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| Customer Reviews: | | Average Customer Review: ( 41 customer reviews )
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161 of 163 found the following review helpful:
 I'm glad I bought this Oct 20, 2010
By creamyPB
Well, there are a TON of these light boxes available. With prices ranging from $20 to three digit territory, I was more than skeptical. Is this thing just an excuse to sell funny light bulbs? I did some research comparing the various ones that seemed legit, and this Day-Light one came up several times. It has the right lumens, a lens to protect you from UV, looks to be sturdy, and the reviews were good. But... anyone can make a site/product look good on the web. Wanting to see the lamp in person, I went to the local medical supply place. They had the 'Classic' model instead of this lamp one, but I turned it on and knew in an instant it was a quality lamp. There is no flickering or glare of any kind, just 'warm' light. You wouldn't want to stare at it, but it's not as though you're looking at the sun. I've used it for the recommended time which is 20-30 mins, and it has certainly done something. I don't think it's changed my life or anything, but it has made me feel a bit more 'up'.
I opted for the lamp version because I wanted it on my desk, and the panel version isn't really designed for a desk. The base is heavy which makes it quite sturdy. The 'light box' part of this lamp is about 10"x13", the height is about 24" at almost full stretch (you can adjust the height and angle). When you are doing your session it says you should have this at a 15 degree angle. Then you can bend the neck down to make this an incredible task lamp. Nice white light to work with, no glare. Good for craft/detail oriented work. The brochure states that you shouldn't use this lamp after 8pm as it will wake you up too close to bedtime. After all, a big part of light therapy is to regulate your sleep cycle.
This brand is recommended by the Center of Environmental Therapeutics and they seem to be legit. They have a site if you wanna check it out.
The site, and the brochure, and anyone who knows anything will tell you that a light box isn't guaranteed to work for everyone. They also tell you - AND THIS IS IMPORTANT - light boxes are not regulated by the FDA and ARE NOT considered medical devices. This means that anyone can slap a funny light bulb in there and claim it will help you. There was some talk a while back that tanning beds were good for you because it helped you to get more sun. VERY untrue since they still expose you to UV rays which are harmful. Some of these lamps might be on the up and up, but some are definitely scams. Do your homework, ask a doctor/shrink, ask someone who uses a light box - this is a serious chunk of change to drop on a lamp.
I went into this with the view that at worst I'd get a really bright lamp. I'm not saying this is some kind of miracle worker, but I live in Maine where it's dark at 4pm in the wintertime. It's dreary and depressing, and I've always felt that way. I'm hoping this will alleviate some of the 'blahs'.
PS - In the reviews for the Classic one (more people opt for that one) there were a few people who griped that it stunk up the house. They might've missed the instructions telling you that packing stuff must be removed from INSIDE the light. There's some rubber things inside to prevent the bulbs from getting knocked loose during shipping, along with a couple rubber bands in there too. You have to remove them before you use the lamp! It comes with a little screwdriver, and you have to take off the lens(cover) to get the packing materials out of there. There were some rubber things jammed in so the bulb wouldn't wiggle around, and they were REALLY hard to get out. I had to use pliers. Gotta be careful not to break the bulb! The bulb itself is supposed to be replaced every 2 years even if it isn't burnt out. After that time they claim it will lose some of its lumens and not be as effective.
update 2011.12.18 - My light's still going strong! Definitely helpful in the morning. I just turn it on while I'm getting ready, checking my email, etc. I'm very pleased that my light is still serving me well :)
Again, I want to stress to people that you should do a little research. Someone made a comment about UV rays, suggesting that light boxes are part of pseudo-science and UV rays are helpful.
This is from the CDC (centers for disease control) web site:
Ultraviolet (UV) rays are an invisible kind of radiation that comes from the sun, tanning beds, and sunlamps. UV rays can penetrate and change skin cells.
The three types of UV rays are ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), and ultraviolet C (UVC)--
UVA is the most common kind of sunlight at the earth's surface, and reaches beyond the top layer of human skin. Scientists believe that UVA rays can damage connective tissue and increase a person's risk of skin cancer.
Most UVB rays are absorbed by the ozone layer, so they are less common at the earth's surface than UVA rays. UVB rays don't reach as far into the skin as UVA rays, but they can still be damaging.
UVC rays are very dangerous, but they are absorbed by the ozone layer and do not reach the ground.
Too much exposure to UV rays can change skin texture, cause the skin to age prematurely, and can lead to skin cancer. UV rays also have been linked to eye conditions such as cataracts.
