A while back I was wondering about a simple device to connect the
non-technical masses to the Internet. Back in July I heard an announce from
a US company called NetPliance (
http://www.netpliance.com). It looks like
they recently released what I described.
You pay $299 US for a device which is described as a mini-PC ("200 Mhz -
class", 10 inch LCD) that's hardwired just for Internet access (e.g.
browsing, e-mail, etc...). Supposedly you plug one cord into the wall and
the other into a telephone jack and you are ready to go. The ISP (or
Internet point of presence) is pre-configured. On top of the $299, there is
a $22 / mnth membership charge which includes unlimited access.
Sounds pretty good. Too bad they didn't stick to their $99 US price when it
was first announced.