Dealers Ambivalent, Excited About Vista

Vista is no longer on the vista.

The new Windows operating system is here, shipping since Jan. 31. But while many geeky consumers waited in line at CompUSA to snap up new Vista-enabled PCs, custom integrators were waiting and wondering what Vista would mean to their businesses.

We asked CE Pro readers what they think about Vista, how they would incorporate it into their own business operations, and if they would recommend it to their customers.

Dozens of integrators responded, expressing every sentiment from outright enthusiasm to determination to switch to Apple. But most are in no hurry to bring on Vista, saying they'll evaluate it themselves, ease it into the businesses, and eventually determine how it might work for their clients.

"I plan, as with others, to implement Vista into our business gradually," says Bruce Spencer of B.I.S. Technologies, Bakersfield, Calif. "As with most new operating systems, there are always bugs to be hammered out."

B.I.S. bought a single Vista license for an office computer. "We will use this for testing and experimenting with," says Spencer.

Vista In-house

Most integrators surveyed are worried about compatibility issues with their preferred software. "I have already been informed by QuickBooks that some aspects of its program will not work with Vista at this time," says Doc Greene, president of Audio Video Designers, Katy, Texas. "I will wait six months to a year for the security problems and bugs to be eliminated before I upgrade."

If Greene happens to be using proposal and product management software from BidMagicAV, he's in good shape. At the Electronic House Expo in March, BidMagic was expected to show version 2007 of its software "fully redesigned to integrate with Windows XP, Vista and Office 2007," according to principal Rich Riehl.

Integrators also wonder how Vista will work with home-control programming software. "I am curious as to how quickly companies like URC, Xantech, Sonos, Russound, etc., will be to get new updates for Vista," says Mike Bruemmer of Cincinnati-based Mt. Lookout Television and Electronics. "With all of the other things going on with their products, now they also have to add in the Vista update."

For the most part, manufacturers are working on it, they tell CE Pro. Derek Jensen, spokesperson for Vantage/ Legrand, says that Vantage will continue to support Windows XP "as long as Microsoft does," but the company is updating its Design Center programming software "so that it will seamlessly work with Vista as well as XP," Jensen says.

In the meantime, he explains, "If our dealers want to upgrade to Vista, they can. We have provided a work-around until the next revision of Design Center."

Vista in the Home

While most integrators seem to agree about Vista in their offices, they differ wildly about Vista in their customers' homes, particularly when it comes to Media Center applications. Some are optimistic, some say "no way," and others want to wait and see.

"It is a great price point for high-risk, do-it-yourself clients and us [installers/ integrators]," says Edgard Quiroz of 21st Century Home & Video. For his customers, however, "The platform still is too fragile and riddled with support issues."

Other dealers intend to stick with their old reliable dedicated media servers from integration-friendly vendors. SimpleHome in Westborough, Mass., is an "IT-heavy" integration company, according to president Mark Komanecky.

The company works with a number of IP-based platforms like HomeLogic, Control4 and Escient, but finds "standard Microsoft platforms to be unstable relative to dedicated 'non-PC' platforms. … In addition, we expect Vista to have the usual number of Microsoft bugs/patches before it becomes somewhat stable."

Komanecky looks forward to the launch of Apple TV.

But Vista has its share of enthusiastic pros. "We are very excited about Windows Vista, primarily with the new Windows Media Center touchscreen features," says Josh Ferguson of Denver-based Mile High Automation.

"This will allow our clients to use larger touchscreens with the HAI Media Center plug-in. I feel Vista will also provide the bridge between our clients' digital music and their Russound/Nuvo multiroom audio systems. With Windows XP this was possible to do, but took a fair amount of tweaking and did not feel like a professional solution."

Mark P. DiPietro of Custom Home Integrations, Mooresville, N.C., is also excited about the integration capabilities built into Vista Media Center. "From an integration standpoint, we think it is going to be awesome based on the numerous possibilities with various control systems (e.g., Lifeware and Crestron) and incorporating it into our whole-home concept."

Lifeware was mentioned by many of the Vista fans. The software's maker, Exceptional Innovation, has been arguably the most visible Media Center advocate in the integration space, even when Lifeware was running on XP. But Lifeware was developed with Vista in mind, and integrators can't wait.

"Vista seems to be the platform that companies such as Lifeware have been counting on," says Scott Combs of Atlantic Home Technologies, Jacksonville, Fla. "Our company is in the process of opening a new showroom, and Lifeware will be taking a large role in the new place."

Combs says his company has "stayed away from Media Center PCs for the most part to this point, but it's hard to deny that the future of A/V and automation will be IP based. I believe that just as Windows introduced the everyday person to the Internet, Vista will introduce the everyday person to A/V and automation."

Finally, there's the large chunk of CE pros who are simply resigned to Vista. In other words, they're a lot like Tom Sheppard, president of FutureLink, Inc., in Broomfield, Colo.

"We will need to have some balance in our decision as to when to implement Vista," he says. "In regards to A/V gear, if we wait too long, our clients will become impatient. If we move too quickly, it could cost us a lot of money working out the bumps."

He adds, "Some of our clients do not understand the need to wait for the second version. Some of our competitors are offering Vista right away. I think it is a dangerous move to implement it in a high-net-worth client's home at this point. We will be on standby but nimble."