Internet Beat

Gary Myers

WEBTV: A Wonderful Alternative

Do you wish you could afford a personal computer? A wonderful alternative is WEBTV. Several years ago WEBTV appeared on the market as a way to surf the net and send e-mail using your television as a monitor. It has progressed to that and much more.

At this time, WEBTV comes in three different models: the Classic, the Plus and the Satellite Plus. More advanced models are in the planning stages. The plus units offer picture in picture (pip), which allows the user to view TV while on line. This is an excellent feature for a sports fan like myself.

I really enjoy making friends via e-mail. Over the years I have corresponded with hundreds of people from all walks of life and from all over the world. All WEBTV units allow up to 6 different users, so if someone else in the family wants their own e-mail box it is readily available. All of these boxes are password protected.

A feature I am really pleased with is the ability to send and receive mail with music, colored backgrounds and illustrations right on the mail. This is done very easily by using html in a signature box. Some PC browsers can see this and some cannot. But the dressed up mail is much better than the default colors most PC's are capable of.

All units have full capabilities of building websites. I have one of mine located at Geocities. There are many other free servers that you may use, such as Tripod, Angelfire, Terrashare, and 50Megs. My url (address) is Gary's Midi Madness- at " http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Bistro/8270" This site is being built with my Plus unit. Many websites such as "http://usadrifters.tripod.com" are built using Classic units.

Most websites are primarily built with hypertext markup language (html). There are many tutorials available to learn html, but the easiest to follow, in my opinion, is "http://www.draac.com"

Do you like to chat on line? WEBTV can do that too. With any unit you can open a chat room in "Talk City" or if you like you may build your own chatroom customized to your liking using colors, illustrations and even music. Another important chat feature is "instant messenger" (IM). IM enables you to have a buddy list. You may chat with several of your friends at once. This is really great for family get togethers. The IM has the capability of being turned on or off if you don't wish to be bothered.

Maybe you like posting in newsgroups. There are hundreds of groups, all within the WEBTV community, with a wide range of subjects in which to post. All of these groups are protected from non WEBTV users. However, WEBTV users can still go to other servers to ask questions or respond to other posts.

There are so many features offered when one owns WEBTV. Do you like to play games? There are lots available online, including chess, checkers, hangman and others.

Maybe trivia is your thing. WEBTV has categories to suit almost everyone.

WebTv offers topics for the children too from games and trivia to homework help. Thousands of websites are accessible for any course your child might be looking for.

Perhaps you want customized news, sports and weather. All units offer this too.

Shopping for a new or used car? WEBTV can track the unit you are looking for.

All units can handle cam corders to send that great picture to friends. Printers? Yes, WEBTV does that too. All compatible equipment for WEBTV has a site that is easy to find.

Much more is at your touch with WEBTV, but are too numerous to mention in this space.

If I can help you with questions, please feel free to e-mail me at: kentm3@WEBTV.net

Gary Myers lives in Seguin. From 1980 through 1987 he was employed at The Seguin Gazette-Enterprise in Retail Advertising; the last 2 years as Advertising Manager. Until 1997, he leased and managed the Mobil station on IH-10 and Austin Street, combined with Ryder Truck Rental. He is now semi-retired. He is married to his wife Ann.

To contribute to this column contact Gloria R. Rivera at webmaster@seguin.net

Internet Beat articles since June 1996 can be accessed from http://www.seguin.net/intbeat.html.