Webtv -Reply

[Anthony Starks]

Dan Lester wrote:
> 

> WebTV covers the subset of the web (unspecified)
> that they put on WebTV.  They claimed over 90
> percent and the "best parts", whatever that means to
> whoever is making the selection.  Is their selection G
> rated, R rated, TV14 rated?  Unrated?  Who
> knows...not me.

Note that webtv is a web browser, like any other, I
don't think there is a priori censorship -- perhaps
the 90% is referring to webtv's (current) inability to 
deal with some content types.


> You don't get newsgroups, email, etc.  In fact, I'm not
> sure how or what it uses as an identifier if you want to
> webshop.  Many webshopping places require an email
> address to send the order confirmation, the key to
> opening the software, etc, etc.  For that matter, with no
> keyboard, how would you put in your name, address,
> visa number, etc?

Email access for up to five accounts is part of webtv.


> 
> There is no keyboard, so it appears that your browsing
> is by going from their startup pages and search
> engines to places you want to go.  No apparent way of
> bookmarking or of typing in a new URL (which might
> not be on their system anyway).   They apparently use
> a proprietary compression scheme to compress ALL
> content they send to your TV.  Unclear where and how
> the reformatting, etc, of graphics, fonts, etc. happens,
> or how good it is.

You can plug in a keyboard, or buy the optional wireless keyboard.


--
						Anthony