> My distilled opinion is that they are not significantly better than a simple programmable thermostat for most people.

I'm only one data point, but my bill's been down by about a third over the last year.

I have two Nest thermostats (one upstairs, one down) and they're one of the best things I've done to my home. Beyond easy programmability and learning, I can easily put it to away via the phone app from anywhere. The AirWave feature has saved me some money too. I have had nothing but a great experience.

They do have a sensor that can detect and compensate if the unit is in direct sunlight. Maybe that feature needs tweaking.

I never heard of it before, but it seems like it addresses the major issues I have with programmable thermostats, which is that their UX is invariably like something from the 1960s.

Now if you could disable all that learning crap then we'd be talking.

You can disable that stuff. Once you turn learning off you can use it either as a normal thermostat or as a pre-programmed one.

I actually use our Nest as a normal thermostat that just looks great and can connect with my phone. It's awesome. I also like that it tells us our energy usage relative to everyone else.

I bought it because it's far and away the best looking thermostat out there and because it can connect with my phone. LOVE it for those reasons.

My major hassle with my Nest thermostat is the WiFi password. Try entering a long password into a device with no buttons.

You should only have to do it once, though.

What is a direct friend?

A friend, as opposed to a friend of a friend or someone on the internet