The AiraBreeze: a scam?

[Serial_Apologist]

The existence of this product was drawn to my attention yesterday, for the first time, in an emailed offer, at the going price of £59, only available through one supplier, etc. My initial enthusiasm for a simple portable and relatively cheap aircon device was quickly, ahem, dampened, when I thought beyond supplier suspectability to mechanics. Basically it is no more than an electric fan fitted into a plastic housing with a slot between the rotor and vent for water to be poured in. Given no internal refrigeration unit the water would need to be at lower than room temperature, yet neither product photo nor internal design diagram suggested let alone recommended pre-cooled water or adding ice cubes.

Surely though some such device should not be impossible to make and market for general use?

Here is what one (American) reviewing site has to advise about the AiraBreeze, recommending staying well clear of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygb8vE6fJcI

Has anyone else had experience with this product, or are they able to suggest others?

[vinteuil]

... sounds to me like a desert cooler.

We had these in Sa'udi Arabia : less dehydrating than air-con, but nowhere near as effective - in the end we replaced them with 'proper' air-conditioning.
But they do work, after a fashion -

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evaporative_cooler

,

[smittims]

Sorry to digress but I can't resist this memory of a Which article from the '60s.

They investigated a 'magic torch: lasts forever; never wears out, no batteries needed '. They bought one and took it apart to find a small torch bulb and two small torch batteries which, of course, soon 'wore out'.