Getting started with home lighting automation

[Jules Verne <jules.verne@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi.  I've been wanting to get started with home automation for a
while now, but in the limited time I have to spend (or am willing
to spend, I guess) I get overwhelmed with all of the information
out there.

I would greatly appreciate some help and pointers for my
situation.

I'm looking for a way to program 6-8 lights in my house for a
"lived in" look when we're out of town.  All of the lights are
switched, several of them use compact fluorescent bulbs.  (I
mention this because it sounds like you need a different/more
expensive unit to control these sometimes?)

For controlling them, it can be something fairly basic, but I
want to be able to set each light's on and off times for each
day.  I don't care if I have to program 1's and 0's at each
point, just so I have the control.  Don't need Internet, phone,
PDA, etc., access or control, although something that runs from a
computer would be nice.  I have a wired home network.  Not
necessarily looking in to wireless although might consider it for
a home automation solution.

I'm hoping to spend as little as possible (of course), but am
willing to go up to $200 - $350 for this.  (Would do more or less
lights to get in that range.)

So please, any suggestions or guidance would be greatly
appreciated!

Thanks,

JV