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doechsli
join:2003-11-26
Louisville, KY

doechsli to pende_tim

Member

to pende_tim

Re: New Nest Thermostat- 2 stage

Did not mean to imply you had a "dog in this fight".....I am really trying to get educated on this next generation of thermo's.

Ken
MVM
join:2003-06-16
Markle, IN

Ken

MVM

It's basically the same market as Apple products. People that want advanced technology but don't want to learn indepth knowledge in order to use advanced technology. I like to tinker and modify things, so something like the nest is not for someone like me.

pende_tim
Premium Member
join:2004-01-04
Selbyville, DE

pende_tim

Premium Member

said by Ken:

It's basically the same market as Apple products. People that want advanced technology but don't want to learn indepth knowledge in order to use advanced technology. I like to tinker and modify things, so something like the nest is not for someone like me.

The guy behind Nest used to be some kind of big wig at Apple so that characterization is correct.

cdru
Go Colts
MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN

cdru to Ken

MVM

to Ken
said by Ken:

It's basically the same market as Apple products. People that want advanced technology but don't want to learn indepth knowledge in order to use advanced technology.

You're right about the same market as Apple products, but not for the reason you state. It's in the same market as Apple products because some people have an overwhelming desire to pay a premium for shiny thing that isn't functionally better than cheaper alternatives, but just because it's shiny. A coworker just yesterday saw the new Nest and said he would be willing to pay double for it just because it looks so good.
itguy05
join:2005-06-17
Carlisle, PA

itguy05

Member

said by cdru:

You're right about the same market as Apple products, but not for the reason you state. It's in the same market as Apple products because some people have an overwhelming desire to pay a premium for shiny thing that isn't functionally better than cheaper alternatives, but just because it's shiny. A coworker just yesterday saw the new Nest and said he would be willing to pay double for it just because it looks so good.

What premium is that? Apple laptops and desktops cost roughly the same as a similarly spec'ed Wintel machine. And they will most likely last longer and require less maintenance and upkeep than a comparable Windows machine. Wifey just got rid of her original White Macbook from 2006. Only reason was the battery was shot, it was running a little slow, and the HD was full. Not wanting to sink money into upgrades for a dead end machine we got her a new one.

iPhone still has it all over Android. Not necessarily spec sheet wars but in usability. I don't have to think about my iPhone, it just works. My Droid X was a mess and really not a good phone.

So I'm still trying to figure out the premium for functionality. If it were all about functionality we'd all be driving $11000 Nissan Versas. After all anything else is paying a premium for a shiny thing that isn't functionally better than cheaper alternatives.

bobrk
You kids get offa my lawn
Premium Member
join:2000-02-02
San Jose, CA
·SONIC

bobrk to cdru

Premium Member

to cdru
said by cdru:

said by Ken:

It's basically the same market as Apple products. People that want advanced technology but don't want to learn indepth knowledge in order to use advanced technology.

You're right about the same market as Apple products, but not for the reason you state. It's in the same market as Apple products because some people have an overwhelming desire to pay a premium for shiny thing that isn't functionally better than cheaper alternatives, but just because it's shiny. A coworker just yesterday saw the new Nest and said he would be willing to pay double for it just because it looks so good.

Oh my. I wish my technically inclined brethren would celebrate the application of technology to make things easier.

I'm sure that you guys all adjust your spark advance and retardation manually while you drive your vehicles, of course monitoring your fuel pressure for optimum performance. Not to mention those weekly lube jobs and brake adjustments.

I'm positive that you toast all your bread manually, not daring to trust something as silly as a bimetallic strip to make your toast perfectly brown.

I would be flabbergasted to hear that wash all your dishes and clothes with a machine instead of carefully by hand, examining each item carefully for any signs of contamination and wear. You wouldn't want to trust something as precious as clothes and dishes to the precarious whims of timers and microprocessors.
Dodge
Premium Member
join:2002-11-27

1 recommendation

Dodge to itguy05

Premium Member

to itguy05
said by itguy05:

What premium is that? Apple laptops and desktops cost roughly the same as a similarly spec'ed Wintel machine.

Not even close. And calling it Wintel is kind of stupid at this stage considering Macs are Intel based now, does that make the Mintels?
said by itguy05:

And they will most likely last longer and require less maintenance and upkeep than a comparable Windows machine.

This stopped being true since Win XP came out.
said by itguy05:

Wifey just got rid of her original White Macbook from 2006. Only reason was the battery was shot, it was running a little slow, and the HD was full. Not wanting to sink money into upgrades for a dead end machine we got her a new one.

Dell E1705 which was manufacturered somewhere around the time as the macbook you are describing still works great, battery is shot and one usb port doesn't work because soda was spilled on it, but no other issues.

