• Echo Dot
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    8 months ago

    Normally I’m a pretty earlier adopter of new technology but home automation doesn’t appeal to me because I don’t want to have to constantly pay a subscription to someone to process my commands when I have a perfectly functional computer.

    I want to have a doorbell that does not financially commit me to a monthly fee I do not think that’s too much to ask.

    • DingoBilly@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      There’s plenty of products without subscriptions… Including your doorbell example.

      Maybe you haven’t actually researched this enough?

    • AA5B@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      Agreed, but there are choices. Even for the Ring doorbell, you can choose not to have a subscription if it suits your bpberds to have live video only, no history. But there are also full featured choices that do not require a subscription.

      For me, I haven’t yet upgraded from Ring because I’m not ready to take on an NVR, nor build out the full system I want

    • 0x0@programming.dev
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      8 months ago

      For me, a doorbell that is more than a doorbell is a perfect example of tech built to fill a need no one had.

      • Gadg8eer@sh.itjust.works
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        8 months ago

        To be fair, I use a simple smartlock whose only purpose is so I alone can unlock my bedroom door without needing my physical key duplicated for others to enter at desired times.

        To also be fair, I have a hodgepodge of smarthome lights and plugs linked via ifttt that I am now worried will not have any replacement option in 15 years. Maybe I made a mistake, but I do actually have a need to rely on a smartswitch to turn off the lights when I leave home.