Customer Reviews

Philips Hf3318/60 Energylight, White

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

As someone who suffers from SAD all year around (hint), I'm looking for something to help cure my "work blues" - being in cubicle-land tends to make you sun-starved and thus, winter becomes very brutal and emotionally devistating for those with Seasonal Affective Disorder. I live in Chicago, where it can feel like winter at any given point of the year, and I'm a big believer in trying anything to help keep me out of the emotional gutter.

The Energylight is huge - about two feet tall but looks well-designed and stylish. It's easy to use even without the manual. It's simple enough to operate.

I've been using this for a week at the office, and it's helpful. I keep this in the corner of my cube so it's not blinding me, but I can feel the light on me instead of the overhead lighting. I'm not feeling as sad and feeling better at work. I'm definitely feeling an improvement. Again, your experience may vary from mine, but it makes me a bit better after a few days of use. Philips mentions that you'll see benefits in about a week.

This isn't for everyone, and these are definitely a "try before you buy" type item. Philips, to their credit, offers a 45 day money back guarantee. And at $300, you might find this too pricy. The smaller Philips Hf3321/60 Golite, White / Blue starts at $100, and might be a better option financially. But if you're suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder and are clinically depressed as well, this is a good idea to try in addition to other therapies. But definitely try before you buy.

As the headline says, this is bright and big. It's not one of those small little SAD lights that you stick by the side of your bed to wake you up in the morning; rather it's a little larger than my 27" monitor rotated vertically.

If you suffer from SAD, it's perfect for the Winter Blues. Turn this puppy on and it's like being outside(except you don't need sunscreen!) Highly recommended...last winter it did wonders around my house.

I'm a long time believer in SAD treatment lights. I got on board with one of the first commercial solutions many years ago, and believe firmly in its effectiveness. As someone who sits in an office all day, the darker days of the year have quite an effect on my, but an energy light like this Philips definitely helps.

The light is one of the largest I've ever used -- but size really isn't everything. For use in a smallish office, this really is too big -- so I moved it my bedroom, and used it in the morning to adjust my sleep pattern after a long flight home or anything else that messed up my clock.

In other words, you won't want this for your small kitchen or living room, this is what you get when you need to brighten up a really large area. For starters, the price is about twice as much as a similar small and portable solution.

To the reviewers that joke about the technology and price-- keep in mind that these units use specially tuned bulbs and not just $1 CFL's off the shelf of your local hardware store.

As for the features of the Energy Light -- they are quite limited. Some of the portable units made by Philips offer digital time readouts and other functions, but this only has the most basic stuff.

Bottom line -- this may be the largest of the SAD treatment lights on the market, but it is also one of the most expensive. If you believe in the treatment (and you should) then you need to weigh your options against the price.

It is hard to review a product like this when Daylight Saving Time has started. However, I can tell you that this product is a very superior product that my family uses on a regular basis. We live in the Northeast and winter seems to last forever...darkness makes for depression and a ho-hum few months. My 9 year old daughter suffers from a mild case of SAD (seasonal anxiety disorder) and thus we have multiple Philips lights around our home to ensure that she is feeling good on a regular basis.

This particular model is new to us - it is large and VERY bright. It is well suited to place in the corner of a family room and turn on when necessary. The light has a dimmer on it which will allow you to adjust just how much light you need up to a maximum of 10,000 lux. It will also monitor the amount of time that you have had the unit on at a particular level so you know if you are getting the right amount, too little, or too much. There is a guide included with the light that instructs you on how much, how little, etc...it is endorsed by the national sleep foundation which further insures that you are buying a product that will help you.

WE use Philips rechargeable go-lights for bedrooms and kitchen areas but this particular one will find a permanent spot in our living room for the fall/winter months from about October to March.

While it helps my daughter, it helps all of us around the home. I personally leave home at 5.30am everyday to commute to work and it is generally dark...I return at around 7pm and again it is generally dark (except DST months). I personally feel that this type of light with its brightness helps you feel more energetic. Regular yellow light can get to be a bit ho-hum on a regular basis..having this white light around helps to ensure that you are getting the daylight effect in your home when you need it. If you have ever felt like you are missing the sun, or just a tiny bit depressed by darkness then this product is for you. Give it a try and you will not be disappointed.

