Round Two: Second Generation Net-Tops Nix the Bugs

by Charles Mohnike
Winter 1999/Spring 2000

If you owned one of the first net-top units, it's likely you were both the envy of all your non-computing friends and the subject of some ridicule among your computer geek buddies. First-generation units were designed to do one thing well--get the Net onto your TV screen with as little user hassle as possible. Most provided basic e-mail and Web functions, the simplicity of which was ideal for first-time users, but often frustrating for experienced desktop surfers who had come to rely on the advanced features of their stand-alone browsers and e-mail programs.

Ring in round two: the second wave of net-tops takes advantage of new, increasingly inexpensive technologies like hard drives and faster processors to bring even more desktop functionality to your TV. Veteran computer users no longer have to feel like they're settling for less, and new users will find the same easy-to-navigate controls, in addition to some new, powerful features.

For the purposes of our discussion we will not count among net-top boxes TV-driving machines which are actually fully-functioning PCs. The latter sport all the features of personal computers, but we discuss them elsewhere as a sepatate category. The former, the WebTV-style boxes we call "net-tops," can be had at less than half the price. These are the machines we list in the product grid attending this story.

Computing From A Distance
For those used to navigating the net with a mouse and keyboard, there are several new net-top features available that will help you duplicate your desktop experience on the TV.

Wireless keyboards, once an option, are now standard on many boxes. For those among you who find that the top of your TV set is already cluttered with other components like VCRs, DVD players and cable boxes, Philips' WebTV Plus ($199) employs a WebEye IR receiver that can be placed anywhere handy and still receive messages from the keyboard or remote.

Keyboards themselves have improved, too. Many now feature single-key functions to take you to your e-mail or toggle between watching television and surfing the Net. Most provide a mini-trackball or pointing stick for mouse-like navigation, like WebSurfer's I-Point controller that uses a spring-loaded lever to move your cursor around the TV screen.

If you enjoyed the ease of the early net-top handheld remotes, you'll find that most manufacturers haven't neglected development on these devices either. Boxes like Sony's WebTV ($150) and WebTV Plus ($199) still use directional pushbuttons mounted on an ergonomic remote control to adjust your cursor's position with a minimum of effort.

Oomph Under the Hood
If you found early net-tops were slow compared to your desktop unit, you'll really appreciate the new technologies going into the latest models. For example, Sony's WebTV Plus uses a 32-bit RISC processor, as does the Voyager.netTV box (which is free with a 24-month subscription to the Voyager.net service). Faster CPUs give the new net-tops a brain more like that of a desktop, which means you'll find less pausing between screens and faster responses. Fast processors also give units like the WebTV Plus the ability to handle CPU-intensive Web technologies like RealNetworks' streaming audio (though the current generation still does not support streaming video).

The trend in net-top hardware is to approximate desktop power. Many manufacturers have increased the amount of RAM (random access memory) in their units. While the processor determines the speed at which a net-top thinks, the amount of RAM determines the size of its brain and how much information it can work on at a time. Units like Alliance Resource's GOPC! Jr. ($299) ship with 16 megabytes of RAM and 2 megabytes of video memory, which is enough for a net-top to zip through even the most graphic-intensive Web pages with ease.

Most exciting for Web enthusiasts is the new class of modems offered on some units. All WebTV Plus models, for example, now carry 56K modems, and the Websurfer even has an upgrade option for super-fast cable modem or DSL service. Modem speed is one of the single most important factors in the net-top experience. Faster modems bring Web sites zipping into your set and also give it the ability to handle large graphics and streaming media with ease.

Net-top hard drives haven't been neglected either. Early units gave users just enough storage space to store bookmark lists and saved e-mail messages; the new boxes have plenty of space to store favorite Web pages, graphics, e-mail attachments and more. Hard drive space was also a limiting factor on older boxes--small drives meant that users couldn't take advantage of new plug-in technologies like RealNetworks's RealPlayer or Macromedia's Flash because there was no room to save and execute them. Newer units come standard with hard drives packing plenty of storage space for even the most avid couch surfer.

More Software Bang For the Buck
The increase in hard drive space has also given new net-tops the ability to provide better, more sophisticated user interfaces.

Several units now offer users the ability to use their existing Internet service provider (ISP) on their net-tops. This is a great feature for those who use the Net on both their desktop computers and TVs, because it allows you to use the same service and e-mail address on either unit, usually at a small additional charge per month.

For avid e-mail fans, new software features like WebTV Plus's Message Watch give you instant notification when you've received a new message. Blinking lights on both the front of the unit and the IR remote tell you when it's time to check your mail. Other handy e-mail features, like Voyager.netTV's ability to store messages in multiple folders, make net-top e-mail more like its computer-based predecessors.

Features like the proprietary WebPIP (picture-in-picture), available on the higher-end WebTV models, make great use of the accelerating convergence between TV programming and the Internet. Regardless of your brand or vintage of TV set, WebPIP gives you the ability to view television programs in a small onscreen window while you surf the Net. With more and more broadcast programs offering "companion" Web sites and e-mail contacts, this is a great feature for those who want to get the most from their TV-watching hours. The feature is available on several units, including the higher-end Sony and Philips WebTV models.

Now's The Time
If you're a veteran PC user who has previously avoided buying a net-top because of limited features, you might want to check out the latest offerings. New features have brought net-tops nearly equal to their desktop counterparts and a unit carefully chosen to fit your needs will let you perform most of your standard PC tasks from the comfort of your couch. Similarly, new computer users who have been torn between desktop and TV units in the past can now check out net-tops with the confidence that they won't be settling for a sub-standard unit that will limit their travels on the Net. Compare features, don't hesitate to ask questions of your retailer and take advantage of the new technologies that can bring the Internet to your couch.