At the same time I have a white macbook that the camera doesn't work, cd drive is broken, 2 bulging batteries thrown out and periodically it screams about some system board error, oh and the plastic casing is cracked because of the bulging battery
said by itguy05:

iPhone still has it all over Android. Not necessarily spec sheet wars but in usability. I don't have to think about my iPhone, it just works. My Droid X was a mess and really not a good phone.

OG Droid still works great and I use it for dev purposes, Droid Razr and Droid Razr Maxx both work without any issues. Razr fell on the floor about a hundred times since we had it (no case, no screen protector) and 0 damage. At the same time co-worker's iPhone 4S fell last week on a tiled floor in the office kitchen area - screen shattered, the phone still kind of worked, but the image was barely visible from the cracks and the touchscreen functionality was not working anymore. While setting up another co-workers iPhone 5 with exchange the phone froze twice.
said by itguy05:

So I'm still trying to figure out the premium for functionality. If it were all about functionality we'd all be driving $11000 Nissan Versas. After all anything else is paying a premium for a shiny thing that isn't functionally better than cheaper alternatives.

Do you really need a list of features that more expensive cars have that the Versa doesn't that are functionally different and not just a shiny toy things?

Personally I don't care if people buy iPhone 5 or SGS III, Macbook or a Asus, Nest thermostat or Honeywell, Bentley or a Versa - it's your money do with it whatever you wish. What I can't stand (and the only reason why I responded to every point in your post), is when the discussion starts with a thermostat in a HOME IMPROVEMENT forum, and all of a sudden it's the "Wintel sucks and android with it" post. Was that really necessary?

Jack_in_VA
Premium Member
join:2007-11-26
North, VA

Jack_in_VA

Premium Member

Dodge: +1

bobrk
You kids get offa my lawn
Premium Member
join:2000-02-02
San Jose, CA
·SONIC

bobrk to Dodge

Premium Member

to Dodge
said by Dodge:

said by itguy05:

What premium is that? Apple laptops and desktops cost roughly the same as a similarly spec'ed Wintel machine.

Not even close. And calling it Wintel is kind of stupid at this stage considering Macs are Intel based now, does that make the Mintels?

MacTels.
itguy05
join:2005-06-17
Carlisle, PA

1 edit

itguy05 to Dodge

Member

to Dodge
said by Dodge:

Not even close. And calling it Wintel is kind of stupid at this stage considering Macs are Intel based now, does that make the Mintels?

Yes, close. Hint - Look at Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc's BUSINESS CLASS lines, not the consumer stuff.

And It's a label for a Windows/Intel machine. Since Linux can also run on Intel and now that Win 8 is due out for ARM there needs to be a distinction.
quote:
This stopped being true since Win XP came out.
Not true. XP is bad from a security, performance, and reliability standpoint.
quote:
Do you really need a list of features that more expensive cars have that the Versa doesn't that are functionally different and not just a shiny toy things?
Like what? IIRC that Versa has 4 wheels, an engine, loads of airbags, Cd player, A/C, ABS, gets decent gas mileage and will get you and 3 friends from point A to B. So why buy anything but the cheapest car you can get?
quote:
What I can't stand (and the only reason why I responded to every point in your post), is when the discussion starts with a thermostat in a HOME IMPROVEMENT forum, and all of a sudden it's the "Wintel sucks and android with it" post. Was that really necessary?
I didn't start with the "Apple People" bashing. I too could care less. It is interesting that technology brings out these sort of emotions when it's one of the few things people are so proud of how cheap they can be. I'd bet none of the people bashing the Nest, Apple, or Bentley crowds own the Nissan Versa which is the cheapest car in America and serves the same purpose and has many of the same features as whatever much more expensive car does.

Back to the topic, I'm not going to reply any more as to not further derail this conversation.

Jack_in_VA
Premium Member
join:2007-11-26
North, VA

Jack_in_VA

Premium Member

A cheap programmable thermostat like a Honeywell will do exactly what is needed so why buy anything but the cheapest thermostat you can get?
itguy05
join:2005-06-17
Carlisle, PA

1 recommendation

itguy05

Member

said by Jack_in_VA:

A cheap programmable thermostat like a Honeywell will do exactly what is needed so why buy anything but the cheapest thermostat you can get?

Same reason not everyone drives the cheapest car in America. They want different things.
Dodge
Premium Member
join:2002-11-27

Dodge to itguy05

Premium Member

to itguy05
said by itguy05:

Yes, close. Hint - Look at Dell, HP, Lenovo, etc's BUSINESS CLASS lines, not the consumer stuff.

Macs are not business machines. Keeping them integrated in an office environment is a GIANT pain in the ass, so comparing them to business machines is wrong. Even Apple doesn't want to deal with the business side officially hence the discontinued OSX servers.
said by itguy05:

Not true. XP is bad from a security, performance, and reliability standpoint.

