On the internet box, I think there are several problems: first, I've seen 486 computers with 500MB hard drives for rougly that price, so people could get a "box that is slightly smart> why by a brain dead one? second, using the boxes would become smoething of an expensee, because the online services would no doubt charge poeple more to use them for more than simply an on ramp to the net. Next, who's going to use the things? If you imagine that mom and po, who are brain dead on computers are going to get them so that they can commmunicate with their son at colege, there is just one problem: the net and all are not user friendly enough for them yet. It takes toomuch thought for your average red-neck to figure out how to hook up the machine to the phone, then hook up with the provider, then get all of the sftware to work with the porvider, etc. anyone with enough savvy to hook up to the internet will also have enough savvy to want more than just a dumb box. I suspect this will g down in history as one of those ideas where the prognosticators missed the boat. Five years from now it will be truly forgotten, like the pet rock, and there will be tons of those boxes on sale for $10 at garage sales. all of this, of course, is IMHO.
P.F. |
