Why can't you just by a light switch.....

I just picked up and installed Zwave dimmers in my own home, as recently as 2 weeks ago (since Radio Shack has had the GE dimmers for $20). After doing so, I have been very happy with them, even though I had originally planned and may still replace them with UPB dimmers in the future. Having said that, if you really are only doing something like a theater room and/or lights in nearby common rooms/areas I think Zwave would likely work well for you.

Where I may see an issue for you, if said theater room isnt in close proximity to the common areas you mention. It does seem as if you have done some research, and you likely understand that Zwave works as a mesh network, so (generally) the more devices you have the better the network. However, if you have 4-6 dimmers in a single theater room, and you also want you kitchen and living room on Zwave dimmers and they are X (great distance) away you may need separate controllers for each "Zone" if you will, or "string along" a path of Zwave devices (possibly just receptacles used as repeaters) to bridge the network to these other rooms.

Having said all of that, with Zwave, you can get a Zwave enabled Home Theater remote (http://www.z-wave.com/modules/Produc...14ed6ec24f99ea) or even a stand-alone Zwave remote control to handle the lights. This would be in effort to not have a PC running 24/7 as a controller.

What would be the shortcomings that you're talking about?

Ask her why can't she just buy shoes. But no, she wants heels, half-heels, pumps, singly stuff, dress shoes, walking shoes blah-blah.

Tell her men need to be in control of the universe, master of our own domains, and it starts by being able to control lights from the couch.

When ever I added some gadget (AMX-Radio Ra) to my house my ex-wife look at me and said "what are you doing to me now", until I showed her that she could turn off the Laundry room lights (basement) that she always left on from the top of the stairs. After a few weeks of living with the system (basement only at that time) she asked me when I was going to do the rest of the house.

I use Vera1 and 2 and for an iPod/iPhone interface I use SQ Remote from Square Connect. They even have a wifi-based IR blaster if you want A/V IR control too.

Back when I was on the fence about buying Vera, seeing SQ Remote in action was what put me over the edge and I promptly made the purchase. Vera's web interface looks pretty good on iPhone too, but the native apps run much faster.