MSN TV2INTERNET/MEDIAPLYR
The MSN TV 2 Internet and Media Player lets you access the Web or digital media on a PC right from your TV and the comfort of your living room, bedroom, or kitchen. Whether you're listening to MP3s, viewing movie trailers, or watching video streams of concerts, news, or other programming, MSN TV 2 consolidates all your home entertainment in a space of your choosing.
Access and view rich Internet content on your big-screen TV. |
Now you'll be able to create digital photo slideshows and set the mood with music from MP3s or commercial-free Internet radio. Enjoy videos, music, and photos saved on your PC through your TV or home entertainment system. You can also access Web sites, send and receive e-mail, and chat with others.
When used with a television offering picture-in-picture, MSN TV 2 even lets you keep a Web browser window open while you watch TV. Imagine being able to look up player stats while watching the big game or hunt for additional perspectives while watching news commentators. The supplied remote control operates the MSN TV 2 set-top box in addition to most televisions.
Read and respond to e-mail right on your TV using MSN TV 2’s wireless keyboard. |
MSN TV 2 is a perfect addition to your home broadband network and works great as a primary e-mail and Internet access point if you're using a dialup account over a regular phone line. The system includes a wireless keyboard and remote control (all batteries included). A subscription to MSN TV is required; see details below.
What's in the Box
The MSN TV 2 set-top box, a wireless keyboard, a remote control, keyboard and remote batteries, an installation CD-ROM, a 6-foot audio/video interconnect, a user's manual, a quick-start guide, an AC/DC power adapter (for the set-top box), a registration card, and warranty information.
Note: Use of this hardware requires a subscription to MSN TV Service or MSN TV Broadband Service. Use is subject to acceptance of the terms of service upon registration. MSN TV dialup services are available as a local call in most areas. In some areas, long-distance toll charges may apply. To check local access, call (866) GO-MSNTV. Windows Media Player features and commercial-free Internet radio requires a broadband home network and a subscription to MSN TV Broadband Service. MSN TV 2 only supports Windows Media-compatible music and video.
1 Go ahead take the plunge!
I purchased my unit on the Msn web site back in mid October.Started out for 3 months on dail up and it was a big improvement over the old Classic.Got broadband in January and hadn't looked back since.Hooking up BB with cable was easy and had no problems.Sure the keyboard was replaced because of skipping,but was handled in a professional manner.You have to realize this is no computer in regards you can't burn a CD.I have experienced no major problems with my unit.I know everyone has not been happy with the unit but I would recommend it to any one who wants to get a cost effective way to access the internet.Page Builder? There are more professional ways to build a web page by using the search engines.ALT/DIS?There are plenty of forums to join and learn from.One thing I wouldn't recommend is buying an used one or an open box in stores,because some people try to use the old codes from the old webtv.Buy a new one and get the extended warranty so
if anything does go wrong it is covered.People grumbled about the old webtv short comings so give TNB a chance to mature.Mike
2 Wow! Excellent product (for it's target audience)
I helped my friend purchase and set up this unit. Setup and signing up for the service was a breeze and she's delighted with the product and service. Of course you can't get the full internet experience on MSNTV2 as you can with a computer, and I don't know how it compares to the original WebTV, but for someone who cannot afford a computer and/or is not inclined to learn how to use and maintain a computer, this is a terrific device.
I'm a programmer and web developer, so it's something I would not use myself but my friend is having the time of her life playing with this!
Save lots of money by buying a used one. The remote was missing on the one we purchased but that's of no consequence. The wireless keyboard has everything the remote has and more. Just make sure your TV has the red-white-yellow connections and you have your TV's remote so that you can switch the input from "TV" to "auxillary". Otherwise you may need an RF modulator. The Setup Guide and User Guide are available online at msntv.com, so you can look it over before purchasing.
3 Great Product
We've had WebTV for 2 years but it was getting to the point that we couldn't pull up a lot of web pages due to its outdated software so we ordered the new msnTV2. We are happy as clams with it. We can access the internet via phone modem or broadband. It hooks right up to the broadband modem with no problem, automatically configures itself and we were off and running (have patience. The first time you connect, it may take an hour for the modem to configure and connect. Fortunately, we were told to download the msnTV2 update via phone modem before switching to broadband).
We now can do simple tasks like view a web site! On webTV we constantly got, "Page too big to display". We can view some, but not all .pdf documents, we can print with our hp printer which is not a "supported" printer but works great. We can do almost but not quite everything we can do on the internet with a computer. We love the Text Size buttons to enlarge the hard-to-read print. Could do without the "OK" button being below the "Page Down" button. "Back" & "Delete" buttons are in similar spots so I am constantly losing things I'm in the middle of writing that "expire" if you hit "back" when I mean to hit "delete". I'll get the hang of it. The keyboard works way better as far as speed and touch.
