I am a consumer looking to install a complete home system - all the bells and whistles. I have gotten some initial feedback on a Crestron system - very pricey, and seemingly at the mercy of a programming guru in the years ahead as changes are made. I know nothing abou AMX, and have made no inquiries into this line - seems almost interchangeable w/Crestron...?

Someone put me on to the prospect of a Savant system which, as far as I can tell, may afford a more flexible and "next-generation" appeal in terms of equipment, programming ease, and interface, and maybe less expensive?

Pluses = per above.

Negatives = New company...what happens if they go broke - is the system down the drain? Salvageable?

These forums are quite helpful, but I do question "objectivity" of all, as many people are partial to a given product line based upon their vested interests.

I do need to make a decision very soon - suggestions, advice?

You think Crestron is pricey? Savant is even more money. Although I don't think that Savant is going anywhere because they have too much money.

If you can't afford Crestron/Savant/AMX then you might consider:

Prodigy (a new Crestron line of more affordable products)

HAI's OmniPro II system

Or, dare I say it, Control4.

You will always be at the mercy of a programming guru, no matter which system you install, unless you want to completely wreck the system by going into the programming yourself and making a mess. In fact, designing a system and its programming, at the end of the day, is more important than the actual make & model of the system itself. Some company can take cartons of, say, Crestron hardware, and if the system isn't designed and programmed properly it will be nothing more than a waste of time and money, and a complete headache. So, rather than choosing a certain manufacturer, you should be looking into the various installation companies that work in your area, checking their references, and looking at some of their past installations. Then choose.

Well said.

I guess my main concern, price aside, and all other things being equal in terms of competent programming, is whether the Savant system is legitimately more software/hardware evolved and programmer/user friendly than the rest. If it's not, then what possibly can be their niche and what's the point?

A newcomer better have something strong going for it that makes people like me turn away from the more conventional choices!

1. Savant's hardware/software is built around the extremely stable and reliable Mac OSX platform.

2. Savant's GUI has a cool-factor that's to die for.

So, there's that.