We have had mixed results with the compact florescents. If you buy cheap ones they don't put out much light and the burn out quick. If you buy well made ones, they last a lot longer.
We like to put them especially in lights that are harder to change (up to high) or lights that are on for long periods of time (our mandatory outside lights for our home.
Did you ever notice that lightbulbs you can't stand don't seem to ever burn out.
In the decade I have lived in my home, I have replaced many of the lightbulbs in my house. However, in our bathroom are these horrible glaring lights that the builder put in. We use them ever day and they suck!
And those light bulbs never seem to burn out.
.
I should just take them out and replace them, but I have this problem with replacing light bulbs that still work (cheap bastage).
I have been looking at the LEDs, but I think I will wait a bit until the price goes down.