"Just consider whether you prefer automation or manual tweaking...that usually helps narrow down the choice."
That's a great point. Personally, I lean toward having a bit more control myself. I've had SageGlass in our office building for about a year now, and being able to adjust the tint manually has been surprisingly handy. Like there was this one afternoon meeting where the predictive settings were just a bit off (probably due to some weird weather patterns), and the glare was getting pretty distracting. Took me all of two seconds to tweak it manually—problem solved.
But honestly, either way you go, you're gonna notice such a huge difference in comfort levels. The reduction in heat and glare is seriously underrated until you've experienced it firsthand. Plus, energy bills definitely dropped after we installed ours, so that's another nice bonus. Not sure if anyone's mentioned it yet, but maintenance-wise these things have been pretty much set-and-forget for us...haven't had any issues so far.
Yeah, manual control can definitely save you some headaches. I've seen automated systems get thrown off by unexpected cloud cover or reflections from nearby buildings. SageGlass does handle manual overrides pretty smoothly, but View's automation is usually spot-on too—just depends how much you trust algorithms, I guess. Either way, installation-wise they're both straightforward, though View tends to require a bit more upfront calibration. Something to keep in mind if you're tight on time or patience...
I've messed around with both systems, and honestly, I'm still a bit skeptical about fully automated windows. View's automation is impressive, sure, but when it glitches (and trust me, it eventually will), you're stuck waiting for recalibration. SageGlass at least lets you jump in manually without much fuss. If you're the type who likes to tinker or hates relying completely on tech, SageGlass might be less frustrating in the long run. Just my two cents...
Totally agree about the manual override thing. When we moved into our new place, I was all excited about the automated blinds—until they got stuck halfway down during a heatwave. Being able to just step in and fix it yourself is honestly a lifesaver sometimes...
Yeah, manual override is a must-have for me too. I looked into View and SageGlass when we bought our place last year. SageGlass seemed technically solid—good tint control and pretty responsive—but the lack of a straightforward manual override made me hesitate. Ended up sticking with regular windows and smart blinds instead. Maybe I'm just paranoid, but I like knowing I can still open a window without calling tech support...
Totally get that—tech is great until it's not, lol. Worked on a project last year with SageGlass; homeowners loved the tinting, but we did run into hiccups without manual controls. Smart blinds are honestly underrated, simple and reliable. Less headaches overall.
Interesting point about manual controls—I ran into something similar with View glass on a recent reno. Clients loved the sleek look, but when the automation glitched, troubleshooting was a bit of a headache. Curious if anyone's found a workaround or backup solution for these smart windows? Maybe pairing them with a secondary manual shading option could be the sweet spot... thoughts?
Had a similar issue with SageGlass at my place. Looks great when it works, but when the system went down, it was a pain to sort out. Ended up installing some simple roller shades as a backup—nothing fancy, just something reliable. Honestly, having that manual option saved me a lot of headaches. Smart tech is cool, but I wouldn't rely on it completely... always good to have a plan B.
Interesting you mention the roller shades as backup—makes sense. Did you find the manual shades affected your overall satisfaction with the smart windows, or was it more like peace of mind knowing they're there? I've been considering View myself, but your experience with SageGlass makes me wonder if reliability issues are common across brands... maybe it's just early days for this tech? Either way, good call on having a simple fallback option.
"maybe it's just early days for this tech?"
Yeah, I think you're onto something there... reminds me of when LED bulbs first came out—everyone loved the idea, but reliability was hit or miss at first. Smart windows seem similar; great potential, just gotta give the tech time to mature a bit.