Buyers Guide: Internet Appliances Part One
New Web
appliances
Websites for the appliances
 The
"post-PC" era is being described as a world in which people who don't
have a computer - and even many of those who do - will use everything
from sophisticated wired or wireless phones to televisions, pagers and
personal digital assistants to connect to the Internet. These Internet
"appliances" are priced below the cost of a PC and emphasize simplicity
and convenience. Would these Internet appliances appeal to you?
The i-opener(pictured above) from Netpliance, a simple10-inch flat-screen
monitor and keyboard setup that delivers e-mail and Net access; and Cidco's
MailStation, a 2.2-pound unit that allows users to send and view e-mail
messages of up to 1,000 words. The i-opener arrives already configured
for your telephone number and area code, with your name and e-mail account
set up. It weighs less than five-pounds and once it's delivered, simply
unpack, connect the power supply and the phone line and you're ready to
go.
Dell's entry into the market comes at a higher price than other Internet
appliances. At $1,000 US dollars the two-piece WebPC includes a sleek,
slate-blue system unit that weighs 10 pounds and measures just six inches
wide by 10 inches deep. Dell brags that you can unpack the WebPC and be
online in 10 minutes. Other top name brands include the iMac, Gateway's
Astro PC, and eMachine's eOne which include pretty much the same feature
and, in some cases, less space
Microsoft's Windows CE and MSN service will power a slew of new Web appliances. Easy to set up and sleekly designed with built-in screens and keyboards, they are meant for quick web access and reading e-mail only.
Vestel's Internet Terminal offers one-button access to the Web and e-mail, and is available in three models: a 15-inch CRT monitor and two with flat-panel LCDs. Acer's I-Station, scheduled to be out any time soon, features one-click access and an LCD screen.
If you just want a dedicated email appliance consider Vtech's e-Mail PostBox which features an eight-line, text only display or Landel's MailBug. Both require an additional service fee of about $10US per month.
Want e-mail on your TV? Try TVemail from eNote.com, this system uses a set-top box to display e-mail on your television. Hook up the box to your phone line, and it automatically dials in four times a day to check your mail. A blinking light on the box alerts you to new mail. And you can have up to five e-mail accounts per household.
Unlike other all-in-one models, TVemail lets you receive e-mail attachments, including pictures. The wireless, full-sized keyboard includes four colour coded keys that correspond to system functions, which makes navigation simple. Users can customise the system to retrieve local news, sports, weather and, of course, TV listings.
Websites for the appliances:
www.iopener.net
www.mymailstation.com
www.webtv.com
www.webpc.com
www.vestel-usa.com
www.acer.com
www.vtechworld.com
www.landel.com
Internet appliances aren't full-fledged computers - you can just use them to access the Web or retrieve email - or both. However they fall-short of the PC when it comes to creating data. Coming next month - part two - Internet gadgets.
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