My husband prefers msnTV2 over a computer because he can be a lounge lizard with it. I find him napping with the keyboard quite often! It is super fast to turn on & connect - I can google at a moment's notice. And I can chat with a friend in London daily while I'm doing chores around the house much easier than if I was confined to sitting in front of a computer.
We're very satisfied with our (...) investment (after rebate) from the Amazon reseller...and best of all, NO VIRSES, SPYWARE, WORMS, TROJANS ETC ETC to deal with. Whatta deal!
4 AWFUL, AWFUL, AWFUL PRODUCT
How does Microsoft tout this product as broadband ready and get away with it? A few years ago, I purchased the original MSNTV for my mother. She was pretty excited to upgrade to MSNTV2 and after seeing all of MSN's commercials and promotions in-stores like Circuit City, I decided to buy MSNTV2 for her for Christmas. Nowhere in any of the commercials and nowhere in any of the materials I received from the Circuit City rep did it mention that an existing PC network was required to allow MSNTV2 to utilize broadband/DSL. As a standalone, MSNTV2 is not compatible for broadband. This was very deceptive on MSN's part not to adequately disclose this. In addition to the broadband compatibility issues, the new HP printer I purchased for original MSNTV was no longer compatible, even though it is a relatively new printer. Last but now least, MSNTV2 as a dial up option is much slower than the original MSNTV. I repeat, MSNTV2 is an AWFUL, AWFUL, AWFUL PRODUCT
5 Somewhat disappointing
One might ask why anybody would spend $200.00 for a webtv browser when you can get a computer so cheap now days and the service for the MSNTV is over $20.00 a month for dial up when you can get it much cheaper through other providers. I have been using a Webtv product for several years now in addition to my computer and the main reason is that I enjoy sitting on my couch with my big screen tv and surfing the web. Also, some of the features on the Webtv product in my opinion are much easier and more convenient to use than a standard computer. With that being said, this new MSNTV 2 product has some very serious limitations and flaws that should have been worked out before it was released to the market. If you are thinking about buying this product you should realize that there are many things you cannot do with a Webtv browser and regardless of what the description says many video, audio and websites are still not accessible with this product. The new unit locks up frequently and has to be restarted- this happens way too often and hopefully the bugs will be resolved through upgrades. Also, the speed compared to the previous Webtv service (dial-up) is not any faster and may even be slower in some regards. Many of the services that were available through the old Webtv are not available anymore but they have added a few new ones such as an Adobe and Pdf reader which does not entirely work well (the page is not centered correctly on the screen even after adjustments). With all of the negatives, I still prefer surfing on my television than on a small laptop computer and enjoy many of the convenience features built into the product and hope that many of these technical issues can be resolved through future upgrades to the unit.
6 Slight improvement, but still has it's share of problems
Some may recall my earlier review of MSNTV2, in which I was on the verge of taking a sledgehammer to it. The unit still has bugs in need of fixing, but improvements have been made. I prefer this to a finicky PC anytime.
7 Another MSNTV(WEBTV) FAILURE
When MSN bought Webtv Networks in 1997, they essentially ruined what could have been a nice, but limited, alternate way to surf the net.MSN did not know how to market Webtv. And they stopped giving decent upgrades shortly after 2000.Still, devoted webbies stuck with the system, do or die, which kept it above the 500,000 user base.Now comes MSNTV2. Yawn.The new box is another limited, poorly designed sequal. There is still no hard drive to download. No Java capability. And what's worse, users of the original webtv system LOSE their favorites and pagebuilder! So if you have built a website on your orignal webtv, kiss it goodbye if you do a box transfer to the msntv2!The PLUS features are gone as well.One thing MSN brags about this unit is it's ability to be a MEDIA CENTER and stream from your exisiting PC..Well, only if it's an MSN plug in..MSNTV2 still won't work with Real Player, or anything outside the MSN network.Besides, you can add a media center to your exisiting PC tower, so this feature is nothing great.So I give this product the lowest grade possible!It is stil a low grade product, unable to download plug-ins you want..You are at the mercy of MSN regarding any upgrades.It is broadband compatible, but with all the box's failures, who cares if it's broadband?Oh yeah, it has a 6.0 explorer browser, but once again, WHO CARES when you have no ability to choose a plug-in to download?!As of the time I wrote this review, my local Best Buy store has had over 100 units returned from customers. Wide-spred reports of major freezes and crashes are reported online as well as problems accessing Ebay.I was a loyal Webtv user for many years, but the past two years have seen my Webtv plus fastly lose access to modern internet features, including browsing basic sites.When I got Msntv2, I promptly returned it and got a PC.All in all, this is a product that could KILL the set-top box market faster than you can say RCA CED DISC PLAYER!
