RE: Re: xPL/xAP an alternative to C-Bu$ ?

["Kevin Hawkins" <lists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Kenneth Watt [mailto:kwatt@xxxxxxx]
> Sent: 20 May 2004 15:51
> To: ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> Subject: RE: [ukha_d] Re: xPL/xAP an alternative to C-Bu$ ?
>
> > (contentious night tonight :-)
>
> It's fun though. ;)

Not wanting to add to the differing views because I use both X10 and
C-Bus mixed and I am happy with both in their own approriate place.

HOWEVER one thing I always recommend to new people starting on HA is
get some X10. It is very low cost, fast to implement, works mostly 'as if
by
magic' has high WAF and above all introduces people to HA as a whole
package
by virtue of the strengths and weaknesses of X10.  It makes people aware of
their needs and expectations. People don't understand quite what they can
or
want to achieve with HA. Do they need just a fancy ONOFF system possibly
via RF keypads or do they then want to use timed events, do they want
sunrise/sunset functionality or even perhaps times relative to these ?
Beyond that do they need 'IF' this 'THEN' that logic and if so then they
have to add to the system to introduce the controller either as a PC
application or an embedded solution using products ranging from the CM12U
to
HomeVision or HomeSeer etc. Then the whole visual control idea with Pronto,
web pads, in wall keypads, iPAQ's or whatever. Lastly introducing the
crossover with audio and video diatribution and central music servers. 
This
groundwork is a very valuable exercise and using X10 (and prably A N Other
mp3 player) as your introduction serves it well. X10 is actually very
'open'
unlike some other protocols so almost all investment can be carried over
and
put to use to later.

So my recommendation - new to HA ? - buy some X10 and play...

K