I have an Ott and love it. My only complaint is that the base is not very heavy so it tends to topple over at times. But the difference it makes for ease of seeing things, especially dark fabrics, makes it a very valuable too.

Try a local metal shop for a piece of heavy sheet metal the size of your base. Glue it on, and then glue on a piece of felt to protect your table. It shouldn't easily tip over any more :wink:

I have the Ott desk lamp and haven't tried the other brands. All I know is my Ott lamp is over 10 years old and the bulb hasn't burned out. It's been dropped several times and still works like new. I take it to classes so it's been tossed in a tote a lot. I couldn't sew at night without it. I have a back up bulb, bought when I bought the lamp.

I've got 2 Ott floor lamps that I've had for over 8 yrs. (One was for our RV that we spent winters in searching for warm weather) and I have an Ott flip-type table lamp also. I love them..have used them extensively and still haven't had to replace the bulb. Hubby "stole" the Ott floor lamp that I had between my cutting table and sewing machine for his stained glass work, so I've been on the web to see who has them on sale now. Reading current reviews, I decided to use an old 3-way bulb floor lamp. Check reviews before buying. It seems that one out of about 5 reviews are favorable, the rest are not. Don't spend your money until you are sure. I still love mine, but I hesitate to buy a new one.

Hancock's sells the knock offs for $19.99 on sale. I see no difference. GG

I had trouble with my ott lamps about 3 years ago, I wanted to get them fixed because they were hit by lighting, not fixable, the transformers were somewhere untouchable, I was furious, $350 down the drain. I refuse to do business with them, I now have the knock offs, if it breaks and can't be fixed, I will just buy another knockoff.
Also, I purchased the full spectrum 48" tube bulbs for my ceiling ballasts lights in my studio - fantastic! I highly recomend. they lasted 9 years before I replaced them.