8 MSNTV2-Bought from J&R Music World
I realize its not a computer but could do more-maybe my ISP is the problem-but I give J&R Music World 5 stars!
9 BE AWARE and BEWARE -- 1000s OF WEBTVs ARE MISSING A PART
I haven't used a WebTV before, so I don't have the experience to comment on the "upgraded" model (RM4100) compared to the old models of WebTV.
I recently ordered the RM4100 model, and was pleasantly surprised that I received my order in 2 1/2 business days.
That feeling quickly turned to frustration and anger, when I tried to set the unit up and I found that the power supply unit was missing the part that actually plugs into a power outlet.
THE POWER TRANSFORMER FOR THE MODEL RM4100 COMES IN TWO PARTS.
When I first opened the box (a box which in fact looked like it had already been opened and resealed) and checked to see that all the parts were included, at first glance it did look like everything was there. The problem is, the power transformer comes in a frosted plastic bag, and if you just eyeball it, it DOES look like you have everything because what they DO pack is the part of the cord which plugs into the WebTV unit and which has the actual transformer box on the line. What is missing is the power cord which plugs into the other end of the transformer box and then into an electrical outlet.
In other words, there's no way to power the unit.
I first called the toll-free number in the WebTV setup manual for customer service, which got me to someone at RCA. This person told me that since I'd ordered the unit thru Amazon, that I'd have to deal with Amazon instead.
I have to stress that all of the customer service people I subsequently dealt with at Amazon were wonderful, and as helpful as the situation allowed them to be (but their hands are basically tied in this manner).
The first person at Amazon I talked to explained to me that they didn't keep separate parts on hand, so the only thing I could do would be to return the whole unit for a replacement. I thought that was a little excessive for what I thought should be a simple part replacement, so she suggested that I call the RCA/WebTV customer service number again, and try to get the part number and the cost of the item, and that if Amazon couldn't find that (or a comparable) part, Amazon would then issue me a credit for that amount.
Since by this time it was after 8pm Eastern Time, the RCA/MSN WebTV customer service was closed, and I had to wait until the next morning to call them back. The person I got at that time did give me the part number, and said that it only costs $9.50, but that THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO STOCK AVAILABLE ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY (and presumably in the universe).
She then added that THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM, THAT THEY INADVERTANTLY SHIPPED OUT THOUSANDS OF THESE UNITS MISSING THE POWER CORD, BUT THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO EXCEPT TAKE MY NAME AND GET BACK TO ME "IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS" REGARDING THE RESOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM.
I demanded to speak to a supervisor, explaining that I wasn't about to wait "a couple of weeks" for something that should be very easily replaced, especially since they were now admitting that they were at fault. The supervisor, while very pleasant, was absolutely not helpful at all. She reiterated that there were none of these power cords available anywhere, and that it would take more than 2 weeks, perhaps a month or more, for a replacement cord to become available.
I pointed out that this violates the terms of the unconditional warranty covering both labor and PARTS for the first 90 days of ownership; she could only repeat that they -- customer service -- have been instructed to merely take the names and phone numbers of customers who call in with this problem; they then forward this information to some mysterious, unnamed department whose job it is to compile a list of these customers...she said I could call back IN TWO WEEKS TO SEE IF A TRACKING NUMBER HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO MY CASE.
She couldn't guarantee that a tracking number WOULD have been assigned by that time, and even if it had been, there was no way to predict how long it would then take for a cord to be sent to me. All she knew was that this department that was compiling the names of customers who'd gotten units missing the cord was going to eventually get around to assigning a tracking number to each customer, and then send the info to a 3rd department that would actually take care of shipping the cord out.
Sometime.
Maybe in a "couple of weeks".
Maybe in a month.
Maybe even 2 to 3 months.
She didn't know. They weren't telling customer service. Customer service is as much in the dark as anyone.
I told her that no way was I going to wait for something that they should be able to resolve right away, and that they were forcing me into the only option available, mainly to send the whole unit back to Amazon, in which case I would do so for a refund, not a replacement. In other words, they were going to lose a sale over the inability to supply a part that costs less than $10 and which they admit they'd bungled in shipping.
