Re: X-10, IF, RF, Zigbee.. What to do?

[Lewis Gardner <lgardner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

 >>How do I decide when to stop looking
>>and start buying without risking everything
>>going obsolete in a year or two?

Technology will never stabilize to the point that obsolescence will not
occur. Your decision is if the technology you can buy today fits your
need, desires and budget.


> "Annual subscriptions"?  This would seem to be completely unacceptable for
> everyone except, perhaps, homebuilders and renters. So in my opinion, it
> matters not at all how good/interesting their hardware is or isn't.

A continuing revenue stream is very important to any business endeavor.
The software business is even more dependent than most in this regard.
Any serious "home control" system is at least a 50% software component
that requires constant updating as new devices and technologies emerge.
What Control4 is attempting to do is lower the up-front cost of a very
powerful system that can be installed and maintained by a technically
savvy person without "soldering iron" or "code warrior" type skills.

While I have not checked out the details of their particular
subscription scheme I have no serious objections to the idea as long as
my system continues to run even if I am not "paid up". If you want
enhancements you should pay for them. After all it does neither the
supplier or customer any good if the system becomes prematurely obsolete
due to stagnation.