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Have you been asking yourself if you should get an Amazon Echo? Have you been wondering if you would find Alexa useful, but don’t want to pay roughly $180 to find out? The Echo Dot from Amazon is your solution! Here are ten reasons why you need an Echo Dot from Amazon.
Alexa is a voice-controlled digital assistant created by Amazon. Amazon now lets you access Alexa from the Echo, Echo Tap, Echo Dot, Echo Show, Echo Look (invitation only!), Alexa Voice Remote, Fire tablets, Fire TV Stick, and Fire TV, plus a growing collection of watches, phones, speakers, and other devices that have Alexa built in. Many of the reasons behind getting an Echo Dot are the same as getting any of the other Alexa devices, but the Dot does have some things going for it that the others don’t.
What is a Dot, exactly?
The Echo Dot is basically the top part of the original Echo. It has all of the functionality of the Echo without the big speaker. There was a slightly clunkier first version, but now we’re on the second generation of Dot, and it’s much sleeker looking.
You need the Alexa app (Android, iOS, or Fire OS), or the Alexa web page in order to set up your Echo Dot. But you do not need the big Echo. A Dot can work on its own, in conjunction with other Dots, or with other Echo products.
Ten Reasons Why You Need An Amazon Echo Dot
1. Price
The original Echo is still pretty expensive, although you can get a refurbished Echo on Amazon for much less (I’m a huge fan of refurbished products). The cheapest way to try out Alexa, though, is with an Echo Dot. It usually sells for $50, but Amazon runs sales periodically, especially if you’re buying more than one. On Prime Day they were going for $35 as a Deal of the Day, but who knows when that kind of deal will come around again.
2. Size
The Dot is about the size of a hockey puck. It can sit on an end table, counter, or desk and not take up much space. And while it has the same footprint as the original Echo, it’s only 1.3” tall, so it can go on top of other things in order to save space. Don’t even want it taking up space? Hang it on a wall, or stick it to a wall, or even hang it on an outlet (great for a bathroom!!).
3. Flexibility
Don’t like the speaker in the original Echo? Or don’t like how the Dot looks? You have options. Other companies have made docks for your Dot that give you a bigger, better speaker. This speaker from iHome turns your Dot into a bedside clock. The Vaux speaker, which I bought a couple of weeks ago, hooks your Dot up seamlessly with a bigger, rechargeable speaker, allowing you to get great sound wherever you want.
You can even change the look of your Dot with a custom case. Amazon sells little cases for the Dot to help it fit in with your decor. Some are even leather. Other companies have really cute ways to dress your Dot too, like these colorful cases. Or this owl. Or this sparkly vegan leather sleeve.
4. Portability
Dots are very portable. Going on vacation? As long as you’ll have internet where you’re going, you can take your Dot with you! Going to visit mom for a few days and can’t stand the thought of being away from Alexa? Take her with you! She can even travel in style.
5. Drop-In
You can use your Dot like an intercom, either with other Alexa devices in your house (your ‘Household’ in Amazon parlance), or with people in your contacts who have enabled the drop-in feature for you. Want to call your son to dinner without yelling up the stairs? Just tell your Dot to drop in on the Dot in your son’s bedroom. He doesn’t have to answer, you can just start talking (and listening). Worried about your grandparents and want to check in? Drop in on them and hear what they’re hearing. Yes, it’s a little stalkerish, but the people outside of your household that you want to drop in on have to give you permission first, and their device will make a noise when you drop in. How-To Geek has a good tutorial on how to get this set up.
You can also use your Dot to call or message people in your contacts, which is less intrusive (the person on the other end has to actually “answer” the call, or they can ignore it). But I can definitely see some uses for the drop-in feature, and they don’t all involve annoying my children.
6. Lists
At this point in my life I am completely unable to hold anything in my head for more than a minute. If you ask me to do something and I don’t make a note of it immediately, it will disappear from my memory. Yes, I know I said I would buy you Nutella, but I forgot twenty seconds after you mentioned it.
