I can’t detect any noise or flicker in the newer CFLs, and I’m pretty sensitive to those things. Early CFLs had a nasty purplish cast, but the newer ones have a sunlight-like spectrum comparable to a good “warm light” incandescent bulb.
I like Sylvania CFLs. A nice, warm spectrum, long life, low power demand, fast start-up.
Some of the ones I have in the house do, indeed, take a half-minute or so to “warm up” — they give off some light immediately, but don’t reach full strength for 20 or 30 seconds. This is especially acute in the flame- or torpedo-shaped lamps, the ones that go into faux chandeliers. The spiral-shaped lamps made for standard bulb sockets are more reliable.
My mom was 4’11”, and had low blood pressure, so she lost feeling in her arms if she had to hold them over her head for long. What that meant was that every time I visited, I had to change a lot of light bulbs. When I bought my first CFL, they offered five times the life for ten times the cost. But that was worth it to me, because it meant I spent less time on a stepladder and Mom spent less time in the dark.
Now, CFLs cost about three times as much for about ten times the lifespan, not to mention the lower energy cost every minute they’re lit. My household incandescents are going extinct by attrition. When one goes dead, it’s replaced with a CFL. Some day soon, when they become economically viable, my dead CFLs will be replaced with LCD lamps.
Technology marches on. Honestly, I don’t think I’ll ever buy another TV with a cathode ray tube — LCD and plasma keep getting cheaper, are more durable, and have a sharper picture. It’s the way of things. Incandescent bulbs will, sooner than later, give way to better technology. So will the internal combustion engine.
This is not a dictate of the enviro-nazis — it’s the inevitable march of progress. Not so long ago, a computer that could handle a teraflop and display a million pixels would occupy a city block. I have one I can fit in a shoebox.
Thank you, finally some rational thought.
Well, let's see. For one thing, I can't see why the 'enviro-nazis' would be for them, there an environmental hazard - containing mercury - and all the precautions of cleaning up a hazardous waste spill if one is broken...not to mention the dispoable process...in glass jars with rubber seals, etc, etc (But no problem. It 'snot like anyone EVER breaks a light bulb in their house)
That said - it may be "inevitable" - but that's for the free market to decide - not the government.
If I want, or don't want, to use the new bulbs, that's MY decision, not YOURS -
Well said. You’ve convinced me to try a CFL. I’ll add one - a Sylvania - to my cart the next time I’m at Walmart.