1999 all over again!

Take your money and run!

How does it answer the phone - like a fax machine, do you set it to automatically answer after x amount of rings? And does it work/interfere with an answering machine?

This a nice little niche area; I think it is cool how this company is revitalizing the fax market, but I would be seriously concerned about the shelf life of this company. As soon as Generation Xers and Yers start becoming the old people I don’t think their business model will hold together much.

If this lasts at least 5 years thats fine with me. I would purchase this for my grandmother in Florida, she does not own a computer. Though I think she would be too afraid to buy this herself so I couldnt buy this unitll I go to visit.

I’d say provide older users the opportunity to try a computer (with appropriate training (see my link)) first. Many older users struggle at the onset, but the expansive world that computers and the internet provides can be an amazing thing in the lives of older users. If after trying, they totally can’t adopt to computers, then this might be a good solution.

The comments on this page are an excellent summary of why “tech guys” are called “tech guys” and paid like “tech guys”, while “idea guys” are the ones in the big office with the overflowing options account.

This is a great idea. It will sell big. It doesn’t matter that you techies call it a fax machine, it only matters that my 93 year old grandpa loves the idea of getting a picture of his great-granddaughter printed for him automatically a couple of times/week.

For $150 + $10/month I can make him a happier person, and give all of his family the ability to drop him a line or send him a picture via the medium they are most accustomed to. It’s a winner.

Oh—and all you nerds calling this a fax machine…try setting up a fax machine in Grandpa’s house….a 2nd line for the incoming faxes, or make him figure out how to have the fax machine on for the incoming faxes, or how to have the fax machine pick up appropriately. Then tell me again how this beats a unit that calls in every night at 3 in the morning to get the stuff he’s been sent.

Why not use a color fax? The new ones have 300 dpi color resolution (adequate for seeing color pictures) and can be used for 2 way communication. Plus there are no monthly charges, and it costs $99 from HP.

This was already in a catalog that came in today (Hammacher Schlemmer). Talk about coordinating your press with going to market.

Great way to get the word out Presto team.

-Larry

In regards to the comments about Presto being a fancy fax machine…..a fax machine gets tons of spam. It’s a waste of ink, and a hassle on the user. If Presto can eliminate all spam and only permit wanted email to arrive and be printed, then they’ve truly surpassed the fax machine.

Two words to those recommending just using a fax machine: Fax Spam.

From Pew/Internet’s “Older Americans and the Internet”:

“22% of Americans 65 and older use the Internet. The percent of seniors who go online has jumped by 47% between 2000 and 2004. In a February 2004 survey, 22% of Americans age 65 or older reported having access to the Internet, up from 15% in 2000. That translates to about 8 million Americans age 65 or older who use the Internet. By contrast, 58% of Americans age 50-64, 75% of 30-49 year-olds, and 77% of 18-29 year-olds currently go online.”

So, there are plenty of oldsters for Presto to tap into for years to come before the 30-to-49-year-olds turn in their Aerons for rockers.

I have been a Beta Tester of Presto for the past few months…When I first heard about it (as part of Clearstone Venture Partners) I though that is too simple of a concept…but I also ask (desperately) if I (my mom) can be a beta tester! Well, my Mom has been a beta tester for a few months now and the experience of getting Mom in the electronic family loop has been outstanding and simple with Presto. For sure Mom is not one to embrace technology, and no way was I going to encourage her to buy a PC as I would become tech support…”How do you do that print thing again?”… Once I got her the Beta unit I had to BEG her to plug in the Presto unit…

Now she loves it and she is finally in the electronic family loop. I have sent her e-mail from my Treo with a real time photos of my family and she loves that (she is in Seattle, I am in LA)
- E-mail White List are created via PC & She can add to the email white list also by calling an 800#
- When I Send her an e-mail with a photo or two, Presto re-organizes the content (Subject, photo(s), Copy) into a great looking newsletter with the photos integrated. I can also set the Presto unit to various Text Sizes so all of moms print outs are easily readable. Presto also has various style sheets (Holidays, Calendars etc).
- As the person who signed her up i get e-mails telling me if there is an issue (low paper, low ink etc) and allows me to even take action like “send her more ink”.

Thanks for clarifying Beta Bob. Does sound like a great service for the non-tech members of the family…

I love it. A solution that makes my interaction with the elderly easier… for me. And shift the burden of correspondence to the recipient, the so-called beneficiary of this “solution.”

No more having to print photos or letters and stuff those pesky envelopes and find first class postage. That’s all for Grandma now, buy paper and cartridges, clear paper jams, figure out how to chain this device between the answering machine (still with the factory greeting) and the life alert box. I hope it doesn’t decide to phone home to download messages when she’s fallen and cant get up.

