Web-TV

[scruffy]

Got a friend out there that is looking for information on how to upload pics from web-tv, and what type of digital camera to get for that purpose. Any knowledgeable facts available from anyone?

 

[Gatorboy]

I would say, forget the digital camera and buy a computer to be able to use a REAL browser. Then you don't have to worry about all the pitfalls with Web-TV.

 

[scruffy]

Dave, it ain't my choice! I've already suggested that to the person. Darned if I am going to foot the bill for them.

 

[GlueGuy]

We've got a friend with Web-TV, and it is a mixed bag. He doesn't know the first thing about a computer, and that, combined with a very low budget, web-tv seems to work for him. However, things like viewing PDF files (or anything else that's even slightly out of the ordinary (Word, Excel, powerpoint, etc, etc), he can't do. I don't think there is any way to connect a USB-type device, so I don't think there is any way to upload anything beyond what you can type....

The GlueGuy

 

[scruffy]

I suppose those things don't use a floppy drive either. Never looked at one, so I'm shootin' in the dark on them, other than knowing you can't hardly do anything.

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Don't they have one serial port?

If so, can buy a digital camera and upload that way... but sooooooooooooo sloooooooooooow...

The newest computers are so dirt cheap now though.../w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

 

[GlueGuy]

I just went to the WebTV web site (Duh). Apparently you can upload pictures through a video connector. Allows you to take a single picture as a frame and upload it.

The GlueGuy

 

[CVHoss]

Scruffy,
I don't have web tv, but I have had one guy email me photos from his web tv. As I remember it, the limitation is that web tv has to take input from something like a video camera. The picture quality on what he was sending me was really bad, and I had told him not to reduce them in size or quality as I was on a cable modem and file size was not a problem. He responded that he wasn't reducing them, but that the lack of quality was due to having to use his video camera and "snap" photos onto the web tv system. This would seem to be accurate, as I found this on web tv's site:

What video cameras or digital cameras will "picture e-mail" work with?

All video cameras and any digital camera with video output. These
devices allow you to capture a frame of video to e-mail to friends and
family.

This is the only mention of sending pictures they have in their "questions" section.

Hoss

 

[scruffy]

sure beats me why anybody would want to mess with such a thing! I growl at my system every so often, and it ain't no web-tv! Each to their own I guess. I tried to convince the individual to break down and buy a computer, but no sale. Guys a bigger tightwad than my relatives!

 

[Jeff396]

But being that kind of tightwad usually ends up in you haveing to go buy what you should have in the first place....wasting more money!!! Everytime I try to take the "cheap" route I end up getting burned!!!

Jeff

 

[scruffy]

Jeff, I know what you mean. If I had the bucks that I have spent on computers (building), and periphials, not to mention software, I could have a brand new Kubota with all the implements sitting out back. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif Paid for!!

 

[TonyC]

Although Web-TV is a less than robust medium I think it does have a place. Ther are lots of folks out there, young and old, who just do not have an affinity for computers. Similiarly, I know some guys who, when their car won't start, call a tow truck immediately without even opening the hood. This is something I can't even comprehend yet in some ways I understand it. If you use a computer, sooner or later it will hiccup, burp or even f....well you get the idea. There are some out there who just can't handle this and don't want to. Web-TV is for them! Just my 2¢.

 

[LazyK]

Yo, Scruff-san...as you recall, in Calif, a few moons ago, I demonstrated my world-renowned-all-time-WebTV-prowess when I brought you my keyboard with a few jiggers of lemonade tactfully spilled into the works. Thanks for being patient with me as a clueless doofuss looking for his last brain-cell. Didn't use the mild solution spray you gave me, but did take your tongue-in-cheek suggestion to just jump in the pool with Mr. Sticky Keys and swish the booger out! After remembering that the batteries were still within and the poolman had just "shock-clorinated" the water 2 hours earlier, Captain Neutron here had the cleanest(possibly circuit-cooked) input device imaginable. Of course, had to dry out everything 'specially them layers of plastic-like chingas things. Damn thing finally dried out and went back together with only a few parts left on the table. Whatever. It worked! Call Heraldo! Hell, after seeing the Cray-like systems you self-BUILT from scratch, I figgered my minor league success represented the least I could do after being in the presence of and advised by The Scruff Master. Oh, yeh....back at the ranch, my WebTV/Dick & Jane device has been unable to process digimages or upload same. Maybe MSNowledge has been slow coming to the lightning fast, rapier-like processing capability of the Beast. Best to Joy and all.
Also, GREAT SIG BLOCK graphics! Opus finis coronat...the end crowns the finish. Nice job.

