The cost of manufacturing the LED light is very cheap. Driver design is not something new. However the price is high. With China bulbs in the market, force price down. So, if you just care about light, just go with China brand. I used one from Mr. DIY and it OK so far.    However, if you are looking into the one with good CRI, then the price is not cheap.

The LED color is just like other pigment based product such as tiles, there is always slight color variation. Even when ordering the LED, the color is guaranteed in in a range of color temperature, not very specific. Manufacturer has to do mix and match to get combination of LEDs that would give the right color.

LED is dropping price but CFL is also dropping price. LED can last much longer than CFL, A far as I know the LED require less power to produce the same lumen as CFL. CFLs are sensitive to frequent on/off cycling. Their rated lifetimes of 10,000 hours are reduced in applications where the light is switched on and off very often. CFL takes a while to go to full brightness.

For me, even if the disadvantage of LED is price, but this is is negated by its lifetime. I'm slowly phasing in LED bulb when replacement need. So, my observation is still immature 

CFL will last longer, and lumens/watt is still better on cfl. For led with higher lumens/watt than cfl will be more expensive.

I'm not just looking at the box. Yes, previously the LED is not that good but now it is improving a lot. I searched through 3rd party articles, not manufacturer's itself.

Did you notice the black spot near the electrode of the CFL. This is because high voltage at start-up sends the lamp’s mercury ions hurtling toward the starting electrode, which can destroy the electrode’s coating over time. There are research papers that study how long the bulb last with relation on how frequent the florescent light is switch on/off. This is one of the reason why the CFL lamp did not last as long as the life indicated n the box. For me lifetime on the box is indication only. Unless everyone follow same measurement method, it is not reliable comparison. This is also same for LED lamp. I don't trust what is printed there.

CFL and LED is killed by heat. I agree on this. I've been using LED for about a year now and I have both CFL and LED bulbs in use.

No doubt you have to test longer. I do not have lux meter to measure actual brightness to be more specific but now I'm comparing my LED and CFL. The LED (6x8W) I light up everyday seem to be brighter than my CFL which I rarely used in the same hall (6x8W), but that probably just my perception.

At the end of life cycle the florescent tube will require a bit more power to start ionizing the gas the tube and light up. I've observed this when repairing the electronic "ballast". One that has not been used for more than a year just failed to light up. I suspect everything but the tube. Unfortunately the tube just killed the driver. I was also surprised. Gas leak? It was either Toshiba or Philips, can't remember 

Yup saw your image before. There are improving, and to get the price down to matchable with CFL brightness will take sometime.

Now go all the way to Thailand shopping Should spend time at their outlet lah.

not led, currently i saw tesco selling led 8w twin pack for less than rm25, not sure what brand tho. i notice nowdays shops are not offering warranty for philips lights.

18w Philips Essential i found cheapest rm6.90 cnc/no warranty

Ozak, the philips bulb, is like test at shop if light up but once you leave the shop no warranty is given even 1 week. GE is giving 1 yr, china mari bulb is giving 6 months the place i buy but none for philips. i check 3 diffrent shop same implied for philips.

just nought ecoliving is tesco twin pack led 10w for rm27.90. any one know where to get changing bulb mechanism for 15-20ft ceilling? tq

do you know if ace sell the mechanism alone. at home i got those aluminium extendable post already. now i need to change bulb at 16ft high. my ladder is just 8ft.

or a DIY http://pad39a.com/gene/light.html

For my case is a PLC blub, no pole can do, it need some physical strength to pull out the plc light. Then again, plc only need replacement like once is 4-5 years with average 6-8 hours usage. Some climbing still ok.

thanks guys, tomorow i will go look at h/w store. not sure where have one in jb. first time having a apt with this high ceiling. other wise might need to look for 12-13ft high ladder.

i usually used philips essential only, got light bulb can last more than 5 yrs ar? so far mine all can last >2 yrs 6-8 hrs aday usage.

Philips CFL that I bought in 2013, about 5% burned in 6 months (some as early as 1 month), 15% burned in 12 months, some just burned without noticing because seldom used. I bought it from authorized philips shop that you all mentioned but without warranty. Should I give Philips LED a try or to consider GE, OSRAM or any other brand?

CFL as in the E47 bulb? The other CFL bulb with external ballast is very reliable lah. Almost 95% of my house bulbs are CFL with external ballast.

The PLC is also sometime called CFL too (to be specific is define as "Non-integrated CFL") don't spoiled the name of PLC lah

CRI = color rendering index.

Google it.
Should be buying those at least 80 and above.

I see, but what does the CRI mean??
We got those warm light and cool light. How to choose where to use which?

Sorry no mean to interrupt this price list.