Now that I’m almost always near a Dot, I can just say “Alexa, add Nutella to the shopping list.” Or, “Alexa, add Go Shopping to the to-do list.” Later, I can have my Dot read the lists back to me, or I can see them on the app or Alexa website and check things off. I can even see my shopping list right on the Amazon website – how’s that for convenient? Each item on the shopping list can be searched for instantly on Amazon. And if you already use apps like Any.do or Todoist, your Alexa shopping and to-do lists can be integrated into the apps.
7. Timers, Alarms, & Reminders
At any given time I have three or four timers and alarms set, plus a few reminders. Add more if I’m cooking or baking. The other day as I was making dinner while fighting off a cold, I had two timers going for the meal I was making, one timer for bread that was rising, a timer for taking my next cold pill, and a reminder for picking something up for a neighbor. Each of the timers and reminders had a different name (“pasta” “oven” “bread” “Zicam” and “CSA”), so when each one went off I knew exactly what it was for, and I never had to wipe off my hands and hit a button.
8. Music, News, Podcasts, & Books
You can use your Dot to play almost anything from a bunch of different sources, including just using it as a Bluetooth speaker. Your Dot can play your audiobooks or read your Kindle books to you, read news headlines, play music according to your mood, and connect with services like Spotify and Sirius XM. You can even stream music to multiple Alexa devices.
9. Home Automation
There are a ton of devices that work with Alexa, including smart plugs, thermostats, lights, locks, security cameras, even major appliances. Chances are you already have something in your house that can be controlled with your Dot.
10. Random Info
“Alexa, what’s the capital of Canada?” “Alexa, how do you spell Ottawa?” “Alexa, how many tablespoons are in a third of a cup?” “Alexa, how many major-league baseball teams are there?” “Alexa, how much does the moon weigh?” “Alexa, what’s the weather like today?” And she never gets tired of answering!
Should you get an Echo Dot from Amazon? Here are 10 reasons why you need Alexa in your life! Click To Tweet
I would use it for weather updates, music and to tell funny jokes.
Reminders ad lists would be amazing! My fiancé and I are both so busy. This could definitely help keep us organized.
I would use it for all sorts of things. Getting news, shopping, surfing the web, whatever!
I’d use it for music, weather, basic tasks and something to yell at. lol
I would use it to play music!
For reminders, music, weather updates and news
I would use it for the hard questions from my kids homework
News, Weather, and music.
I would most likely use it to keep our family calendar so we don’t miss anything!
I never knew you could make to do lists through Alexa! I am the ultimate list maker! I’d love to use it to make lists for myself at home! Then I don’t have to stop what I’m doing to write something on the white board!
I’m just adding things to the lists literally all day, stuff that before I would have said to myself, “I don’t want to stop what I’m doing, I’m sure I’ll remember it later.”
Timers and reminders, weather, flash briefing, and to control a waterproof/dustproof Bluetooth speaker in the bath.
I love being able to have Alexa play music from Amazon prime. Great article, I don’t have a dot yet I’m using my Amazon fires remote and tv to access Alexa but who wants to leave their tv on?
I would love to use this to listen to podcasts and music! It would also be useful as an alarm.
I would use it to listen to music and for reminders.
I would use the Echo Dot for reminders, music and random info.
Use it for music and weather updates and news updates.
Would love to listen to podcast with it
Most importantly, I would use for reminders, but also for weather and for proving my husband wrong! ;
Mine is VERY useful for that last one!
I would use it ALOT for the alarm and music!! Thanks!
We have the Philips Hue lights and I would love to control the lighting with this.
TIMERS, ALARMS, & REMINDERS oh boy would this be very handy…
I would use it to keep lists.
i would use it for a lot.. keeping grocery lists, schedules, setting timers, listening to music etc..
This would be great for playing music, setting alarms & checking my calendar, and for answering every random trivia question that flies into my mind!!!
I would use an Echo Dot for music and news at first, but I’m sure I’d wind up exploring many other features.
I would use it to play music and a lot more!
I would use it for shopping lists, appointment reminders, things to do list. My mind is like a sieve, lately, and this would help tremendously!
Updating me on the weather
I would put it on the second floor of the house to listen to music
LIST, omg LIST! I am always making list reminding myself of things, mostly trivial like organize my vitamins haha but this would be so great for keeping my vitamins organized! Thanks!
