DEX by Lloyd Barnes and Javier Fuenmayor

[@tomwinder4402]

I didn't board the hype train on this one. I am glad I waited now.

[@bradklaus5954]

Madison’s Advocate: one pocket, made in minutes w/o extra gimmick

[@mathmusicstructure]

If the glue doesn't matter, then why glue it? If the glue does matter, then it should hold. Thank you for the video.

[@keithwolfe-festivalandstreet]

And if it's not a problem then why are rubber bands needed to fix it? What happens when rubber bands snap in your pocket during mid performance? Smilesotheylikeyou

[@AlexKilpatrick81]

The glued bottom isn't functional - it's just for aesthetics. (It looks better that way.) The glued bottom isn't necessary for it to function. Rubber bands aren't necessary for it to function. Rubber bands are only useful if A) the bottom happens to come unglued and B) you prefer the aesthetic of the bottom being held closed...

[@luke9119]

This “the glue doesn’t matter” is very annoying. A product is marketed, I pay my money, I expect a product that doesn’t have seemingly runny glue pulling apart. That’s going in my pocket. I expect something as simple as the glue being used to be tested thoroughly. There’s no way this wasn’t known about unless they used a different glue than in testing. You’d be annoyed if you ordered a packet trick and the right stuff hadn’t been applied to it, or they sent cards with the wrong backs etc. This is no different. I don’t imagine it has been done on purpose, as the creators seem like stand-up guys, but this is a very legitimate criticism, and it is unfair to dismiss it.

[@AlexKilpatrick81]

@@luke9119 The point is that the glue doesn't affect the function of the device.. It's also quite interesting that you call it "runny glue"...

[@luke9119]

@@AlexKilpatrick81 I mean it’s literally gloopy. If it was just failing, one would assume it would just separate. But this is still sort of soft. Almost as though it’s the wrong type of glue being used for the purpose.

[@RDGTEX]

Thank you, Steve, for reminding all of us that the end of the world has not arrived! I truly enjoy the content on your channel, and as always, your review is characterized by honesty, fairness, and respect for all.

[@blueskyglidertube]

Good, informative and informed review Steve, thanks!

[@Collettidini]

Yesterday, on October 10th, David presented a segment on Unbiased Magic Review, showcasing Don Wand's use of his unique card index. This index holds a complete deck of cards but manages to remain inconspicuous in your pocket. The speed and accuracy of card retrieval were truly remarkable, and I'm eager to acquire the one demonstrated (it isn’t available to purchase at this time). I wouldn't even mind if it arrived unglued/unassembled; I'm primarily interested in its design. Finding better glue for assembly wouldn't deter me if it ensures speed, accuracy, and a discreet appearance. Thanks Steve for taking the time to share your thoughts about Lloyd Barnes index. It adds a lot of value to learn about your perspective.

[@GregMeschino]

Don Wand's index is amazing, but doesn't "deliver" the card in Palm or Cop, to my knowledge. This is the element of DEX that allows it to be used for many different effects. With Don's Index, it also does look like there is something in the pocket. He just hides it in the video by standing so the camera can't see his full pocket.

[@Collettidini]

Thanks for your comments; they got me thinking again about Jeff from "Erudite Magic" on KZbin who was recently discussing Stewart James's out of print book called “Index” (covers three different indices).

[@bretbostock]

I ordered some tyvek to make that version of the index. I think I have some improvements too. Kind of excited.

[@FreddotheWheelchairGuy]

I personally have found it very challenging to retrieve the right card but I’ve only played with it for an hour so far. Using it sat down is probably more difficult, but it’s my only option, so the learning curve is steep!

[@magicmagicman]

They went through so many prototypes and proudly showed them off yet they somehow thought this version was good enough despite knowing the glue becomes unstuck. Its not good enough. They could have used velcro, sewing thread or stud poppers to keep the bottom together once they knew there was a problem.

[@72A1D372]

Best review of this product Ive seen so far.

