Thursday, December 28, 2006
Printing Mailbox Offers Simple E-mail Solution
byMany of us thrive on feature-packed gadgets – the more slick tools, the better. But for others, particularly older people and others who fear technology, a product’s simplicity is the appeal. That’s clearly the case with the Hewlett-Packard Printing Mailbox.
The Printing Mailbox is essentially a printer that receives e-mails, images and other content through a phone line and without a computer. The printer checks and prints messages at regular intervals. You must subscribe to HP’s Presto service that runs $10/month or $100/year. Another person (such as a family member) can manage the service from anywhere with an Internet connection, and spam is eliminated through a safe-sender list feature.
The biggest limitation? You’re unable to reply to any messages – which may not be a big issue for the target audience. According to USA Today, the product has been popular among 30-50 year-olds who buy it for parents or grandparents.
It’s somewhat reminiscent of WebTV, but for the grandparent who would enjoy e-mails and photos from family members, the Printing Mailbox appears to be a viable low-tech option. Check out reviews here and here.
