Last year, upgrading to a 3M Filtrete Touchscreen WiFi-Enabled Programmable Thermostat felt like a leap into modern home automation. The ability to control my home’s temperature remotely via an iPhone app and a web API was incredibly convenient, especially with my flexible work arrangements. However, the promise of truly intelligent, automated climate control kept drawing me towards the Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation. Rumors of its learning capabilities and refined design were hard to ignore, especially when considering the subtle inefficiencies of manual programming. Available in Nest Gen 1 and the improved Nest Gen 2, boasting a 20% slimmer profile and expanded compatibility with 95% of North American heating and cooling systems, the Nest 2nd Gen seemed like the next logical step in smart home evolution. After saving up and finally installing one, I can confidently say the experience has been transformative.
First Impressions: The Out-of-Box Experience (OOBE)
When investing in a premium smart thermostat like the Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation, which often comes with a price tag of $200 or more, the initial experience is crucial. Nest understands this expectation perfectly. From the moment you open the box, it’s clear that this is more than just a utilitarian device; it’s a carefully crafted piece of technology designed to impress. The entire unboxing, installation, and setup process is remarkably polished, rivaling the experience of premium consumer electronics like iPhones or high-end audio receivers.
Nest anticipates potential compatibility concerns with their online Nest Compatibility Tool. This tool allows users to verify if their existing wiring is suitable for the Nest system. For added reassurance, Nest offers a unique and “classy” option: users can submit a photo of their current thermostat wiring for expert review. This proactive approach to customer support before installation speaks volumes about Nest’s commitment to a smooth user experience.
The packaging evokes a sense of premium quality, reminiscent of unboxing an iPhone or a high-end receiver. The sleek, circular design of the Nest itself, emerging from the box, even brings to mind HAL 9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey, instantly conveying a sense of sophisticated technology and intelligence. This thoughtful presentation sets the stage for a positive user experience right from the start.
Installation: Designed for DIY Success
The Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation installation process is clearly designed with the DIY homeowner in mind. The box includes absolutely everything needed for installation, eliminating frustrating trips to the hardware store mid-project. Even the included screwdriver is a testament to Nest’s commitment to user-centric design. This small, magnetic screwdriver with four interchangeable tips has proven to be surprisingly useful, becoming a favorite tool for delicate electronics work and earning a permanent spot on my desk. This seemingly minor detail underscores Nest’s dedication to providing a complete and delightful user experience. The inclusion of a rectangular backplate is another thoughtful touch, designed to neatly cover any existing holes or paint discrepancies from the previous thermostat, ensuring a clean and professional-looking installation.
alt=”Comprehensive Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation packaging contents, showcasing the Nest unit, various wall plates, detailed installation instructions, and the custom-designed screwdriver, emphasizing the complete DIY installation kit”
While the backplate offered a quick and easy solution to conceal wall imperfections, I opted for a more meticulous approach, feeling that a thermostat as refined as the Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation deserved a flawless backdrop. I invested a little extra time in patching the old holes with putty, allowing it to dry, and then carefully painting over the area with a fine-tipped modeler’s paintbrush to perfectly match the wall color.
Elevating the Aesthetics: The Value of Preparation
Taking the extra time to prepare the wall surface before installing the Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation proved to be incredibly rewarding. The result is a seamless and professional installation that elevates the entire aesthetic of the space. The Nest doesn’t just function as a smart home device; it becomes an integrated design element within your home.
Network Connection and Smart Setup
Once the wall preparation and physical mounting are complete, the Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation effortlessly snaps onto its circular backing plate and powers on immediately. The intuitive user interface guides you through the initial setup process. Navigating the menus is simple and responsive; rotating the outer ring allows for easy selection, and pressing it inwards confirms your choices. My Nest unit promptly initiated a software update, a process that occurred automatically without any user intervention, further emphasizing the seamless and user-friendly design.
alt=”Connecting the Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation to a WiFi network during the setup process, highlighting the smart thermostat’s connectivity features and ease of integration into a home network”
The Positives: A Truly Smart Home Device
After several weeks of using the Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation, the benefits have become undeniably clear. While precise energy savings are yet to be quantified, the qualitative improvements in daily comfort and convenience are significant.
alt=”Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation display predicting the time to reach the desired temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit in 15 minutes, showcasing the thermostat’s intelligent learning and predictive capabilities”
- Reduced Manual Adjustments: Compared to my previous wireless thermostat, the Nest requires significantly less manual adjustment. The 3M Filtrete, while functional, often needed daily tweaks to accommodate unpredictable schedules. The Nest, with its learning capabilities, adapts to our routines and preferences, minimizing the need for manual intervention.