[@davidshareefChTPhD]

I came over here to watch this review because David at unbiased magic review said the exact same thing and everyone tried to cut his head off!😅😅😅😅 so two people are saying the same thing I'm going to believe what you're saying

[@veganbadass]

I own both Dex and Cheetah. If they had a baby it would be perfect.... the Blue Print of Dex with the materials of Cheetah = perfect. Lloyd and Javier are super, great guys. Perhaps a 2.0 would be the final word as DEX is 80% there.

[@dee-beeo]

I prefer a gimmicked or memorized deck to any pocket index. I can carry the gimmick deck in a bag whereas the index takes up valuable pocket space. And we have to remember that you are getting a method, not an effect. 90% of the tricks on the tutorial could be done without a pocket index.

[@jamesemory8781]

Mine started coming apart within 2 days (from the middle, not the bottom as per the tutorial) with very little usage, and Penguin got a refund issued due to the manufacturer agreeing that there was a definitive issue. Not a good design, imo, and definitely not a design worthy of $75.

[@luke9119]

I was really excited about this one, but I put my cards in and held it and then all the glue started pulling apart. Gutted, but it’s just going to fall to bits.

[@AlexKilpatrick81]

It's unlikely to fall to bits. It's most likely to remain perfectly functional for months, at least, like that in your pocket.

[@luke9119]

@@AlexKilpatrick81 I’d hope for it to last a bit longer than that, but then I’m getting glue in my pockets… Seems like they’ve used a glue that doesn’t set, but I’m not burning my right of return by trying to use something better in case that fails and it looks like I’ve messed it up myself.

[@time_machine7013]

I carry a half index, double decker cards. I just switch tricks if I can’t nail it

[@pinballwizard666]

To be blunt ... A nice tin box and 9 hours of tutorial don't make up for an inferior product.

[@Erdnase23]

And, to add insult to injury, in order to prove their point they then gave away the tutorial for free.

[@sleightimprovements3046]

@@Erdnase23 Where is it?

[@luke9119]

Oh giving away the tutorial was enraging. Thanks guys. £70 well spent…

[@sleightimprovements3046]

@@luke9119 But where is the tutorial? I can't even buy it since it's sold out.

[@88Stefan]

Magic products are like clothes. There are many options to choose from and you have to find out what fits you. Doesnt mean one is better than the other, its good that we have options. I bought Cheetah which Im verry happy with, but I can imagine that a walk around pro would love to have an index in one pocket. But that being said, I think you are even way to kind for a product that breaks almost immediately, especially with this price tag. Even if it can be easily fixed w/o any problems, I still think a product shouldnt break. If you need a section in your tutorials how to fix something if it breaks, your product is bad. Imagine being a hobbyist who just saved enough money to buy this.

[@keithwolfe-festivalandstreet]

Actually clothes are subjected to quality control sadly most magic is not. Smilesotheylikeyou

[@88Stefan]

@@keithwolfe-festivalandstreet I was actually thinking about that. But with clothes there isn't even that much quality control. It depends what and where you buy from. But it's also easier to do your own quality control. With magic, that's a bit harder. You can decide not to buy clothes from brand X, but not buying magic from Murphy's limits your options. Not saying they are the only option, but they are putting out a lot. And not just their own brand, so those lines are getting a bit more blurry too.

[@MadPaperPeople]

i have cheetah was using it within 30 mins... i got dex did not like it and as Lloyd gave the password to the tutorial away for free i wondered why i was paying twice the price of cheetah..i found it too fiddly and needs hours of practice...you can have cheetah in one pocket too..not as easy but you can..

[@edblitch3549]

This is the best review of the project yet! Thank you for your feedback.

[@charlesgauthier2166]

Won’t buy it. I’ve had other magic products fall apart within days/weeks of practising and performing with them. My reaction… what a piece of crap. I try to repair them, but why should I? I paid good money and it was a waste. Good for you to give a honest review. It sounds like you wouldn’t buy it either. 😉

[@AnilJedi]

Helpful review as always. Also amusing magical ramblings… keep it up.😊😊

[@koolmagicguy]

I ended up selling mine. Too bulky to accurately get the card out without being obvious. Which it is.

