Email Only Device
from the too-simple? dept
MailStation is releasing a device who's only purpose is to check email. My first reaction is that it's just a bit too simplistic. I guess, however, there may be a market for some people who just want to do email. I could definitely see this becoming more popular in the older generation who just want to stay in touch with their grandkids. Might turn out to be a competitor for WebTV in that space. Picture's here.
Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
Bad form factor
If it is meant as a simple device for seniors etc., then shouldn't they provide a better, larger screen? I can't see who this is targetted to.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Excellent Point
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
e mail only device
brands and where i could find them would be helpful. thanks.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: e mail only device
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: e mail only device
I got your name from a web site with comments about an e-mail only machine and you had inquired about where to get one. Did you ever get one??? I am also looking for one simple to use and with a large screen for my sister-in-law who can't talk and doesn't see well and can't get the hang of her computer. Any advice for me?? A friend has a Mailbug by Landel and I am in touch with them, but wonder if anything else is available. I also wonder if their monthly service is satisfactory.
Thanks for any help, patbrien@charter.net
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
email only device
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
email only device
Therefore she needs a emiail only device and I NEED ONE FOR HER !!! Where can I get one ???
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
VTech / MailStation
As to the earlier posters who felt such appliances lack flexibility or power or screensize...well, duh! Those people weren't in our target market. That's like asking a network admin for their opinion of AOL accounts.
In contrast, there ARE a lot of people for whom such idiot-proof and low-cost devices make a lot of sense. I gave a VTech PostBox to my grandmother (age 80+), and when the company finally went out of business 5 years later (hardware still working fine, probably on the original AA batteries), she asked me to buy her a competing look-a-like MailStation as a replacement. She's still happily using it with an ancient compatible inkjet we found on eBay.
This was, and is, a valid and underrepresented niche. It's too bad the new AppleTV doesn't do email (does it?), else I'd probably buy her one of those :-)
BTW, in related "web appliance" functionality, check out the Philips digital picture frames. They're a great way to "send" a colorful (and updatable, via SD) website to a techno-challenged relative!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
email internet acess for grandmother
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Email Only Devices
Here is a list of products I have found that will do most, but not ALL of the requirements. Some of these might help for some of you that had posted earlier asking about which devices would be good for certain applications. I am not sure which, if any, of these are still in business, but you can try to research each.
1-Mailstation
2-MailBug
3-eMessage
4-WebTv
5-MSNTv
6-V-Tech PostBox
These are all I have found so that will do email only. But none of these fit ALL of the requirements listed above.
The Alphasmart Dana Wireless will do emails and has a word processor with spell checker along with some alot of other features - it is basically a lower quality PDA. It also has a full sized keyboard and wi-fi capabilities. At $420, the price is a little high and a person would either have to go to a wi-fi hotspot to check emails (may not be convenient for an elderly person) or hookup a wireless router at home which may not even be possible if the person does not have a computer to hook a router to. I am really leaning towards getting him a really cheap laptop and deleting (or hiding) all internet access, games, and any other applications he would not need and just leaving email and a cheap word processor program (with spell check) capabilites.
I am still researching but I hope this info helps some other people out there.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Email Only Devices
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
email only devices
I used to have a data/internet plan on my palm centro, via Verizon, it worked great.
The other day a collections rep from the company called and and wolfed at me, she was going to disconnect my total services of voice/email and data because I was still owing $27.01 on my account. I thought about what coverages I had, but mainly the tone and lack of respect in that reps voice.
I came to the conclusion that I was paying $99 for unlimited voice, $5 for texting, $45 for data/internet/ $15 for tethering to laptop, $4.99 for loss / damage insurance.
That comes to $168.99 plus 18% taxes = $199.41 per month.
I had been paying this for many several years, and for being late on $27.01, Verizon was going to cut off all my services.
Well the first thing I did was made arrangements to pay the $27.01. Then I call Verizon, had my data/internet services removed. My current bill is minus $45+15.
When I took time to think about this whole incident, all I really used mostly was instant email. and maybe some time my laptop was tethered to cell phone.
I immediately started this quest for mobile email devices for less. Peek email only is $20 per month, the device cost $79. But with 35% of their reviews negative, I am still undecided.
I found a program where I could tether my lap top for free and get unlimited use monthly, after buying software, $34. its call PDAnet. Its at Junefrabics.com.
It works like a charm. I can't tell the difference between it, PDAnet, and when I was using verizon with my laptop. The draw back is, to check email I have to power up my 17" screen HP laptop. My next plan is to buy one of those mini laptops with "7in" screen by Acer for about $399. leave it always on in my car, take it for when I will be on line for less than an hour. I was shocked at what comes on these devices, wow, they even have on them XP and Office 2007. I will download the PDAnet software and I will be set. Savings after 4 months will be around $60 per month with free email and internet on the go.
After paying Verizon $200 per month and have a collections rep wolf at me over a past due $27.01 was totally unacceptable, out of line, bad PR and very stupid.
My new concept may prove a great way to live in this high world.
Al Mccray
President
First Southern Bankers
813 244 0664
Tampa, Florida
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: email only devices
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Digital Photo Frame
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]