This is ridiculous...i have had my web plus for almost 2 yrs...and
cannot afford a computer ..nor do i want the headaches it brings with it
...if web tv has to go under and they think that i will buy whatever
they come up with in the future...they are wrong....i will go back to
being the old dinosaur that i once was....webtv has given me the chance
to change my life a little ..while coping with all the other necessities
in life...but i will not be told what to do or what to buy.....but that
will be my final answer....BYE BYE to web tv.
~ JET ~
The article about WTV was very good. I have been on WTV almost from the
being. I have never used a computer for internet service, but do use on
at work for non internet work.
I have had my share if not more of WTV problems which I still am having
today. Yet I would not want to swap my WTV for anything else. I enjoy
sitting here in my recliner instead of at the desk right next to me. I
enjoy seen all that I see on a big screen (27") compared to a computer
monitor. I hate WTV yet I would not want to be without it. I hate it
because the service is so poor, they make every excuse in the world for
the problems that you have (we all have) and never once do they tell you
that they are at fought. After awhile you could be one of their
customer service tech's with the same broken down excuses. Why don't
they hire someone to fix the problems and up grade the system to make
more money. I promote this poor service to others just because it is
enjoyable at times, so much better then TV is today. The internet is a
bottomless pit of information and things to do with almost no reruns.
The concept of WTV is great, management sucks. You write a letter to
the tech's, per their suggestion, and you get back a smart or useless
answer and never see results. You take one of there sites from WTV
Today. The Victoria Secret site has not open (it is right off the home
page in shopping) ever since I found it awhile back. No help from
calling or from writting. They did something to the defaults that when
you hit the back button to come back one page you come all the way out
of the site at times. Once again no help from the phone tech or
writing, the reply from the written request for help came back for me to
call the maker of the set. The WTV motto: IF YOU CAN PUT THE BLAME
ELSEWHERES NEVER ADMIT FAULT OR ERROR NO MATTER WHAT.
One other problem with WTV they are trying to make it to much like a
computer instead of what it really is: an internet connection box to be
use with your TV.
jjm327
Hello Dudette....Great article! You have expressed the thoughts and
feelings of many a WebTv user. The news articles, lawsuits and rumors of
WebTv's demise seem insurmountable for UltimateTv. Uh-oh, did i say
UltimateTv. Guess we better get used to it. Even Dennis Reno is using
UltimateTv in his email sig. Looks like he got a promotion too. Anyway,
because of problems experienced with the 2.6 upgrade i recently had the
opportunity to talk (yes on the phone) with several people from
Microsoft, UltimateTv, and WebTv. After talking with the engineer a bit
he finally was able to duplicate and see my problem. He said it was a
issue not discovered before and said he wold work immediately to fix the
problem. So much for beta testing. Besides working on my problems i had
an interesting conversation with the product support specialist. I asked
about the demise of WebTv. He said sure there will be some changes but,
WebTv will live on even under a face lift and name change. He said the
same type of units in use now will be the same in UltimateTv units. He
assured me that I will be able to use my unit for years to come. This is
very good news. Of course this could be more smoke and mirrors, WebTv
representatives have said some things in the past that just did not
happen. Guess that brings me to the lawsuit. The jury is still out for
me.
rick atkins
I do enjoy my WebTV, WHEN IT WORKS!!!
I have had MANY different people give me MANY different ways of
resolving the problems with my new classic. (It is not a year old yet).
Staff is poorly trained, at best!!!
EVERY weekend, I have problems getting on. Once the WebTV Logo appears,
it stays!!! And Stays!!!
When I do get on, It is so slow, pitiful!!!
I pay way to much for this lousy service!!!
The message appears that I am going to be having a toll call. The
phone company says it is NOT, WebTV says it IS
The connecting phone number was changed, supposedly so I would be able
to get on.
I have been told to turn off the messenger,
turn off the music
unplug the set for 15 minutes
unplug the set for 30 minutes
get a phone jack
get a shorter cord to the phone jack
I can't even remember all the stuff I have been told to do.
I called FIVE times one evening! The thing just would NOT work!
I enjoy the convenience of my WebTV!
When I first got it I made it my business to learn everything!!!
Imagine my surprise when I found I can NOT open certain messages. My
grandson can NOT play most games kids want to play.
THIS IS VERY FRUSTRATING!!!
If I see "Sorry, your set does NOT support Java, OR you don't have
Netscape, OR you don't have Flash one more time I will SCREAM!!!
WHY DON'T WE HAVE IT???????
My friend bought one because I have one.
Two of her friends bought because SHE as one.
YES, they should compensate us!!
Hope you can help!
