I purchased this lamp 3 1/2 years ago for $129.95 and expected it to far outlast its two year warranty. Most of us assume that when we spend $100.00+ for a desk lamp it will last more than a couple of years but alas that was not my experience with this lamp. It just died, won't go on, period. Unfortunately it is out of warranty and after calling its manufacturer, Full Spectrum Solutions, I was informed that they have no viable solutions for me so I now have a very expensive door stop. So consider very carefully when you plop down $100.00 for this lamp or $170.00 for its 72 watt sibling if you would still make the purchase knowing that this lamp may only last 3-4 years at best. About 10 years ago I bought 3 desk lamps from Verilux (sold here on Amazon) and guess what they all still work perfectly and cost half as much as this lamp. When it worked it was very bright and I found that I rarely if ever used the dimmer function. I was not much brighter than the Verilux however and certainly not worth the extra $$$.
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Like another reviewer, I found the floor lamp version of the 42watt light stopped operating before the bulb failed.
When it failed, since it might have been the bulb, I contacted BlueMax which now seems to be operating under the name Full Spectrum Solutions. BlueMax has a "live chat" service -but no one responds when you try to access it. BlueMax promises a quick response to requests for customer service, but after a week, no response at all. I was forced to order a new bulb ($40+) to find out if the lamp or the bulb had failed. It was the lamp. Now I can pay to ship the bulb back if Full Spectrum will accept it -and pay for shipping ($11+ for a package weighing ounces) and for shipping it back. Not a product I would buy again.
Beyond that, it does give very bright and good light. The gooseneck is rather inflexible on the floor lamp and the unit is poorly balanced (the base is too light and/or too small to support the long lamp), so it is in constant danger of tipping over if placed on carpet.
A good lamp, too bad it has such a short life.
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I upgraded from the Verilux lamp, which also made me very happy, after doing careful research. The light is very pleasant, soothing and it never flickers! Then something terrible happened: it stopped working... I could have chosen to use this lamp as an expensive doorstop, but I remembered it came with a solid warranty. I took the bold step to call the 800 customer service number. Wait time was 30 seconds if you can shoulder that. I was immediately connected to a knowledgeable and helpful rep. She correctly diagnosed my bulb was fine (it was still under warranty anyway) and sent me free of charge the "ballast" a rather complex part which is located at the base. It arrived much faster that I had expected. All it took was a screwdriver to open the base and replace the part, which is about how difficult as replacing batteries. That lamp is fantastic and worth every penny. For clarity's sake, my lamp is slightly different. It has the same wattage (42W) but is more like a desk lamp (that's why it has a base). Some might complain that the lamp is heavy, but so what? You're not supposed to carry it around and that makes it more stable. Expensive? Quality is expensive. How much did you spend on your (designer) glasses? As for me, I ditched my glasses (I was shortsighted) which I wore for 30 years. I am not ascribing to this or the Verilux lamp, but it's my own experience. I'm past 60 and don't even use reading glasses. I strongly recommend this or other similar lamp, especially during winter time. Even your mood will improve.
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This lamp is well-made. It is easy to position, and stays put where you want it. I have mine clamped to a shelf over my work table. It does not droop. The on/off switch is large enough and conveniently located. The light is bright but not glaring. Two thumbs up!
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I just ordered and received two of these. I wasn't expecting an engineering marvel for $95 bucks, but...
In most ways, the lamp seems decent enough. The assembly of the base portion to the middle tube, and then to the lamp head leaves a bit to be desired in an electrical sense. You have to clip the wire ends together via a four-conductor plug and jack, and then stuff it all in the tube as you shove the parts together and fasten the screws. Installing the bulb, while not rocket science, requires more dexterity and strength than you think at first. You really have to push the bulb base rather hard to get it to click in place in the socket. And click in place it must for a good electrical connection. I wonder what it's going to be like to get it out, if ever necessary.
The articulation of the head leaves something to be desired. It's ok at shallow angles. But if you want to have the most height from the support (standing it up almost straight) and then angle the head sharply (something close to 90 degrees) it fights you a bit. It wants to relax back to a less acute angle. It can be done, but you have to really push it.
The biggest disappointment is the way it sits in the clamp. The clamp itself is a solid affair. But the shaft of the lamp is retained in a hole in the clamp that is so sloppy, the lamp wobbles and moves around with little to no effort. In other words; it's ridiculously loose. There should be some sort of sleeve, or just a tighter fit, at this important junction.
But, other than that it seems like a decent lamp. We'll see how it holds up over time.
Update 3-25-13: I've lowered my rating to two stars. After using these lamps for a while, I just find the overall cheapness of manufacture to be quite unsatisfactory. They are cheaply made, and while $95 isn't a fortune, they are still over-priced. I've since gotten rid of these and upgraded to Dazor task lamps (the 6134 with the optional Wolf LED lamp). What a joy to have a mechanically sound design and great LED lighting. Yeah, they were $269 apiece, but quality is worth it.
