Which Alexa?

You can try Alexa out by downloading the app onto your phone. The physical device is in addition to this.

We have an original echo plus that we've programmed to turn plugs, lights, security and heating on and off. All this needs other smart items.
We use her to answer questions, play music and podcasts. DH asks her for spellings as he's dyslexic. The DGC love the jokes and rude noises.
She can do a lot of things if she's set up to do them.

Our TV, soundbar and washing machine all have built in Alexa....not bothered using the capability yet.

I have 3 basic Alexas, think they might be Echo Dots, in the kitchen, sitting room and bedtoom.
I use them instead of a radio, and can link all three so they all play the same.
In the bedroom I ask her to set an alarm if I need it, and can also ask her to tell me the time if I wake in the night.
Can set a timer as well.
I listen to things on catch up, play my choice of music.
Sometimes it might be the only thing I talk to all day!
Watch for offers on Amazon, they can be £50, but very often on offer for half that.

I've had my Echo Show for three years with absolutely no problems at all.

I have an Echo downstairs and different Echo Dots in my bedroom and a spare room. I ask Alexa to play Boom Radio, or shuffle one of my Spotify playlists, or shuffle eg songs by Simon and Garfunkel. Alexa does the weather forecast, any quick calculations, random facts, alarms and reminders, timers when cooking… I was sceptical when DD first bought me one but I’d really miss it now.

Friends have an Echo Show but I don’t feel the urge to keep looking at it, I’m happy just to hear it.

Don't buy an echo show. I've had my echo show 5 for a couple of years and now the screen glitches. It seems to be a fault with them.
We have echo dots in other rooms. I've just used our living room dot for timing a pizza.
I use them to play music and radio stations.
Compile shopping lists
Weather forecast
Recipes
Spellings
Playing games.
DH and I have our own bedrooms and we can use our echo dots as an intercom. It's comforting to know that we can talk to each other if we have a problem.

It definitely is all about what you actually want it for. We had the Alexa Dot first just for radio, music and the questions you could ask Alexa etc. Now with the echo it's great for face to face calls as well.

The best thing about Alexa, in my opinion, is the shopping list. I just call and tell Alexa to put bread( for example) on my shopping list and it's immediately on my phone in the Alexa app.
No more getting to the supermarket and forgetting your list!

^*Tanith*, what would you like to be able to do with it.

A Dot is very basic, which might suit you fine but it might not.

Not sure why Petra has prejudged your possible requirements.

Tanith
An Amazon Dot will suit you fine.

www.amazon.co.uk/echo-dot-2022/dp/B09B8YWXDF/ref=asc_df_B09B8YWXDF?hvlocphy=1006886&gad_source=1&linkCode=df0&hvptwo=&mcid=2d05e65330b03700a46552bfd8c6cbc8&hvnetw=g&hvadid=696354108603&hvpone=&hvlocint=&th=1&hvpos=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvocijid=12657955403908040759-B09B8YWXDF-&hvqmt=&hvexpln=0&tag=gransnetforum-21&hvtargid=pla-1872160608158&hvrand=12657955403908040759

We have the Alexa Echo Show, it's got a nice sized screen and we use it for talking to our daughter face to face. We also use it for radio and music, and of course asking Alexa for anything including the weather forecast!

Thanks for the info but there are many different models too which is suitable for a novice?

Mine was £20 from Tesco

Use it as an alarm, radio, get recipes, news, tropical rain storm ( helps me sleep and brings back memories) , quizzes, any music I choose -

We have an Alexa in nearly every room. We have a couple that show photos, 2 that are linked to the Ring doorbell, I play my own playlists, Radio 2, DH plays JazzFM, listens to new Albums and plays nature sounds overnight to help deal with his tinnitus. We use them to remind us when we are cooking, set reminders and alarms.

We don't, but we could, call people on our contacts list.

I think that, as we age, keeping abreast of new helpful technologies is vital as they can support us by setting medication reminders etc and in ways that we can't imagine yet.

I use my Alexa, to play 60's music while I'm on the computer, just listening to Elvis at this moment.