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Advice: become a Control4 or Lifeware...
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| Topic: | Advice: become a Control4 or Lifeware dealer? This thread has 68 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15. |
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| Post 1 made on Tuesday July 17, 2007 at 20:32 |
If you were starting a business from scratch today, would you partner with Control4 or EI's Lifeware or another vendor and why?
We are on the fence between the 2 and need some experienced direction.
Thanks for your input.
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| Post 2 made on Tuesday July 17, 2007 at 20:41 |
idodishez Select Member |
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Posts: | May 2003
2,433 |
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| Post 3 made on Tuesday July 17, 2007 at 20:47 |
Trunk-Slammer -Supreme Loyal Member |
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Posts: | November 2003
7,462 |
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Frank,
You just had to throw a wrench in the decision....lol
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| Post 4 made on Tuesday July 17, 2007 at 20:50 |
idodishez Select Member |
Joined:
Posts: | May 2003
2,433 |
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He asked! (Any OTHER vendor)
And I just cant in good consius (sp?) let C4 be discussed w/o at least TRYING to stear away possible victims. :)
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No, I wont install your plasma with an orange extension cord hanging down the wall. www.customdigitalinc.com |
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| Post 5 made on Tuesday July 17, 2007 at 21:01 |
Fins Elite Member |
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Posts: | June 2007
11,627 |
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Im not familiar with Home Logic. Whats the deal with them? From what I saw on their website they look like just another AMX or Crestron copy, not bringing anything new to the table.
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Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.
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| Post 6 made on Tuesday July 17, 2007 at 21:04 |
cma Super Member |
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Posts: | August 2003
3,044 |
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From what I have read and seen, C4 still has it's problems and the management have made it clear that they fully intend to market to the masses by selling it anywhere they can. Lifeware, I don't know who is selling this stuff, if you can trust a PC platform and Windows go ahead, from what I can tell it makes AMX and Crestron price wise seem like a bargain.
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| Post 7 made on Tuesday July 17, 2007 at 21:07 |
Fins Elite Member |
Joined:
Posts: | June 2007
11,627 |
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On July 17, 2007 at 21:04, cma said...
From what I have read and seen, C4 still has it's problems
and the management have made it clear that they fully
intend to market to the masses by selling it anywhere
they can. Lifeware, I don't know who is selling this stuff,
if you can trust a PC platform and Windows go ahead, from
what I can tell it makes AMX and Crestron price wise seem
like a bargain. As far as the windows concern, its a server, which is way different than a desktop running windows. The sales pitch from Lifeware is price advantage over AMX and Crestron.
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Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.
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| Post 8 made on Tuesday July 17, 2007 at 21:30 |
avbydesign Active Member |
Joined:
Posts: | July 2005
689 |
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Lifeware is nice but like they said above, the platform of Media Center is uncertain. I have a really nice HP Media Server in my living room that will not give me a picture.
I would look at Home Logic.
Mike
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Mike Gibler |
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| Post 9 made on Tuesday July 17, 2007 at 21:30 |
idodishez Select Member |
Joined:
Posts: | May 2003
2,433 |
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On July 17, 2007 at 21:01, Fins said...
Im not familiar with Home Logic. Whats the deal with them?
From what I saw on their website they look like just another
AMX or Crestron copy, not bringing anything new to the
table. Not as cutomizable as Crestron or AMX, but (AFAIK anyway, I dont do Crestron or AMX) not nearly as much $. New to the table would be lower price points and the ability for small guys like me to do automation w/o having the Crestron experience. It also lets guys (even guys NOT as small as me) do automation w/o buying into a company who will stab you in the back by selling product at HD ...... C(4)ough! C(4)ough!! Best of all, it keeps me from getting barated by Alan for demanding I get Crestron:)
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No, I wont install your plasma with an orange extension cord hanging down the wall. www.customdigitalinc.com |
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| Post 10 made on Tuesday July 17, 2007 at 21:42 |
Fins Elite Member |
Joined:
Posts: | June 2007
11,627 |
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For some reason Im just not as skeptical of Lifeware as everyone else. Microsoft has made it clear that they want to be (and will be) the system that controls the home.
Plus, because Lifeware is Windows based, it offers a familiar look and feel that most people recognize and are more comfortable with.
And I dont know if you realize it, but Exceptional Inovations is the company that standardized Point of Sale software that made it possible for small retailers to have computer registers and bar code scanners at an affordable price.
