New TRI-MODE light at shoplifestlye.com

Hey Gang:
I found this nifty little unit "Xeon, LED,CCFL Light - Product #FL001". Sorry I am unable to post the link. The thing only costs $30 plus S & H. It's an odd looking device, but it does actually work. The Xeon bulb is (mildly) focusable, the florescent part lights up a room pretty well, and it fires either only three or all six LEDs at a time. Cool blue translucent case, anti-roll shape, uses 4AA batteries, and has a comfortable grip. If it wasn't for the #@!%%$# switch which must cycle through all five modes, I'd probally be really excited. Packed with lithium batteries, it might be a good choice for home or office emergency use - as you have three basic choice on how to burn up the batteries. (Provide of course, that lithiums won't destroy it.)
Any comments?

and just why are you unable to post a link

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by zerox:
and just why are you unable to post a link<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I saw the same light, in the mail order catalog. No URL's in the catalog. Maybe try a google search?

I was very tempted by this light, as it does seem to have the best of everything, except that I couldn't tell how large the light was (it looked big for a 4AA), and how well made it was was also a concern. Is the case fairly, or reasonably rugged?

How does the incandescent beam look, with 6 LED's breaking up the reflector? Can you get a decent spot with a reasonably good reach?

Whoever designed and manufactured this light really has a lot of credit coming. While it could probably benefit from a CPF input redesign (what light, aside from the heavily CPF influenced Arc lights, couldn't? Of course, it would wind up made of titanium, and cost $250....), you have to respect whoever put a Xenon lamp, 6 white LED's *and* a CCF tube all in one light.
They are on the cutting edge of the best the portable light world has going.

But......no HID lamp??? (he he he...)

This one?

http://www.shoplifestyle.com/store/product.asp?dept%5Fid=0&pf% 5Fid=4179&mscssid=7A5BJP20KB179N1C09UWUG2FGFMFFUHC

-john

I posted about this light on one of the "temp" CPF's. Looked interesting. It would cost shipping both ways, but they do have a 30 day return. TX

Man, I would have bought one until I heard you had to cycle through all the modes to get them, I just can't deal with that. Does it at least start in the last mode it was in or does it have a 6th off position?

Cycle through multiple modes before turning off is very annoying. It will be a big winner if it has the same switching design as Switchback from PT. Press and hold the button for 1 second will turn the light on or off. Simple press cycle through different mode. The light remember the last mode when you switch the light on again.

Alan

Gandalf:
Sorry this took so long. The light appears decently, though not impressively rugged. It might be made of super tough polycarbonate - or just cheap translucent plastic. (I can't tell the difference without doing a hammer test.) It IS a bit on the large size - definately NOT a compact unit. While the florescent output is decently smooth, the incandescent beam is NOT a pretty sight: it will however light up a building at 50 plus yards, and a stop sign at about 100 yds. LED patterns show various arc shapes at close range, but this is less visible at distance. All in all, not exactly a photon-phanatics dream, but definately a move in a good direction.