Re: [LHA-misc] lonworks

[John <jk...@pr...>]

On Thu, 2 Nov 2000, Neil Cherry wrote:

> I just had an interesting conversation with a vendor on Lonworks. His take
> is that Lonworks is already here and in large scale production.

Lonworks salesmen are quite passionate about their product aren't
they?  Yes, they seem to be very big in high margin businesses: commercial
power and home theatre (Phast).

I got into an argument with FredG on CHA about two years ago for my
opinion: their business model is completely backwards.  Instead of
providing a free or low cost development environment and making money off
the modules, the modules are inexpensive but their development environment
is extraordinarily expensive.  Garage developers need not apply.

Except for Phast and *maybe* the power companies transmitting rate info
using the LON protocol over power-lines I've seen very little use of
Lonworks in HA (lighting, HVAC, security, entertainment equipment).

Sure, there's an appnote somewhere for the Lonworks controlled
lightbulb ($20 parts 'n labor).  But I've seen the same for a PIC
processor ($5 parts 'n labor).

Even if someone *does* introduce a line of LON controled HA devices,
that's just a driver and an interface away from being a LinuxHA device,
eh?

We've got little to worry about from LON.