That said...it is a bit pricey on the $250+ side...so be sure you are ready to invest in this type of technology for your home. The Philips go-lights are a good alternative and most are rechargeable so they can be carried around the home, on trips, etc.

GREAT GREAT product in my opinion. 5/5.

I live in the Pacific Northwest, which suffers long periods of dreary, cloudy, and wet weather throughout the winter months. From November to April, we often don't see the sun for weeks at a time. I sometimes suffer from SAD throughout this period and so I eagerly sent away for this energy light to see if it would give me a lift.

Unfortunately, by the time I received it, spring had arrived and we were seeing a little more of that golden orb in the sky and I felt happier anyway. Therefore, I'm not sure if I can say for a fact that this light has worked a miracle or is it just my usual springtime recuperation. In any case, the days I do use it, I find myself feeling quite energetic.

The light is very large (approx. 13" wide by almost 2' tall), so it takes a considerable space on the desk. It's also quite bright so I keep it several feet from my face as I work on my computer; I have it placed so that I can look over to it once in awhile but not directly into it. One thing that is extremely important to remember is that some of these energy lights can be dangerous if you are on any type of antidepressant medication. The warnings says that it could actually cost you your sight so you may want to ask your druggist just to make sure this one is totally safe.

Another thing to bear in mind is not to use it too near to bedtime, as it can very likely keep you awake because of feeling energetic. In addition, some people find it doesn't agree with them at all and they have side effects from it. So be warned, check for that, and don't throw away the mailing wrappings until you are sure.

I think it does what it says it will. However, since we now have Daylight Savings Time and many hours of light, I'll have a much better idea on this when the grey skies of Novemember roll around again.

You should be aware that this is a LARGE and rather unattractive appliance. It is about the size of a small TV, and has that retro aerodynamic look. It would not be out of place in a hospital or doctor's office, but it looks odd in the home. It does come with a 45-day money-back guarantee. I gave it 4 stars because it works fine. I just wish it weren't so clinical-looking.

I am sensitive to natural light. I have never been diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder but I know from experience I get somewhat lethargic on rainy days. As my home is also dark I don't get a lot of natural light in, so it takes me awhile to get myself together and feel energized in the mornings. I got this light to see if it would get me ready to get up faster in the mornings. I can say that this light does work well for me. It does not work instantly, but over time I do feel more energized after using it.

The light has various intensity settings and also a display that shows you the amount of time that it has been on. It switches through a cycle of intensities while you are using it. The goal is to mimic the natural light cycles of softer and brighter light that you would see in the outdoors. At first I did not really see any changes but the more you use it, the more it works. I find that exposure to the light daily helps me to feel more energized quicker. I also do like that you can use it as an ambient light as well, but it is best to use this light during the early part of the day as the full intensity setting is very bright.

The lamp itself is very light. It is rather big, much bigger than the picture would seem to imply. The light is bright but is softened so that it is not painful at all to look at. The cord is a little short in my opinion so you may need to have it closer to a wall outlet or you may need an extension cord if you have a larger room. The lamp rotates so you can angle the beam wherever you like. I do enjoy this lamp and I tend to use it whenever I need a pick-me-up during the day.

I have known a few people in my life who have Seasonal Affective Disorder, a mood disorder in which people who have normal healthy experience depressive symptoms during the winter and summer or spring and autumn. For one person who is very dear to me, she has has been diagnosed with this disorder and during the winter or rainy season, she gets very depressed and I know that there are devices that are often used in light therapy to help those who suffer this disorder.

Philips has created an Energylight to help those who tend to feel out of it during the daytime (note: This device should NEVER be used after 8:00 p.m), if one is working in darker room and to give the feeling of sunlight in their room or office.

The HF3318/60 Energylight is pretty big at nearly two feet which includes the energy lamp, lamp housing with angle adjustment and base. On the base is a on and off symbol, light symbol and light intensity settings from low and high.