I then called Amazon back with the latest info (and to give them a "heads up" that they probably need to check all of the units they themselves ship out to verify that BOTH of the TWO parts of the power transformer are indeed in the box); the Amazon customer service person I got at this time was also very helpful (and as astonished as I was at RCA/MSNs cavalier attitude towards resolving a problem that RCA/MSN admits they are at fault); she again stated that I could return the whole unit to Amazon (without having to pay for shipping) and that Amazon would send me a replacement, but I repeated that I thought that it was a little excessive when all that was needed was a small part (I kept hoping SOMEONE would say "Hey, let's just pull the part from a box we have on hand and send it to this customer", but that didn't happen).
I then added that since the manufacturer is admitting that they sent 1000s of these units out missing the power cord, that I was hesitant to trust that a replacement WebTV unit sent to me wouldn't also have the part missing.
The Amazon customer service person then went to bat for me, putting me on hold and calling various Circuit City stores in my area to see if they had a power cord that could be used (BTW, the RCA/MSN customer service people had stressed that no way could I try to get anything via another retail outlet, as that would "damage the unit" -- yes, perhaps if the WHOLE power transformer had been missing and I tried to use a completely new transformer, but the portion of the unit with the actual transformer box WAS included in the shipment, the only thing it needed was something to actually deliver electricity to the transformer).
HALLELUJAH!! A local Circuit City stated they thought they had what I needed, and said that I could bring the part that I DID have to the store and they'd try to find the power cord that fit it (and since they sell WebTVs, I figured that perhaps if I looked pathetic enough they'd feel sympathy for me and grab a cord out a WebTV box they had on hand) -- remember, I was still under the impression (given me by the RCA/MSN customer service people), that this transformer -- including the power cord part -- was a unique design solely for the WebTV and that trying to use anything else would risk damaging the WebTV unit and/or the transformer box.
HALLELUJAH! HALLELUJAH! Circuit City indeed had a power cord to fit. And, as it turned out, so does Radio Shack, CompUSA, WalMart, etc. This mysterious and "unique" power cord turned out to be your common, everyday laptop computer power cord. So much for RCA/MSN's claim that there were absolutely none available anywhere within the known (and presumably unknown) universe.
Circuit City gave me the power cord for free; pretty decent of 'em, considering I hadn't bought the WebTV from them.
When I got home, I plugged the supplied transformer line into the WebTV unit, then attached my Circuit City-acquired laptop power cord into the other side of the transformer box, and plugged it into an electric outlet, and VOILA! It worked perfectly.
As I stated at the beginning, this is the first time I've used WebTV, but I am an experienced PC/Internet user. If I was going to rate this model of WebTV just on my experience so far in going online with it and using it for email, I'd probably have given it 3 stars (I knew not to expect PC bells & whistles, and while good enough for what I wanted it for -- simple email access and limited web browsing -- I've found it unnecessarily clumsy and awkward in its page designs and ability to access certain online fields).
But due to the extreme hassle they -- meaning RCA/MSN, not Amazon -- put me through for a cheap, commonly available part, with a policy (which I was told came down "from headquarters") of telling customers they are going to have to wait weeks, if not months, for the part to become available (and what do they expect these customers to do in the meantime?), I would have rated it zero stars if the option was available. If they treat new customers this way, there is no reason to expect they will treat longtime customers any better.
Remember, it's stated in the user manual that there is an unconditional warranty on labor and PARTS (complete replacement for free) for the first 90 days; but yet the manufacturer is telling customers they may have to wait anywhere from 14 to 90 days for an item that you can easily find in any electronics or computer store.
So buyer beware -- if you are going to buy this model of WebTV ANYWHERE -- whether from Amazon or another venue, make very sure to verify that BOTH portions of the power transformer are included.
Don't just accept an assurance that someone looked in the box and saw it -- I was fooled at first too, since what IS included is the cord that has the fairly large transformer box on it, and without taking it out of the frosted bag it is packed in, it indeed at first glance looks like you have what you need. It isn't until you actually open the bag and take the item out that you can verify whether the 2nd cord is also in the bag.
BTW, I again want to stress how HELPFUL the Amazon customer service people were through this whole process; when I called back the final time to let them know that I'd resolved the problem by getting a power cord at Circuit City, the person I talked to stated that they would be issuing me a credit for $10 just for all the aggravation I'd gone through -- pretty nice, considering the problem isn't even their fault!
10 Great product
I bought this for my 82 year old parents as a Christmas gift. I think it is perfect for people who just want to access the Internet and use email. It is very user friendly, much easier than a PC would be and the price is great. They love it and contrary to other reviews, they have had no problems with the keyboard. I am thinking about getting one myself when the $1000 laptop I just bought no longer works.
