Are Set-Top Boxes A Solution For Novice Users?

OctaneZ asks: "While I know very few of us would consider a set top box as a good solution for a replacement of a home PC; there are individuals for whom these products would be perfect. I am looking for a solution for completely computer-illiterate relatives; and was wondering if a set top box might be a solution. I am not looking for sheer power, bragging rights, or gaming; just e-mail and Web access. Has anyone had luck with preconfigured set top boxes? and with those, how is the service? Also has anyone made a "roll-your-own" set-top box out of a MicroATX machine? Could a MicroATX implemetation be "deployable" to 3-4 users running LINUX or another OS, and not require regular maintenance or excessive amounts of teaching?"

[OT] Actually useful secret sids...

[MOMOCROME]

Hi.

I am a typical Slashdot reader. I have a couple of accounts, and I am posting this from my 'troll' account because it is rather off-topic, and deserves to be modded down. But this is a serious post, and I encourage you to read on:

As a typical member of the /. community, I have submitted almost every type of post, ranging from preeminent insights to over-the top and vulgar flames. I've trolled, been trolled, shot from the hip and been torched when speaking-of-that-which-I-do-not-know. But for me at least, there is one situation I find myself in time after time. I suddenly have an insight into some topic that has no relevant story to post in. I post anyway, only to lose karma and have my insights buried as (-1: Off Topic), and few regular readers ever get to see them. I've taken to operating a couple of UIDs in order to burn or preserve my karma as appropriate, but I find it all rather cumbersome. I like this UID, and I dislike logging in different accounts several times a day.

I have been waiting for Slashdot to open up some persistent sids on recurrent topics, and maybe even list them on the front page. I've written this suggestion to Hemos and Taco both, though it probably just got lost in the noise. So, in the spirit of Open Source Everything©, I hereby introduce my own unsanctioned Open Editorial Decision©. See, I realized one day that the trolls had taken to making their own sids, so I thought to myself, 'how can I harness this phenomenon in a positive, productive way?'

And so I've decided to create the following sids:

Open Source Advocacy [slashdot.org]
Operating Systems [slashdot.org]
Hardware [slashdot.org]
Sci-Fi / Anime [slashdot.org]
Slashdot Culture [slashdot.org]
Technology and Politics [slashdot.org]
Trollsville [slashdot.org]

Now there is a place for us to go to vent our spleen, contribute, rant, spam, joke about, whatever you may want( within the limits of legality, of course) and yet remain entirely on-topic.

I know this is rather pushy of me, but it really is for the best. Now, if you find yourself with a brilliant insight for the Slashdot crowd, and there aren't any relevant stories to post it on, you've a place to go without thrashing your karma.

I have already made FP! introductory posts at each of the sids. C'mon by and tell me what you think. Especially the Slashdot staff- I realize you may be irritated at my forthright feature-creep, but there are so many worse things I could be spending my time on, while this is actually positive, useful, and will hopefully increase banner ad revenues for you. Oh, and I assure you, I hereby state that I hold no claim to the design or ownership of any aspect of this idea. I just wanted a feature, and utilized the 'Open' philosophy to my advantage, with the tools on hand.

Thank you very much,

-=(V)0(V)0cr0(V)3=-

TiVo

[awx]

Hows about the "Hacking the TiVo" story a coupla days back?

alex

oh yeah, fp.

Ok, so I'll be the...

[MOMOCROME]

Amazing, There is a certain irony to the fact that I am logged in under my troll account and drunk enough to leave it that way (though I am no part of the so-called 'Troll War' against slashdot, I just use this account to express extreme displeasure with the occasional post or excersize my twisted sense of humor) and the only person willing or able to post an on-topic, non flamebait opinion on the story. Mmmm....

So I have this friend that happens to be a producer in Hollywood. Not that that makes me special somehow, but he is the real thing. And he has both DSL anda 56k WebTV. He is not exactly computer-illiterate, but he's not quite a "power-user" either. He uses win98, and is rather addicted to lookout (and the rest of Office2000). But he speaks very highly of his WebTV. It seems you can watch some form of PiP, and display detailed info of the show you are watching. As he is especially interested in the details of filmdom, the web-like integration to the movie experience proves invaluable. He is able to look up the vital statistics, historical ancdotes, related info, ordering info and actual industry contacts for any film he's watching.

AND we can read slashdot. I've submitted my most obnoxious, lame stuff from his webTV, testing it out.

Though this is a rather specialized usage of WebTV, it serves to demonstrate the applicability of the system. I myself love movies and would like to have the info available on the same display as the film. Email and Webbrowsing is as easy as any HTML style interface can be. We have yet to find a site that won'trender correctly, which is a lot more than you can say for Lynx.

Over all, I would say that WebTV is a wonderful addition to any TV, if you have a computer or not. If a full fledged machine is not available, you could make do with most of your needs on a WebTV set. The most obvious exceptions are games and mp3's. And since you can get a console videogame macihne and an Apex DVD player for less than the cost of a modern machine, it seems you'd have the full run of things covered, as a user.

Web TV falls short by lacking certain other uses: It's the ability to code in any sense, mass storage of illicit media files, document creation and graphics applications that you'll find lacking in a WebTV box. Those are pretty important apps to most of us, but not at all crucial tro the modern computing experience of web page and email veiwing. So, in short, If your 'friend' wants anything more than a browser on his TV, webTV is not for him/her. However, holy crap I'm ranting... goodbye!

-=(V)0(V)0cr0(V)3=-

screen

[adrien]

the biggest problem i have seen with set top boxes is the screen (television) resolution. I wouldn't want to try to read my email, let alone surf the web at someting like VGA resolution. (i know, i know, i am a spoiled brat)

hell, i don't even want to watch TV at tv screen resolution!

Seriously, so many websites today are impossible to see at a lower resolution than at least 800x600 pixels, your relatives would have a harder time with this than they might have with the only slightly steper learning curve of a desktop computer.

you will probably have less headaches setting up your computer illiterate relatives with an iMac or someting like that. unless price is really an issue - and even then, an old used mac would do fine and probably hover around the same price point.
adrien cater
boring.ch [boring.ch]

WebTV

[LazyBoy]

I hooked my computer-illiterate parents up with WebTV (classic). It works well for them.

You should probably be there for the hookup and to teach basics like navigation.

The only problem I had was trying to answer questions after the fact. (They're 700 miles away and I don't know anyone with WebTV nearby.)

I can't imagine rolling your own and coming up with something easier to use with low maintainance.

Re:screen

[MOMOCROME]

mmm. I disagree about the resolution issue. The webtv renders very crisp text. it is also adjustable, so you can tune it by size and even font to get the best effect. If you use digital cable or DSS, the menu system is quite legible, no? it is even better with webtv because of the attention to anti-aliasing correctly.

-=(V)0(V)0cr0(V)3=-