Lazy K - Chip <P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by LazyK on 11/18/01 09:13 AM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Haven't heard from you for a bit, your sounding pretty "Chipper"/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif Never did get back with you on the trailer, was concerned about the timming with respect to your trip to the hospital. Good to see your humor emerge again on TBN/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Al

 

[LazyK]

Back to ya, Twink...Haven't pulled the flatbed outta the weeds yet but it's still here waiting for a qualified lucky guy to pick 'r up. Seriously, I haven't done a thing to sell it. If you give her a once-over, have a need fer a good ol' flatbed and can believe that I want to move it for so little...give me a call at 253-857-4113/2358 and let's move some rolling stock! Good to hear from you.

Lazy K - Chip

 

[scruffy]

Chip! Good to see ya kickin' around! Yup, I remember that ol' thingy-ma-bopper of yours! Often wondered how it all came out, and am glad the bath didn't kill it. They CAN be a pain to dry out, that's for sure.
Your web-tv setup is the only one I've ever seen, never gone lookin' for'em either!
I just gave the boy my old computer, the one I had just built when you were visiting, course it had to have a video card upgrade, memory upgrade, and a few other goodies added, but he is quite happy with his 'new' gamer! Since then, I've built two and 3/4's new systems for home, and sold one 'older' build, and have one setting down on the floor under a table, waiting for me to figure out what to do with it.
The BossLady has the best in the house now (don't know how that worked out)./w3tcompact/icons/tongue.gif/w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif
Joy said Hi right back at ya! She's busy building a new web site, and will have it up and running this week(hopefully)...a new 'shopping mall' type called "Joy's Angel Shop" which will be located at http://www.joysangelshop.com , it will complement her other online business at http://www.excelir.com/jhasel . She hasn't broken even yet, just cost money, but that is normal, been going on for decades! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by scruffy on 11/18/01 02:34 PM (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[WVBill]

This has been a good discussion for me to read since I am considering Web TV as a christmas gift for my nearly computer-phobic wife. Try as I might, I have not been able to teach her the rudiments of using our home computer so I'm looking at the Web-TV service as a way she can go to the internet web sites she reads about.

It's not a cost thing - it's just that I think she might not be as intimidated by a little keyboard and a TV.

 

[scruffy]

WVBill, all I can say is, my wife was very 'afraid' of a computer a few years ago! She was afraid that she would somehow break it, because she really didn't understand it.
I convinced her that there was NOTHING that she could do to it, that I could not fix. Being the total partner and wife that she is, that was right up her alley, she loves adding on to the 'Honey Do' list! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Once she got over her 'trepadition', it was look out! She hasn't looked back since.....as evidenced by her web-page building, and other endeavers. I agree, the WebTV would certainly be cheaper, but she wouldn't gain near the self satisfaction from it. Of course, neither would your pocket book! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Just think, with a thinner wallet, it wouldn't be near as irritating on the hindend when you are sitting high up there in the tractor seat and having fun!

 

[GlueGuy]

<font color=blue>Web TV as a christmas gift</font color=blue>

You might also want to look at MSN TV. I suspect that it's just a new name for Web TV, but don't really know.

Personally, if I was looking at this sort of thing today, I think I would try to get a PC that had no legacy slots to futz with. The main thing that gave PC's a bad reputation (and that has been slowly going away), was all the configuration nightmares with the old ISA architecture (and its variants).

Today, a decent legacy-free PC with USB and firewire (AKA ISO 1394) ports, and maybe a serial/parallel port or two would be a fine acquisition. You should be able to get something like that for very little over $500. Much more utility than Web TV.

The GlueGuy

 

[CVHoss]

GlueGuy,
From the MSN/WebTV site:

What's the difference between MSN TV Service and WebTV service?
MSN® TV service is the new name for WebTV®service reflecting the
ability to access more popular MSN content like Hotmail®, MSN News and
more. Although the service name is changing, you still buy WebTV
receivers to use it.

Hoss