Nest Learning Thermostat

Pros: Beautiful design.

Cons: This is a beta product. Pure and simple. The system could not work well with my Apple Wi-Fi router. As a result the system lost power and I had to recharge it by connecting it to my computer.

Bottom line. This is not ready.

Summary: If you value your marriage you will not trust your AC to a beta product. I really really wanted this to work.

I desperately wanted to love Nest, the "learning" thermostat, that has been receiving a great deal of positive tech press. I really really did.

I loved it. The look of it.

There it is. Beautiful, isn't it?

Looks can deceive.

But, I should have listened to my Wife. Honey, you were right. As you often are. I'm sorry. There, I said it.

But, I admit it. I'm a sucker for new technology and shiny new toys. Yeah, My family had a Mac in 1984 at my insistence.

So after reading about the Nest for the past few months I decided to buy one on Amazon.com and then get it installed by a professional AC guy.

My Wife warned me. Installing a new thermostat in Washington, DC in the summer when it is 100 plus degrees out may not be a good idea. What if it breaks down?

It did.

She was right. Honey, you were right.

BUYING TECHNOLOGY SHOULD NOT IMPACT YOUR MARRIAGE

Buy a TV and it doesn't work. So what. You buy another one. No harm, no foul.

Buy a thermostat in 100 degree weather and it doesn't work, you have a possible divorce on your hands.

WHAT HAPPENED

I'll not bore you with the details other than:

Three days ago I had my Nest professionally installed by a very nice man from Air Treatment Company of Vienna, VA.

Today I turned on my Laptop Nest.com account to find a massive question mark ? where I usually see the temperature.

I called tech support and this is what they told me (see below)

TECH SUPPORT

First, let me say that tech support was very nice, very professional, but really not very helpful.

WHAT THEY SAID

You may have an issue with your Apple Wi-Fi router. As a result you'll need to reconfigure your router to specific settings.

Please call Apple support to do that.

(DID I FORGET TO TELL YOU THAT THE TOP DESIGNERS AND ENGINEERS ARE EX APPLE EMPLOYEES. THEY HELPED WITH THE IPAD, ETC..)

Ok. Let me say that again.

The company founded by Apple employees told me to, "Please call Apple support."

THE COMPANY FOUNDED BY APPLE EMPLOYEES CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO MAKE THEIR PRODUCT WORK WITH APPLE WI-FI ROUTERS.

Seriously.

Really.

OMG.

LESSONS LEARNED:

Thermostats should not be impulse purchases. When they break down, a lot more than not being able to watch the latest "Mad Men" is at stake here.

Shiny new objects are fun, just not when they heat and cool your home. Screw up with that and you are toast.

Listen to your Wife. Really. That is just good advice for pretty much everything in life. Bonus there.

Don't buy beta products when your life depends on them working.

Again, a beta website for social networking or even a phone is OK. You can iterate and fix bugs. When you have a product that can determine if you can live or die (heat and AC are pretty critical to life) don't buy a beta product. Don't do it.

SO, WHAT DID I END UP DOING:

After disconnecting the Nest from the wall and charging it (it had lost power) I decided to return it and go back to the safe and tried and true Honeywell Thermostat that simply worked.
We will see. I've called my service guy to come and re-install my "old" thermostat and I've printed out my Amazon.com return labels.
I've asked Nest to re-imburse me for the install charges and the re-install charges.
So far, I've not received word that they will do that. I'll let you know.

UPDATE 6.29 11 AM ET

I've returned the Nest to Amazon.com via UPS.
I've had the Nest uninstalled by my local AC guy who is awesome!
I'm on hold with Nest support figuring out my request to be reimbursed for install costs ($240)

UPDATE at 12:50 PM ET

I've talked to the head supervisor of Customer Service and because I did not purchase the install via Nest, they are refusing to refund the costs of the install and the uninstall. Even though I got the name of the install company (Air Treatment Company in Vienna, VA - awesome fyi) via the Nest website and they are a certified installer.

I asked to speak to someone else at the company.

UPDATE at 1:15 PM ET

Nest did the right thing. Finally, I got a call from the head of Customer Service Operations himself and he apologized and agreed to refund to me the cost of both the install and the uninstall fees ($240 total).

Thank You Nest.