How the iPad Will Shatter Touchscreen Pricing

@Eyah ... you know I was joking, right?

@Eyal ... you know I was joking, right?

@Julie: Same here

It’s great to see such a pationate responses.

However, just like many other changes in other industries - hardware is becoming a commodity. Margins on hardware are slowly sliding away and I understand the pain some of the integrators are going through.

That being said, this change brings a tremendous opportunity for generating revenue. It’s an opportunity to shine as a knowledgable professional and demonstrate the added value the integrator bring to a project.

Rather than struggling to make one more buck on the hardware, the integrator can make two or thre more bucks for his/her knowledge and expertise.

There is no doubt the iPad is a game changer and will expose the home control to more customers we could have imagined. Apple is doing us a huge “favor” by promoting this device to the mass market.

Needless to say how easier it would be to sell the iPad as a remote control device rather than the existing, more expensive touch panels. Whoever embraces this business model, would benefit from constantly increasing market.

I can’t wait to get my hand on one and test it with….

“@MCE integrator ... you oversimplify.

What if it’s an emergency and you MUST turn up the thermostat right away?!”

Hahaha, I love it!

I have a signed contract, and deposit from a customer that will be using 2 ipads (bid him for ipod touchs, but will change order for ipads if they work out they way we think), as well as an all-in-one touch computer in his kitchen, as our primary control devices.  (The Kitchen PC is locked down, and can be used for general purposes, but after 10 minutes of inactivity it will run my automation app, so when my customer first comes to the computer, it is ready to go.  Also, still believe that there is no substitute for hard buttons in the theater, so we’ll be using a nice universal remote in there).  By using these low cost touch devices, I have dropped my bid dramatically, but with labor and other parts, I still have a 40% margin (before business costs).  Yes, I would make more money if my bid was double, but I wouldn’t have landed this job.  I just don’t see why anyone would have a hard time with a larger qualified customer base, because of a lower overall priced system.

My customer loves the idea of using the iPad as his control device.  If you have ever used a Windows tablet for a wireless touch screen I can see why you get hung up on the dedicated device aspect. (it just plain sucks) The ipod works perfectly, I haven’t tried an ipad yet, but I don’t see how the ipad can’t improve upon it, with a bigger screen, faster processor, and better network connection.

Has anyone else seen the ipod touch commercial that shows a home automation app?  I tried to find it on the internet, but couldn’t.  It’s hard to complain about apple advertising home automation.  “If you can’t beat em join em.”

@MCE, I’m with you. People know what the iPhone and iPad are.  They don’t know what a home automation system is.

Much easier to open doors with an iPad than with a lighting and thermostat control system.

Looks like command fusion has the connection issue tamed http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEbdEt4tFd0

Wow, this thing rocks! We’ve got the ipad bluetooth conected to a bluetooth receiver that is connected to a matrix. Covers three rooms. Great for Pandora app.

Are you all serious? The I-pad will adapt to whatever it needs to. To think that it could not or will never emulate a control system touch panel in the near future you are kidding yourselves. I wouldn’t doubt that control manufactures concede before the real damage is done and have their own Apple built specific I-Panels. This is a game changer and that the end of the argument. Oh and apple won’t be the only player. Like the I-phone there are plenty of I-clones as well and so there will there be I-Pad clones. All will be in AV show rooms in one form or another. Change is good, challenging and as always scary. Let’s just get to work with soooo many tools.

Why is it that all of the guys who just KNOW this is a game changer somehow dont know that ALL of the control system manufacturers already have a solution for using the iPad with their product.

Crestron Control4 AMX Savant etc can all be controlled via the iPhone/iPad. Whether its their own app like Crestron Mobile or a product like iridium for AMX or command fusion for both.

The ONLY issue that has ever stood before the iPad and being a low cost replacement is the connection issue. That and the fact that if it breaks you throw it out and buy a new one because you cant get it repaired.