Desties

Well, I figured I'd break up the furor over the UE "upgrade" process to introduce a new thread. I can't be the only one that has now experienced both a UR and a PE home.

I've actually been able to hit up a pair of the original UR properties, and feel that the differences between UR and PE are significant, but not in a bad way.

As everyone knows, the stocked goodies at UR homes are fewer than PE-stocked homes. No free soft drinks or sports drinks. One had the free frozen pizza. The other did not. The one thing that UR-stocked homes do have over PE properties is that there is a much wider variety of complimentary Starbucks coffees, Tazo teas, and hot cocoas available. That will all become more standardized across all of the properties in the coming weeks, but it's one difference.

The other major difference is in decor. UR homes have a more Thurston P. Howell approach to upscale furnishings. There is more Victorian furniture, throwback artwork. etc. Thankfully it doesn't border on being overly stuffy, but I do prefer the PE homes which are more stylishly modern, colorful, and accessible. I'm sure it varies from home to home, but I feel if you blindfolded me, threw me into a room, and removed the blindfold that I would immediately know if it was a PE or UR home. Both of the UR homes I have visited also come with computers, which is something typically only found at the Elite-Platinum level PE homes. Another modern twist is that the two UR homes had their own in-house iPods to feed into the house speaker systems. Nice touch.

Some of the things that are surprisingly standard across the UR and PE homes is the Logitech Harmony universal remote for the living room entertainment centers. I'm also surprised to find some of the same board and parlor games (like Apples to Apples and the Mexcian train domino game).

In the end, the UR homes are often a sharp contrast. You can have an oil painting of a cherub over a cherry wood night table that just happens to have an iPod touch loaded with tunes to plug into the adjacent iHome alarm clock player. It's a transitory design phase, I guess. I don't mind it, but I still slightly prefer the breezier PE approach.

So, anyone else hit up both sides? Am I on the mark or have you seen it differently?