[@InfamousStacker]

Thanks for the deal :P I am enjoying working with it, its my first index so nothing to compare it to

[@ColinUnderwood]

Good comments considering the back story. I agreed with your comment. Expensive system and it unglued. Check Cheater. 2 pocket index. I think the overhyped turned around and bit them. Enjoy your quirky comments. 😊😊

[@AlexKilpatrick81]

I love the idea of a full index - especially a one-pocket index, since I keep a number of things in my pockets - which is why I own far too many, different indexes. The biggest problem with super-fast, multi-pocket indexes is that they simply take up way too much pocket space. That's a killer. The biggest problem with partial indexes is that you have to spend time and effort to equivoke your way into a card you can retrieve and then retrieve it. That's a killer, in general, but especially for the types of effects I prefer. The biggest problem with most full, one-pocket indexes is either that it requires a lot of thinking to ensure that you have the correct card, it takes a long time to retrieve certain cards (or a four-of-a-kind), and/or you aren't always 100% certain that you've pulled the correct card. All of those are killers. For me, Dex addresses all of those problems. In only about an hour or so of actual practice, I was able to reliably (performance reliably, i.e., 99%+) retrieve the correct card - any card - or any four-of-a-kind in less than 5 seconds. Not only is Dex the fastest one-pocket index I've tried but it was also the easiest, most intuitive one to learn. I fully expect to wear out my Dex and be forced to buy another at some point...

[@doghot77]

Let's be honest crap product ? Lol Great interview 👍

[@hipflipped]

Steve struggles to say it doesn't suck.

[@MagicForBeginners]

Great review Steve, very detailed and should we all say ‘unbiased’ too, as per usual from you.

[@RollTonight]

Uh oh. You didn't give effusive praise; now you can expect an hour long video from the creator attacking your character.

[@allynlawson]

He didn’t lie or mislead either… so no video needed. Also he actually owns the effect so that’s fair too… if only all magic channels were as unbiased/trustworthy 😉

[@Bringadingus]

Negative reviews are fine, lies and uninformed nonsense is not. Steve is fine.

[@pinballwizard666]

I hear you ..... and waiting for it.

[@kapilagarwal9244]

Doesn’t seem like you know your stuff if you can’t think of another index that works with one hand as that’s most indexes. You should have put a disclaimer that you don’t know much about indexes or don’t use them or w/e at the beginning of video. The fact that you can’t really say if it’s worth buying shows the limitations of your “objectiveness”. You approach it from the perspective it’s free for you and fail to address what we care about, which is it worth buying? Just seems phony to pretend to be something you can’t be in the context of this channel and then comment on unbiased’s content when you can’t come close to being objective yourself. What I’m getting at is you don’t have the moral equity w/ respect to your content to make the assertions about other reviewers. Just seems disingenuous to say we should all get along, as long as it works it’s doing what it supposed to blah blah, support magicians blah blah when you don’t spend your own money on products. All while repeating you are going to be “objective” as possible. Not saying you have to do critical style of reviews, it’s your content; but don’t sell yourself as this moral high ground above the squabbling, purist good guy bs when the reality is you have strong biases to promote products vs help consumers. Unbiased style is critical, matter a fact, maybe even off putting for some people at times. That’s his personality and saying he should behave and stay within the outlines of the “magic fraternity” is bs; he’s the one person being real on here.

[@RDGTEX]

I can honestly say that I have never read a negative consumer report article and become enraged. I should not have to experience these emotions when referring to what I believe is a trusted resource. As someone who has been brutally victimized by nihilistic sociopathic behavior, I am highly sensitive and attuned to such behavior when it is directed at me or others. Unfortunately, it seems that a significant portion of society tends to overlook or dismiss this behavior as harmless banter and par for the course when they are not the target themselves, often inadvertently encouraging more of it. This is the situation David finds himself in. A segment of the Magic Community has become intolerant of this behavior, while his subscribers, who appear to miss the core of our discontent, continue to support him. Commentary online from well-respected reviewers such as Steve, Fiddlin' Johnny, Caven Booth, and Craig Petty has been as fair as possible in highlighting the problem and all begging for compromise from David. I've never felt this way about other negative reviews. However, when David promotes a negative review, it becomes a psychological study in nihilistic sociopathic behavior. Regrettably, this is not an uncommon trait among professionals like him. Nearly anyone who has worked in a high-stakes professional environment has either experienced it or been a target of it. Only recently have human resources begun to address this long-standing and pervasive leadership trait as deceptive, abusive, and unacceptable behavior. David is an intelligent man, and he should realize that he has the capacity to turn the tide and earn respect from everyone by making a few simple adjustments to his behavior and methodology. Unless he prefers to dig in his heels and become an outcast in the magic community, ultimately nurturing his own exclusive circle. Sadly, that's the path he seems to be heading down, and where his supporters are leading him.