11 Danger Will Robinson! Not for MSNTV (WebTV) veterans!
If you've never used MSNTV, then I couldn't begin to gauge how well you'd receive this recently updated web-surfing component into your home. For all I know, you might love it, be completely satisfied, swear by it even. I don't know. I, however, have used my WebTV Classic unit for 7 years now and though, as many people know, MSNTV units are somewhat limited in what they can do online, I wouldn't trade a moment of being able to sit back and relax in my reclining chair while I surfed the 'net on my 27" Sony for hours on end. So, if you're a newbie and MSNTV 2 intrigues you, by all means give it a try and decide for yourself.
HOWEVER...if you currently own a WebTV Classic or Plus unit, please allow me to share with you the nightmare that was this past week.
How overjoyed I was to receive my new MSNTV 2 unit in the mail--the colorful box, the nifty gizmos inside, the ergonomic two-toned wireless keyboard, the friendly set-up & user manuals. Who knew that simply plugging it in would initiate two days of non-stop frustration and tremendous regret. The first thing I noticed (before turning it on) was that the unit caused a very subtle yet discernible interference on my TV screen: a reoccurring, slowly rising ghostly ribbon that was more noticeable after turning the unit on, even when I watched a DVD or broadcast television. Hmmm...that's not good. No amount of moving or rearranging the unit or the AC/DC adapter on the cord would make the interference entirely disappear. Well, that's disappointing. Here's hoping the performance of the unit will offset that...right? Oh, boy....
Mistake #1: Assuming MSNTV 2 does everything that MSNTV "1" (used by WebTV Classic and Plus units) does, PLUS MORE...
It does not.
EVERYTHING is different. The home page. The navigating. The on-screen instructions. The e-mail screen. The remote. The keyboard button arrangement. Everything. MSNTV 2 service is NOT the same as MSNTV service! Things haven't been merely juggled around on-screen to jazz things up--oh, no, no, no. These are new pages, new links, new icons--it's really like you're starting from scratch.
But the real head-scratcher was discovering what I was LOSING. Say a tearful buh-bye to PageBuilder, your old Scrapbook photos, and easy access to discussion boards. They are all history, babe, with MSNTV 2. If you've made your own web pages on MSNTV, they will be lost forever as MSNTV 2 does not support them; in fact, MSNTV 2 won't even allow you to make NEW websites! (When I called MSN to ask why, they said simply, "...because people can just do it online with other companies for free." Pretty weak answer, imho.) And though there is an improved way to download and save photographs on the new MSNTV 2 service, your previously saved photos with your old unit will NOT transfer over--they will be lost forever as well.
Mistake #2: Assuming all of your old user names and saved "Favorites" will transfer over to the new unit.
They will not.
I had literally scores of saved websites in my Favorites folders on MSNTV--all GONE once the transfer occurred. As for your additional users, you are able to transfer them over (one at a time--5 minutes transfer time each), BUT if any of your MSNTV user names had punctuation in them, you will not be able to transfer them. MSNTV 2 will allow you to have user names which only utilize numbers or letters. Saved e-mails in each account WILL transfer over--that's at least one point in your favor. But I lost two user names when I made the transfer to MSNTV 2 because they each contained a hyphen! (And MSNTV 2 costs $2 more a month than MSNTV...why?)
Mistake #3: Assuming the new unit would somehow perform "faster" or "better".
It did not.
I didn't notice one iota of faster page loading; in fact, it seemed a little slower (I use dial-up). And instead of the small pop-up with the little globe that spins and the ribbon that slowly fills in to indicate how close you're getting to the next page, now there is a screen-wide ribbon at the bottom that makes it seem even more torturous waiting for a page to load because the "journey" is that much longer! Granted, with the MSNTV 2 unit you do have the option of hooking it up to a Broadband connection, yadda, yadda, but I don't have Broadband, I don't want to pay extra for it, so the question is moot. So, after two days, I just couldn't stand it any longer. Frankly...by this time I had felt a little hoodwinked. Thank goodness I hadn't thrown out my trusty WebTV Classic!
Oddly, the least frustrating chapter in this whole process was actually returning the MSNTV 2 unit! I first spoke to "Yvonne" at the shipping center in Ohio to get my "Returned Merchandise" shipping number. She was admittedly very courteous and helpful and didn't give me any guff about why I was returning the unit--she was actually very understanding! Kudos as well to "Kirsten" at MSN who I had to call to switch my service back to regular MSNTV. She was also quite helpful and did everything she could to restore my service to its former glory. Returning home that night and turning on my trusty Classic to discover that EVERYTHING had been restored to the way it was before was like being reunited with a long-lost relative. I got it all back--the user names, the Favorites, everything--thank the Maker! Of course, I did have to pay for shipping back to MSN--adding insult to injury?
