cig... i figured it had to be better for me than the alternative of smoking cigarettes... within a week i was feeling noticeably better... i have had 1 and a half cloves, and about 1/3 of a cigarette since i started using the e-cig... i havent used the e-cig since the summer... im not really sure when i last used it... i didnt notice... i didnt want to quit... i just did... i used the e-cig less and less... and one day realized that i hadnt touched it in at least a month... i took it out of my car and put it in a drawer... i have no desire to smoke any more... the smell and taste disgusts me...