Annual review of my investment in time and money

[robmac 173]

This is the second anniversary of the first time I got to a point where my HC2 got to a state that I considered that it did the basics of automation.

So another year and again I am back to where I was two years ago. Stable but basic system. HC2 does little more for me now than it did back then.

The one thing (plugins) that would make it better is still locked away and no indication when it will be with us.

Every change to the system is risky and can go wrong.

The limitations on global variables in lua cripples good development and to what advantage?

I could have written a system based on on open source in less time than it has taken me to get here for the third time.

So it is time to challenge FIBARO with some big questions.

Why should I hang around and be loyal and buy your future products?

What are you offering me(anyone) as a customer?

Is this third time lucky and everything now will be forward not a return route to the same place in a years time?

It is clear to me that HC2 is no closer now to the glossy marketing than when I invested. Why is it still not a lot better and when will it be the product the marketing promised?

[1152 33]

+1

 

So far there has not been a better alternative. The question is, while Fibaro is treading water, is everybody else also at a stand still?

[deanrparry 19]

robmac I would actually argue a point against you here!

My hc2 does less than it did before... But what it does do now it seems to do quicker!

Still devices not working now that did before... Especially ZWave.me devices!

But I am willing to hold fire until end of the year then it's make or break for me! Can I get you to stick around that long?

[deanrparry 19]

Fibaro wouldn't give two shits about losing me as a customer, but you? Different kettle of fish!

[akatar 208]

Fibaro wouldn't give two shits about losing me as a customer, but you? Different kettle of fish!

 

i'm sorry?

they really don't care

 

if they do care, they will respond more on this forum.

 

they are king in ignoring people/

[KristianO 15]

Since Robmac is one of the biggest contributers and best(?) LUA developers we got i REALLY hope Fibaro takes this serious with an honest replay.

[sonnyboy 11]

+1

[djesko 1]

+1

[blawre0000 1]

Yup we really don’t want to loose people Robmac and Krikroff just because Fibaro don't appear to be taking any notice of us the paying customers.

 

Brian

 

[SirMaggot 12]

I think the worst part is that nobody is answering our questions.

It's not hard to be open about the developement and tell us when and whats going to be released...

[1152 33]

In short I would say Fibaro don´t have a good grip on on their sw development. They finally got 3.xxx sort of ironed out, but the V4xxx release that should fix the fundamental problems inherent in 3.xxx could let us to believe the don´t have the zwave basics in place.  If so the hotfix approach to the V4.xx may have been a wrong turn. I say Fibaro is probably in a decision making process on how to proceed, or in a to early phase of what ever they decided on, to know when they have a solid new sw to offer. Hence better not to say anything, than (again) fool there customers with statements/promises they can't deliver on.

[akatar 208]

 

Yup we really don’t want to loose people Robmac and Krikroff just because Fibaro don't appear to be taking any notice of us the paying customers.

 

Brian

 

 

we don't but fibaro don't care

[Dalle1985 16]

Another one bites the dust! Welcome to the club Rob! I have more or less given up on fibaro and this forum... I am focusing on getting my own system to work using a razberry as my interface device. Fibaro has become a bit of a joke imho. Too bad, because they really were showing some of the right stuff to create a really good home automation system, but their lack of support and half a**ed updates just don't cut it!

Also some of the new products they have been flaunting turned out to be vaporware (anyone still expecting to see those CO-detectors any time soon, ehh?)... Anyway, I still use the box as a bridge, but have more or less given up on Fibaro all together.

[1152 33]

 Dalle, you are about right - the community is on it´s knees praying for Fibaro - and their own investment in time and money. It is getting close to the time where major players will "cut loss".

[robmac 173]

All,

Thanks for your kind words and accolades. Blush , blush. But I am not saying I am leaving, I am just asking FIBARO for some affirmation that this time next year I will not feel short changed again.

I desperately want to like FIBARO as a company and for them to succeed. I have invested a lot of time and I do not want to feel scammed. I am no fan of Apple, Google and Samsung taking over the home automation world so I want FIBARO to do something great and put a ding in Apple's universe but I am not seeing a world beating performance just now.

It is not that some of the people that work for FIBARO are not great ( time for you to blush Andrew and Kristian among many) but the product is just not delivering what was promised and that does not make me feel that it is sensible to invest more in it as it can't have a future unless it is brilliant.

So any comment? Is it third time lucky or this time next year will I be admitting to my wife that I got it wrong?

[sj3fk3 27]

I don't think they will reply and I don't think it's because they (the ones who are on this forum) don't care. Fibaro is clearly investing a lot in marketing and design, but not enough on (software) development. I think it would be better to invest more in development (resources, skills and methodes). Squash those pesky bugs (some that have been known for more then 6 months!) Then deliver the promised functionality and only then move forward with new shiny hardware.

[j.nowacki 5]

robmac, I am very sorry you feel that way. Indeed the latest updates turned out different than we were hoping for, but I can assure you we do not neglect it and try to learn from that experience. All the latest events caused many changes in the way we work (more frequent updates) and enforced additional supervision over bugs that appear. I do not want to promise you anything, all I can say is that we took our lesson seriously and invested a lot of time and effort in reorganizing our teams to improve the situation. Please give us a little longer so the effects have time to become visible. I also want to thank you personally for all the time and heart you have already put in this community.

[MrMxyzptlk 10]

Thank you J. Nowacki and Robmac for honest feedback and answers.

I know that Fibaro has a lot riding on a successful US launch, and while there have been major issues, I am confident this will be worked out and we will have a top tier home automation platform at some point this year.

 

Keep up the positive forward momentum Fibaro!

[robmac 173]

robmac, I am very sorry you feel that way. Indeed the latest updates turned out different than we were hoping for, but I can assure you we do not neglect it and try to learn from that experience. All the latest events caused many changes in the way we work (more frequent updates) and enforced additional supervision over bugs that appear. I do not want to promise you anything, all I can say is that we took our lesson seriously and invested a lot of time and effort in reorganizing our teams to improve the situation. Please give us a little longer so the effects have time to become visible. I also want to thank you personally for all the time and heart you have already put in this community.

Thanks for your honest reply. It really helps to know that changes have been made so this will be third time lucky.

I look forward to this time next year posting a review of a good year and a fantastic product.

[twanve 18]

@Nowacki

Maybe an idea, invite both people (Robmac and Krikroff) to you office and shows what you all do.
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