Your Universal Remote Control Center
RemoteCentral.com
Custom Installers' Lounge Forum - View Post
Previous section Next section Previous page Next page Up level
Up level
The following page was printed from RemoteCentral.com:

Login:
Pass:
 
 

Page 1 of 25
Topic:
Prodigy by Crestron WTF?
This thread has 370 replies. Displaying posts 1 through 15.
Post 1 made on Saturday July 18, 2009 at 21:12
Vincent Delpino
Select Member
Joined:
Posts:
September 2004
1,818
Ok so I guess Crestron wants to compete with Control 4 and is going to release a new line of product that is dirt cheap with wizard based programming. This line will only be compatible with other products in the line and not any other Crestron gear. This is a little baffling to me and to give you an idea of the pricing an MLX-2 Prodigy model will retail for around $200-$300 with 2 way commmunication. They will also have a 4" in wall touch panel for $700.. I dont get it.
Post 2 made on Saturday July 18, 2009 at 21:15
brandenpro
Select Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2005
1,651
They want to wipe C4 and the like off the planet.
Post 3 made on Saturday July 18, 2009 at 21:28
Cdn Weasel
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2009
143
C4 is now coming out with fully customizable flash gui with new 5 and 7 inch touch panels so Im sure it has something to do with it
Post 4 made on Saturday July 18, 2009 at 22:33
39 Cent Stamp
Elite Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2007
17,515
C4's fixed GUI & 'plug n play' (or maybe plug 'n' pray) technology is killing Crestron on lower end systems. Prodigy is supposed to "wipe C4 off the planet". Funny you say that brandenpro because those are the exact words the rep used with us.

What i dont get is why in the world they wouldnt make it compatible with other Crestron gear. I dont have any info about that, Vincent's post is the first i heard of that important detail. Seems like they could use the lower end gear to draw people into to upgrade land.
Avid Stamp Collector - I really love 39 Cent Stamps
Post 5 made on Saturday July 18, 2009 at 22:48
gwstudios
Senior Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2004
1,370
I heard about this a couple of years ago. I never thought they would actually get around to it.
Post 6 made on Saturday July 18, 2009 at 23:10
sofa_king_CI
Super Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2009
4,230
I've heard rumors about this for the past few months. It makes sense to me. They have all the technology and gear to create a lower end product like this and sense C4, Netstreams and others have come out, there is a REAL market for decent control at these price points.

We are not Crestron dealers (yet) so I'm hoping that Prodigy may be a stepping stone for smaller companies to start a relationship with Crestron.

I'm also curious about why they didn't make the line compatible with the rest of their gear. I'm guessing it has something to do with the new software that they developed for the wizard programming.
do wino hue?
Post 7 made on Sunday July 19, 2009 at 00:24
BMaxey
Long Time Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2009
413
I think it a big mistake not to include an upgrade path. I argued this repeatedly when Crestron introduced Adagio; the Apad used a BB-1000 backbox that was originally designed for CT-1000 touchpanel. Considering the CT-1000 had been recently replaced by TPS-4L (which requires a different backbox), Crestron has once again failed to include a path for upselling - not just the wall touchpanel but the entire system.

Bill Maxey
Post 8 made on Sunday July 19, 2009 at 00:30
SignatureSV
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2009
7,860
I am not a crestron dealer (yet) and have thought about doing c4 but cant bring my self to it. Like Sofa King said this maybe a stepping stone for us smaller companies and for customers to not get the full blown "Crestron system" and then love it so much would be willing to go for it in their new home.

My guess as to not allow the gear to work with the other stuff is it allows actual dealers to keep with what they know best and leave the smaller stuff to us guys as not to keep us out of our "comfort zone". I would hope it would be similar in the programing aspect that if we decided to become a full Creston dealer we would just build off of our "simple" knowledge.

IMO of course.
The Bitterness of Poor Quality is Remembered Long after the Sweetness of Price is Forgotten! - Benjamin Franklin
Post 9 made on Sunday July 19, 2009 at 07:24
ejfiii
Select Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2003
2,021
Along with new, cheaper, closed end system will come new dealers, distribution and markets.

