Customer Reviews

BlueMax 70w Full Spectrum Dimmable Desk Lamp - Black

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This is a great light, but it's not perfect. I agree with the heat-related complaints of the other posters - at full brightness, it gets very hot. That said, it is still not nearly as hot as a halogen or incandescent light of similar brightness.

As far as trim, it looks like something a couple of guys put together in their garage. The pieces don't fit together quite right, the light doesn't pivot as much as it seems like it should, and it responds to light nudges by nearly tipping over. I've almost knocked this thing off my desk twice in the one day that I've owned it.

Finally, the glare from the bulb (i.e., seeing the bulb out of the corner of your eye) is very nasty, and it's made worse by the fact that this light is very difficult to position (no vertical adjustment, and it lives at an imperfect height).

All of that said, the lamp puts out nearly perfect light - bright enough to make my eyes sore (but also dimmable to a reasonable level), and perfectly, cleanly balanced. It's really a very true white light that makes all the colors of anything on my desk jump out. It's striking, and perfect for reading.

All in all, I am happy to put up with the imperfections of the lamp in exchange for the great light cast by the bulb. This is the howitzer of desk lamps: large and unwieldy, but packing a ridiculous punch.

Received this lamp about 2 hours ago. I have 5 minutes left in the initial 2 hour bulb burn in period. The lamp is attractive, glossy black with gold trim. The neck is flexible so it has a black plastic shroud around the neck. It has a heavy base with foam pads on the bottom. The light it emits is very nice. It really does make the smaller print I have to read from time to time much clearer over my standard incandescent light bulb. My main issue with the lamp is the amount of heat it generates. I live in Mesa, AZ and just had sun screens installed on my windows to cut down on the heat buildup in the house. These screens also block a lot of the light that was coming in the windows so I decided to get a nice desk lamp. I decided on fluorescent because they are supposed to operate much cooler than standard bulbs. I recently purchased an LCD monitor for my home office because the old 17" crt monitor generated unwanted heat. So to my point about the heat this lamp gives off. After it was on for a few minutes I decided to grab the hood and do some adjusting. To my surprise the metal hood was hot, very hot. I did not suffer a burn but I'm guessing if I had held onto it any longer I would have. So being the curious and technical type I grabbed one of my temperature probes and held it on the top of the hood. The reading was 130.0 degrees F. You hands can handle that kind of heat for a short period but if you were to accidentally touch that with your arm you would surely be burned. Next I put the probe inside the hood, above the bulb and under the metal hood, and the temp read 160.4 degrees F. A temperature that would cause 3rd degree burns in 1 -7 seconds. If you live up north where you could use the extra heat and as long as you don't have children who might be able to reach the light and if you don't have a cat who likes to hop up on the desk to see what you're doing, this light might be OK. I live in the desert so anything that is going to generate extra heat inside the home has to be carefully considered. This lamp is going to have to be returned. It sure does give off a nice light though.

Not sure that 3 * is the correct rating. I am returning the desk lamp as I can't seem to find the right angle to use it to light up my work surface. I like the type of light it throws and it is a nice kind of bright. The dimmer switch was not a real advantage. I would consider ordering the floor lamp in its place if I knew the light would be cast evenly over my work area. Not sure what my costs will be upon return. Plus - It shipped from the company quickly and came intact and the bulb was easy to insert.

I have suffered from depression for about 5 years. I have been on perscription medicines prescribed by my doctor. While they helped I still had problems. My wife read a book on depression which recommended light therapy for SOME cases.

I ordered this lamp because it was dimmaable. Thus, I use it for light treatment first thing each morning and a lamp during the rest of the day. The lamp is attractive and I have had no problems. More important I began to feel better after 4 days and continue to feel better than I have for years. While I still have problems, this lamp has done more to make me feel better than all of the medication.

I am very happy with this product.

Hands down the best lamp for reading that I own. I also have a couple of Ott-Lite lamps for reading but this lamp is SOOOO much brighter and clearer that the difference is absolutely unmistakeable.
The construction of this lamp is also impressively rugged - it's no work of art but if your looking for something that you wont throw away in 2 years and use year after year, then this is definitely for you.
I bought this for my office and it stands out a lot ! Yes its a little pricey but its worth it. I like it so much I bought a smaller 42W for home use...someone mentioned something about the heat it gives off...this is true it does but it is energy efficient and if you use the dimmer this really reduces the heat - personally mines on 100% all the time - I like it bright !
I hands down recommend this product, unreservedly !

I had been searching for a full spectrum light for a while. This lamp appeared to be the only one on the market that provided true, full spectrum lighting. I have had it for approximately 4 years and have had to return it for repair 3 different times (or request replacement parts). This time, I talked with Customer Service before returning the lamp -- she told me to send it in, it would only cost $9 or so to ship, they would fix it and return it. What she MEANT was that I should take the lamp apart and send only the ballast, as if I would know that is in fact the part that is broken. The lamp itself cost $60 to ship. I thought, well, she was off with the $9 estimate, and although I realized what she must have meant, I wanted to make sure the right part of the lamp was fixed vs. sending this part and that part. After sending it, 1.5 months passed and I hadn't heard from anyone. I finally called, and the box had been sitting in a receiving area because it didn't have the right paper on the outside of the box. Then I was told they would fix it and contact me for return shipping. WHAT? I had several email conversations prior to sending the lamp. No mention of this policy. And I know I didn't pay for return shipping the prior times (ballast only those times). Anyway, after I complained, they agreed to waive the return shipping for this repair, but 2.5 months later, I still have no lamp back.

I would NOT recommend buying a lamp from this company, unless you're ok with using it for only a year or two.

Bought the floor lamp three years ago. Should have read the policy more closely. I have to return the product at my expense. I have to find a box to fit this very large lamp. The burden is on me. It is there in black and white, their policy. But I didn't expect to have a problem with a lamp....after all we have lamps that are 30 years old and no problems. Do I like the lamp..yes. Do I like the service...no. Full Spectrum Solutions could do better than this.

I bought this lamp in the floor model version. I was not able to assemble because of a missing part that was supposed to be permanently installed. Full Spectrum Solutions would only send me a replacement. Otherwise I would have to pay for shipping back to them. I did not like the quality of the lamp AND it was flawed - not my fault.

So...the smart thing to do was let them send me a replacement. Then they have to pay for my shipping to them and their shipping the new one out to me. Ha! There went their profit.

Even if the missing piece was there, the assemblage is awful - stuffing the wires up into the lamp - hardly enough room for them - then screwing cheap plastic to cheap plastic. I expected more for that price. Have not been able to turn it on yet. I will followup when I receive the replacement - provided I can even screw it together.

Check out other brands - there is competition out there.

I bought this lamp as a gift for my grandmother for her diminishing eyesight, she has macular (sp), she loves this lamp! It is the only lamp that she can ready by! The brightness and the daylight light that it produces really helps her to see again. I bought direct from store and had a broken bulb when we got it but they replaced it right away, other then that it has been a god-send for her.

First of all, the bulb did not fit snuggly in the socket and flickered off the minute you adjusted the lamp.

Secondly, the blue max bulb is a profoundly depressing light. I've had the SADellite product for years, and it really does make you feel like you're in a sunny place. This felt like moonlight.

I bought directly from Full Spectrum, and it was one of two products that I've bought in my life that I wanted to return immediately. Unfortunately, they didn't reimburse for my shipping.