Exceptional Entertainment Experience
ANDRE BROWN
Bonita Springs, FL

Andre Brown of Exceptional Entertainment Experience in Bonita Springs, Florida, installed the system in Exceptional Innovation founder Seale Moorer's Columbus, Ohio, home. For creating such a well conceived and executed system using cutting-edge gear, we've named him our Installer of the Year.

John Sciacca recently talked to Andre about the challenges of using Media Center Edition PCs in whole-house installations and the challenges of Moorer's installation in particular.

Has integrating PCs changed how you approach installations?
My company installs home networks, and most people have computers in their homes already. I'll give prospective clients a demo showing the Media Center's ease of use with one remote, and usually the wife loves it first. I started using PCs as a source and as a control solution 3 years ago when I was first introduced to Exceptional Innovation and its Lifeware software.

How have you overcome problems with PC lockups and restarts?
First, I clean off all the unnecessary things on the PC that can make it have problems. After that, the client surfs the Net only with one or two of their other computers, so there really aren't any lockups or restarts.

Does working with Media Center PCs restrict your installs in any way?
No. I believe in keeping things simple. A Media Center, some kind of amp or receiver, and some speakers are all you need.

What is the biggest advantage of using Lifeware?
I used to do AMX and Crestron, but when a client cuts back on a budget, the first thing that goes is the A/V gear. With Lifeware, the ease of programming, the debugging, and just the overall use of the system cut the cost of automation in half. The clients can then use that money to buy better gear.

How do you prepare for a job on the scale of Seale Moorer's house?
I sit down with my team and say, "If this were your house, how would you want it to work?" And that's how we look at all our jobs, whether they're big or small.

What challenges did you face on that install?
The biggest challenge was trying to get that many new products to work together and keep them in a stable environment. Also, with so many things on the network, it was a challenge to get the right gear to handle the traffic. You can't do that type of install with low-end gear. The most imposing challenge was getting everything to work together in the time frame we had to work with. I'm really proud that my team was able to put it all together and make it work.

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