There are three hardware ingredients to the MSN TV: A wireless keyboard, a wireless remote control, and an Internet receiver. Set up is easy. Insert the included batteries into the keyboard and the remote. Then hook the Internet receiver up to the television. All the necessary cables are included. The clear directions give step-by-step instructions for hooking up to the television. Instructions are also given for televisions that have a VCR attached. MSN TV must be the first thing attached to your television.  Your VCR then attaches to the MSN TV. This system works with any television whether you are using regular television service, cable service, or a satellite system.  

To access the Internet on the MSN TV, you must sign up for MSN Internet access. When you turn on the MSN TV for the first time, the software connects automatically.  You enter your name, address, and credit card information and the MSN service does everything else.  It automatically finds the right telephone access number, dials the service, and updates the software.  It is, without a doubt, the easiest access to the Internet that I’ve seen.  No telephone calls to find the right Internet Provider, no software to install, no settings to dabble with.  The MSN service has several plans with the cheapest being $9.95 a month for up to five hours of Internet access. Unlimited access for the MSN TV is $21.95 a month.

One caveat. Before you purchase, make sure that MSN TV has a local telephone number for your area. (Call 1-800-469-3288.)While most of the country is covered, there are pockets, like where I live in North Carolina, where there is no local number available. If MSN does not have local telephone number for your area, you can use MSN TV through a local Internet Service Provider (ISP). You will pay $11.95 a month, plus whatever your local ISP charges.

MSN TV makes it easy to surf the Web, send and receive e-mail, chat, and exchange instant messages. It connects to the Internet via a telephone line and a 56K modem. Tools for new users include an introductory tour, online tutorials, on-screen tips, and a toll-free customer service hotline.

While MSN TV is not designed to do word-processing or spreadsheets like a computer, it is specially designed to integrate with television content. So not only do you view the Internet on the television set, but your television content is enhanced by related Internet content. There is an interactive program guide as well as on-screen links to enhance TV watching.

MSN TV also has a feature called Page Builder which will help you build your own Web site and a SurfWatch to help protect kids from accessing mature Web content.

MSN ads read “No computer experience needed.” I’ll adjust that slightly to say, “No computer experience wanted.” It’s true that you don’t need any computer experience to work the MSN TV. New users with no computer experience find the process simple. I know many people who got up and running quickly and are quite happy with their MSN TV experience. Those who have used a computer before, however, will find surfing with MSN TV like trying to use a computer without a mouse, somewhat slow and frustrating as you must use arrow keys to navigate from the remote or wireless keyboard. So MSN TV is especially good for those who have never used a computer before. It is a great Internet tool for those who have shied away from a computer because of the complexity.

To hook up the MSN TV, you do need to have a telephone jack in the vicinity of the television that you will be using. You do not, however, need an extra telephone line. If you happen to be surfing the Internet on   your MSN TV when a telephone call comes in, the MSN TV Service will automatically pause your Internet session to let the phone ring through. When you hang up, your Internet session will automatically resume.

The MSN hardware is provided by several different manufacturers. The one I reviewed was by RCA. Although a printer is not included, each MSN TV unit has a printer port so you can print out Web pages and e-mail. Since the MSN TV has no hard drive for storing data, a printer can be a welcome addition. Compatible printers differ by manufacturer, so you will want to check out the List of Compatible Printers at the MSN Web site or by calling their technical support number.

All in all, MSN TV is an appliance that can enhance your television viewing and give you an entry to the high-tech world with e-mail and Internet content.  For anyone who wants to be a part of the online world without the cost or complexity of a computer, MSN TV is definitely worth considering.