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by bwann 835 days ago
These were pretty decent, not too terrible, and could be set up to dial normal ISPs. They filled a niche with older customers and/those who had zero computer experience but wanted to check email and browse web pages back in the 90s. They didn't last long enough to bridge the gap to the tablet era, so I'm guessing a lot of people finally had to learn a computer.

I do remember playing some MIDI files on it and realizing how good it sounded compared to my basic SoundBlaster 16, which made me go out and get a SB AWE32.
2 comments
gosub100 835 days ago
> and could be set up to dial normal ISPs.

oh for real? I hope some of the nostalgia tech youtubers can set one up (with their own ISP) and demo it. that would be cool.

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creesch 835 days ago
https://youtu.be/NjteQv6oYgA?si=wOFf5agmNooR1Cl4

One of the first that popped up putting "webtv" in YouTube ;)

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singleshot_ 835 days ago
They could also be reconfigured, via a specially crafted email, if I recall correctly, to call 911. A huge proportion of these boxes were in a handful of zip codes in Florida, and once the exploit started spreading, a few PSAPs got hosed until a fix could be developed
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