Personally I don’t think we’ll ever see a man-portable laser weapon. The power required is just too extreme to miniaturize enough to be feasible. I am however still waiting on railguns and plasma weapons.”

Never forget that someone once said “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.” and Bill Gates once said “Why would anyone want more than 640k of storage?” Hehe, my sister’s crappy mp3 has more than that!
And anyway, why do we need more ways to kill each other? Don’t we have enough already?”[/quote]

Kind of confused about two last sentences. Considering earlier: “there’s market for only so many ways to kill/fuck up an enemy”.

Anyway, to contribute something:
a) Railgun, newer us navy tests on youtoot, google. Some nice/ugly stuff brewing.
b) You don’t have to have the energy source at the (handheld/tank-mounted) weapon, you only need a delivery system for the energy to reach the weapon (microwave not recommended) and redirection. Although one might argue said delivery system might provide the target with destructive energy also directly (perhaps spotter-laser). But if that’s not an option, why not deliver the energy to the weapon and then to, say, window of a bunker. Or if said energy cannot be concentrated, a “laser-gun” might just do that job.

The only other thing is the rib cracking , gasping for breath laughter that watching my dog chase the laser pen light produces. This is often the highlight of my day..,LOL yes I need to get a life.

Now an idea from the empty ethers of my imagination. I understand that strobe lights can produce siezures in some people, could a strobing laser be used to the same effect to incapacitate people with out killing them? I suppose not, or someone much brighter than myself would have come to this concluion already…ho-hum… Just ignore this post please, my blood sugar is low. LOL