I'm gonna take the CDC's word on the harmfulness of ALL UV rays. Lack of sun exposure does lead to Vitamin D deficiency, but you can take a daily vitamin to get it that way.
update 2012.05.16 - Replacement bulbs! Not as easy as you'd think. In the manual for the light, it says that the bulbs are '2 x 55 watt compact flourescent, 4000 kelvin'. If you do a search for Uplift Technologies Day-Light Sky replacement bulb, you will get a couple of options. There is a 3 pack, which seems to be a good idea HOWEVER, the 3 pack bulbs are 36 watts, not 55. The single replacement bulb IS 55 watts. If you use the lower wattage, I don't think the light will be as effective, so I'm gonna get 2 of the single ones (the light has 2 bulbs inside).
68 of 69 found the following review helpful:
Bonus: excellent task lighting and multiple angles Dec 02, 2010
By Ella
I really struggled about which light to buy -- there are so many! Then there is the argument of going with blue light or white. The blue light ones certainly were more affordable and that was a real draw, but I read that they really were not the best solution for SAD. To add to the mix of worrying about spending a lot of money on a lamp and ending up with the wrong one is the issue of how practical it will be to incorporate into my life so I could actually stay committed to using it.
This lamp does not look like a medical instrument or scream "I'm a light box!". It looked like it would fit discretely into any setting, so for aesthetics, I kept being drawn to this one. Even so, what's the benefit of it looking good if it's the wrong lamp in the end -- I could spend less and get nicer looking desk lamps. So I spent a couple of weeks Googling and reading and not deciding until I found enough on this particular lamp that was all positive, that confirmed it met all of the criteria for SAD and that it was also a practical lamp to have, period. I bought it with the thought that it would probably look rather cheap in real life, but even so it would give me more bang for my buck than all the others if it worked for SAD and could be a task light too.
The lamp looks and feels very solid, not cheap at all. The base has a weighted area that makes it very stable and the fit and finish is first rate. The nicest surprise was how much more adjustable it is than what I was able to glean from pictures and reading up on it. The head and arm can lock into many different angles which adds to the everyday usability of the lamp. There is large chrome push button on the side of the arm and the head which you push for movement, when you let go it is locked into place. The buttons are a practical size and my arthritic hands have no problem. There is a toggle switch at the front of the upright base which lets you chose the therapeutic light level or the task light strength. The task light is terrific! I am using it right now and love the even clean white light it gives. There is no glare, no harshness and no flicker.
I am happy I went with this lamp. I feel 100% confident I made the best choice. I'm going to get another one for my husbands office.
52 of 54 found the following review helpful:
Never thought I had Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) Mar 08, 2010
By Carol
I never thought I had Seasonal affective disorder (SAD). I have always been a cheerful early morning riser but this winter I was dragging in the morning even after a full night's sleep and a strong cup of coffee. I live in Seattle where the rate of SAD is quite high in the winter and a number of friends had recommended a "light box". I did a little research and thought that this type of light which was similar to a desk lamp would be the easiest to incorporate into a daily routine. My entire family began using this light and within a few weeks we could all tell the difference. I have regained my morning energy and am very relieved and my entire family is less grumpy. I subsequently told other friends about the Day-light Sky lamp and we are all much happier!
Perky Mom in Seattle
28 of 28 found the following review helpful:
Works fine Dec 01, 2010
By Terrell Smith
I got this lamp for my wife, who really hates the fact that it gets dark so early in winter here in Wisconsin. She loves to sit outside in the sun when it's warm, and sitting in the sun makes her happy and pleasant. After reviewing a number of different SAD lamps, I decided to get one from Day Light, due to the large number of positive reviews.
I've seen other lamps called "Happy Lamps" which are small and do not emit the correct number of LUX.
When I looked at the pictures of the "standard" lamp made by this company, I thought my wife would never want to fiddle with the legs and adjustments on that one, so got this one, which is more like a giant table lamp with a heavy base, even though it's a little more expensive. When I showed her the pictures of both, she quickly agreed that she would not want to fool with the "standard" one, and likes this Day-light Sky DL2000 model.
So far it has not had any smell, as some have reported in the reviews for the "standard" model. The instructions mention nothing about removing packing or shipping materials inside the lamp before using. The only mention is to remove the shipping and packing materials when replacing the bulbs, so I left it all there. No problems have resulted at all.
The lamp is easily adjustable, although once you get it how you like, you don't really need to change it. The base is heavy, so it's very stable. The two position switch means my wife can use it on the low setting as a nice table lamp, and the high setting as a SAD lamp.
She says she doesn't notice a difference in her moods, but she's happy to sit with it and spends about 20 minutes every morning with it, reading. To me she seems more happy and less moody. Which to me is well worth the cost.
26 of 27 found the following review helpful:
Day-Light Sky Lamp Nov 13, 2010
By fedexbicman
Product arrived quickly and in good condition. Works as discribed. The larger light and desk-top design work well for us. The difuser cover helps to soften the light so that it isn't so bright to cause headackes. I haven't had any problems with the light or it's use since receiving it. We use it for the first 20 to 30 minutes of the day after getting up. I would recommend this light to anyone in the market for one.
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