Satzuma USB Plasma Ball

I bought this about a month ago and it's sitting beside me working perfectly. Not so great in office lighting and similar environments - tried it at work and could barely see anything, but at home where I use it is generally an environment with softer light so it's great. Other than that, great purchase. I still struggle to fathom how the USB bus can actually produce enough power to make it work - although I have noticed that with it turned on, transfers to my iPod sometimes fail, presumeably because it is drawing some amount of power from the USB ports. Simple solution to this is to turn it off when doing file transfers over USB.I'll give it five stars because for the price you really can't complain - and it even has battery slots!

The product received was a no name brand Plasma Ball. Although the product looks the same as a Satzuma, it doesn't come in Satzuma packaging. Besides that, no problems. Product works great, lots of fun for the kids, seems good quality construction.

It's a bit smaller than I was expecting - for those of you wondering it's about the size of a tennis ball - but it looks nice in a dimly lit room. The only major gripe I've got is that it comes with a handy batteries-only option, saving you the need for a USB connection, but the bottom panel won't fit back on after you put the batteries in. It's a design flaw and it's annoying. Otherwise, item is pretty much as described.

I have the larger version and wasn't expecting much from one of this size, HOWEVER, it is AMAZING!!The plasma effect is every bit as good as the larger versions you can buy - if not better.Very impressed.I wanted it to put inside a liquid-cooled compuer case to make it look cool.

Bought this for a little farthers day gift from my daughter, to show that she is the sparkling light in Daddy's life.And loved it so much, I bought another one as a secret santa gift.Really nice, and the kids love it!

looks brilliant in the dark not good in bright light but its used more in the dark anyway. just a brilliant way to pass time when i feel like it, everyone should have one.

I was a bit hesitant to buy this, since the images are so obviously doctored, and I was concerned it might be rather unimpressive in person. Happily, I was wrong - it's a very nice little desk ornament; most of the time it has three or four forks floating around, and you can get it to split into about three concentrated forks with your fingers, any more than that and it'll just stick to the most conductive(?) finger. Although that doesn't sound hugely impressive, it's important to remember that this really is a miniature, and the power suits the size. It's bright enough that it's still nicely visible in a daylit room, although it might struggle in direct sunlight, and it seems to be pretty durable: still going strong after five months of apparently heavy use (the glass is now filthy enough to indicate heavy use, anyway).

I bought this because I wanted to experience the same as I did in the museum: I touch the ball and someone else with my other hand and electricity would pass though me and chock the other guy! But no, this is too small(smaller than I imagine, and not that powerful) After a while being connected, the lightnings froze! Literally froze, not moving at all. And I had to take off the usb thing and re plug it... Bummers..

Lo esperado

Arrivata non funzionante. Mi hanno rimborsato.

My husband requested this product for Christmas and he just loves it!! Yes it's a toy but to a scientific mind it's simply fun!!

Petit objet de décoration, préférez l'USB aux piles. très jolie et ne prend pas de place.A brancher sur un port USB de n'importe quel appareil (TV, Ampli, PC, Hub USB, etc.. )Personnellement branchée sur l'ampli home cinéma, elle se coupe toute seule lorsque je coupe la TV.Le diamètre de la boule est d'environ 8cm, le câble usb fournis mesure 1m.

Der Plasma-Ball ist mal ein echter hingucker, ist relativ gut verarbeitet für diesen Preis und zudem mit Batterien nutzbar.Achtung der durchmesser ist 8cm, das ist deutlich größer als Sie auf den vorhandenen Fotos wirkt!Sonst ist sie aber durchaus sehr zum empfehlen :-)