WebTV Test: Affordable, effective Internet/y2k access...greenspun.com : LUSENET : Millennium Salons : One Thread |
This thread was initially set up to experiment with Chris Cummings (a WebTV user) to see if everything on the Millennium Salons site was accessible and usable via WebTV. The reason for wanting to find out about that was to be able to tell the people in my community who don't have computers or Internet access that they could gain it (and email, of course), for under $300... The experiment worked just fine...If you've got any input on WebTV that you'd like to add to this thread, please do...
Hi Chris,
This is the spot. Just click the link below that says, "Contribute an answer to...", tap in a little test message, and we'll see what happens.
Thanks for your help...
Bill
-- Bill (billdale@lakesnet.net), July 18, 1998
Hi Bill, Sorry it took me so long to get back to you on this, there's just been lots of stuff going on. To answer your first question, everything looks normal, photos and all, on the home page. Now on to the rest of the test. Chris
-- Chris Cummings (chrisandlin@webtv.net), July 29, 1998.
Hi Chris,Thanks! Looks like everything checks out. The forum just sent me your posting in that thread, so it looks like WebTV will work just fine. (I might have to get one myself. Seems like I've spent most of the last year in this chair, and there's no shortage of stuff I could be doing on the couch, I'm sure.) The main thing is I think it is now safe to say to my neighbors (so they can tune into y2k on the net), "No computer? No problem. You can get set up with a WebTV and ISP for a couple hundred bucks."
And no problem with the time factor. That's the way a lot of this stuff goes, as I'm sure you know: You just think of something, send a note, go on to the next thing, and see what comes back later. It's all part of that "throw it up against the wall and see what sticks thing." Looks like this one did.
Thanks again for your help...
Bill
(Thank-you too, Edward...)
-- Bill (windrow@mediaweb.gr), July 30, 1998.
Hi Bill,You're right! The couch is much more comfy. One other thought: make sure you're webtv service is a local phone call away. We have a friend in Flagstaff, AZ, who just bought webtv only to learn that it would mean a long distance call each time.
Chris
-- Chris Cummings (chrisandlin@webtv.net), July 30, 1998.
Chris,Here's how it works where I live (and there _isn't a local number for WebTV - your friend might want to call the WebTV people and ask about this one). You sign up with your local ISP just like you would with a computer and standard Internet connection, and WebTV will pay half the bill (on a $20 per month access fee). That's how it was explained to me by the rep I talked to at WebTV about a year ago. I can't remember if there was a WebTV fee (seems like there was - another $20 a month - which I guess you'd know for sure about), so your Internet bill goes up $10, but that's still not bad...
I'll have to check it out more thoroughly, but I'm pretty sure that's how it went...
Bill
-- Bill (windrow@mediaweb.gr), July 30, 1998.
Have WebTV. Love it. Also have computer with AOL connection, but prefer to use WebTV. Only paid $150 for my system, which includes wireless keyboard and remote. Also, if you are a MCI subscriber, your monthly service fee is only $14.95.
-- Nancy (Taurus91@webtv.net), October 02, 1998.