- User-Friendly Interface: The simplicity of the Nest interface is a major advantage, particularly for family members less comfortable with technology. My wife, who found the previous thermostat’s controls cumbersome, readily understands and interacts with the Nest. The Filtrete’s multi-button interface and dated LCD scheduler were far less intuitive.
- Auto-Away Feature: The auto-away feature alone justifies a significant portion of the Nest’s cost. Located in our family room near the main entrance, the Nest intelligently detects when we leave the house and automatically adjusts the temperature for energy savings. This feature works flawlessly and provides genuine peace of mind.
- Proximity Sensor and Display: The Nest’s display remains dark until someone approaches, at which point it elegantly illuminates. This proximity-sensing feature is not only functional but also adds a touch of futuristic charm.
- Intelligent Temperature Prediction: The Nest learns how quickly your home heats or cools and provides accurate estimates of how long it will take to reach the desired temperature. This feature addresses common misconceptions about thermostat operation, such as the idea that setting the thermostat to an extreme temperature will accelerate heating or cooling. The Nest provides clarity and eliminates guesswork.
The Nest app mirrors the elegance and simplicity of the thermostat itself. While the Nest prioritizes ease of use and hides technical complexity, the app allows for deeper exploration of settings and data for users who desire more granular control. Detailed wiring information, though physically concealed after installation, is readily accessible within the app.
The app also visualizes the schedule the Nest has automatically generated based on learned behavior patterns and user adjustments. During the initial learning phase, users are encouraged to adjust the thermostat as needed to teach the Nest their preferences. This data, combined with local weather information and occupancy detection, enables the Nest to create a personalized and energy-efficient schedule, further refined by the auto-away feature.
The Nest can be considered the “Prius of home thermostats,” incentivizing energy conservation through gamification. The Nest Leaf icon appears when energy-saving temperature settings are selected, visually reinforcing eco-conscious behavior. The energy history within the app provides insights into energy consumption patterns, highlighting instances of manual adjustments that resulted in savings or weather-driven efficiency gains.
The app’s detailed graphs are interactive and zoomable, providing granular data on temperature fluctuations and thermostat activity. The examples provided in the original article, showing temperature adjustments triggered by lunchtime departures and complex daily schedules, highlight the Nest’s ability to learn and respond to nuanced lifestyle patterns.
alt=”Nest App energy graph showing automatic temperature adjustment triggered by user leaving for lunch, demonstrating the Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation’s auto-away feature in action and its ability to optimize energy consumption based on occupancy”
alt=”Nest App energy graph illustrating a complex day of temperature adjustments and thermostat activity, showcasing the Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation’s detailed tracking and data visualization capabilities for user behavior and home climate management”
Conclusion: A Polished and Intelligent Choice
The Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation excels in its simplicity, masking sophisticated technology beneath an intuitive user experience. While positioned as a premium product, it delivers a level of polish and functionality that justifies the investment. It is a luxury item, but one that brings genuine joy and tangible benefits to daily life. As smart home technology becomes increasingly mainstream, and if the Nest becomes more accessible at a lower price point, it has the potential to dominate the market. The Nest Learning Thermostat 2nd Generation remains a smart and worthwhile upgrade for any homeowner seeking enhanced comfort, convenience, and energy efficiency.
I plan to provide an update to this review in a few months after analyzing several heating bills to quantify the actual energy savings achieved with the Nest.
Further Exploration: For more insights into the Nest Learning Thermostat and related tech topics, check out the “Ratchet and The Geek” podcast, where the Nest is discussed in Episode 2.
About Scott
Scott Hanselman is a former professor, former Chief Architect in finance, now speaker, consultant, father, diabetic, and Microsoft employee. He is a failed stand-up comic, a cornrower, and a book author.
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