******** vs. amx
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do many of you guys work with ******** as well as AMX? If so, have you noticed a swing in the amount of AMX you are installing vs. ********? Whose product line do you like better? Are there any reasons to use ******** over AMX? thanks.
Brian
Brian
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apparently you can't post the word
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on this message board because my last message was "censored." LOL....these guys have all the bases covered. i guess they didn't get voted the best place to work in DFW for nothing.
For whatever reason, my dealer in the Pacific NW doesn't do business with AMX (they use the other guys). Their issue is mostly historical: Some time ago, they found AMX to be quite difficult to work with, so they jumped ship and found that the ******** folks (censored by me!) were really easy to work with.
Since then (corporate name change - and back), management changes, etc, AMX might have been easier. But my dealer never had much reason to reconsider their decision.
In general, end customers don't seem to care. They want an automation system that works. If it's ******** or AMX, most end customers don't know the difference ...
It's actually that exact thing that makes me dislike C*******. You are stuck with canned solutions, and limited by the constraints of the "easy" programming interface. I like the fact that I can make an AMX product do exactly what I want it to do.
thanks for the response.
About a month ago I sent a private e-mail to a guy about this exact same question, AMX vs 'THEM'. The person who I won't mention sells both product lines and I felt he could give me a true un-biased view of these two companies. My department uses AMX for all our Multi-media classroom but another department has decided to go with 'THEM'.(strictly politics). The info that I was given was very good and without saying to much, this person perferred AMX for a number of reasons. Some things were the level of difficulty just to change a model/make of an IR device. AMX is much much easier. The drag/dope(I mean drop) software can be a real pain on larger systems and with all of the little symbols, it can get real difficult to follow. 'THEM' do have a larger product line but is it really beneficial? I have been using AMX for over 10 years and can honestly say that I have had very little issuses with the company and find the people that work there very helpful/ polite. There are a few things that I would like to see AMX do in the future and maybe they will. One of the best things they have done is to create this forum and to take the time out to listen what we the dealers/users have to say.
your insight is appreciated. what is it that you would like to see amx add/change?
Brian
I would like to see a controller with a 2-channel volume control built in. This would mean 1 less box to buy and mount. AMX could even package it with a small TP and you have a complete system ready for installation. I know 'THEM' have a similar system that also includes a matrix switcher, but I personnelly don't like a box that does everything because if it goes down your out of luck. Another thing is the way dealers are setup. I'm not sure about the USA but my local dealer has exclusive rights. This is fine because we have a good relationship with them(I use to work for them before here) but what if you don't have a good relationship with your dealer? Do you go to 'THEM' just because of the dealer not doing their job or you had a bad dealings with them in the past on another product line(Ex: they sell you some bad VCR's and won't stand behind them).
The problem with most answers you get when you ask your question is that most people cannot separate their emotions from the truth. I worked for AMX for 7 years before I went independent. I now program for both product lines. I still know a lot of people at AMX and love their support and product lines. While the two companies certainly offer different products, they are both as easy or hard to program, depending on your skill level and which type of programming method you understand. Both companies have excellent technical support and both have quality products. Yes, they do ship boxes out that don't work from time to time, but neither is any better or worse than the other guy. Depending on the system requirements, you might be able to find that one might be lower cost than the other guy. However, if you were to do an honest evaluation, you'd probably find that the next system or the one after that is exactly the opposite. While AMX doesn't have as many products as their competitor, many dealers find that they use third party devices any way and it doesn't hurt their sales at all.
The bottom line is that with either system, you simply need to find the products that best meet your customer's needs at the right price. If you understand programming of control systems, you can work with either one.
Don't let an emotional sales person or programmer try to tell you that one is better than the other. It simply isn't true.
Hope this helps.
Sheldon Samuels
IPS Resources LLC
I think both systems are equally capable but just different in approach, and each has their areas where they're better than the other, but not by miles. Which do I prefer? I feel lucky that I do both and have fun doing either system. Netlinx to Simpl+ is a relatively minor change, so you can always write stuff in code if you want (but you may well find you can do it faster in logic symbols once you get up to speed).
do you think amx has fully recovered from the panja debacle? what do you think about control 4?
has anyone used control4? any thoughts on it? i believe some of the control4 guys came from amx (from the phast acquisition).
Aggressive sales people who aren't pushy but get the job done and follow up. I know that I see the national manager more than my local AMX dealer.
Maybe AMX should re-evaluate some of their dealers and add another dealer in some areas. Not to compete against the other dealer but to get clients that would not normally deal with the existing dealer. Just some thoughts to start the ball rolling.
Fortunately AMX has done a good job with new products and their reliability seems to be what it should be and if they can get their sales efforts in line, they may even stand a chance to gain some customers back. You would think that they could use some of those profits to muscle their way into reviving a lot of their lost business. In my area they seem to continue to loose dealers to the C*** folks....
are AMX's marketing efforts not strong on the residential side of the business right now?
In Australia the prices can come out roughly the same but I am an AMX fan so even if it does come out more expensive than C******n then that is ok as I just remind the customer of the support and flexibility that I am able to offer them.
Not to mention that AMX is a far sexier product and everyone knows that sex sells
BTW: Great Forum AMX.
I have been designing & programming both brands of systems for many years.
We are a dealer for both as well.
I have watched both companies over the years as they have always been neck-in-neck with hardware and software. Face the fact, either systems can perform the same functionality as the other, and costs of the systems are also very comparable in $$$.
My personal preferences do come into play when I design a new system for a customer. My goal is to select the best system for that particular application along with profitability for my employer.
In a years time, we probably integrate 50/50 of each brand.
I think BOTH systems have their own respective PROS & CONS including hardware and software issues. Both companies also have very educated and knowledgable tech support personnel.
I do not hold a higher dedication to either brand of control system.
I refuse to let reps and factory sales people convice me that one is better than the other. They can beat on each other all they want. But the fact of the matter is that I am the designer/programmer/integrator, and I have to deal with the project on a daily basis and after the fact. So the end-all choice falls into my lap.
It is nice to have a choice!
VLCNCRZR
My good friend is a Cres regional rep and he calls me once a month to get me to go to the dark side. I'm waiting as he keeps increasing the kitty, he sends me t-shirts and glow pens all the time (my kids love the glow pens and the t-shirts work great when I wash my car!
I think AMX needs to go after the residental market more. In time to come this will be the biggest income.