I have a friend who definitely prefers to be outside whenever possible and hates winter too. His wife bought him a small light box for his office a few years ago. It seems to be set up like Lauraelmore's -- off to the side next to the computer. He said he liked it at first, but wasn't sure it was working. I haven't seen him turn it on for more than a year now, for what that's worth. It definitely isn't big, or shining from above, and he doesn't look right at it, I can't imagine he'd have the time. I'll ask him what he thinks now and report back.