What exactly accounts for a 'real' vector and how is this different than the fake ones (such as smart blur, etc)

The one that is saved in vector format like .svg not .jpg or similar. When you open and rezire it and then save as .jpg you get as clear picture as you would've gotten if you had saved original version of .svg in .jpg format, just in different size. With .jpgs you can't have sharp and smooth pictures after reziring, but with one .svg you can get many different size .jpgs all with original quality. That's because .svg is saved as geometrical description not as pixels.

ha, you lost me after .svg

so you mean real vectors are a who different format?

That's what I've read from tutorials.

what is .svg
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&lr=&c2coff=1&oi=defmore&q=define:SVG
what are vector graphics
http://www.google.ca/search?hl=en&lr=&c2coff=1&oi=defmore&q=define:Vector+Graphics
what is smart blur http://www.lonestardigital.com/smart_blur.htm
http://www.informit.com/guides/content.asp?g=photoshop&seqNum=233&rl=1

A true vector has to be done in a Vector program, such as Adobe Illustrator. The main difference between a vector and a rastor image is that when you resize a vector, it maintains the same quality, no matter how big you resize it... However, with a rastor image, when you resize it, it gets pixelated. You can create vector style graphics in non-vector programs, but make sure that you create them in the size that you want them because once you are done, you can't resize it and keep the quality.