Very Attractive, Very Functional Floor Lamp
7/30/13 update:<br /><br />Last Thursday, July 25, the light failed to come on, and I called Verilux. Theresa explained that the first step in warranty service is to send the customer a replacement bulb. If that doesn't solve the problem, the next step is to send the customer a replacement ballast. The bulb arrived four days later, i.e., Monday, July 29. That was all it took. Kudos to Verilux for speedy, cheerful and efficient warranty service. Why a 10,000 hour bulb failed after 7.5 months of normal use is another matter.<br /><br />(end of update)<br /><br />This floor lamp looks mighty handsome next to our recliner chair, puts out more than enough illumination in three strengths, and adjusts many ways to throw the light where you want it. Despite all the adjustability, I was surprised to find that the angle and rotation setting of the head aren't that critical. The lamp generates a very wide beam - more like a blanket - that bathes my entire lap in light. The light is very white without being overly cool (i.e., blueish) and is very easy on the eyes. The base is quite heavy and the two sections of the pole screw on solid with no wobble. Unlike another reviewer's experience, the model I received has enough of a machined screw-type head protruding from the base to support the lamp.<br /><br />The high-medium-low-off rotary switch is reachable from your chair - just lift your arm to turn the lamp on or off. The height adjustment, alas, is not very convenient. You raise or lower the lamp head by first loosening the height adjusting collar (visible on the product illustration). You then pull the head up or push it down. To do this, though, you must either feed in extra cord or pull out the excess. For other than the smallest adjustment, you can't do this from your chair.<br /><br />It is also worth noting that the first unit I received flickered at the lowest setting until it warmed up. I called Verilux, who told me that this was not normal behavior, and that the reason for the flicker might be other than a defective bulb. Thanks to Amazon's super return policy, I had a replacement unit that worked properly within days. Be aware that once you're beyond Amazon's return period, the true cost of warranty service from Verilux (1 year limited) is substantial. The reason is that you must pay to ship this heavy object to Verilux, and Verilux currently charges over $20 to ship it back to you after servicing it.<br /><br />All in all, the Verilux Heritage Lamp eliminates eyestrain while adding warmth to our home. I'm very satisfied with this product.
Rating: 4 stars