Thanks
Shirley
SHIRL
Have just read your article and boy, do I agree with you. In fact,
since Dec. I have had trouble playing one simple solitaire game and when
I e mail them about the problem, my answer comes back from Moscow,
Russia. He says the technology is there and the US does the advertising
What? We have no one with "smarts" in this country to work on the
problems here?
I was just upgraded and boy, did it ever mess up my games and they have
no answer but to go to "retrograde" which I did and it did nothing but
do another upgrade for30 minutes, which made the 3rd time in two days it
had done an upgrade and none of them helped. The only thing I found
out was I can not watch a picture in a picture while on the messenger.
Big deal, who has time for that? I am really sorry I got this webtv,
but really would get rid of it except andy for emailing my relatives in
faraway places.
I feel if they don't have the technology to maintain this thing, then
buy our stuff back from us and let us go to something we can use.
Bet
Hello,
I am very happy with my webtv. I was hoping that the monthly fee would
actually come down if our numbers grew. I will only switch to a pc when
I have to...that is if webtv goes away. It's pretty uncomplicated to
use and takes up very little space. Here's hoping for the best!
joseph stoddart
I hope that Webtv won't suddenly shut down--I use it to get info I
wouldn't normally get & to stay in touch with people. I probably will
eventually get a PC, but it would be really sad if Microsoft just chose
to end Webtv even though 1 mllion people depend on it.
Don't end Webtv, Microsoft! Improve the service, & you could get a lot
more users!
Tammy Smith
Thank you very much for writing to Microsoft to tell them the same
things we try to tell them. We usually just get an email that comes no
where near matching the question much less answering it. I don't really
like lawyers but maybe you should post a link where people could join
the lawsuit. They seem to listen to those very carefully. I think it is
a real shame they not only ignore our problems which they have caused
but also actively treating the individual members poorly. Usually the
ones they are the ugliest to or the kindest most loyal customers who
have done their job for them---They have given freely of their time to
help all the users who have trouble with webtv. Rather than be very
grateful to these people who have given hours of their time-much like
you do-they go in and tell them they have to change their site because
they have used web-tv's name If they had not everybody would have found
out much faster that their is no webtv customer help. There is just this
little machine that wants to know what else they could do for us that
will finish off our machines. I have told them every time please fix
what you have messed up before you start asking what else you can do. I
really think the last 3 upgrades were a systematic effort to be sure the
machine had outlived it's usefulness. It's a shame to do away with such
a loyal community Thanks again!
compmail
YES YES YES I WANT MY WEBtv....
I've had web fo 5 years,i started with the classic,changed to the plus &
then got a new plus,& color printer,& digital camera,I gave my old
classic to my brother,he changed to a plus,& i sold my old plus to his
friend.WE ARE ALL TELLING every
one about how great it is to see on a tv
screen & do 95% of whata computer can do.we do all the things we want
PLUS.
I
am sissabled & have partial vision prblems,my tv is a 24" with pic/in
pic. I
did't buy the plus for pic/pic but other things.I NEED my WEB it's my
connection to the world,I had a pc & sold it i don't
want a pc & monitor you have to scrunch to see,Sometimes even on tv
there are things youcan't read imagine i'd need a magnifyer to see it on
a pc.I don't mind the &24.95 @ month to me it's worth it.
IF they fixed all te bugs they created with the new upgrade(by the way i
took a retro
grade cause they wiped out most f my files it took years to put in)i
would be willing to pay $30.00@month.SOMEONE
PLEASE SAVE WebTv.
Lorraine Lambert
Right on, Dudette..thoughtful, incisive and, if they would only listen,
extremely helpful.
BobMcKernan
I just wanted to congratulate you on what I thought was an excellent
article! I must admit, I have been put off by some of your articles
critical of WebTv in the past, but this one is different IMO. The
entire article was well thought out, made valid points, and never once
stooped to cheap shots. Excellent job!
BTW-I participate in a newsgroup that has a couple of WNI employees who
are regulars. One of them posted stating that they had just received a
very "proud" email on an email list from one of the WebTv marketers
bragging about how great she was, and he sent this "proud" marketer your
article to knock the wind out their arrogant sails! LOL
WbWzrd JJ
Can't we WebTV'ers let Microsoft know that we want to keep using our
sets and don't want to use PC's when we can sit in our easy chair and
avoid eye strain? My vote is for WEBTV to stay.
wnewtonkent
The U.S.Postal in conjunction with Compaq and IBM are offering all
postal employees, close to one million, an opportunity to get connected
to the internet.
Here, in my opinion, was a chance for webtv to increase its membership
substantially.
