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- Design and form factor This thing is beautiful. And if you have a small hole in your wall for your wiring, even more beautiful flush mounted to the wall.
- Ease of use It's basically the original click wheel iPod, except a physical ring rather than slide your thumb on a track, or it can be remotely managed via app or browser.
Detailed review
I purchased the Nest about three weeks ago, and have absolutely loved it.
The Nest is essentially a programmable thermostat. But it's how it's programmed and how you interface with it that set it apart from anything else on the market. Sure, you can program it just like any other programmable thermostat, but that isn't all. It learns your habits, and can then adjust your programming accordingly. Let's say that like me, you have a household who's schedule has a tendency to shift. Simply by adjusting the temperature (no programming needed at all) you'll make things more comfortable immediately. However, the Nest is smart and knows that this could just be a one time adjustment. But if it sees the same adjustment at the same time consistently, it will automatically change your programming to that temperature on that day without any effort on your part.
On top of this, the Nest has proximity sensors to detect your presence. If it doesn't see you for a while, it will go to Auto Away Mode, and conserve energy, only heating or cooling to a temperature you specify for the mode. When you come home and walk by it a couple times, it will pick up that you're back and resume normal heating or cooling. It will also let you know how long it was in the mode, saving you money. The prox sensor also detects your very close presence when you go to adjust the thermostat and auto illuminates the display so it isn't constantly on. Nothing that saves you money here, but just one of those little things that you see and think "That's awesome they thought to do that."
Since the Nest has built-in wireless, it can automatically connect to the Internet to pick up updates to firmware that can add new features and tune algorithms. But that Internet connection also lets you remotely monitor and adjust your thermostat, which may be the coolest feature of all. Say you forgot to adjust the thermostat before you left, and it's still learning? No problem. Whip out your laptop, iOS or Android device and fix the issue. Leave the house for vacation and didn't set the manual Away Mode? Problem solved. Need to switch from heat to cool for an unseasonably warm day? Easy as cake.
The device does carry a hefty price tag of $250, but in my opinion, it will return that investment easily, since I live in a cold weather state. If you're a geek and love to save money on your energy bills, you've GOT to have one of these!
The Nest is essentially a programmable thermostat. But it's how it's programmed and how you interface with it that set it apart from anything else on the market. Sure, you can program it just like any other programmable thermostat, but that isn't all. It learns your habits, and can then adjust your programming accordingly. Let's say that like me, you have a household who's schedule has a tendency to shift. Simply by adjusting the temperature (no programming needed at all) you'll make things more comfortable immediately. However, the Nest is smart and knows that this could just be a one time adjustment. But if it sees the same adjustment at the same time consistently, it will automatically change your programming to that temperature on that day without any effort on your part.
On top of this, the Nest has proximity sensors to detect your presence. If it doesn't see you for a while, it will go to Auto Away Mode, and conserve energy, only heating or cooling to a temperature you specify for the mode. When you come home and walk by it a couple times, it will pick up that you're back and resume normal heating or cooling. It will also let you know how long it was in the mode, saving you money. The prox sensor also detects your very close presence when you go to adjust the thermostat and auto illuminates the display so it isn't constantly on. Nothing that saves you money here, but just one of those little things that you see and think "That's awesome they thought to do that."
Since the Nest has built-in wireless, it can automatically connect to the Internet to pick up updates to firmware that can add new features and tune algorithms. But that Internet connection also lets you remotely monitor and adjust your thermostat, which may be the coolest feature of all. Say you forgot to adjust the thermostat before you left, and it's still learning? No problem. Whip out your laptop, iOS or Android device and fix the issue. Leave the house for vacation and didn't set the manual Away Mode? Problem solved. Need to switch from heat to cool for an unseasonably warm day? Easy as cake.
The device does carry a hefty price tag of $250, but in my opinion, it will return that investment easily, since I live in a cold weather state. If you're a geek and love to save money on your energy bills, you've GOT to have one of these!
good review!
7 people find this review helpful
kolebee