Well, I HAVE to respond to this...I have read and my emotions have run
the gamet...yessing and noing...
1. A colleague came home from a meting last week and said that she had
used Webtv in her hotel. It was great. That seems to be a market.
2. With the aging population, the simplicity of the system compared to a
PC should be offering a market.
3. Just not worrying about viruses...
4. I have been exploring thin client for work..and found a lot of the
good features..the software loaded somewhere else....an advantage I was
already enjoying with Webtv.
In effect Webtv is affordable, and there is a chance the market may
grow...
The late night infomercials that Phillips and Sony put out were
wonderful.....there is some good marketing.
What they really need is marketing in KMart, Walmart, the other places
peole shop, but it probably won't happen.
Also...I have found the system very reliable over the past 3 years. The
last upgrade was a brief hiccup...but seems to be ok.
So...said my piece.
Elizabeth Christian
Greetings:
Enjoyed, and agree with, your "Limited Market for WEb TV" article.
Ebay just changed some of their regulations, and I guess site programs.
When I now try to email sellers using the Ebay "write message to seller"
line; I get the ever favorite "uses a format Web TV does not support"
page. This is also happening at more and more of the E-line retailers
when I try to place orders.
I wonder if Web Tv is not actually trying to force us to abandon the
Web TV service. When their so called 'more' leaves us with 'less'
access to the internet, I can't help but think so.
Jones
Hello,
Here is my Two Cents Worth. I have never had most of the Problems that
was in this article! I have P.C.s at work and I know for a fact that my
Webtv eats them up as far as email, ease of use, and using the Internet
goes! I would not trade my Webtv for a computer! Don't get me wrong
P.C's or great for what they were designed for Computing! One more
thing, I have a DishPlayer and I love it! Why people would have a
DishPlayer and not take the Personal T.V. option makes no sense to me. I
now control T.V. and not the other way around!
I have become completely spoiled with this New Technology! Anyways, this
is my Two Cents worth.
Richard Bunkley
My two cents worth!
We have a 2 1/2 year old Webtv Plus 200. We have a 21 year old computer
with an 8086 chip and a 10 MB hard drive.
We are perfectly happy with both.
All our financial and inventory requirements are on 5 1/4 " floppy disks
as are a number of our programs for use on the "old computer".
Our Webtv has and does allow us internet and e-mail access within our
requirements. We enjoy Webtv, as you have noted, in comfort and are not
tied to a PC station.
We could afford the best that's out there, but why? We have what we
need. Note that we have also built web pages - clickable below.
We are also virus immune and think too that patience is a virtue not
replaced by xxx speed.
Ma & Pa Kalb
Amen ! amen !! amen !!! I couldn't agree with you more, now if only
someone will listen.
I didn't by this LBB to interact with TV programs. I bought it for
access to the internet. I like being able to sit on my couch and view
the web on my 36" TV. I have no desire to sit at a desk, viewing a 15
or 17" monitor and constantly adjusting my glasses.
I think a lot of senior citizens would buy Webtv if only it were
marketed to them. A lot of them would like to see what the internet is
all about but don't want to invest time and money learning how to use a
PC. Most people don't have any idea that a device like this exists, much
less that it is so simple to use.
This is just my two cents.
psgreek
Excellent story on this subject! Thanks.
It explained many things that has been
bothering me about this thing and the bum
service I am paying for....at premium rate.
JNorthstar
Dudette......I am standing, stomping and cheering loudly your article in
Net4. I'll bet everyone who had a webtv is applauding your article.
You are sooooo "right on the money".....now, can you do the impossible
and get Mr. Reno to read your article, with a CC to Guardi???
My compliments.....
Trudy
Interesting stuff.
Even mre interesting is the fact that BCE (aka Bell Canada Enterprises),
who own the local phoneco for most of Canada's population (Bell Canada)
and the CTV Network, held a joint press conference with Canwest/Global
yesterday detailing their impending (a year or 3) entry into the
"convergence" wars with --wait for it -- a set-top box service.
If there's not enough of a market for Bill, why's Ma Bell interested?
B. R. Ashley
Great column Dudette. Ya tell it like it is.
M'Lord Mark High Marquis of A.D.W.
Dear Dudette.....
I salute you and give you two thumbs up & a standing
ovation for your well wriiten article "The Limitd Market for
WebTV".....one of the best articles I've read concerning WebTV in a long
time......you hit the nail on the head and scored a perfect
bullseye!.......I couldn't of said it or written it any better
myself.......now I only hope and prayer someone at MSN (Ahem!Mr.Gates!)
reads and heeds your article........Thank you for this wonderfully
written article.......and to EVERYONE at Net4TV - Keep up the good
work......you do us WebTVer's proud!
Art in Hooterville
Hi...this tells it all. I have spent much more money with Webtv than on
my old computer that is gathering dust and I refuse to use it. It was
not my choice, nor my purpose in enjoyment of the internet.
Trying to find a webtv unit in the Dallas area last December was almost
impossible as the larger chain stores had not carried them for a while
Most said they had not had wtv in stock for five to six months. That in
itself told a story.
