Oh no ... BiL has bought DH an Alexa ....

[MrsExpo]

.... and now I am being ignored because I’m less than thrilled and just don’t “get” why we need this thing in our house. Either justify my reaction, or convince me I’ll love it (preferably with reasons .... because right now I’m appalled ...... ) Either way, AIBU?

When you first get one it does get a lot of attention but the novelty will wear off and then it will go down to normal usage. We have 3 in our house and use them every day, mainly for the radio and alarm clocks but they in no way have taken over and no one sits there talking and playing with it all day long.

But please explain what is “normal” usage @AvoidingRealHumans. What does it do that we don’t / can’t do already? (you have THREE!!!) Eek!

We have one in the kitchen dd has one in her room and so does ds the kids use it for alarms and music, I use mine all the time to set reminders, as a timer when I'm cooking, to listen to music, to listen to an audi book, to ask it random questions, it comes in very handy when playing board games to check the answers

My DH wasn’t keen on the idea then I won an Alexa in a raffle at work. He uses it more than me. Mostly as a speaker in the kitchen so he can put his terrible music on while clearing up 😩

It is a handy timer for cooking too

We have five. Three bedrooms and the living room and kitchen.

I use them for radio so speakers in every room and you can set them all to play the same thing or in groups like just downstairs.

They are linked to the doorbell so if I don't hear the doorbell I still get notified by Alexa.

Timers for cooking.

Drop in feature - like a wallow talkie between rooms. Dinner is ready type of thing.

My daughter has waves or rainforest sounds to fall asleep to.

Alarms for work.

Does everything your phone/tablet would do but is voice activated and always on and hands free. I don’t like talking to it so I don’t!

If you're happy with it listening to everything that is said within listening distance then crack on.
I won't allow one in the house.

I got the Echo Show to use as a baby monitor when DD was small but it wasn't particularly useful as the video kept timing out. I'd wake DH up the night by loudly whispering "Alexa show nursery!!"

Now it's nothing more than an expensive Bluetooth speaker in the kitchen.

Could come in handy...

Apparently you can programme them to 'cheat' at requests. A man who's dd kept asking Alexa play BabySkark swapped it to a rock band playing instead!!
Every time!

Don’t worry. Its just a speaker. Play music, radio, audio books or podcasts on it. White noise for going to sleep (rainforest etc).

I won one, promptly passed it on to someone else because I couldn't actually figure out what it's supposed to do plus I'm not keen on the idea of it listening all the time.

Yes, I have a smart TV and a smart phone but both camera and mic permissions are off. I don't need more nosey tech in the house 🤣

No. Hate them.

We have 6 & use them mostly

With smart plugs to turn on & off lamps (this is the main reason we bought the first)
As intercoms
To tell dc it's time for x,y, z (saves me shouting a bit)
To make lists-shopping, to do, films to watch
Dc to play games
Set timers & reminders (take chicken out of oven, you've to ring so & so)
Ask the weather
Play music
Set routines & alarms
Convert lb to g etc for weighing/cooking

I love them

Our "normal" usage is morning alarms, radio (background noise all day), random questions, cooking timer, my son uses it to cheat on his homework, music, sometimes use the game features, bed time story when I'm feeling lazy 😬, calls my phone when I lose it.... loads if things. It quickly became part of the family haha. We have one in the kitchen, lounge and upstairs. Wouldn't be without it now.

OP I don't think you'd like it here - we have 5! One in each of my son's bedrooms (2), one in my husband's home office, one in my home office and one in the kitchen/living area. We use them as intercoms (town house so very useful), plays music, alarms, timers, list recorder, reminders.

Oh yes, also useful for summoning the children without screaming up the stairs like a banshee

We have two, one in eldest bedroom to listen to music and I have one in the kitchen.

It's listening to you, you know...

Timer when cooking
Alarms
Radio
Music
Podcasts

Why would alexa be listening any more than youre smart phone......???

Routines. I love the routines. I have one for making DH put on the kettle, one for getting the kids to come down, one for food on the table, then there's turning lights on and off, playing radio/music, news. DS has one in his room that he talks to - we also use them for homework: maths, translation, definitions.

Our one isn't linked to any accounts (no Spotify/ prime/ audible in this house).
The dc's just use it for random questions, alarm, timers and the free radio stations. There's some free relaxing music on there too.

We have three. DS has one in his room. One in our room and the screen one in the kitchen.
I love the music, the shopping list is brilliant, ordering. Summoning people.