I’d use it for time, weather, jokes, music and lots more I’m sure!
I’d access my Prime music and use it for an alarm clock. And lots more, I’m sure.
I would use the Echo dot for alarms and reminders.
I would use for funny jokes.
I’d primarily use mine for music but I’d probably end up doing things like weather, Google, etc.
I’d use for music and news updates
I would use it to play misic and setting reminders.
I would use it mostly about weather and music. I have a lot of friends that have the echo they’ve told me they’re awesome you can literally ask it anything
i’d just talk to it all the time.
I would stream music wirelessly!.
I would use it for controlling zwave devices.
I would use it to make to-do and shopping lists, alarms, play music, and to drop in on my mom’s dot to check in easier on her.
I would use the Amazon Echo Dot in the kitchen for music and to help me find recipe substitutes.
I would use it for alerts, weather, music, and so much more!
Keep up on sports. Obviously.
I would definitely use it to add things to my shopping list.
I would use it for numerous things throughout the day. To play music, check the weather, or do searches.
I would use echo for keeping me organized.
Would use to play music.
#1 thing I’d use it for would be my shopping list. I hate having to write on the one on the fridge. Always forget to jot down something. #2 would be just to answer those random questions I have….like what can I use as a substitute for butter.
I love the alarm/ timer feature. It would be great for listening to music while baking and working around the house.
I would use it to give to someone since I already have one.
I would use it for reminders and daily weather.
I would use it for weather, news and any general quetions I have
I would use it to control my home temperature.
I would use it for the weather, time and keeping up with things!
to play music.
I want this to listen music, and news
I would use it for mostly for music/podcasts but also for reminders and to do lists.
I would use the Dot for making lists. Also for reminders for appointments and dates to remember.
I would use my Echo Dot to listen to podcasts.
I would use it for everything!
I would use it for reminders to turn off the sprinklers and play music while I cook.
I would use it for music reminders find things on internet weather
I would use it for everything i can imagine it would be like having another person in my home when it’s just me!
I would use this for music! Thanks for the chance to win.
I would use it for breaking news and to play music.
Reminders and music would be great.
for weather and music and the news
I would use it for surfing the net and weather updates
I would get the weather & news…and play my favorite radio station (not in this area…it’s near where I used to live)…and even play Jeopardy on it! Oh…and I think you can get recipes on it, too!
I would use for my song list, weather updates and fishing reports.
For music and weather/news .. I always need something playing:)
I would use it to make lists and listen to music.
I would use it to listen to music and podcasts.
For music.
I’d like to try the home automation feature
I would mainly use it to listen to music.
I love that you can take it with you wherever you go. That wouldve never even occurred to me! My music, alarms, calendar, and all around connection to the internet in a tiny little portable thing.
I know at least one person who brings it on vacation!
I would ask spur of the moment questions and have it control the lights.
i’d use it to play music
I would use the Echo Dot for music, news, reminders, alarms and home automation.
This would be great to win.
I would use it to listen to music and check on the weather
I would need it for reminders and calendar events.
Listen to music, updates and reminders …… I would learn each day to use it for more
I would use it for info, weather and music.
I would use it for info.
I would use it for alarms and music. I think it would be so helpful when my hands are busy with cooking.
I would literally use it for so much. Listening to music, as our alarm, searching for whatever I can think of and talking to it all the time
It would be so cool.
From your list I can see clearly that I would use an echo continuously. I am always having to look up how to spell a word, like does it have one or two m’s, r’s, etc…., and I always have lists(plural) then I don’t have my list with me when I need it. These two things I would definitely save time with having an echo.
I would use it to play music
I would use it to listen to music.
I would get weather, music and answers to those waay out there questions the grandkids come up with. Plus the answers I search for while in the middle of something else.
read to me at night!
I would use it to play music.
I would use it to stream music when I’m getting ready for work in the morning.
I would use it for weather and news updates.
Listen to music.
Would definitely use it for helpful reminders, weather updates, and playing music :)
I would use it to find out about stuff that I wanted to know
I would use it for music, alarms, weather, etc.
I would use it for listening to music.