I used the Alien Bees for the first time a few days ago and I like them.
If you're going to be shooting people I recommend you get the Softboxes from Photoflex, they come with these accesory gold panels that you attach to inside with Velcro, they give a nice warm cast over your subject.
If you plan to travel with these units and transport them via commercial airlines, I'd suggesr to use a hardsided case like those from Pelican.
Otherwise....your Bees won't live long.
I have attached a few images here:
The first was shot uning a regular softbox with no panels.
The seconf was ahot with an Alien Bee 800 attached to a 7 ft. Octabank from Photoflex using the gold panels inside.
Good Luck
Howard
