Friday, February 15, 2008

Presto, E-mail without a computer

Dear Grandma,

I’m sending you an e-mail that you will never be able to read. Sure I bought you that $600 computer and even showed you how simple it is to turn on and and log into Outlook. Well it didn’t work out so well. You kept calling the computer “that thing” and after three years you still haven’t been able to turn it on. Not that I blame you, a lot of people who remember World War II have the same problem.

What are we going to do? I really want to send you pictures of the kids, and I want to just drop you a quick note while I’m out of town. I guess I could call, but we both know that I’m kind of irresponsible about making those calls, it’s not that I don’t love you, because you know that I do. I guess I could actually mail you a letter. But again, we both know that the odds of me putting a stamp on an envelope is about as good as you logging onto iTunes and syncing an iPod full of the best of Benny Goodman. You would love an iPod by the way; they really are great.

So here we are at his communication impasse. I wish there was some way to send you e-mail without using a computer … Well it turns out there is a way to do just that.

Best Buy, Amazon, Wal Mart.com and several other online vendors are selling a device called Presto that works alongside the HP Mailing Service.

Basically you have an HP printer that prints out e-mail without needing to log onto a computer, or even have a computer in the house. You can schedule download times, up to five times a day and the machine receives from computers and even cell phone messages.

The basic package $149.95 includes a free ink cartridge and there is a monthly fee for the service. So grandma, keep an eye on the printer and I’ll be in touch.

There’s only one problem. You can’t write me back. So, after the thrill of reading my messages is gone maybe we can talk about that computer again.

Love, Your grandson.

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