Need some guidance.

[Jonathan15]

I'm new to the home automation game and I've been poking around for a couple weeks now trying to figure out what would best suit my needs.
There is just so much info out there that I can't seem to wrap my head around it and figure out what I need and where to start. So I'm hoping someone here can help me out.
I'm looking to have mostly wireless system likely using z-wave. I'll be setting up cameras, motion sensors, window sensors, lights, and blinds. I want a nice interface and to be able to hook up a couple tablets around the house that I'll mount docking to the wall with. I'm planning to do a couple things with IFTTT and want to be able to use a touchscreen keypad to arm, disarm the system and have alerts/control with my phone.
One last thing is that I'm already using the nest thermostat which I know is not z-wave, but would like to tie into my interface somehow.

 

[Jonathan15]

So, I'm thinking about going with homeseer simply for HSdesigner. I don't like the interface for any of the other hubs I've seen. I'm alittle worried that z-wave seems to be an afterthought for HS, and the price is definitely up there.
Any thoughts?

 

[Deane Johnson]

What all have you seriously looked at.  Knowing that might produce some additional recommendations for you to consider.

 

[Sparkman1]

So, I'm thinking about going with homeseer simply for HSdesigner. I don't like the interface for any of the other hubs I've seen. I'm alittle worried that z-wave seems to be an afterthought for HS, and the price is definitely up there.
Any thoughts?

I don't think HS has ever been accused of having zwave as an afterthought.  Typically they've been accused of the opposite: focusing on zwave too much in favor of other technologies.  I use HS3 with about 80 zwave devices from about 10 different manufacturers and use their znet interface.  Prior to that I used their ztroller interface.
 
Cheers
Al

 

[pete_c]

Today utilizing Homeseer 2-3 with X10, UPB, Insteon (off now), Z-Wave (old and new Z-Wave +).
 
Homeseer Zigbee is coming. 
 
I have no automation dependencies on anything sensor wise that is wireless with batteries.
 
Homeseer 3 will work with just about every automation protocol out there in internetlandia and what is nice about Homeseer 3 is that you can make it work with anything.
 
IE: utilize 1-wire wired sensors here (with Homeseer)  and HAI temperature/humidity wired sensors.
 
Today I have one HS3 box running on an RPi2/Z-Wave plus setup which is POE powered in the attic.  It does have a small 1-wire temperature and humidity network on it and a small Z-Wave network connected to it and a remote UPB network.  The UPB network is running remotely to it from my CumulusMX RPi2 weather station server.
 
That said I do utilize a Davis Vantage Pro which wirelessly connects to my CumulusMX server via the Davis wireless console.
 
I have shut off HS2 touchscreens and have gone to only Windows Homeseer 3 touchscreens (embedded wintel - 15 custom touchscreens done up with HSDesigner). 
 
Here I never have had automation dependencies relating to one in particular automation protocol, wireless, tablet, cloud or Internet or smart phone. 
 
Guess that is a bit old fashioned.