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What Lighting Is Good In A Computer Environment?

Posted by Cliff on from the keep-the-glare-down-willya dept.

Woodrow Stool asks: "My business is software development and I am updating my home office. Does anyone have any experience with the latest and greatest task lights for workstations, such as the Eclipse? Any other suggestions for the best reasonably priced task lighting for a workstation environment?" I love my Eclipse, but I wonder if there are better options out there.

3 of 15 comments (clear)

  1. Daylight bulbs by Bazman · · Score: 2

    A friend of mine has a daylight bulb in his home-office. Its a standard filament lightbulb but puts out a much bluer light than the standard type. Its not a halogen bulb either. He says its much better for reading and computer work.

    Searching for 'Daylight bulb' on google gives me loads of links to reptile and amphibian sites, so I guess they are recommended for animals! See if your local pet store stocks them!

    Baz

  2. Halogen Lamps by dmatos · · Score: 3

    You know, the standard lamps with the halogen bulbs that you could cook a turkey on. I like mine because all the light from the bulb is directed upwards to the ceiling. This allows for ambient lighting in the room, but is still more than bright enough to read documents on your desk, etc.

    These have a couple of other benefits as well. They are relatively inexpensive (I forget how much mine cost, but I got it at walmart:) and the bulbs last a very long time. I've had mine for three years now, and it's still as bright as ever. Plus, being a university student, I move very frequently, and this light breaks down quickly and easily into a 1' X 2' X 4" box. A definite plus in my books.

    Of course, you may need more heat sinks/fans in your computer, because this will raise the ambient temperature in your room a fair amount. Mine is 300W, but I frequently need and am greatful for the extra heat it kicks out (low-budget student housing).

    --

    It may look like I'm doing nothing, but I'm actively waiting for my problems to go away.
    --Scott Adams
  3. halogen torch light by 1337-p0z3r · · Score: 2
    I love indirect light. What I've currently got is an incandescent torch light (but I find halogen to be much better) situated beside my computer desk. That way the wall behind the monitor isn't lit up too much, the ceiling behind me isn't lit up to produce glare, but I get a good amount of light on my work surface. Ideally I'd have my monitor in a corner, and the torch light behind the monitor. Your office will dictate what's best, but as long as the torch light is close to the monitor, you shouldn't get much (if any) glare.

    Quite standardly, YMMV.

    "There's a party," she said,
    "We'll sing and we'll dance,
    It's come as you are."