Had one of the bendable-type lights for while but it was battery powered. It eat batteries like you wouldn't believe. I didn't know about the electric one but I found a gooseneck lamp at Walmart and added one of the new corkscrew florscent lightbulbs, and its so bright. I like it that I can position the light but the best place is off to the left side of the machine, it lights up the sewing area and the needle so threading the eye is so much easier. Because they were cheap enough, I bought two and have one by each machine. And because the lightbulb is energy efficient, I'm not concerned about the hours its on.