Originally Posted By: moribundman
Back home in Germany we began using CFL bulbs at my house in 1990. At least one of those bulbs (a philips) is still in use (I saw it a few weeks ago) in the bathroom. The bulbs back then looked different. They had an even more massive base and the glass part was a U-shaped tube. The cost was back then about $15 per bulb.
Here in the US, I switched to all CFL bulbs (besides in some equipment that requires tungsten or halogen bulbs) about 6 or 7 years ago. Some of the inexpensive ones that I have bought since haven't lasted more than 6 months. I stay now with the better brands, and I have no more issues with service life so far. One or two bulbs have been buzzy.
I remember back around 1998 or so when the CFLs became more well known. The first bulb I bought was the GE triple U tube shape and was bulky, it cost me $24.99. I remember the some of the older Sylvania CFLs were made in Germany but now made in China. Lights of America brand used to be made in USA but now made in China. I actually still have the USA made one which is rather bulky but still works from when I purchased it few years ago. A couple of other Lights of American bulbs burned out prematurely, one which only lasted a few weeks.
I only switched to the CFLs in my house for long duration applications. This means living room and kitchen which the light is on continuous for at least 1 hour. In the bathroom which sees a lot of on/off cycles for short time, the CFL did not last more than 6 months so I went back to incandescent instead after the 2nd CFLs burned out. So some applications incandescent is a better choice and same goes for CFLs.