Over the past few months, I've been gradually phasing Amazon out of our daily lives. I've dubbed this endeavor Project Sahara—because if the rainforest represents abundance and constant flow, a desert is its deliberate opposite. Not barren, but intentional. A place where only what's essential survives.
The journey began with replacing the Echo devices around our apartment. I switched to the Apple HomePod, and immediately noticed the superior sound quality. But the real revelation came during setup. Thanks to Apple's Handoff feature, transferring settings and connecting devices was effortless. Simply bringing my iPhone near the speaker configured everything automatically. No QR codes, no long passwords, no menu-diving required. It was just as easy to set up on my wife’s phone, so control doesn’t fall entirely on me.
To complement this change, I installed Philips Hue bulbs and switches throughout our space. They integrate perfectly with Apple's Home app and HomeKit automations. I anticipated challenges here, but the system has proven remarkably reliable. Creating simple scenes like "reading" or "evening wind-down" has transformed our place.
E-books presented another transition point. I've been migrating my library from Kindle to Apple Books, and the difference is notable. Beyond the clean interface, Apple Books offers superior customization—fonts, spacing, background color, even hyphenation preferences—creating a more tailored reading experience. The only remaining question is outdoor reading; if glare on the iPad Mini becomes problematic, I'm considering the Kobo Clara 2E. My wife is also making this switch—she's ordered a Kobo Libra Colour with their Kobo Plus subscription service.
We've also stepped back from Amazon for our shopping needs. We still place occasional orders when products aren't available elsewhere, but now most purchases go directly through manufacturers or small businesses. It requires more effort, but feels more connected and intentional.
I know this setup isn't cheap—it's definitely a privilege and an investment. But the payoff has been worth it: less technical hassle and a noticeable boost in quality that I hadn't realized I was missing before. This is really about being more deliberate with our choices—stepping back from the convenience-at-all-costs approach and focusing on products that work better for us, even when that requires more time or money upfront.
If you're thinking about making similar changes, remember you don't need to overhaul everything at once. Maybe replace one speaker or try a different e-reading app. Small steps can lead to meaningful improvements in how your technology serves you rather than the other way around.
