Anyone using Google Home or Amazon Alexa?

canadian1969

Well-Known Member
Have been thinking of getting one of these but haven't been overwhelmed by the reviews, particularly for Canadian users there seem to be some inconsistencies and lack of support.

Mostly I think I would like one for reminders/schedules and generally being lazy without having to go to the PC or pulling out my phone to google stuff or pull up calculator or whatnot.
 

donkeyshow

Well-Known Member
Have been thinking of getting one of these but haven't been overwhelmed by the reviews, particularly for Canadian users there seem to be some inconsistencies and lack of support.

Mostly I think I would like one for reminders/schedules and generally being lazy without having to go to the PC or pulling out my phone to google stuff or pull up calculator or whatnot.
Alexa, tell me a joke about being lazy
 

Metasynth

Well-Known Member
I use the google home and it’s great for setting alarms and shit like that. I recently thought about gettin some smart outlets so I can control the lights too. It’s pretty cool...it’ll remind me to do things and plays music or soothing forest sounds and stuff like that.
 

canadian1969

Well-Known Member
As an IT I won’t let any of these devices in my house period.
It's nauseating how many times I have heard that in my life "I'm in IT so you should listen to me" like they are some defacto experts because they sit on a help desk saying "did you try turning it off and on again" 5000 times a day. ;-)

I spent most of my career in information technology, private sector first building PCs then in network engineering much of which was done for fledgling ISPs back in the dial up days and the transition to DSL, then in telecommunications as telecom and datacom started to converge. Then for the military as a project manager during Y2K and then back to the private sector as a consultant and project manager dealing mostly with VoIP system design/deployment. Now I sit on my ass smoking pot and trading cryptocurrencies. You are obviously entitled to your opinion, but why should we listen to you? Seems to me a real technician studies the facts, weighs the pros/cons and presents a good argument devoid of any personal opinion as to why a technology should or shouldn't be adopted. At least thats what I did for my clients.

It's called Impartial and objective analysis.

Sorry if it seems like I am picking on you, thats not my goal, I am just so tired of people saying "I'm in IT" like it means something. A person could sit in a automotive factory pushing a button on a machine that makes a plastic car part, but that doesn't make them the "go to" for your next car purchase, however tell me they have worked for J.D. Power's automotive research branch for two decades, then maybe I start listening. In truth your post would have held more weight with me if you hadn't said you were in IT. If you are going to say it, back it up with some "information" about the "technology".
 

Lordhooha

Well-Known Member
It's nauseating how many times I have heard that in my life "I'm in IT so you should listen to me" like they are some defacto experts because they sit on a help desk saying "did you try turning it off and on again" 5000 times a day. ;-)

I spent most of my career in information technology, private sector first building PCs then in network engineering much of which was done for fledgling ISPs back in the dial up days and the transition to DSL, then in telecommunications as telecom and datacom started to converge. Then for the military as a project manager during Y2K and then back to the private sector as a consultant and project manager dealing mostly with VoIP system design/deployment. Now I sit on my ass smoking pot and trading cryptocurrencies. You are obviously entitled to your opinion, but why should we listen to you? Seems to me a real technician studies the facts, weighs the pros/cons and presents a good argument devoid of any personal opinion as to why a technology should or shouldn't be adopted. At least thats what I did for my clients.

It's called Impartial and objective analysis.

Sorry if it seems like I am picking on you, thats not my goal, I am just so tired of people saying "I'm in IT" like it means something. A person could sit in a automotive factory pushing a button on a machine that makes a plastic car part, but that doesn't make them the "go to" for your next car purchase, however tell me they have worked for J.D. Power's automotive research branch for two decades, then maybe I start listening. In truth your post would have held more weight with me if you hadn't said you were in IT. If you are going to say it, back it up with some "information" about the "technology".
I was in the Navy for close to 10 years working as an IT. I currently have my bachelors in computer science along with one in business. I currently hold active certifications from Comptia in A+ (of course lol) Network+ and Security+, MCSE and Cisco. I run my own business designing,building and maintaining networks it’s just me so I do everything. So technically your right I work help desk on some days. I don’t however feel your picking on me I understand trust me. I had a guy tell me he “ worked on computers” I brought him in to help me build up a place sat him in front of a terminal and said I need you to set up this switch which was all CLI and zero GUI based sadly he didn’t know much other than how to build gaming PC’s for his buddies.
 

canadian1969

Well-Known Member
I was in the Navy for close to 10 years working as an IT. I currently have my bachelors in computer science along with one in business. I currently hold active certifications from Comptia in A+ (of course lol) Network+ and Security+, MCSE and Cisco. I run my own business designing,building and maintaining networks it’s just me so I do everything. So technically your right I work help desk on some days. I don’t however feel your picking on me I understand trust me. I had a guy tell me he “ worked on computers” I brought him in to help me build up a place sat him in front of a terminal and said I need you to set up this switch which was all CLI and zero GUI based sadly he didn’t know much other than how to build gaming PC’s for his buddies.
Good, I apologize for my rant, after decades in the industry its a pet peeve and I always tend to hear it from those that hold low stations. I didn't mean to imply you were a script monkey, thats just been my experience. I had this guy working under me at DND in '98, new guy, Microsoft certs out the wazoo and we were in the midst of switching from Novell and Banyan to MS, needed a new NT server, so tasked him with it, couldn't even get the drives partitioned. Took him 2 days, man he took a lot of ribbing from the rest of the crew. I stopped with the vendor certs after pouring thousands of dollars down the shitter, the only Comptia one I pursued was the Project manager one which I think was around 2004 ish. I guess you need them these days if you are running your own shop but always thought they were a racket. Novell cost me a fortune back in the day, MS too, plus the updates, Network Associates Sniffer and Cisco's early certs as well but all that is obsolete now.

