I'm a techie. I know computers backwards and forwards, inside and out. But sometimes I want to just type up a quick e-mail, or write myself a note and print it out. Computers take too long to boot up, and are too big, or the batteries are a measly 3-4 hours long.This little VTech Companion fit the bill just fine!
Weighing in at about 2 lbs, I now can read/write my e-mail while sitting in the bathroom, or in the library. If I wake up in the middle of the night and want to write something and print it out in a moment of inspiration, I can do that. Just type up an e-mail to myself, and before sending it, print it out. [this device prints to ANY parallel-port printer, except for the "Windows-Only" printers. If your printer can print text, this will work with it].
I'm addicted: I get home from work, and before signing on to my ISP, I plug this baby into the phone line, type in my password, hit "Connect", and it zaps my e-mail to me. The screen is very clear and easy to read.
The ISP/e-mail contract is inexpensive too -- less than $10/month. I also love the fact that you can check your mail anywhere there is a standard phone line.
The batteries! How can I forget! One of the loveliest features of the VTech Postbox Companion is that it takes just 3 C batteries, which should last about 6 months. This, to me, is a wonderous thing.
This little device also brought the mystery back into online for me. I am from the BBS days, dialing up mysterious computers from far away. They hardly exist anymore, but this VTech brings the mystery of things back for me.
This device *doesn't* do everything, and it isn't supposed to. I use it for e-mail, and as a portable word processor. It won't replace your ISP, but it does give you an amazing portability, with a keyboard that is comfortable.
Thumbs up to VTech!
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