ALEXA - do I want one ??

dan958

ballyblack wrote: »

If anybody lives in your house with the name 'Alexa' buy a Google Home! :T

But my son is named Google Home.

Takmon

dan958 wrote: »

But my son is named Google Home.

Well it's good that "Google Home" isn't the wake word for google assistant devices

NeilCr

castle96 wrote: »

https://www.argos.co.uk/search/alexa/?clickOrigin=searchbar:home:term:alexa

further confusion!
1. Echo show £80 (got a screen)
2. " 3rd generation £90
3. " Plus £140
4. " show £220 (got a screen)

Cant see any difference in functions between 2 and 3 !?

Money not criteria, just want to get the best/most useful. Will not be connecting an other things, eg lights etc.
Advice please before I buy

surely having a screen is better than no screen ?
assume that they all have the same functions ? (so why are some more expensive ?

If it's solely for music then, personally, anyway, I see no need for a screen. I know what music I have asked it to play and you can, always, see what is on on the app

Maybe your best bet is to buy a cheap one - like the Dot - and see how it works for you.

All of these things are personal so what we say may not necessarily fit your view of it

tellmeitsfriday

If you already have decent speakers, maybe look into the Amazon Input (it's £25 at the moment, but it's been as low as £15).

I have an Amazon Echo and a Google Home Mini. They are both good; they do more or less the same thing. I suppose the google thing is a bit cleverer when you ask it random questions. I use it for recipes whilst cooking.

Alexa in an odd way has become almost like a little friend - she wakes me up in the morning, reminds me that I have the dentist and tells me when dinner is cooked.

As for music - they are equally good selection wise, although I use my Echo because the speaker in it gives a nicer sound (the echo dot is the equivalent to the google home mini, so not a fair comparison really).

If I was starting 'smart home' again, i'd get a Sonos, but for now I can't afford it.

castle96

Am leaning towards this now after talking to someone who has both Google and Alexa
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3061149 Google Nest Hub

when you request music/particular artist/track, there is ? no faffing about having to sign in to eg Spotify, is there ? It just pulls up the required item (from 'somewhere')

NeilCr

https://spotify-everywhere.com/products/google-home-hub

https://www.spotify.com/uk/amazonalexa/

Which is all I have done with Amazon music

I just say "Alexa play (insert name of artist) or Alexa play reggae and so on and so on

RumRat

castle96 wrote: »

Am leaning towards this now after talking to someone who has both Google and Alexa
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3061149 Google Nest Hub

when you request music/particular artist/track, there is ? no faffing about having to sign in to eg Spotify, is there ? It just pulls up the required item (from 'somewhere')

Good choice...:)

sazaccount

My dad didn't want an Alexa, but my mum now thinks hes in love with her.
Dad's morning routine: "good morning alexa", good morning, "alexa its my birthday today" alexa will sing happy birthday, "alexa tell me a joke" alexa tells joke, "alexa play BBC radio 4" :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Davesnave

Our Alexa keeps going off on one. [STRIKE]She[/STRIKE] It comes out with random stuff which isn't linked to anything we've said. [STRIKE]She[/STRIKE]It interrupted a TV programme tonight and we missed something by both shouting "Alexa, stop!" simultaneously.

Fortunately, we didn't buy Alexa; someone bought [STRIKE]her[/STRIKE]it for us, so we have to keep it. Frankly, I find [STRIKE]her[/STRIKE] its musical abilities rather naff compared with the 2001 vintage sound system attached to my computer.

[STRIKE]She's[/STRIKE] It's fine for Radio and the odd weather report, but I don't need waking up or reminding I have the dentist tomorrow ( hmmm ...chance would be a fine thing!:o)

Anyway, I guess this makes me a bit of an old fogey; finally overtaken and underwhelmed by the march of Progress.

However, those who mock people concerned by the sudden rise of AI might do well to listen to Elon Musk, who's a guy with plenty of active, fully-updated brain cells. He's worried.

jackieblack

Davesnave wrote: »

Our Alexa keeps going off on one. [STRIKE]She[/STRIKE] It comes out with random stuff which isn't linked to anything we've said. [STRIKE]She[/STRIKE]It interrupted a TV programme tonight and we missed something by both shouting "Alexa, stop!" simultaneously.

Fortunately, we didn't buy Alexa; someone bought [STRIKE]her[/STRIKE]it for us, so we have to keep it.

I’d unplug it and stick it in a cupboard or give it away.
There’s no reason why you have to keep it just because someone bought it for you if you don’t want it :huh: