Tom Bryant for PCMag:  Americans like the idea of smart homes, but when it comes to actually paying the bill for stuffing their houses and apartments with futuristic Internet of Things (IoT) tech and devices, they balk.
Just 27 percent of Americans have purchased a connected home device, although 71 would appreciate the ability to monitor their home while they're away, according to a survey of 2,177 adults commissioned by home automation company Wink.
One reason for the disconnect? People think smart homes cost too much. Thirty-four percent of survey respondents estimate it would cost more than $5,000 to turn their abode into a smart home, while 9 percent put that number at $20,000. Of course, definitions as to how smart a home must be before you can label it that way vary widely; Wink notes that its basic automation hub suite can be had for about $200.  Full Article: