I think I just saw a couple photos of one in the UBC forum under their Spring Photos thread. It's spoken of positively-- just an older cultivar, I think. Here's a link to some photos, too:

http://www.ontwerp.esveld.nl/htmldiaen/a/acprse.php

A very common and popular selection of red dissectum. What is it you want to know about it? All red dissectums are very similar, with only minor differences in leaf size and division and how well the coloring holds up.

Not all that old - introduced in 1978.

I bought one of these beauties last year. I had repotted it into a larger pot and grown it in full sunlight. It was growing great up until my cat decided to get frisky with it and snapped the trunk off right at the graft. I tried rescuing it, but there wasn't much I could do. The root stock tried sprouting, but I decided not to keep it. I waited a full year for the garden center to get some more back in stock and I just bought one today.

I almost gave up hope on my garden center getting some more of them in this year. But this time they had more to choose from, seeing as they had just gotten them in yesterday. Last year, they only had three left. One of which was this variety. I probably looked a little silly standing out in the rain sorting thru each and every one of them, haha. But after waiting for this long, I wanted the best one that I could find.

Since I had almost given up hope, I looked elsewhere for some more Japanese maples. I came across a garden center at a local grocery store that had bigger maples that were almost as tall as me. They were only $20, too. So I had bought a real beautiful one called Acer palmatum 'Shirazz." It's a similar red laceleaf, but it's a brighter and variegated. The trunk had a red plastic "patented" tag on it. I quite look forward to growing both of these beauties in my garden. :)

I was told by a neighbor that these maples will put out root systems that invade home foundations. So I am supposed to put it far from the foundation. Can anyone confirm this?

Japanese maples have very restrained root systems compared to other maples. And tree roots of any kind seldom ever invade foundations unless the foundation is not structurally sound (already cracked or compromised). So your neighbor is misinformed.

Japanese maples are almost a fixture in gardens in my area - nearly everyone has at least one. And many - especially the smaller dissectum types like 'Red Select' - are planted very close to the house. Never a root problem.

$20 for a large 'Shirazz(or indeed any maple)sounds like a bargain,well done Photosynth.Just to mention,...yes Shirazz is variegated,and it's patented(sort of) but don't expect a laceleaf :)

Japanese maple roots are not a concern for foundations, sidewalks, or walkways....what gardengal said.

Yeah, when I placed both side by side, I could tell the difference. The Shirazz's leaves were bigger and not laceleafed like the smaller Red Select. Both are equally gorgeous. As if I needed yet another reason (or should I say two?) for spending more time in my backyard. Fortunately, my bedroom is right there, so I can still see them from my window.

To put things in perspective, I've already found myself browsing online for other varieties. You know, just in case some of them somehow manage to find their way here and force me to make room for them too. One thing I've learned from gardening all of these years, there's always room for at least one more. :)

Yes ,still a very colourful plant.Oh dear,sounds like you're travelling down the slippery path to becoming another maple junkie...there's no escape :)

Ha! I started with three, now have almost 30. The internet did me in, especially ebay at first. So many varieties, so inexpensively!