So, I leave it up to you to make up your own mind about MSNTV 2. If you are a long-time MSNTV user and your internet needs remain somewhat minimal, stay the course! If you've never tried MSNTV, take the MSNTV 2 unit out for a spin and judge for yourself. If you have Broadband, you will probably appreciate the new-and-improved video and audio options. And if you take a lot of digital pictures, you'd probably enjoy the picture downloading and slideshows you can do with the new unit. As for me, I have every intention of sticking to my dear ol' Classic until it finally gives up the ghost (unless Microsoft completely deserts the technology in the interim). Until then, I get to read this review over and over from the comfort of my cherished corduroy La-Z-Boy.
Happy surfing!
12 Webtv Is awesome!
Hi everyone,
I am sorry that everyone is just giving good and bad reviews about the webtv anymore. I used to be one back when it first came out and also had my computer. I loved both of the services. I just ordered this one because I recently miss my webtv. So I think webtv is an awesome product for anyone in the world. It is for people that dont want to sit at a desk all day and just do the internet on their couch, hey, i do it, I will not complain. I work at my computer 24-7 and sometimes it annoys me. So that is why I cant wait to get the new MSNTV. MSN is an awesome service I have it for my computer and cant wait to get it for my tv, especially with broadband, it is going to be much more of an experience.
13 Sadly, you get what you pay for
I recently had the opportunity to play with the latest MSNTV terminal and I was not impressed. Years ago, I had the WebTV Classic and then purchased the Plus. Both of the boxes I owned were quality hardware and were made by Sony. They served me well, until I bought an Apple G4 iMac about 2 1/2 years ago and I immediately terminated my WebTV account.
Alas, the fit and finish of this RCA hardware "upgrade" is junk and the MSN service leaves a lot to be desired.
Much has been made in some of the reviews that MSNTV is immune to viruses, Trojan horses, worms and the like. All true. What has been ignored is that the comparison is between MSNTV and a PC running Windows. There are alternatives to Microsoft's Windows and one is Apple computers....no viruses, no Trojan horses, no worms. And no Windows. (Instead, years ago produced OS X for its Apple computers, based on Unix and widely regarded as the best operating system available.)
As has been mentioned by others, comparing a computer with MSNTV is unfair. Yes, MSNTV is adequate if all you are going to do is surf the internet, send email and you don't mind the inferior display on your TV set. And real computers cost more. A lot more.
But if you have the financial resources, MSNTV is not the answer and I would suggest taking a look at the latest G5 iMac, if you want quality both in hardware and software without any limitations. (You may want to check the Amazon reviews for Apple computers. Amazon is currently offering a nice discount and will likely do so again in the future.)
With MSNTV, you cannot download any software of your choosing. You are stuck with whatever features MSNTV offers you. With a Mac, there are thousands of software programs available, much of it free, to enhance your use of the Mac. (I have, for example, a free stock ticker and a free news ticker on my screen constantly updating, multiple RSS feeds and a live "wallpaper" of planet earth in a Mercator projection complete with the weather displayed all over the world along with earthquake and volcano indicators and positions of satellites....with the "wallpaper" updated every 15 minutes.)
Just as no one I know has ever switched back from broadband to dial-up, no one I know who has had an Apple computer has ever considered switching from an Apple computer to MSNTV.
There has got to be a reason.
14 SIMPLE, RELIABLE, and SECURE!
Comparing what a computer can do versus msntv is like comparing an automobile to a bicycle.
For basic internet activities such as surfing the net, email, and chat....a computer is NO MATCH to the new MSNTV2 unit in regards to "appliance-like" dependability/reliability, simplicity/ease of use, and by far most important of all SAFETY and SECURITY (Because msntv2 has no harddrive and is behind a special firewall---nothing can be downloaded or added to your system! This means no need to worry about VIRUS ATTACKS, TROJAN HORSES, WORMS, MALICIOUS PROGRAM DOWNLOADS, SPYWARE, ADWARE, KEYSTROKE LOGGERS (That can steal passwords, bank info, credit card numbers, account numbers, social security numbers, etc. etc.), and VARIOUS HACKER ATTACKS to break into your system and steal and/or delete important data, music, or picture files.
NO EXTRA SOFTWARE NEEDED! If you purchessed a computer, you would pay close to the same amount what a new msntv2 unit would cost JUST FOR SECURITY SOFTWARE (e.g. Anti-virus, Firewall, Spyware/adware, etc. etc.)
And you would also have to pay ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION COSTS FOR EACH SEPARATE SOFTWARE PROGRAM to insure you continued to receive the latest and greatest updates! And of course you would have to buy the newest full version of each software program every few years as it became obselete.
