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[rick]

I find it very useful to have the actual
install software instead of just a "stub"
that downloads from x10.  What happens if
you rebuild a system and don't have or want
internet access?  Or if you want to roll
back to a previous revision because the new
version fix broke other things?

[jeff w]

Ditto!

[John N]

Mark me in that column as well.  Most
software updates are the actual software.

[bblackmoor]

This isn't rocket science. There MUST be a CD
that has the software for the hardware.
That's just so basic I am flabbergasted that
it's missing. Then, for people who want to
update (and I am sure I would be one of those
people), there needs to be a way to download
the update to ANY COMPUTER, which can then,
if needed, be burned to a CD and loaded on
the computer to which the CM15A is connected.
X10 controls my security system for my house:
I WILL NOT connect that computer to the
internet. Period. I paid for the hardware,
damn it, and if I can't get the software for
it without jumping through ridiculous hoops,
I am damn well returning it and buying that
Smarthome system insteasd.

You x10 guys, if you are reading this, have
until Tuesday to resolve this. (I don't
expect you to work over the weekend, of
course: that would be unreasonable.)

[jeff w]

He's got a point.  What are they protecting?

[ken]

"What are they protecting."

I sometimes stop at garage sales to look for
X10 devices, among other things.  They are
cheap and work with my setup, of course.

I could see X10 wanting to require
registration (and payment) for the software
if a CM15A was obtained second hand; getting
paid twice for the same product.

But, personally, that would prevent me from
purchasing a CM15A second hand and I believe
such a policy would seriously hurt X10's
reputation and revenue stream, *IF* they
adopted such a policy, that is.

I dislike being required to "register" for
any product.  I will tolerate some, but not
for long and my level of patience for abuse
from the company with that policy would
already be near the breaking point.
Naturally, I register with X10 to have
products shipped to me, and to receive
notification of sales. But, anything more
than that, and they would be on thin ice in
my opinion.  Abuse of my name or e-mail
address would result in swift action on my
part: privacy is paramount.

[mikey]

I also need A CD, this was my 1st question to
X-10, how do I get the software that I paid
for, it seems that X-10 only sold us
hardware, When I asked them this question
they responded:

Date: Tue, 28 Sep 2004 11:20:56 -0700 (PDT)
“Thank you for your inquiry. Unfortunately we
do not send out hard copies of the software,
it is all downloaded from our site. If you
need an untimed download sent to you please
let me know I will be more than happy to
email it to you.”

I have not pursued this issue yet (I’m
waiting for the software to mostly work). My
plan Is to install the software on an older
Pentium I Win 98 computer that is actually an
old cash register from Arby’s, it has a 9”
touch screen LCD color Monitor, perfect for
use as a Home control console, but it does
not have Internet access and I was not
planning on Networking it, How will X-10 deal
with this application?

[ken]

"If you need an untimed download sent to you
please let me know I will be more than happy
to email it to you."

Yes, it's a matter of *trustworthiness* and I
have to be honest here -- it does not help
X10's repuation to take this stance.

[bblackmoor]

Aside from the obvious problem of installing
Activehome on a computer which does not have
an internet connection (which is, quite
frankly, a ridiculous requirement), what if
X10 folds tomorrow, or simply decides to stop
supporting the software? Maybe they decide to
replace the CM15A with a CM15B, which uses
different software? There is no way for us to
install the software, which mean there is no
way to install the hardware! The CM15A
becomes a paperweight.

There MUST be a DIRECT DOWNLOAD of the ACTUAL
SOFTWARE, or at the very least a CD of it,
which can be stored on-site so that the user
can install (and, if needed, re-install) the
hardware (which they have paid for) AND the
software (which they have paid for) without
any further involvement from X10.

This is not negotiable, and I am quite peeved
that this even needs to be said. It probably
isn't the programmers' fault, either -- I am
a programmer myself for a large science and
reasearch company, and I can't imagine a
programmer doing anything so blatantly
stupid. It's probably the fault of some idiot
in a suit.

[bblackmoor]

I should be clear: the "live update" feature
is a GOOD idea. What is NOT a good idea is
making it a REQUIREMENT for installing or
updating the software. As an additional
OPTION, it's a terrific idea.

The more I think about this, the angrier I
get. Activehome Pro is X10's "next big
thing". Someone needs to be fired for
screwing it up so badly.

[bblackmoor]

Monday has come and gone, and there has been
no message saying "We are aware that this is
an issue, and we are working to resolve it.
The ActiveHome Pro software will be available
as a complete download in the next few days."

Well, maybe they were too busy actually
working on it to bother announcing it. We
shall see what tomorrow brings. If it doesn't
bring the above announcement, the CM15A goes
back to X10 for a refund.

[brian a]

I've been involved in several X10 beta tests
and I can tell you this is not unusual.  The
cost for authoring a new CD image every time
a major change has been made would be
prohibitive.

After the software has become more stable,
they may switch to a CD.  They did the same
thing with the CM11A.

[jeff w]

No one wants a CD - just a full, archivable
download

[russ]

NEED A CD!! I purchased other programs from
these folks in the past computer went to
never never land, went to reinstall and
guess what noone could provide me with a new
copy of what I already bought or my
registration key sorry, I buy .... I KEEP MY
OWN COPY OF THE FULL DEAL DO NOT CARE IF
SLIGHTLY AGED<<< OR SHOULDNT you be fully
developing this stuff before release? seems
like a really early beta if that.

[tim]

Your all BETA testers,

NO DOWNLOAD FOR YOU!