Is there a particular brand or type that I should get? Any tips to make it easier to take them down or put them up?

Is LED worth buying over standard? They are quite a bit more expensive, but will they save me money in the long run?

Yes, but it will take years to recoup the cost difference. Also, they aren't as bright as traditional lights.

The biggest thing is the white is too white. I love the warm whites of Christmas lights and the super white LEDs cheapen it a little.

Leds look neat in the store, but in application look puny to me. I bought some a few years ago to go around the back fence (we live on a pond and some people do lights in the back.) I was REALLY disappointed in the brightness. They did not light up the area around them at all like the regular lights we use out front.

I like GE Commercial lights. You can buy them just about anywhere and I think their bulbs last the longest. One tip though - you shouldn't be buying Christmas lights now, get them after Christmas at 75% off. If you are installing lights on your roof, invest in the clips that clip to your gutters or shingle overhangs. Stapling works, but you're creating holes for water to rot your fascia and there's always the chance to put a staple in the wiring and cause a short.

The GE Commercial lights are much better quality. Unfortunately - the mini lights use a larger bulb, and I haven't EVER seen any replacements for sale.

LED's are still really dim comapared to C9's normal.

I think the best price I have seen is Sams @ $9 for 50.

We choose to stick with out incandescents this year for the reason of the LEDs are two dim.

I had so many bad lights this year that I am probably going to switch to LED's next year (hoping they come out with a better looking set next year)

the other great thing about LEDs (other than the energy savings) is that you can hook up 40 strings back to back with out over loading the strand, which means I get my extension cord back (right now I have to run 4 strands, and the wire is only rated for three)

I also hope this will be more robust than the incandescent (you look at these wrong and the will break, or burn out)

(7W*50bulbs*6hours per night*60 nights)/.1134 per kwh =$13.86 per year

Led would be less than 10% of this in comparison