[@kapilagarwal9244]

My comment was fair and critical and was with respect to objectiveness of a review in the context of KZbin content. Yours is something else entirely…I’m not even going to get into it, but it crosses a line…sort of like creating a fraudulent email 📧 and parading it around for content and other reasons.

[@Bringadingus]

@@kapilagarwal9244RGDTEX is 100% on target. Perhaps you can't see it because it's too much of a mirror to your own personality?

[@Ineverywhisper]

What do you expect when he gets it for free?

[@RDGTEX]

Within the magic community, it's disheartening to see how some individuals have managed to amass devoted followings without providing complete transparency. They've achieved this by evoking strong emotions and aligning with preexisting beliefs. Unfortunately, a vocal minority has placed their trust in these leaders due to their persuasive abilities, and the dynamics of group affiliation have made it challenging to question these shared beliefs. The repetition of false information has solidified these ideas, leading to division and a reluctance to consider alternative perspectives. Addressing this issue has become a daunting task and serves as a stark reminder of our shared vulnerability to manipulation as human beings. My heartfelt sympathies go out to those who have been affected by these transgressions within our community. Regrettably, this behavior is, in part, a consequence of the nature of social media, where individuals can act without facing personal consequences. Despite efforts to encourage moderation and foster mutual respect through compromises, it's a challenging endeavor to hope for change among those who prefer the current state of affairs. There is no reasoning or rationale that can alter this dynamic. For those of us who believe this behavior has been destructive and senseless, we must acknowledge that we seem to have lost this battle of reasoning with this particular group. Instead, we should remain steadfast in our passions and seek out those within our community who treat each other with sincerity and mutual respect, freeing ourselves from the weight of this senseless contempt.

[@markjones5843]

Well done Steve, I can see you was very nervous doing this review and you've been as kind as you can, plus trying not to upset lloyd and his friends to much. Think the bottom line is it's been way over hyped and it's not worth the money

[@liberalguy513]

"It falls apart in seconds, but who cares because I didn't pay for it" ... imagine if you had shelled out 75 bucks for it.

[@RDGTEX]

What would be your exact pain point? Anyone who has ever purchased a magic trick from a reputable online seller knows it can be returned for a replacement or a refund. Shipping costs can be a significant concern, but those investing in Dex are likely to have accrued a balance over the years with numerous instances of free shipping, unless they reside in a remote area. Allow me to recount my experience when I spent $250 on João Miranda's Smoke Cube, only to discover that it didn't work as expected. While it performed splendidly for some, I wasn't as fortunate. I reached out to João Miranda, expressing my desire to service the unit myself, but he insisted on sending it to Portugal. I viewed this as a risky move, especially considering the current international tensions. João Miranda was respectful of my concerns and provided a full refund, minus the return shipping costs. Was I content with the outcome, and did I believe I had a valid complaint? I indeed felt I had a legitimate grievance, and I voiced my opinion. However, at no point did I question João Miranda's integrity or attempt to dehumanize him in the manner we've witnessed with Dex. Since then, I've purchased both Gravity and Vision Box. There is absolutely no justifiable reason to sever ties within the magic community with such contempt, just because a product release falls short of our expectations or turns out to be defective. This behavior needs to stop.

[@Ineverywhisper]

Yeah he got it for free, no conflict of interest there!

[@devinreed5725]

I wouldnt be surprised if all this controversy is fabricated. Great marketing.