[sci.electronics] Cheap lasers

franko@juliet.caltech.edu (Filipanits, Frank J.) (05/01/91)

I've seen two ads for cheap ($60) laser kits in this month's Radio Electronics
magazine... these are for a .5mw HeNe laser tube and power supply (you provide
12-18Vdc and an enclosure, power switch, etc.  Are these junk?  It seems like
he perfect birthday gift for a friend who's an Optics major, but I want it to
work okay (i.e. produce a coherent beam at least half the time).  

Anyone have any experience wih these cheap lasers? Recommendations?
E-mail replies ASAP, please (her birthday approacheth)

Thanks,
Frank
franko@juliet.caltech.edu