TomE

The Tall Echo has a much better speaker system.  The small one, the Dot, actually has improved microphones per Amazon, but the lack the quality speakers that the Echo has . The Dot has a speaker.  My main use of the single dot is to ask it to turn lights on / off or set alarms.  It has more uses.  To me $40 was worth it to gain more control over the lights.  You can plug in more speakers to the Dot, but I don't any in my bedroom.  Go look at the Amazon site it will detail the differences between the Echo and the Dot. They also have portable (rechargeable) Echo.  I don't have one of these because you have to press a button on top to talk to Alexa - too much trouble.  I think Amazon is about to roll out upgrades, but this is just an opinion.  It may be a new improved product that uses Alexa.  Siri annoys me more than it helps at this point, but Siri is getting better.

I have 2 ½ Amazon Echo's. 2 Tall ones and 1 short one. While I love Apple, Amazon got to the market place faster with better results. Yes, Alexa cannot answer questions like Siri. But Alexa has great music available to me just by asking. Yes, I have Amazon Prime so I can order packages and have them shipped free. I get music and videos for free with Prime. I don't get this with Apple. Amazon beat them. I speak "Southern" and Alexa can understand me fine. Siri cannot do so well as Alexa. I don't order with Alexa. I want to see it on my Mac Screen - not the iPhone. but you can do it. I don't. I really like being able to turn my 4 Belkin lamps on / off in my house just by speaking. They are programmed to follow patterns and also sunrise / sunset. Sometimes I want to ask Alexa to simply turn on my office light that has just gone off by a program. I just ask Alexa to Turn On Office Light. Or Turn Off Lights when I get in the bed. I like being able to ask Alexa to Turn On Lights in the middle of the night if my wife hears a noise. Alexa Lights On / Off is really good. Yes, Home Kit will let you do a lot, but Apple was very late to the market. It is becoming a habit instead of on occasion. I have had Apple Stock since 1984. I like them, but they are slow to respond to change. I don't think they listen to their customers very well. If you have an iPhone7, it is able to process voice within itself. I have a 6s+. it has to transmit via LTE and back the voice data. Apple has to get products out the door & keep them updated. I remember when Apple could not get parts (no Money or clout). Now they cannot get enough high end parts and they have all the money. They have dropped many software packages that made them great - I have a list - they have hurt us more than one time. Alexa is a good product. I doubt Amazon will drop it.

I realize Apple is seeking to advance Keyboard Technology, improve the User Experience, etc. . . .  but I have a 12"MacBook8,1.  Perfect in almost every way except the New Keyboard.  It is a fraction of an inch different from my 13" MacBook Air.  The key height is lower on the MacBook8,1.  As a long time user of computers, 40+, I don't like at all the smaller keyboard.  The MacBook Air Keyboard is much better. I get almost a 95% "correct" key pressed rate.  The MacBook 8,1 with the new style keyboard is a problem for me.  So much of a problem, I am selling it and getting a larger laptop.    


All said , there is still room for improvement in the new keyboard.  It will not be long before the LED Keyboard is completely customizable.  Or at least you will be able to see the other keys available when you press a function key.  I still look for the special characters and would love to see them on the actual keyboard.

They either work well, or they do not.  Amazing how corporations (MS) don't mind spending money ($400M) to get someone (NFL) to endorse their product. If it were their own Money, Mr Marketing 9MS) would not spend so freely.  $400M would go a long way toward developing something that worked.  

Or the NFL could just buy Apple iPads which do work.  Of course, it is all about the money.  Follow the Money.

Apple Health is the future.  It is now.  Apple is missing the boat.
We need this fast.
I have been using the Health App since shortly after it came out.
It is not perfect.  I could not easily print the data, show or give it to my MD's.  Lacking these basic functions. Should be able to export it to FileMaker, Excel or Numbers with a click not a "magic act".  I need the sleep data.  There are millions of people who have sleep difficulties that the watch could assist with , but the battery does not last long enough to go over night without a recharge.
Like how hard is it to do this from the Mac, iPad or Phone - it is not.
It would be useful to add some other data points - user defined. 
Example:  When I check by BP, I get the heart rate automatically.  I need a 3rd field for heart rate when I check my BP.  
Who is doing this work ?  Apparently they quit or were fired and the new people are confused and not very good at this.

The Health App has recently changed and it is not a change for the better.  It is much more difficult to use.   I don't care it they offer an option to group the data into several areas, but it does not make sense for me or my MD's.   This is complete waste of time to a user what has been done.  Don't force these groupings on me or the MD's.

I have already selected what I wanted to show in the "dashboard" and now it has been rearranged and requires more "taps" to find what I want.   I am not a happy camper.  Mac User since before 1984.  Obviously who ever "rev'ed" it last, doesn't have a need to use the app.  My MD's want to see everything I have selected and been tracking - not to  have to watch me fiddle around looking for a complete list.  It is like the new Coke machines - they slow down the dispensing of the product.  3-4 clicks to select a Raspberry Coke.  Once I got used to it, Coke marketing (idiots) changed the programing of the machine.  Not an Improvement Coke - Read this Apple - Keep it simple.  Make it work fast.

Suggestion:  Read my first paragraph closely , also, someone needs to make it easy to integrate the other step trackers' data, i.e., fitbit.  I am going to get an Apple Watch, but darn, how hard is it to do this ?  Not very hard.
TomE