IS bad, keyword IS, not was when it came out. OSX 10.4 or whatever the version was at the time was no picnick.
said by itguy05:

Like what? IIRC that Versa has 4 wheels, an engine, loads of airbags, Cd player, A/C, ABS, gets decent gas mileage and will get you and 3 friends from point A to B. So why buy anything but the cheapest car you can get?

Seriously? Like try putting a child seat into a Versa, it's doable, but you are going to hate your life afterwards and while you are at it try to figure out where to shove the stroller, because it will never fit into the so called trunk. Like try keeping kids entertained with no enterntainment system when you are going more than 5 miles somewhere. Like dual zone climate control (see how back on topic we are here) because you are dying of heat while other people in the car are just fine. Leather seats are not a luxury for some people, especially for someone who's ever tried getting food stains out of the upholstery or smoke. I can give you more examples if necessary.
said by itguy05:

I didn't start with the "Apple People" bashing. ....

Yeah you did.
said by itguy05:

Back to the topic, I'm not going to reply any more as to not further derail this conversation.

I love this statement, I belive it translates into "I spewed some random garbage into an internet forum, but since I actually got called out on it, I don't want to play anymore".

bobrk
You kids get offa my lawn
Premium Member
join:2000-02-02
San Jose, CA
·SONIC

bobrk to Jack_in_VA

Premium Member

to Jack_in_VA
said by Jack_in_VA:

A cheap programmable thermostat like a Honeywell will do exactly what is needed so why buy anything but the cheapest thermostat you can get?

And yet most people don't bother to program their thermostats because it's too hard. That's what this solves.

Obviously when I say "most people," I don't mean anyone in this room.
Dodge
Premium Member
join:2002-11-27

Dodge

Premium Member

said by bobrk:

said by Jack_in_VA:

A cheap programmable thermostat like a Honeywell will do exactly what is needed so why buy anything but the cheapest thermostat you can get?

And yet most people don't bother to program their thermostats because it's too hard. That's what this solves.

Obviously when I say "most people," I don't mean anyone in this room.

Programmable thermostats are scary We have a honywell touchscreen thermostat in our office that I had to put a lockbox around because people couldn't figure out how to use it properly. Now we have a list of authorized thermostat users
itguy05
join:2005-06-17
Carlisle, PA

itguy05 to Dodge

Member

to Dodge
quote:
Macs are not business machines. Keeping them integrated in an office environment is a GIANT pain in the ass, so comparing them to business machines is wrong. Even Apple doesn't want to deal with the business side officially hence the discontinued OSX servers.

You do realize there is an OSX Server OS, just not the server hardware. And considering few bought them it made sense to discontinue them.

Maybe for a Windows admin who is used to only MS junk it's hard to integrate Macs but for those of us who know it's about the same as integrating Linux, AIX, or any other UNIX into AD. And another hint, AD is loosely based on LDAP which means you can connect it relatively easily.

When I was a Windows admin, most could not think outside the box or do much with non Microsoft stuff. Shame really as there's a whole better world outside besides Microsoft's software.
quote:
IS bad, keyword IS, not was when it came out. OSX 10.4 or whatever the version was at the time was no picnick.
Having used OSX from 10.2 to today XP is what drove me to OSX. It was better.
quote:
Seriously? Like try putting a child seat into a Versa, it's doable, but you are going to hate your life afterwards and while you are at it try to figure out where to shove the stroller, because it will never fit into the so called trunk. Like try keeping kids entertained with no enterntainment system when you are going more than 5 miles somewhere. Like dual zone climate control (see how back on topic we are here) because you are dying of heat while other people in the car are just fine. Leather seats are not a luxury for some people, especially for someone who's ever tried getting food stains out of the upholstery or smoke. I can give you more examples if necessary.
Seriously? My parents did it in some of the midsize sedans of the 80's just fine. And for fun, my Mom did it in her Mustang 2. I routinely took 7 hour trips with no entertainment center but a book and my imagination in the back of said 80's sedan. (And with Dad puffing away in the front but that's another topic.) Then again my parents were parents and didn't just plop me in front of a TV or whatever and let them be my parents.

None of those things are necessary or needed. About the only time you'd need something bigger is more than 2 kids.
quote:
Yeah you did.
No, actually it was cdru with this:
quote:
You're right about the same market as Apple products, but not for the reason you state. It's in the same market as Apple products because some people have an overwhelming desire to pay a premium for shiny thing that isn't functionally better than cheaper alternatives, but just because it's shiny. A coworker just yesterday saw the new Nest and said he would be willing to pay double for it just because it looks so good.
quote:
I love this statement, I belive it translates into "I spewed some random garbage into an internet forum, but since I actually got called out on it, I don't want to play anymore".

Nope, feel free to PM me and we'll start a topic in General info, computers, cars, whatever. Really don't want to derail this topic any more.