Web TV

by Adam Meyerson

According to ThirdAger Jeannene Hansen, “It’s hard to keep your excitement down about WebTV.” Jeannene has had a Mac for years and is a fairly savvy computer user. So why get WebTV?

Jeannene was wandering around the electronics store Circuit City one day, passing time before going into a nearby movie theater, and ended up in the TV area. “I had no intention of buying anything, but I saw the WebTV demo and ended up with both a new 32-inch television and WebTV,” says Jeannene.

The combination of a WebTV and her new set with built-in picture-in-picture is great, according to Jeannene. “I never use the Web or just watch TV now–I do both. One of the best features is seeing the Web on such a big screen. But even better is that it’s so easy to use. I’ve been through so much computer crap over the years, with upgrades and rebuilding systems, that WebTV is a godsend. It actually upgrades itself.”

Jeannene got her unit in November 1996, when WebTV was just getting started. She still uses her Mac for everything but the Web and email. When asked about sharing WebTV with others, Jeannene asks: “Who wants to sit in an extra bedroom surfing the Web when you can do it in your living room on the sofa? I’m sort of a cheerleader for WebTV, I just bring friends over and put them in my rocker with the wireless keyboard.”