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Civil War reenactment is LARPing for people with no imagination.
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| Post 11 made on Tuesday July 17, 2007 at 21:47 |
AHEM Select Member |
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Posts: | January 2004
1,837 |
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On July 17, 2007 at 21:42, Fins said...
For some reason Im just not as skeptical of Lifeware as
everyone else. Microsoft has made it clear that they want
to be (and will be) the system that controls the home.
Bully for them.
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| OP | Post 12 made on Tuesday July 17, 2007 at 22:28 |
No one has yet had any meaningful reposnses to why one or the other. Stick with C4 and Lifeware.
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| Post 13 made on Tuesday July 17, 2007 at 22:30 |
cma Super Member |
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Posts: | August 2003
3,044 |
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On July 17, 2007 at 21:07, Fins said...
As far as the windows concern, its a server, which is
way different than a desktop running windows. The sales
pitch from Lifeware is price advantage over AMX and Crestron. OK, check out the following article.. [Link: gizmodo.com]So you get: 1 LifeWare Media Center 1 XBOX 12 Lightswitches 1 Thermostat 2 IP cameras = $15,000 No touchpanel or remote control other than what comes with the XBox or PC. Quote 1 from article:"Perhaps that's why Best Buy sees fit to charge $15,000 for $10,000 worth of equipment. You think that's steep? Try getting an installer to put in a Crestron/AMX system in your house: that'll be $50K please." Quote 2 from article:"Best Buy's $15,000 price tag sounds like a lot, but it's a step in the right direction—quite a bit better than the $50,000 you'd pay for a Crestron system" REALITY: Crestron Retail Prices: 12 Infinet Dimmer Wall Switches @$280ea = $3360 1 Infinet TStat = $500 1 Infinet Gateway = $450 1 Crestron Windows Media Center Interface Software = $400 1 Crestron MC2E processor = $1400 1 Crestron TPMC8 Wifi Touch Screen = $3800 = $9060 Add on $700 for the 2 Panasonic BLc30 cameras (at least that is what they look like in the picture plus they can be found for as little as $200 ea) That leaves $5300 for a Windows Media Center PC, an XBox 360 and installation, plus you get an 8 inch wireless 2 way touchscreen instead of a keyboard or a XBox controller. Not even close to the $50,000 the author claims you would have to spend to get the same thing.
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| Post 14 made on Tuesday July 17, 2007 at 22:41 |
roddymcg Loyal Member |
Joined:
Posts: | September 2003
6,796 |
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Those who talk the most sh$t about Crestron are usually the most clueless...
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When good enough is not good enough. |
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| Post 15 made on Tuesday July 17, 2007 at 23:01 |
AnthonyZ Select Member |
Joined:
Posts: | September 2005
1,987 |
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On July 17, 2007 at 22:30, cma said...
OK, check out the following article.. [Link: gizmodo.com]So you get: 1 LifeWare Media Center 1 XBOX 12 Lightswitches 1 Thermostat 2 IP cameras = $15,000 No touchpanel or remote control other than what comes with the XBox or PC. Quote 1 from article:"Perhaps that's why Best Buy sees fit to charge $15,000 for $10,000 worth of equipment. You think that's steep? Try getting an installer to put in a Crestron/AMX system in your house: that'll be $50K please." Quote 2 from article:"Best Buy's $15,000 price tag sounds like a lot, but it's a step in the right direction—quite a bit better than the $50,000 you'd pay for a Crestron system" REALITY: Crestron Retail Prices: 12 Infinet Dimmer Wall Switches @$280ea = $3360 1 Infinet TStat = $500 1 Infinet Gateway = $450 1 Crestron Windows Media Center Interface Software = $400 1 Crestron MC2E processor = $1400 1 Crestron TPMC8 Wifi Touch Screen = $3800 = $9060 Add on $700 for the 2 Panasonic BLc30 cameras (at least that is what they look like in the picture plus they can be found for as little as $200 ea) That leaves $5300 for a Windows Media Center PC, an XBox 360 and installation, plus you get an 8 inch wireless 2 way touchscreen instead of a keyboard or a XBox controller. Not even close to the $50,000 the author claims you would have to spend to get the same thing. First, Gizmodo readers get what they deserve. Second, nice work, Chad! That sums it up PERFECTLY. Plus, Crestron will niether cry like a little girl or run away with their tales between their legs if anyone "bully's" them here at RC.
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