I absolutely agree, and in addition -- my teenager sleeps through all manner of audible alarms, including very loud ones, but now wakes easily from a light-base

I absolutely agree, and in addition -- my teenager sleeps through all manner of audible alarms, including very loud ones, but now wakes easily from a light-based alarm clock. Cheap ones on Amazon are in the $20 range. Highly recommended. The Philips is more expensive and has just one color, but it seems to be built much more ruggedly.