A Question for the Germans

Subject: A Question for the Germans
From: michaelr
Date: 13 Dec 05 - 09:06 PM

I understand that some UK Mudcatters get Internet by connecting a keyboard to their TV and using the set as a monitor. I'm guessing this is a service provided by their cable or satellite TV companies.

What I need to know is whether that sort of thing is available in Germany? Any info appreciated.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: A Question for the Germans
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 14 Dec 05 - 02:06 AM

I know it is, but I'm not using it. I'll ask my old professor emeritus when I see him next in the library - he has experience with this system.
If you are living in Germany you could also ask in the next T-online shop.

Subject: RE: A Question for the Germans
From: alanabit
Date: 14 Dec 05 - 06:47 AM

Michael, try these guys. Maybe they can help.

Subject: RE: A Question for the Germans
From: Wilfried Schaum
Date: 14 Dec 05 - 08:03 AM

Luckily I met my prof. today. He doesn't use this technical gimmick no more and didn't recommend it.
He had bought the apparatus at a supermarket and had to use a private provider who went broke after a few years. A successor was even more expensive, so he discarded the service and doesn't know whether the successor went broke also.
He was very annoyed by the unsatisfactory abilities of the system, especially the many break downs. He thinks that the modern technique with its inexpensive computers made this system redundant.
Since he needs the internet only for browsing a lot of specialized library catalogues he now uses the facilities of the University Library about ten minutes away.
Browsing through alanabit's link I didn't find such a dinosaur system; our postal services try to be with the vanguard of the technique.

Sorry

Subject: RE: A Question for the Germans
From: GUEST, Topsie
Date: 14 Dec 05 - 09:05 AM

My cable company provides television internet access for a few pounds extra a month, but I found it inadequate and unreliable, so now I just use the computer, apart from a few e-mails from people who have ignored my requests that they change the e-mail address I gave them several years ago, for the new one.

Subject: RE: A Question for the Germans
From: Rapparee
Date: 14 Dec 05 - 09:16 AM

Sound like what we in the US call "Web TV." I assume it's still out there, but more that a few times the library automation listserves I'm on have noted problems with it. For instance, those using it couldn't access the online library catalogs....

I use the local (TV) cable company's cable for a broadband connection. Works very well, rarely goes down, and lets me do whatever I want to on the Web. When I signed up I also got ten email boxes -- of which my wife and I use two -- and space for a small personal website, which we don't use at all.

Subject: RE: A Question for the Germans
From: Ebbie
Date: 14 Dec 05 - 12:10 PM

Several years before my brother died I bought him a WebTV, for around $300. He never learned it but his wife did and she used it with great success for years after that. The only problem she ever had with it was the keyboard when it started sticking. She bought another keyboard at Circuit City for less than $30.

Last month she remarried and her new husband has a computer so she has switched over to his service. I am quite sure, however, that she would have no qualms about going back to her old WebTV.

The main restriction WebTV has is that it doesn't - or at least hers doesn't - have wordprocessing capability, only email. The internet and SEARCH functions work fine.

Subject: RE: A Question for the Germans
From: michaelr
Date: 14 Dec 05 - 08:35 PM

Thanks for the link, Alan. Looks like T-Online is the ticket. Now if I can just convince my old parents to make the move into the 21st century...

Thank you all for your responses.

Cheers,
Michael