@TP-Link How can you flat-out say 99%?  Do you really try to cater to that level of customers?  I just find it hard to believe that Grandpa Bob is buying a Deco XE75 Pro like I tried to do a week ago.

Yet another disappointed customer that will be boxing back up this amazing hardware with less-than-expected software and support in favor of my 7 year old WiFi access points still using an old version of WiFi.  My EnGenius WAPs may be old but at least they had the foresight back then to add basic/standard support for configuration of network products.

I mean seriously guys...

You built a NETWORK product, and you make the config for the product require an android/ios device?  What about users who buy this, have no smartphone and no tablets?  I mean, since we are basing your entire argument on 99% of your customers being monkeys that have no IT experience ...  Then it would be reasonable to assume that a large portion of these users don't have smart phones or tablets.  Maybe people just wanted to buy this to connect their laptops, tvs, and lights?

  @Ozofcali they have made it clear that they want this to be, and remain to be a dumbed down version of a  network app, and they will NEVER have a real web interface for deco models

you need to move to a different brand, there are plenty that do it the right way..

  @TP-Link I cant believe I purchased and installed before I read this posting.

Im an idiot :(... 

1.  uninstall

2. put stuff back in place

3. return Deco

4.  kick myself

  @TP-Link Nothing like trying to translate things from a Word/Excel doc to the app using a small screen - where it's hard to have things side by side. This should be a top priority, not we don't think so unless there is pushback. Had I known this before buying the system I would not be using DECO at all. This is the biggest reason I do not recommend DECO to anyone in my friends/family network and when they ask why, well, here's your answer.  Sometimes I need my router up next to another app with IoT devices. This makes it so hard to do.  Even my IoT devices have a better interface then this measly offering you give us where I can only view things.

@TP-Link

It's not like your customers are asking for something extraordinary. What we are asking for is standard router features that have been a standard part of routers for decades.  It's been part of TP-Link's routers forever, but you intentionally took it out of this product.

If you're going to sell a router that doesn't have standard router features, it is incumbent on you to inform your customers ahead of time that you're selling an incomplete product so that they can make an informed decision, rather than finding out after the fact through a forum that they have a brand new, but broken product.
 

@TP-Link It's not really acceptable to suggest that your customers can solve their problem by purchasing yet another piece of equipment that consumes more power, takes up more space, and does nothing for them that the equipment they have already purchased can do. This is not a sufficient answer to the question of why TP-Link chose to intentionally software handicap their own product.

  @TP-Link there are still home users who like to configure more and not only use the app (imho).

Also some advanced features which are easier to configure via a webui (or double check via the app:

- a fixed ip address of the device (in case you want control in your house of which device is what)

- ping watch dog that was configurable in previous devices

- wireless security settings that at least you know what is really configured

- snmp agent

Now, I have the feeling I bought the wrong product, not knowing that this was only controllable via the app and not via a webbased interface for the more advanced users.

  @David-TP 

Thank you for your honesty.

Please inform your colleagues from the relevant sector that they made a huge mistake in creating this needless product segment split, and should just listen to their users and fix this with a firmware update.

Please inform them that this choice they made is actually counter-productive even for non-techie home usage (I have posted previously touching a few reasons why this is the case, others also mentioned relevant points)

DECO's physical design and mesh wifi characteristics are uniquely interesting in the TP-Link routers portfolio, but those unique positive traits are a bait in a trap as long as they are bundled with this mess of an app-based + mandatory-cloud-account + mandatory-internet-before-configs design they came up with to manage the otherwise perfect hardware