OWL Review

We like:

The price; the battery life; the relatively clear display; that it's on sale at B&Q

We don't like:

The fiddly interface; that it's ugly; that it has no memory; that there is no computer hook-up

SmartPlanet judgement:

Despite a head start on its rival energy monitors -- DIY Kyoto's Wattson and the Efergy Meter -- the OWL is starting to look dated. The Wattson wins on design and the ethics of its manufacture, while the Efergy trumps it by including a crucial memory feature for looking at your electricity history. On the plus side, the OWL does do the job in an unremarkable but fine fashion, and you can easily pick one up at B&Q.

Being first isn't all it's cracked up to be. The OWL was the first-ever gadget to show your real-time electricity consumption around the house, appearing first in Oz as the Cent-a-meter, then as the Electrisave in the UK and now reborn as The OWL. Continue reading...