Re: Looking at Zwave products and need recommendations?

[Robert L Bass <sales@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I've made my dismay about their lack of support
> for folks like us known to them in fairly strong
> terms, assuming what I think really matters. I
> would just think that, had they taken the opposite
> approach with automation system vendors (as
> apposed to hardware OEMs) and really helped us
> to get quality support for their product in place,
> and gave us the docs we need instead of making
> us pay for the right, that right now UPB and
> Zigbee would be looking at a much more
> entrenched status quo, because Z-Wave would be
> robustly supported in every automation product,
> and more people would have adopted it because
> it was there and supported and in a good position
> between high end stuff and X-10.

Dean,

You're certainly right that had they decided to take the route
you would prefer their product would enjoy more support from
small developers.  However, they have apparently taken the other
approach and for good reason.  If they concentrate on developing
relationships with Microsoft, Intel, GE and the like, they are in
a very strong position to grab a major portion of the marketplace
and do it quickly.

OTOH, if they devote time to folks like you (no disrespect here;
I think you're on the road to major success), they will have less
resources to devote to the industry big boys.

Fortunately for a soon-to-be-significant segment of the DIY
community, you've managed to get past the SDK hurdle and write
your own module.  Homeseer isn't a big player yet but they are
well on the way.  They have more capital so they bought the SDK
and got the support with it.  Either way, two more vendors are
now supporting Zwave.

Best of luck with CQC.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

Bass Burglar Alarms
The Online DIY Store
http://www.BassBurglarAlarms.com