And you also would have the major headache of keeping the Operating System and Web browser up to date with the latest and greatest patches.
DEPENDABLE! In my five years of msntv/webtv ownership, I have yet to experience my first system crash, blue screen protection fault, frozen screen, shut down warning message, software/hardware/driver in-compatibility problems, OR ANY OTHER TYPE PROBLEM THAT ALL COMPUTER USERS FACE on a weekly, and sometimes on a daily basis!
MAINTENACE FREE: You do not need special software or have to perform maintenance such as DEFRAGMENTATION, SYSTEM FILE CLEAN UP, SCAN DISK, HARD DRIVE SECTOR TEST, etc etc etc, as you must perform on a REGULAR BASIS if you own a computer. And with a computer, you may have a problem that requires you to re-format your hard drive and re-install your Windows operating system and all programs! Then you have to search the web to download updates to all of these programs (especially the very lengthy windows updates). That is a ROYAL HEAD ACHE AND TAKES HOURS AND HOURS to perform! And if you are lucky, it will succeed the first time you attempt it. If not, then be prepared to pay the computer repair shop an average cost of $50 per hour labor with a minimum charge fee of $100-$150!
With MSNTV2, you receive ALL UPDATES FREE OF CHARGE! And you can set your receiver to automatically check for and download/install them while you sleep at night.
MSNTV2 just received a BIG UPGRADE a few weeks ago that fixed a lot of bugs. It is a new product, so bugs are common and expected. MSNTV2 worked quickly to patch many problem areas. And they will continue to add new features and functions, and IMPROVING the service in the future with regular FREE upgrades!
I have never been to a site that MSNTV2 could not access. So far all the sites I visited were fully functional and viewable with MSNTV2.
when I power on my unit, type in my password, and hit ENTER...it takes less than 15 seconds for my web home start page to appear. This is with the BROADBAND SERVICE. And surfing the net is lightening fast---it takes about 2-3 seconds for a new web page to appear. AND FREES UP THE PHONE LINE!
Powering up a computer with the same BROADBAND CONNECTION will take much longer, about 1 to 1.5 minutes, because you must wait for the operating system and all programs to load up before you can begin surfing.
If you need to do complex tasks like downloading, saving, and working with pictures, videos, and music files....or want to play video games and run computer software programs----then you should also purchess a computer.
But for basic internet surfing, email, and chat---MSNTV2 can not be beat and will only get better!!!
15 Internet TV !
This new box from msn internet and email service is so good you can though away SKY,SKY+,NTL,TELEWESTBROADBAND and SKY MULTIROOM or FREEVIEV. First get a msn tv sub then by the software its a simple as 123 or ABC!
16 NO PICTURE IN PICTURE
I JUST GOT MY MSNTV2 RECEIVER NO PIP FUNCTION WHY DO YOU HAVE A PRODUCT FOR TV WHEN YOU CAN NOT WATCH TV. NO ZIP FILES. LOST ALL MY SCRAPBOOK PROFILES I SPENT YEARS WORKING ON. THEY ARE GONE FOREVER NO MENTION OF THAT NO WEBPAGE BUILDER FUNTION I HAD SEVERAL WEBPAGES I LOST FOREVER SOME WERE FOR WORK PURPOSES NO MENTION OF LOSING THAT FEATURE MSN YOU WIPED OUT ALL THE BEST FEATURES OF THE OLD BOX THIS IS NOT UPGRADE IT IS DOWNGRADE
SO I HAVE BROADBAND ACCESS WITH NO FEATRES ITS USELESS
THE VIDEO FILES ARE WAY LIMITED AND THE RADIO SUCKS IT ONLY PLAYS HALF THE TIME WHEN YOU ARE SURFING THE WEB I KEEP HITING THAT DAMN OK BUTTON WHERE THE PAGE UP WAS
BUY A COMUTER AND THROW THIS BACK TO GATES OH BY THE WAY I GOT $5000 BY SUING MICOSOFT FOR FALSE ADVERTISING ON THE OLD WEBTV UNIT SO I KNOW WHAT IM TALKING ABOUT
17 broadband connection
Just purchased this item and had my local cable hook up broadband and it works excellent.
None of the below mentioned keyboard skips in other reviews.
I have noticed computer snobs have gone out of there way to trash this product and im confused....
I wanted to email and use the internet sitting on the coach with no worries of viruses etc.
I hooked my canon sd 110 digital camera up to the box and it works great also.
This product was made for entertainment and im entertained,
18 Unit does some things well, but too many problems and bugs.
The keyboard interface does not function well. As most of the buyers have reported here, it skips letters, and is impossible to use for writing emails or other text (like this) without constant fixing.