Having been with one of the best ISP's, World Share, I relocated and no
longer used their wonderful service. In joining World Share at one
point our telephone conversation consisted of their sharing the
information that their numerous telephone calls and continued efforts to
get wbtv to work with them so that we could have efficient
carriers...wbtv would not !! Approximately three weeks ago I contacted
World Share asking to reinstate their service. I was refused. They
were no longer able to work with webtvers. And, they gave me the same
message, as wtv would not answer their calls, and help them to help the
webtvers get online. So, this was another, "proof of the pudding" so to
speak, that we as webtv subscribers are not responsible and are limited
with fewer servers, and treated with no regard. It is, to me, a old
business marketing....."bleed it and run."
lila
I am appalled to say the least.
We own a PC, always have, but also own 2 WebTV's for very specific
purposes.
I am disabled and would never be able to sit in front of a PC for any
length of time. The WebTv keyboard in my lap, enables me to participate
in a *rich* internet life, a world which would not exist for me
otherwise.
I have convinced many people, mostly elderly, who are frankly
intimidated by computers. They too would never switch and would be
totally left out of what has become modern existence.
A strong lobby in favor of continuing WebTV or perhaps petitions, are
desperately needed. I am also still anxious to receive a
workable 2.5 update. My inability to access many a site which requires
4.0 and up is very disheartening.
Other shortcomings are also important but I am willing to scale back my
expectations if I can keep what I have at present plus a few
improvements, especially the 2.5 expansion.
Of course, the fact that my spell-check becomes inoperative on a regular
basis as well as the erase function, does somewhat distract from the
overall enjoyment
BTW, it is also frustrating that my market, which I used weekly for
offers and a printed shopping lists for over 2 years is now no longer
compatible.
What is that all about???
Rose-Marie Chapman
Thanks for the article. It sounds like webtv users need an advocate. The
article cited the very reasons why I like webtv. I have a PC, but hardly
use it, and never use it for surfing the net. I have signed up three
people and I am working on another. The way I do it is by selling them
on the very features you cited, that are the advantages of Webtv. The
primarily one is that of the comfort of surfing in your easy chair, and
not all cramped up in a chair over a PC, like I am all day at work. Keep
speaking up for us out here who aren't in know as much as you seem to
be. Thanks again.
elizabeth jackson
Yes, I certainly agree that the lack of marketing must be a
significant reason for the slowed growth of WEBTV. I seldom see any
point of sale promotion, or little or no advertising in the print media.
PC sellers seem to have a high minded notion that we who are interested
in Webtv are somehow "substandard".
I find, even with current restrictions, that I can locate much much
more on webtv than I could ever have time to digest.
For one, I will probably NEVER become a PC user (or ultimate TV
user) because I'll refuse to be tied to a desk and a small screen.
Also, I have no reason, that I can determine presently, to watch TV thru
an appliance.
Thanks for keeping us informed of the apparant idiocy of the young
minds that tell us webtv is obsolete, and tell them to run a survey of
present users for likes and dislikes of the current system. I'll bet
they
just want to bury thier heads in the sand !!
I hope Wevtv will be available for many years to come.
Ray Rowland
I agree there is a market for Webtv. I have a seperate TV in my Home
Theater System for Webtv. We can watch television on the big screen and
be on the internet.
Dishplayer has been a joke. The company itself is considering dropping
the webtv portion. Echostar is customer service motivated and were
probably sold a bill of goods from webtv. They should have investigated
Webtv's track record of customer service.
I have stated before that interactive tv is a JOKE in ANY FORM!!!! This
is some marketing guys WET DREAM. It's amazing how someone can determine
what I want. It will be a FLOP.It's distriburing as hell to have
Interactive sign flash on the screen. Who in heck want's to to to the
NFL's website when you are watching a football game.
My biggest beef with webtv is two thirds of the attachments I get in
e-mails I can't open. The shouldn't be that big of problem to fix. I get
tired of saying"Webtv won't let me open your attachment".
I enjoy your newsletter and keep up the Good Work.
Bob Hujo
Hi--The "fabulous" Dudette is exactly correct!! This msg. is being sent
via COMPAQ PC and $9.95/mo. JUNO Unlimited ISP...Meanwhile, a perfectly
usable WebTV Plus sits on top of the TV downstairs, NOT CONNECTED for the
relatively exhorbitant price of $24.95/mo. It may well still be
connected for $9.95/mo...we enjoyed the heck out of it for 2+ years. I'd
love to give it to a friend, but I can't recommend it @ $24.95.
I continue to love your online letter, even though some of the info. is
necessarily bittersweet.
David H. Taylor
Dudette, that's the best piece I've ever read in
Net4TVvoice.
HowardNadel
Hello,
I am a sixty six year old woman who just Loves her webtv..I hope they
never drop it. I wouldn't know what to do without it and i can't afford
to buy a computer..besides this is alot easier then a computer,,,and i
just love being able to put things in my e-mail.
Maybe if the web or msn would start advertizing it more, they would up
there sales..I look for ads and never see any stores that have them..If
people don't know about them then they can't buy it..
Thank You for a great newsp
Greetings: