You Now Can Have E-mail Without a Computer

I have owned a computer since 1989 and I don't know what I would do without one now. When it has been in the shop to be worked on or my Internet server has been down I feel like I'm going crazy. No work is being done, no emails received or sent, the world is passing me by and I'm standing still. What did we do when there weren't computers?

In this day and age everyone just assumes that everyone has a computer and that just isn't true. I bet you have relatives and friends that are elderly that don't have computers. I have several and I forget that they don't have a computer when I would like to send them something, like pictures of the family or other information that I have on my computer.

Sure you can print the information out, stuff them in an envelope and mail them the old fashioned way but do you really do that any more? Lots of people especially the elderly just don't want the hassle of learning how to use a computer also the cost is a factor but wouldn't it be nice if everyone could at least have a way of just emailing, well that time has arrived! Hewlett-Packard and Presto has made that possible.

Anyone that has a telephone line now can have the ability to receive e-mail. You don't have to have a computer or even have any computer expertise. All you need is a special printer that is made for this purpose. Besides knowing how to keep paper in the printer there is no other task needed. The special printer just requires standard computer paper. When e-mail arrives it is done automatically and will print without any assistance from the owner.

This is how it is done. You purchase the HP Printing Mailbox with the Presto Service. It can be purchased at www.presto.com. Take it to your elderly relatives home and plug two cords in: the power cord into a wall jack and plug the printers telephone cord into a phone jack. That's all that's involved in the installation. There is no need for a separate phone line. Then you call the Presto Service and ask them to start the service and your done. That's it nothing else is involved. Your relative is up and running to receive e-mails. You can do this last step for your relative on line at your own computer if you prefer but why wait until you get home for their email service to start.

Presto will designate an e-mail address for the new mailbox printer owner. Your relative can now give this address out to relatives and friends and the e-mails can start coming. The good thing about this is that the Presto Service will only deliver messages that are from people that your relative has chosen to receive e-mails from; they will receive no spam or junk mail. If your relative would like to add more people to their receiving list; this can be done by your computer as long as you know the password or your relative can call Presto them self.

This printer is kind of like a FAX machine, it will print new e-mails immediately and this also includes any pictures that are attached to the e-mails. The owner can specify a schedule for the printer to check for new e-mails, it has a built in modem that dials out so your relative needs to understand that they can't use there phone when e-mail is being received. The schedule time can be once a day or several times a day, it's up to the individual as to when they want it to check for new e-mails.

If you are on the sending end there is no charge to you. Just send an email like you always have from your own computer.

Another good option for your relative is that the printer can be set up to print out any style of font; it has many to choose from. It can also print borders and much more. Oh, yes this is a color printer so no boring black and white pictures.

Presto's service includes some free options for you're relative to choose from if they wish. They can receive free e-mails of recipes, puzzles and articles from Better Homes and Gardens and the Wall Street Journal.

The printer is based on Hewlett-Packard's normal inkjet printer so printed pictures look the same as if they were printed out by your printer that's connected to your computer. Just think of the happiness your relative will feel when they are able to communicate more often with family members and receive pictures of the grandkids.

The only draw back is that they can't send e-mails back, this is only a one-way service but you and the rest of the family and friends are more apt to stay in touch with your relative more often knowing they have this service.

The Hewlett-Packard printing machine is listed as $149.99, with a $50.00 rebate but if you shop around you can find it at discount stores for about $99.99. The monthly service fee that Presto charges is $9.99 but just think of all the long distance calls your relative makes, paper, envelopes, stamps they can save and the smile on there face when they receive their grandchildren's pictures. If you would like more information, go to http://www.presto.com