As a multimedia unit it has severe limitations as well, not being able to access many popular video and audio files if they are not Microsoft.
No ability to do CCP from web pages, though if you buy a mouse you can do it...sometimes. Scroll feature on mouse not enabled.
The MSN TV 2 does surf faster than the old Web TV did, even on dial up, though display of some webpages is eccentric.
Photo features a scrapbook which is limited to 100 low resolution pictures. With the addition of a card reader, digital memory cards can be read and images printed.
BTW, I am on my second unit, the first one was so faulty I couldn't even register it.
In summary, this unit is not at all ready for market. Caveat emptor.
19 Buyer beware!
They are NOT going to transfer your existing MSNTV subscription if you paid by check, rather than credit card. I cannot as yet rate the product, only the service. Zero stars on that one.
20 Stick with the classic!!!!
I had the Philips Webtv/plus unit before I "upgraded" to this piece of junk. The keyboard is the biggest problem,it misses keystrokes ALOT, The new OK button is in the same spot the scroll down button used to be in. Websites download a little faster, but not fast enough to bother changing if you have a classic webtv unit. And you can acsess a few more sites that you could'nt before, also not worth changing over. You can watch wmv files now, but you lose the ability to download zip files. It took me 10 times as long as it should have to type this review, I have to go back and add all of the letters the keyboard missed. Don't buy unless you have excessive amount of patience.
21 Very Dissapointing
I have owned the RCA Msntv2 receiver for all of one week, and must say that compared to the Webtv classic receiver & service, it is very dissapointing.
The only good points I can find are more memory/storage space, and the log-in music is more pleasing.
The cordless keyboard misses just as many keystrokes as the old one, page loading is just as slow as before, and the changes to the keyboard are definitely not for the better.
Someone decided not only to remove the command key, making highlighting text a thing of the past, but also moved he escape key to the bottom left-hand corner, the power button to top center, and added a redundant 'OK' key less than an inch frm the enter key, which does the same thing. This key is now in the position formerly occupied by the page down key.
Navigation usualy requires two to three keystrokes & page changes to accomplish the same task as one keystroke did before.
Making something more complicated does NOT make it better. All in all, I would reccomend that you stay with your trusty classic receiver, if you have one. For simplicity and convenience, it is still better than buying a PC, and better than the MSNTV2 receiver, too.
I would be surprised if this review remains viewable. After all, this site's job is to sell you this stuff, good or bad. And be advised, critical complaints to MSN support techs can result in your account being sabotaged. I speak from personal experience.
Sincerely,
CCE
22 Still undecided...
As a longtime Webtv customer with a Classic receiver, I'm not adapting well to the new MSNTV 2. The keyboard, the onscreen images, the features are all different, but not particularly improved. Even though the unit goes on immediately, you have to sign in, then "OK" connection, then wait while it checks your "Passport Credentials" before you get the home page. Then (because the blue message light isn't functioning yet)you have to check the "mail" and wait, only to (perhaps) find out that there are no emails. The customer support person said there is no way to bypass the "Passport" check. I'm a hunt-and-peck typer, so I hit each key slowly and solidly, but still, lots of letters are skipped and I'm constantly going back to fill in missing letters. The onscreen images are totally changed and, to me, not in any logical manner. Just to check, read, save and/or delete mail is a confusing ordeal. When printing, there is no "Print Screen" feature. I will miss this very much. Also, most of the compatible printers are no longer available in the stores. I'm finding out that I still cannot access my bank and other accounts. OK, so there are many great new features but I personally will never use them. So far, I'm not sure I'll keep the new MSNTV 2. I might just unpack my old Webtv Classic.
23 MSNTV2 great as an Internet PC and for any age!!
I have many PCs in my house and I also have broadband access. I decided to get this box for two main reasons:
1) Quick and rich access to email and internet on my bedroom TV, either through a remote control and/or with a wireless keyboard, how cool is that?
2) So that I could access all my MP3s and digital photographs from my MediaCenter PC which is in another room.
The experience has been amazing, the hardware and the setup was a breeze and quite a pleasure. I enjoy the one button quick access to music, photos, the internet and email!
You can access pretty much any website, quickly page down and read all the content, you could even be browsing while listening to you favorite internet radio station or MP3 music.
I can't say enough about how great this product is, well done MSNTV!!
24 Broadband Internet without a PC
MSN TV 2 turns on instantly and can connect via broadband or modem to the internet. No viruses, popup ads, or spyware to worry about. It's as easy to setup as a VCR.
It's great as a 2nd Internet access device (who wants the expense and hassle of a 2nd PC?) and can act as a media hub that can share photos, music, and video from your PC to your TV.
