I'm unimpressed with the Nest, because I had a thermostat in the 1980s that did everything it does, except the iPhone connection. It cost lesss than $200.

Does it do anything for you that a cheaper model can't? How often would you use the fancy features?

The amount of problems you will have will depend on your current system and wiring. In some cases the thermostat needs a C wire. Most older systems don't have this wire. I have also read the first generation Nest did not support 2-stage equipment. It may also have difficulties with heat pumps.

The Nest customer service department is not staffed by trained HVAC technicians. There are better thermostats with proven track records.

Well how about mentioning a couple! You can't leave me hanging...

The Honeywell Vision Pro IAQ has many nice features. It is meant to be professionally installed, but I think most DIYers can handle it. The Ecobee thermostat is also supposed to be good, but I have no experience with it.

Yes theyâÂÂre sexy but will they be around in 5-years or will they be an âÂÂalso ranâ like others that have come & gone?

SR

I almost ordered a Nest with my new HVAC system this spring. Like you, I did some research first and concluded it's a flaky unit and in addition to a high failure rate, it tries to outsmart the homeowner with it's own idea of "setback". I opted instead for the iComfort wifi. it's awesome but I did have one quit after 3 months. a tech replaced it with a new unit the same day I called in for service. it keeps the house temp extremely stable--while the Nest gets complaints about it's wide temp variations.

Yeah, I've decided not to get it. A friend of mine has one in his 60's era house and loves it; but there are just too many people with major electrical problems - it is readily apparent that installing one of these is a crap shoot I'm not willing to take at $200.

As long as you confirm it works with your system its an amazing unit. We have one is love it. Everyone else we know who has one loves it and has had no problems. I find if you go looking for problems on the internet, you are going to find them. Especially with a popular product.