I Need A Desk Lamp..

[SamIchi]

Suggestions? Criteria: Looks Cool, Not too expensive, and different brightness levels would be nice. I use to have like a snake lamp but the bulb burned out like every month.

And what about those "natural" lighting lights? Are they better for your eyes and such?

[thedude110]

The woman and I have had great luck with this lamp (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15579&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=18581&langId=-1&categoryId=15764&chosenPartNumber=40018183) from Ikea (assuming you like the look of paper). Fits 2 or your 3 criteria, but lacks variable lighting levels.

[MOFS]

Suggestions? Criteria: Looks Cool, Not too expensive, and different brightness levels would be nice. I use to have like a snake lamp but the bulb burned out like every month.

And what about those "natural" lighting lights? Are they better for your eyes and such?

Is it for practical use of decorative use? For practical use, I'd recommend one with a fluorescent bulb - I guess it gives a natural white light. When I'm, I don't get eyestrain as I would from a normal bulb ("yellow light).

[Littleodie914]

Are you buying this lamp for college? Make sure (if you are) that you check and make sure what kind of lamps you can have there. We bought a sweet desk lamp from Ikea a few weeks ago, only to realize my college doesn't allow halogen lights, and the lamp we got was halogen. Needless to say, I was bummed. :) :rolleyes:

[pianoman]

I also like IKEA's selection, but I like this (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15579&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=47034&langId=-1&categoryId=15767&chosenPartNumber=20079200) lamp better. I have one in my room and my parents each have one for their repsective office desks. It has two brightness settings. It meets all 3 of your criteria and is actually a desk lamp, as compared to thedude110's suggestion, which I think is more decorative than funcitonal. It comes down to your style.

[SamIchi]

Is it for practical use of decorative use? For practical use, I'd recommend one with a fluorescent bulb - I guess it gives a natural white light. When I'm, I don't get eyestrain as I would from a normal bulb ("yellow light).

Both decorative and practical, but probably more practical. I guess I'll look for one with a flourescent bulb.

Are you buying this lamp for college?

It's not for college.

[redAPPLE]

i don't think apple sells them anymore...

[steelphantom]

http://www.ikea.com/PIAimages/25540_PE110331_S4.jpg (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15579&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=64756&langId=-1&categoryId=15767&chosenPartNumber=00081058)

I have this one on my desk and I really like it. It has two brightness levels and also allows you to switch between a blue and clear panel (as shown in the picture).

[bartelby]

IKEA's lighting section is deadly!!
Last time I went I came out with 3 floor lamps and 2 table lamps.

I went in for some picture frames!!!

[Silencio]

Beware of the Antifoni: the switch is up near the bulb, so you can burn yourself pretty good if you're not careful! We used those as bedside lamps for a while, which was a big mistake for the previously mentioned reason.

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15579&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=18917&langId=-1&categoryId=15767&chosenPartNumber=60067498

We got two of these and like them a *lot* more than the Ikeas.

http://www.ylighting.com/p210.html

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/ylighting_1910_82703644

[nbs2]

I ended up with this one from ikea. The wheels make it a bit more mobile in moving around a desk: http://www.ikea.com/ (http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15579&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=18796&langId=-1&categoryId=15767&chosenPartNumber=50055778)

[SamIchi]

Beware of the Antifoni: the switch is up near the bulb, so you can burn yourself pretty good if you're not careful! We used those as bedside lamps for a while, which was a big mistake for the previously mentioned reason.

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15579&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=18917&langId=-1&categoryId=15767&chosenPartNumber=60067498

We got two of these and like them a *lot* more than the Ikeas.

http://www.ylighting.com/p210.html

http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/ylighting_1910_82703644

Did you like the price better than Ikeas? :D

A lot of people are like Ikea here. I'm not partial to the thin as wire design with sharp edges. They're probably constructed well but they look flimsy, and I don't like that look. That one from Ylighgting doesn't look all that bad though. If it wasn't $100 I would consider it.

[Lyle]

Are you buying this lamp for college? Make sure (if you are) that you check and make sure what kind of lamps you can have there. We bought a sweet desk lamp from Ikea a few weeks ago, only to realize my college doesn't allow halogen lights, and the lamp we got was halogen.I apologize for straying off topic, but is this common practice at colleges these days? I assume you mean that they don't allow halogen lamps in the dorm rooms -- why is that?

[bousozoku]

I love my Ott-Lite lamps (http://www.ott-lite.com/). They're expensive but the light they emit is amazingly bright, even from the 13 watt bulbs.

The prices are high, but you can get great deals locally, if you have a Joann, etc. (http://www.joann.com/) available. They often run 40 % off coupons that you can use toward any of Ott-Lite's products.

You'd probably be better off to get a floor lamp with a flexible neck. You'll have plenty of stuff on your desk already, right?

[thedude110]

I assume you mean that they don't allow halogen lamps in the dorm rooms -- why is that?

They cause too many fires and suck too much juice.

Link. (http://fm.colorado.edu/firesafety/halogenlamps.html)

[Lyle]

They cause too many fires and suck too much juice.

Link. (http://fm.colorado.edu/firesafety/halogenlamps.html)Huh. Well, there you go.

[Silencio]

They cause too many fires and suck too much juice.

Link. (http://fm.colorado.edu/firesafety/halogenlamps.html)

That only applies to the free-standing torchiere (which I always pronounce as "torture") lamps. They were really popular in the early 90s, but are too easy to knock over. And if that hot, exposed halogen lamp hits something flammable...

I have an IKEA torchiere-style lamp that uses a regular incandescent bulb. Doesn't get nearly as hot.

Halogen desk lamps having weighted bases don't pose nearly the fire risk, and aren't banned in the web page above.

And yeah, I preferred paying $30 or $40 for my IKEA Antifoni lamps over the $99 per I spent on those Pharmacy Desk Lamps from Ylighting, but the build quality and looks of those more expensive lamps is light years above and beyond IKEA's cheaper stuff. OTOH, there are some pretty nice designer desk lamps that go for $300-400+, so I think I hit the middle ground pretty well.

[jessica.]

I would recommend against fluorescent lighting if you are doing any design related work because off the green cast that it leaves. They have daylight rated bulbs now, but they still look odd to me.
I now only use GE Reveal bulbs. They are coated so they "cool" the yellow tungsten light. It's like using tungsten film back in the day. Real good and you would not believe how different they are. I wish they had GE Reveal flood lamps though, as I have one that is still yellow and I refuse to use it because it is THAT yellow. :)

[Dr.Gargoyle]

Poul Henningsen 3 1/2
I think it is a beautiful lamp with a perfect light. I have one myself and I wouldnt trade it for anything. The only downside... it is a bit expensive, but worth its price.