# E-mail only? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 14, 2000, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-mail-only/22340 "2000-06-14T14:07:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-mail-only/22340/1 "2000-06-14T14:07:37Z")
Mrs. Kunilou’s parents are in their 70s, and her mother doesn’t want to use a computer for fear she’ll blow it up. But she does like the idea of e-mail to keep in touch with the kids and grandkids. I’ve heard of systems that include a small terminal and e-mail account for a low equipment cost and monthly fee. Does anyone know anything about them? ---
**Author:** ![RM\_Mentock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@RM\_Mentock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RM_Mentock)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-mail-only/22340/2 "2000-06-14T14:22:40Z")
Or, you can tell her it isn’t a computer, it’s an email device. That way, when she discovers big band mp3 or a WWII chat room, she can. ---
**Author:** ![Gatsby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@Gatsby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatsby)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-mail-only/22340/3 "2000-06-14T14:36:07Z")
I don’t know much about them, but you may want to check out [the i-opener](http://www.netpliance.com/iopener/) by Netpliance. They sell for $100 and monthly service is $22. I’m sure there are a bunch of others around as well. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2000, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-mail-only/22340/4 "2000-06-14T20:01:57Z")
I-phone too. Our phone comp, Pac Bell has one of their own for $10 month & 120 for the box. So ask your phone comp first. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2000, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-mail-only/22340/5 "2000-06-17T04:33:47Z")
Here’s another one [http://www.mailstation.com/details.html](http://www.mailstation.com/details.html) ---
**Author:** ![douglips](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@douglips](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/douglips)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2000, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-mail-only/22340/6 "2000-06-17T04:53:35Z")
The i-opener is a good idea. That way when Granny becomes a linux hacker she can [hack it into a full-on linux box](http://www.linux-hacker.net/imod/imod.html)! There was another (hackable) network appliance type think called a WebSurfer, but I think they blew the business model and stopped selling them. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2000, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-mail-only/22340/7 "2000-06-17T05:17:09Z")
I believe Netpliance now requires you to subscribe to their connection service if you buy an i-opener. No more $100 Linux boxes. Still, even with their service charge, it seems reasonable enough. Is WebTV still around? That may be a good choice here as well, though I’m sure the i-opener has a much better display. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2000, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/e-mail-only/22340/8 "2000-06-17T15:36:11Z")
Some of them have a touch screen this is pretty neat. Also, Im pretty sure Iopener has been changed so you can’t hack it.