[Dan Evans]

White LEDs, like cheap CF bulbs, are lacking in red light so they give a fairly cool light. Like fluorescent lights most types of white LEDs start with a UV source and use a phosphor to convert it to visible light. But there are warmer versions of both CF and LED lamps that don't have this blue problem.

LEDs are interesting because they promise to be much more efficient than florescent with none of the disadvantages. They turn on instantly. They aren't affected by temperature. Some types are dimmable. (They are even more energy efficient at low power). They are nearly point-source so they can be easily focused for accent lighting or auto headlamps.

Super efficient versions have been demonstrated in the lab but it takes about a billion bucks to start up a semiconductor plant so I don't expect to see low priced product for a few years.

[Publius Valerius]

That's interesting, thanks. I'm intrigued, but it seems like the ones that I have found are $20--or more!

On the other hand, a bulb that lasts decades (and is cheap to operate) is an interesting proposition.