Black Boxes: Neon Technology SurfReady NTV-2500

by Melinda Adams
Summer 2001

Neon Technology
(408) 934-5816
http://www.neontech.com
$649
*Prodigy Internet service: $21.95 per month

Neon Technology calls its first-generation SurfReady, the NTV-2500, an Internet Appliance, a term likely designed to set the unit apart from a growing market of net top devices. What gives Neon's device the edge is the inclusion of a DVD-Video player, a TV tuner and even a club-style karaoke function. By adding these to a net-top Web surfing unit, the SurfReady has the potential to replace two or more components in the consumer's home entertainment system. Beyond its obvious space saving qualities, the unit also boasts a few bonus features not often found in competing net tops, including picture-in-picture Web surfing, video phone functions and both video and still-photo e-mail attachments via an included WebCam.

Up and Running
The documentation shipping with the SurfReady was sparse, but sufficient to make for a quick setup - about fifteen minutes from box to screen. We tested the SurfReady with a Surround Sound receiver and standard TV using the included coaxial and RCA cables. The unit also offered S-video hookups for higher-quality video, and a PC-style parallel printer port supporting several popular Hewlett Packard, Epson and Canon printers.
The SurfReady provided a built-in Ethernet card for connection to a DSL line or a home network. We conducted our tests using a standard phone line and the included 56k modem. Neon offers two options for Net access: You can either provide information for an existing ISP account or sign up for a new account with the included Prodigy software. Prodigy's services are a little expensive on the current market, running $21.95 a month, with a two-year minimum contract. Note that unlike some net tops, the Surfready doesn't use a PC-style hard drive. Instead, it stores its operating functions in RAM. Thus, ISP accounts requiring the installation of proprietary software (such as NetZero or America Online) won't work with the unit.
On startup, we found a pleasantly intuitive user interface, with easy-to-read menus for both TV functions and Web browsing. Most navigation commands are echoed in one-touch buttons on the unit's included wireless keyboard and remote, giving quick access to common functions.

Tuning In
The SurfReady guided us through a setup of the TV function, and we successfully found all of the channels on our local cable connection. One of the unit's most exciting and yet least-documented features was the "TV search" mode, which scanned all of the current broadcasts on our connection and displayed still pictures of each. By selecting one of the stills, we could change to that channel.
Our test group also enjoyed the SurfReady's DVD player and its nicely crafted user interface. The picture was exceptionally crisp. The interface supports all the standard DVD functions, including second channel audio, angle viewing and subtitles (on compatible DVDs). The unit's stereo sound was strong, though we occasionally noticed a little "ringing" in the audio's treble area, a sound often associated with compressed audio and/or a sound card with poor digital-to-analog conversion.

The Ups and Downs of Web Surfing
The SurfReady's 56k modem offered a quick, reliable connection to our ISP. In general, we found browsing with the SurfReady to be fast. The unit's pop-up menus and one-touch keyboard commands made it easy to navigate between Web and TV-viewing functions. The picture-in-picture function was a particularly nice touch, allowing us to view TV broadcasts in a small window while simultaneously browsing the Web. However, we noticed a little audio noise - probably TV/video interference - when we used this feature.
Though the SurfReady boasts excellent audio and video in DVD and TV modes, Internet multimedia is not one of its strong points. Its documentation states that it supports RealAudio 3.0 playback, though we had trouble finding any Web sites that broadcast using this older version of the Real software. When we did find a broadcast encoded with 3.0, we still couldn't get the unit to play it. Neither does the SurfReady support formats such as Windows Media or MP3, and since it doesn't allow for user-installed software, this may be a drawback for Net media enthusiasts. However, when contacted, Neon stated that they plan to include streaming MP3 support in future releases of the SurfReady.
The SurfReady supports e-mail via the POP3 protocol offered by most ISP's. Using the included WebCam, we were able to capture both still photographs and short video snippets to send as e-mail attachments. However, since the unit does not store its information on a hard drive, each new shot overwrote the last one, so our only option was to immediately send the capture or lose it to posterity forever. Beyond that, the capture-and-mail function was quick and trouble free. The unit also included a nice "net phone" function for use with the WebCam, allowing the user to visually chat with other users of the Neon Technology and Voxware calling directories.

Get the Party Started
By far, the SurfReady's most popular feature with our test group was the built-in karaoke function. By attaching the included microphone and inserting a karaoke-format disc, the unit becomes a club-style karaoke machine. Our ten year-old test volunteer quickly learned how to navigate the on-screen selection prompts and - despite our objections-endlessly serenaded us with Britney Spears and Backstreet Boys tunes from the sample disc.

Ready for Prime Time?
Although Neon has clearly put a lot effort into making the first-generation SurfReady a viable all-in-one net top, their attention to detail seemed limited to only a couple elements, notably the excellent DVD player and TV-viewing functions. By contrast, the unit's Internet functions lack the polish of many competing units, particularly in the area of Web media support.
If you're in the market for both a mid-line DVD player and a basic net-top surfing device, the SurfReady provides both, along with some nice TV functions, in a single space-saving unit. Users accustomed to PC-like Internet features might hold out for the company's next release. Judging by the first-generation SurfReady, Neon definitely has what it takes to engineer a truly great all-in-one unit.

Smart Specs
Processor: Intel Mobile Pentium 266MHz MMX
Video: Integrated Smart Card
Modem: 56k modem and 10/100-baseT Ethernet
Inputs: 2X mike, RCA, S-Video
Outputs: RCA audio/video, S-video, Ethernet, parallel
Size: 17" x 12" x 3"
Weight: 9lbs. Included Accessories: Wireless keyboard, remote control, microphone, WebCam.