San Diego, California News Station - KFMB Channel 8 - cbs8.comPresto Prints Emails Without A Personal Computer

Presto Prints Emails Without A Personal Computer

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Email has changed the way we communicate with one another, but there are still plenty of people who can't keep in touch this way because they don't have a computer. But that may soon change. A new product can deliver email to those without access to the internet.\r\n\r\nTheresa Johnson of Escondido depends on her email for keeping in touch with friends and family. But her mom Helen Richards misses out on many of those messages, because she doesn't feel comfortable using a computer.\r\n\r\n"Right now I'm having a hard time getting my email," Richards said.\r\n\r\nWhat Helen needs is an easier way of getting her electronic mail. So we asked her and Theresa -- both The News 8 Consumer Critics -- to test the HP Printing Mailbox with Presto. It's a new device that claims it can deliver email messages, digital photos and news to those who don't have a computer.\r\n\r\n"I think it's a really neat invention, very practical -- especially for somebody who doesn't have a computer or they're not inclined to learn how to use a computer," Theresa said.\r\n\r\nThe device looks like a traditional printer, but plugs into a phone line instead of a computer. No internet access is necessary, just a dial tone.\r\n\r\n"Just plug it in, plug in the phone line, it was pretty straight forward. I really didn't have to look at the instructions," Theresa said.\r\n\r\nAfter readying the printer, Theresa uses her home computer to set up a Presto account. She picks an email address for her mom, then enters her own email in the accepted friends section. This keeps spam out by only allowing people with authorized email addresses to send messages to the machine. Fifteen minutes later, Theresa's ready to send a message to mom.\r\n\r\n"I just sent a normal email. It didn't do anything. I didn't change fonts, i didn't change formats... nothing," she said.\r\n\r\nBack at her mother's house, the machine goes to work, printing out all three of Theresa's emails in just a couple of minutes.\r\n\r\nThe Presto automatically converts plain messages and attached photos into graphically pleasing layouts. Theresa selected the blue template for her emails, but there are so many other choices available.\r\n\r\nSo what does she think?\r\n\r\n"It's pretty cool," she said.\r\n\r\nThe Presto retails for around $150, plus a $10 monthly service fee.\r\n