The Compaq and IBM deal is not that great and a lot of employees will
not take advantage of this opportunity because they are not computer
savvy. Webtv would have been an acceptable alternative if they knew it
existed. The url below will give you more information on the deal.
http://community.webtv.net/thelutz/UnitedStatesPostal
thelutz
I just read that...for the lack of a better word...stupid, largely false
article about WebTV.
I have been a user for 29 months, I have owned the original Classic, the
PM 972, and for the last year the PM 976. I have had absolutely no
trouble with ANY of the boxes. Critics [spies for competitors] have
infiltrated the ranks of WebTV and are trying mightily to destroy a very
good product.
Duddette or whatever her real names is undoubedly working
for one of the following competitors: 1) AOL; 2) Sunmicrosystems; 3)
other rabid enemies of
Microsoft Corp. I have never seen such distortions...unless it was the
Clinton Administration and his appointees.
In short, I strongly disagree with your contributor, who's handle is
Dudette.
Huck
I , for one, love my Classic WebTV and DO NOT want to own a PC. I am
retired and don't want to have anything to do with a PC since I used one
when I worked and am glad to get away from always having to learn new
programs etc.
WebTV is so SIMPLE to use. THAT'S why we like it!!!!!!! I have
demonstrated to so many people my WebTV BECAUSE that don't want to own a
PC and have to take lessons and keep learning and buying programs etc.
And many went out an bought a WebTV then.
SIMPLE IS THE KEY!!! Also, my TV screen is much bigger than a PC
screen and I can sit in a comfortable chair across the room and have a
bunch of people view it.....not just looking over my shoulder at a
little screen.
Please don't take away my WebTV!!!!!
So what, if my kids and grandkids think it is a just a toy! The older
generation is allowed to have toys TOO! And to have fun!
Pat
On a couple points I have to agree- by the time I get done paying webtv
AND my isp
It is all most $35.00 a month!
I am so sick of webtv at this point- I am ready to pull the plug. I am
tired of the messages that I get BEFORE I am even in my home page ( too
big for my screen or publisher kept you waiting too long).
I have totally lost patience with them telling me the reason it takes so
long to log on is an isp problem. BULL !! I have to stare at the stupid
webtv logo for 10 minutes at least sometimes BEFORE I reach my home
page. EXCUSE ME! Thats NOT my ISP. That is webtv..
I use to enjoy the webtv 3 years ago- but now it has become a nusiance
that WILL wind up in the pond before it is said and done..
Laura
In her story, Dudette wrote:
Not everyone...wants to sit at their desk for all of their online
activity. The TV display also makes it a different medium -- it's in a
more comfortable environment, is a larger and more potentially involving
experience, and can be viewed and enjoyed by the entire family.
YES, my sentiments exactly! I'm a computer tech for IBM (and a musician
as well). When I get home from work, the last thing I want to do is sit
at a desk in front of a computer again. I've got my WebTV setup in my
bedroom and with WTV I can check my e-mail, balance my checkbook & check
out some music sites all from a reclined position.
Most of Corporate Amereica sits at a desk in front of a computer 40
hrs.+ a week. C'mon, you can't tell me there's not a market out there
for WebTV.
GrooveDog
Finally someone had the balls to say the truth about
webtv users. We are not cheapskates nor are we blind to see all of
"Microsofts" mistakes with updates and the customers service . You are
speaking the truth. It was up to us to look around for help like webtv
for dummies and Glitterman and help for the webtv user help websites. We
are at there mercy for better service and loyal to our end of the
bargain with paid monthly service.A paid up monthly"MINE" and on time!
Because I belive in this product.Grant it.
It is true not everybody can afford things in life
"but If we work hard for them". In the end they might come true with
hard work of course. Plus I was dead against computers .I learned how to
type ,read more,shop,social interaction, than I've ever in my whole
33yrs. of life. YES! Webtv has changed my life.I need it for many things
like complaining about the daily happenings of events from good to bad
incidents to the proper authorities .Like from government to the mayor
and to the president of the MACYS department if I had any problems to be
solved. This is the only medium and in my own comfort at home and to
surf away.I am not giving up on webtv till they pull the plug so to
speak.
This is ridiculous...i have had my web plus for almost 2 yrs...and
cannot afford a computer ..nor do i want the headaches it brings with it
...if web tv has to go under and they think that i will buy whatever
they come up with in the future...they are wrong....i will go back to
being the old dinosaur that i once was....webtv has given me the chance
to change my life a little ..while coping with all the other necessities
in life...but i will not be told what to do or what to buy.....but that
will be my final answer....BYE BYE to web tv.