Mister_Tad
Prominent Member
Worth having a think about what happens when something breaks in some way. Like, something important since you're considering integrating items like alarm, heating etc that would rightly be considered critical infrastructure.
Do you want to have to drop everything to sort it out, or just make a call and say "fix plz" - this is what put me onto Control4 in spite of having the necessary skills to go full DIY.
IMO Control4 is a good balance between can-do and have-to-do. I think "exorbitant fee" for a "minor change" is overstated, but all depends on the dealer I guess - if you end up talking to any of them just be candid about how much involvement you want. It's possible to tinker when you want to tinker, but if you don't there's always a backup plan of picking up the phone and leaving it to them.
You're limited to paying dealer margins on Control4 hardware/software, but you can also use all manner of 3rd party hardware to do all manner of things too.
Expensive is relative - the hardware is almost certainly more expensive than DIY or all variety of other open systems, but depends on what value you place on your time. And not necessarily for install when if you're anything like me you'll be excited about playing with new toys and enjoy spending the time on it, but for 12 month down the line when you've gotten used to everything just working in a certain way and it stops.
Do you want to have to drop everything to sort it out, or just make a call and say "fix plz" - this is what put me onto Control4 in spite of having the necessary skills to go full DIY.
IMO Control4 is a good balance between can-do and have-to-do. I think "exorbitant fee" for a "minor change" is overstated, but all depends on the dealer I guess - if you end up talking to any of them just be candid about how much involvement you want. It's possible to tinker when you want to tinker, but if you don't there's always a backup plan of picking up the phone and leaving it to them.
You're limited to paying dealer margins on Control4 hardware/software, but you can also use all manner of 3rd party hardware to do all manner of things too.
Expensive is relative - the hardware is almost certainly more expensive than DIY or all variety of other open systems, but depends on what value you place on your time. And not necessarily for install when if you're anything like me you'll be excited about playing with new toys and enjoy spending the time on it, but for 12 month down the line when you've gotten used to everything just working in a certain way and it stops.
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