Just my opinion!
OP | Post 10 made on Sunday July 19, 2009 at 10:10
Vincent Delpino
Select Member
Joined:
Posts:
September 2004
1,818
Well if they are going to introduce an entry level system at these price points it makes perfect sense to not make it compatible with other gear. They will have $100 retail dimmers. Why would you sell the better gear if you could sell this instead? Also the processors will have built in gateways and again retail for $700-$800.

I am not too certain they will open up dealers who only want to sell this level of product, I believe that they are just giving dealers another option for those who have been exposed to products like Control 4 and Home Logic.

There will also be very limited, if any custumization of the ui and all of the program modules will be pre written ala RTI or Elan.
Post 11 made on Sunday July 19, 2009 at 10:45
SignatureSV
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
July 2009
7,860
I think it comes down to not stepping on territory. Crestron dealers have worked very hard to get to the point of selling Crestron. With any business you want to wipe the competition off the market and stay true to your customers at the same time.

If a customer is not willing to put the money into a full Crestron system then those dealers shouldn't want that kind of "cheep customer" We all know where that leads. However with the Prodigy system it opens up a new market for Crestron, Without stepping on dealers territory. I would hope Crestron would allow the companys that already sell crestron acces to the line as it may be a market for them if they wanted it. As for us smaller companies I believe it may be a good thing. Allows us to test the waters with what control company we want to go with, and what we feel is best for our company and our customers.
The Bitterness of Poor Quality is Remembered Long after the Sweetness of Price is Forgotten! - Benjamin Franklin
Post 12 made on Sunday July 19, 2009 at 19:52
edizzle
Loyal Member
Joined:
Posts:
March 2005
5,916
i cant freaking wait for it. i have seen alot of c4 around and do not like it. i have worked my ass off to get to be a crestron dealer and dont like the fact that i have 3 shitty dealers around selling a polished turd (c4). i still have an arsenal of reasons to use us and the crestron line and seal most of my deals, but now i am sure i will never loose a client do to price differences. which i believe is very important in these trying times.
I love supporting product that supports me!
Post 13 made on Sunday July 19, 2009 at 23:41
MikeZTC
Senior Member
Joined:
Posts:
June 2007
1,325
I like the idea of Crestron having a lower cost product line to cater to finally cater to everyone else.

The details are starting to come together, but at this point its fraught with speculation. I'm still waiting for CEDIA with bated breath.

Here's the gossip I've heard. There have been posts here, IP, and Yahoo that get pretty deep.

- Prodigy will be sold through an alternate channel. If you're a prodigy dealer you won't have access to the two series' if you're a two series dealer you will have access to prodigy.

- It will not have the Crestron name on it - only Prodigy and the swirl.

- As previously mentioned, the line is wizard based (iMedia-ish), proprietary, and dirt cheap.

- Will include a processor/gateway/remote package, multi-room receiver, iPod dock, and in-wall touchpanel at release.

It's looking like CEDIA is going to be fun!
MikeZTC, CTS-D, CTS-I, DMC-E
Post 14 made on Monday July 20, 2009 at 01:12
Audio Atmosphere
Senior Member
Joined:
Posts:
September 2006
1,401
meh

I say bring it.. i know what Control4 has now and what they are coming out with and highly doubt ill ever lose a job to crestron lol.. i havnt yet ;)
BlackWire Designs
Post 15 made on Monday July 20, 2009 at 01:17
39 Cent Stamp
Elite Member
Joined:
Posts:
May 2007
17,515
On July 20, 2009 at 01:12, Audio Atmosphere said...
meh

I say bring it.. i know what Control4 has now and what they are coming out with and highly doubt ill ever lose a job to crestron lol.. i havnt yet ;)

Im going to make a prediction here in this thread. Bookmark it!

Within 5 years Audio Atmosphere switches to the blue team.

There i said it.. Lets see what happens :).
Avid Stamp Collector - I really love 39 Cent Stamps
Find in this thread:
Page 1 of 25


Jump to


Protected Feature Before you can reply to a message...
You must first register for a Remote Central user account - it's fast and free! Or, if you already have an account, please login now.

Please read the following: Unsolicited commercial advertisements are absolutely not permitted on this forum. Other private buy & sell messages should be posted to our Marketplace. For information on how to advertise your service or product click here. Remote Central reserves the right to remove or modify any post that is deemed inappropriate.

Hosting Services by ipHouse