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It's so awesome when people create problems to fix non-problems. I never once thought my life would be better if I didn't need to put up with those nasty keys.

It's so awesome when people create problems to fix non-problems. I never once thought my life would be better if I didn't need to put up with those nasty keys...

greenleafjacob 9y ago
Never locked yourself out?
- nkkollaw 9y ago
  Sure, but what if the thing breaks or the batteries run out and similar?
  - mikeash 9y ago
    A typical smart lock still supports a physical key, so you have a backup method of access. It looks like this particular one does not, though.
    - nkkollaw 9y ago
      Nope.
    - ams6110 9y ago
      So you still need to carry keys around. Or at least hide the backup key somewhere.
      - mikeash 9y ago
        Depends on your risk tolerance. I always carry keys and use the smart features as a convenience and backup. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to ditch the keys if you were fairly confident your phone would still work when you arrive home and you’re willing to take the small risk that it doesn’t.
mikeash 9y ago
I enjoy my smart lock for the peace of mind it gives knowing that I didn’t forget to lock the door, and never having to go down 2 or 3 flights of stairs at night to fix it. I wouldn’t pay $700 for that, but I would pay $200ish for that plus the other things they do.
lobster_johnson 9y ago
There are many cases where a virtual lock beats a physical one. Most of them involve scenarios where the main occupant is absent, but needs to give access remotely; for example, let's say I went on vacation, then realized I left one of the windows of my apartment open. Not everyone has access to trustworthy people (friendly neighbours, friends, relatives, colleagues) who are also guaranteed to be around and willing to show up on short notice. Involving the landlord might be a no-go, too. When I travel and let friends or family stay in my NYC apartment, I leave them the keys in an envelope at a nearby 24/7 supermarket. It's not ideal. Key concierge services exist, but are not super practical either.
- deleted 9y ago
  [deleted]
- nkkollaw 9y ago
  Sure, but is that actually an actual problem? I and my mom while I was little have given keys to the house to maids and similar and nothing ever happened in 40 years. I know most people do the same. I would be more afraid of actual problems like a malfunction of some kind (no battery, money in the house so that I can't buy batteries, etc. etc.), and I can't enter the house. Or, I lock myself out and no one can open that door (while regular locks can be opened by specialized companies).
  - fphhotchips 9y ago
    > given keys to the house to maids I mean, everything is simple when you can pay someone to do it. Of course, if you're paying $700 for a smart lock, you can probably afford a maid.
  - atombender 9y ago
    Of course it's a problem. I just outlined a use case. I don't want to leave my keys in a supermarket. The other scenarios (traveling and needing to grant someone access, for example) don't really have a good solution. If you can afford a maid, then I doubt any of this would count as a problem, though.
grahamburger 9y ago
I think that all the time, actually. Carrying keys in my pocket is one of those minor but persistent annoyances of life. I would not pay more than maybe $39 to be rid of them, though.
solarkraft 9y ago
I think that all the time. I'd like something like this at home because it's a minor convenience benefit (and cool) and at a shared space because it'd be a major convenience benefit (and cool).
abawany 9y ago
I thought the same until I stayed at a HomeAway property where they used the electronic locks. They defined an entry PIN for me for the duration of the stay, presumably revoking it after I was gone. This enabled me to come and go without worrying about their keys, and without them needing to change the locks after I was gone. While the lock was quite finicky, it worked well enough for the purpose that I surmised for it.
megy 9y ago
Really? I would love to not have to carry keys, or worry about losing keys. If my phone could unlock my door like I can pay for stuff with it, it would be great.

It's so awesome when people create problems to fix non-problems. I never once thought my life would be better if I didn't need to put up with those nasty keys...

greenleafjacob 9y ago

Never locked yourself out?

nkkollaw 9y ago
Sure, but what if the thing breaks or the batteries run out and similar?
- mikeash 9y ago
  A typical smart lock still supports a physical key, so you have a backup method of access. It looks like this particular one does not, though.
  - nkkollaw 9y ago
    Nope.
  - ams6110 9y ago
    So you still need to carry keys around. Or at least hide the backup key somewhere.
    - mikeash 9y ago
      Depends on your risk tolerance. I always carry keys and use the smart features as a convenience and backup. It wouldn’t be unreasonable to ditch the keys if you were fairly confident your phone would still work when you arrive home and you’re willing to take the small risk that it doesn’t.

mikeash 9y ago

I enjoy my smart lock for the peace of mind it gives knowing that I didn’t forget to lock the door, and never having to go down 2 or 3 flights of stairs at night to fix it. I wouldn’t pay $700 for that, but I would pay $200ish for that plus the other things they do.

lobster_johnson 9y ago

There are many cases where a virtual lock beats a physical one. Most of them involve scenarios where the main occupant is absent, but needs to give access remotely; for example, let's say I went on vacation, then realized I left one of the windows of my apartment open. Not everyone has access to trustworthy people (friendly neighbours, friends, relatives, colleagues) who are also guaranteed to be around and willing to show up on short notice. Involving the landlord might be a no-go, too. When I travel and let friends or family stay in my NYC apartment, I leave them the keys in an envelope at a nearby 24/7 supermarket. It's not ideal. Key concierge services exist, but are not super practical either.

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
nkkollaw 9y ago
Sure, but is that actually an actual problem? I and my mom while I was little have given keys to the house to maids and similar and nothing ever happened in 40 years. I know most people do the same. I would be more afraid of actual problems like a malfunction of some kind (no battery, money in the house so that I can't buy batteries, etc. etc.), and I can't enter the house. Or, I lock myself out and no one can open that door (while regular locks can be opened by specialized companies).
- fphhotchips 9y ago
  > given keys to the house to maids I mean, everything is simple when you can pay someone to do it. Of course, if you're paying $700 for a smart lock, you can probably afford a maid.
- atombender 9y ago
  Of course it's a problem. I just outlined a use case. I don't want to leave my keys in a supermarket. The other scenarios (traveling and needing to grant someone access, for example) don't really have a good solution. If you can afford a maid, then I doubt any of this would count as a problem, though.

grahamburger 9y ago

I think that all the time, actually. Carrying keys in my pocket is one of those minor but persistent annoyances of life. I would not pay more than maybe $39 to be rid of them, though.

solarkraft 9y ago

I think that all the time. I'd like something like this at home because it's a minor convenience benefit (and cool) and at a shared space because it'd be a major convenience benefit (and cool).

abawany 9y ago

I thought the same until I stayed at a HomeAway property where they used the electronic locks. They defined an entry PIN for me for the duration of the stay, presumably revoking it after I was gone. This enabled me to come and go without worrying about their keys, and without them needing to change the locks after I was gone. While the lock was quite finicky, it worked well enough for the purpose that I surmised for it.

megy 9y ago

Really? I would love to not have to carry keys, or worry about losing keys. If my phone could unlock my door like I can pay for stuff with it, it would be great.