I. HOW IT WORKS

Recommended for use during the day, especially for those who have a hard time waking up, turning on when one wakes up, you turn on a dial which gives you the intensity of the light and an LED shows in sequence of half intensity during the first 15 minutes, then full intensity for the next 15 minutes and then goes back to half intensity for the next. After 2 hours, all 8 LED lights light up at full intensity until one turns off the appliance.

According to the manual, you want to have this positioned so one can look in the direction of the light but not looking directly at the appliance. The goal is to look into the light every now and then while working, writing, reading, working on crafts, etc. And the more you repeat this, those with the disorder should feel an improvement after five days. There is no problem of using this device for a long period of time.

You will want to use this for 5-7 days in a row, preferably in the morning and one should feel energetic via light therapy. Also, one should not worry about UV rays as there is a special screen that filters out UV light.

II. THE TESTS

A. FOR ONE WHO DOESN'T HAVE THE DISORDER:

This is one of those devices in which is YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary), in other words, it may work for you and it may not. We did several tests and for me, I don't have the disorder, in fact, I prefer darkness and felt the light was way too bright for me. It was pretty cool seeing a dark room look like I have sunlight coming in but man, since I had to look at the dial and LED's, I felt the light was just too powerful for my eyes.

Although I don't have the disorder, I will say that my optometrist has recommended me to let some light into my office and I figured the light worked in that capacity if I left it in the room without looking at it. But I felt the light was too powerful for me.

I will say that I considered using this as a nightlight but there are so many warnings of not to use this light after 8:00 p.m. (as it can ruin your sleep) that I figured, I better not use this at night at all. Just during work and having it in my office during the day.

B. A TEST FOR ONE WHO HAS SEASONAL AFFECTIVE DISORDER:

The unfortunate thing is this device is not something my friend can bring to the office for work, so she needs it during the day and can use it briefly when working or when she comes back from work. Unfortunately, the light seemed so powerful and she complained that the device was so big that it was giving her a headache. For her, as much as she wants to try it, she felt that because the lamp was so overpowering and hard for her to look away from it, she was complaining of migraines and preferred to have it off.

It's important to note that this friend has migraine problems and aside from having the disorder, slight things can give her a major migraine. So, as I said..this is YMMV, it may work for those with the disorder and it may not.

JUDGMENT CALL:

I'll be truthful with you... I can't give you an answer if this device works or doesn't as it is one of those appliances that depends on the individual and how one is accepting of light therapy. We are reviewing this in March and so far, it's been a cloudy dismal month with hardly any sunlight. So, it was a perfect time for her to test it but unfortunately, it was something she was not so used too at this time.

As for me, as someone who is used to darker rooms, having the light on worked well in giving light into my office with the feeling of daylight. Something my optometrist recommended. But man, I don't have the disorder and I just felt this light was so powerful and I just used it awhile ago and I still see flashes of light. It takes getting used too because even for me, I have never had an appliance this bright before and the effect that I felt was like a friend showing me a strobe light and you have that after effect of seeing the light in your head. But that's natural, your eyes are just not used to it.

I wish I can tell you that this device works 100% but this is one of those things that really depends on the individual.

I know it's a bit pricey and because of this, it's probably the most limiting factor to this appliance. The other thing is that it's quite bulky and wish Philips had a more thinner or smaller product but I suppose, there are those who will feel that the bulkier light makes a bigger difference than a smaller light appliance.

Overall, if you are a person who is suffering from seasonal affective disorder and are used to light therapy, this appliance may be for you. It delivers when it comes to light and its function of light intervals but the price is the major caveat and if it was under $100 instead of near $300, it probably would be an easily recommended appliance.

Otherwise if price is not too expensive for you, then definitely give it a try.

The folks at Philips know how to make a tall lamp that blasts light right into your eyes and makes your wintery days seem so much better. I held off on buying one of these lights for years because of the price tag. What a dumb mistake. If you get the "winter blues" then shell out the couple hundred bucks for this thing and spend your mornings hanging around it.

Despite its meant to be for a mood change, the device itself
as a light source delivers confort lighting for any space due to its dimmable interface
I gave this as a present to my mother in law and she loved it not just for the light
but because of the design and dimmable features that makes it for almost every space
Highly recommended