alienbee lights for tent?

I want to get a light tent, but im a little confused as to what kind of lights to get to go with it and how many I need?

I have read that some folks just go to home depot and get the 500w halogen shop lights and use them - price wise that sounds great but does it really work?

would some 800 alienbees be better? or is that overkill?

thanks
bs

Candles will work, but professional strobes give you greater control. With the AlienBee strobes I have, I can shoot into a lightbox, umbrella, adjust the intensity in small increments and even use the modeling light to set up, then fire the strobes automatically with another flash or wirelessly. With ordinary work lights, you will have to move the lights to adjust the exposure value, and that can be difficult. However, any light (including sun light from a window) can work, you just give up exposure precision, temperature (color balance) control, etc.

AlienBees are not that expensive and work extremely well. You'll want some large shadow boxes and umbrellas too.

Tom