We won't be using these lanterns much this year anymore, but did assemble and charge them upon receipt to make sure all parts were included and they functioned properly. Pros: simple to assemble, stylish beaded 'glass' (plastic) and impressively bright light. Cons: expensive for what they are (lightweight plastic) and too small of a base. These would tip easily if not screwed into a broader base. No way will I screw them into my deck though - in the spring we will attach them to painted 2x2 pieces of plywood or similar. Then we can move them around in the garden & on the deck as desired. Length of time they illuminate definitely depends on the amount of sunlight exposure during the day.