When I was a kid I always wanted to use a Minitel terminal. These were essentially dumb terminals hooked up basic servers that allowed you to send email and get information, much like today’s postal service and newspapers.
Apparently French ISP Neuf Cegetel is going to create Minitel 2.0 using a mini Linux computer and keyboard. The full kit costs 99 euro – about $130 – and the PC and service itself costs $54.
It’s no greenscreen and clacky keyboard, but it’s darn close. Anyone in France who can fill us in?
France caters to market for the most simple of computers [IHT]
This Minitel 2.0, called ‘Easy Gate’, is a quite good idea from my perspective. No use for geeks or smart users, used to Internet and PCs, but could be a good product for oldies or people who want a safe and easy first contact with Web universe. Note that those 54$ include a full Web access, with VoIP and TV over IP, usually sold 30 euros/month.
Looks like the LOST computer…push the button…
French ISP Neuf Cegetel (http://www.neufcegetel.fr/) is launching a shoebox pc that includes internet access (DSL). I think the peripherals are extra (mouse, monitor, keyboard). The product site* appears to be
http://www.groupeneufcegetel.fr/
*(haven’t fully read/translated yet)
I live in france, and our family still has a working minitel. doenst look like the first generation one pictured above (we got rid of that about 10 years ago), but its still the same black and white, relatively clunky system – BUT it works! My dad uses it for his bank account, directory inquiriies etc. Until the day we have a computer in the entrance hooked to the phone, this will stay in use.