Now you need to tell me in your professional capacity why you wouldn't use one of these devices :-)
The only reason I can think of after reading and watching the progress of these devices for a couple years is the possibility of an exploit, I find that to be a remote possibility in my case and I generally stay up on those things. Is there something else? I haven't laid hands on one of these things yet so I was looking for first hand accounts of use and performance, but if there is something I haven't considered I am all ears.
 

Lordhooha

Well-Known Member
Good, I apologize for my rant, after decades in the industry its a pet peeve and I always tend to hear it from those that hold low stations. I didn't mean to imply you were a script monkey, thats just been my experience. I had this guy working under me at DND in '98, new guy, Microsoft certs out the wazoo and we were in the midst of switching from Novell and Banyan to MS, needed a new NT server, so tasked him with it, couldn't even get the drives partitioned. Took him 2 days, man he took a lot of ribbing from the rest of the crew. I stopped with the vendor certs after pouring thousands of dollars down the shitter, the only Comptia one I pursued was the Project manager one which I think was around 2004 ish. I guess you need them these days if you are running your own shop but always thought they were a racket. Novell cost me a fortune back in the day, MS too, plus the updates, Network Associates Sniffer and Cisco's early certs as well but all that is obsolete now.

Now you need to tell me in your professional capacity why you wouldn't use one of these devices :-)
The only reason I can think of after reading and watching the progress of these devices for a couple years is the possibility of an exploit, I find that to be a remote possibility in my case and I generally stay up on those things. Is there something else? I haven't laid hands on one of these things yet so I was looking for first hand accounts of use and performance, but if there is something I haven't considered I am all ears.
Security wise I honestly don’t see and issue with them. It honestly weirds me out having something constantly listening. Besides my house has enough gear I’m not too worried either way. They’ve fixed most exploits some time ago. It’s the fact that google and all of the big companies are logging enough of my data on a regular basis I’d rather not willing give them anymore.

I do feel you though the certs are stupid expensive and then to get them renewed is a pain. My Network+ is due this December and I’ll most likely just let it go I have more than enough businesses that will give me rave reviews on my work.
 

canadian1969

Well-Known Member
Security wise I honestly don’t see and issue with them. It honestly weirds me out having something constantly listening. Besides my house has enough gear I’m not too worried either way. They’ve fixed most exploits some time ago. It’s the fact that google and all of the big companies are logging enough of my data on a regular basis I’d rather not willing give them anymore.
Yeah, I feel ya there, I figured I would use some sock puppet account to keep a degree of separation from my normal day to day. Depending on the model some have Ethernet jacks so would likely go that route for added peace of mind.

I liken that to Metasynths comment about giant dildos lol, but as far as I understand the workings of these things that would only happen if you had actually asked the device about giant dildos.

@Metasynth , have you been asking your google home device about giant dildos? ;-) not that I am judging, ,whatever floats your boat man. but seriously if that started happening (ie started getting ads for stuff I know I didn't ask it directly about) it would immediately go in the trash.
 

Cx2H

Well-Known Member
Alexa are you useful? "Hmm, I'm not sure about that!"

Alexa why does your accessories cost so much? "Hmm, I'm not sure about that!"

#FFS Alexa! "A.I. is some sheet blah blah blah, did that answer your question?"

... Da fuk?
 

Kretzlord

Active Member
I'm too paranoid to have one in my house... but I do like farming out my mental labor to machines...

My main issue is the possibility for exploitation by outside parties. I talk shit all day long and I'm sure that the appropriate parties already have a small dossier on my browsing habits, but why put another ear in my house? Add to that the home automation systems (locks, cameras, thermostats) and I feel that a creative government could employ it as a control measure in the not too distant future...

But maybe I've read too much 1984 and Brave New Worldo_O
 

Metasynth

Well-Known Member
Yeah, I feel ya there, I figured I would use some sock puppet account to keep a degree of separation from my normal day to day. Depending on the model some have Ethernet jacks so would likely go that route for added peace of mind.

I liken that to Metasynths comment about giant dildos lol, but as far as I understand the workings of these things that would only happen if you had actually asked the device about giant dildos.

@Metasynth , have you been asking your google home device about giant dildos? ;-) not that I am judging, ,whatever floats your boat man. but seriously if that started happening (ie started getting ads for stuff I know I didn't ask it directly about) it would immediately go in the trash.
No, that was just a joke. Lol. I do own a google home, but I just get ads based on search history in browsers, not from the smart speaker.

And I usually look up dildos two or three times a day...doesn’t everyone?
 
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