Where to start

[Jamie Bennett <jamie.bennett@xxxxxxxxx>]

I've been a long time admirer of home automation and have been tempted
at many times in the past to 'dip my toe in' but only now am I
actually determined to do it, but, where do I start? I suppose a
better question would be "If you could do it all again, what would you
buy to start with".

Being a computer programmer by trade with a couple of computers at
home, I definitely want some kind of integration with my existing
computer network. My main requirements though are to control lights,
intelligently control the heating and monitor the weather via some
kind of weather station.

The main problem I'm having is what technology to go for. X10? CBUS?
or something else and what controller to buy? I've heard xPL thrown
about a lot at the moment which does sound intriguing. Looking at the
letsautomate site there's the HomeVision and Ocelot controllers for
X10 but is there a better solution? A mini-itx computer with a
controller perhaps?

I have an initial budget of =A31000 to buy/construct the controller and
get a couple of modules, the weather station being important as my
wife seems to be obsession with the weather at the moment. What would
_you_ buy?

A slightly bemused, Jamie.