Disregarding the not insignificant cost of cartridges and paper, if this had a 2 year product life and Grandma received only 5 messages a month, the cost of the service alone (including the cost of the printer) would be $3.25 per message v. $0.39 first class postage. Grandma would have to receive more than 40 messages (more than one per day) to equal the cost of regular mail.

$20 per 260 pages per cartridge means Grandma will be buying anywhere from 1 to 3 inkjet cartridges over that time period, so add another $20-60 plus paper for total cost of ownership.

The Pew study is borne out by my own experience– my late mother in her late seventies was scared to death of technology. If she hadn’t adopted it by the time she was 62, it didn’t exist for her (and she spent her life working for HP in the valley). Not to mention that she was from the great depression generation of thrift and simplicity. She couldn’t conceive of spending more (or even someone else spending more) when something simpler, readily available and nearly-as-good already existed.

I routinely receive emails from my two younger aunts (in their sixties) who are fully connected.

I agree in part with a previous poster that said there is a sizeable market out there– but the demographic that is targeted is the guilt-ridden self-absorbed connected generation who will buy this hardware and subscription for Grandma rather than pick up the phone or send her the photos, or (gasp) drop in for a visit.

@Greatest Generation: right on.

This is a $0-billion market, and one that is in the process of going away at that.

Proof, once again, that Silicon Valley has a nearly perfect track record of solving problems that customers don’t have.

Deadpool.

The idea is … not so novel, truthfully. “Brilliant” would have been a description if this was launched several years ago. But with web services turning to video and audio, this offering is “watered down.”

I guess that’s what the designers wanted. Of my grandparents, one set decided to buy a decent computer to be in touch with their grandchildren. My other set could have been in the Presto category but opted rather to not own a computer — or anything too tech — at all. My husband’s grandparents bought the cheapest computer out there (which cost not much more than the printer itself) to do this and more. They’ve also bought the cheapest Internet access out there, which is only a few dollars more per month.

That puts 6 elderly individuals in my circle far from “Presto people,” so hopefully there is a market for this somewhere else.

I’ve read a lot of the comments but some just don’t make sense….

1. “extra box”. Well, I think the target market actually has NO box (ie no computer or printer) so I really don’t think thats a problem.

2. spam? I think its been covered enough…

3. Fax machine? WHAT?!? Can you tell me the last time you FAXed a picture to your grandmother? What are you thinking. Yes, I guess getting data from a phone line makes some comparison to a FAX machine but thats about it…duh…The point is that email is what people use to send pictures…so why not include your until-now-unconnected-grandmother along with your friends and family. Sorry, I don’t don’t know of anyone who has an HP color fax send pictures to their grandmother who has another HP color fax printer…

4. Billion dollar idea? well, I don’t think its that either but I think its a valuable product to a large group of people. Maybe not a billion dollar idea but one that is needed and can probably make a decent amount of money

5. Spam? sufficiently covered already.

I saw an infomercial for this product over the weekend. It was pretty hilarious the people that they interviewed and the “problems” they discussed with real computers. You can also setup the unit to check for messages at multiple times throughout the day. Imagine only getting emails at 3 specific times of day?!

I cannot see to many more of these products coming out without real computer capabilities.

I’m sorry, but I don’t think this is a great or “huge” idea. Yeah, I can see a small market for it…but for the most part, there are a lot of people dismissing the capability of older people as if none of them can use computers. I mean, c’mon..how hard is it to use aol? I have seen plenty of seniors do it. As for the small number of people who can not use a computer, there is probably a better solution, such as a webtv type of device. The thing I don’t like about this thing is, who wants to print out every single correspondence? And another thing, just because not all seniors are “online” according to a survey, does not mean they even want to be online…don’t assume every person needs to be “online”…some people just don’t care, phone and postal service may be enough for them. If you really want to send grandma a photo and she can’t get online print it out and mail it.

There is an arcane and obscure device called Fax Machine… if integrated with the Sprint fax gateway you get the same result.

A couple comments:
1. Couldn’t HP setup a special 1-800 # that allows subscribers to speak with a late 20’s, early 30’s comforting voice (a nice woman I’d imagine), to setup/manage their subscriber list?
2. Downstream only? How hard would it be to add a fax-quality sheet-fed scanner. Sure, it would be handwriting (or granny’s old 1914 Harverville typewriter), but with the Adobe barcode system (a little square that looks like a bad bitmap error), you could allow granny to write her reply on the bottom half or the backside of a sheet and the barcode could contain the return address of the sender.
3. Photo printing? With approved senders, you could partition messages into groups (text, text with art, text with photo, high quality photo [with size]). If high quality photo, the printer would print the photo at a better quality, possibly with crops and instructions for cutting (say, with the scissor icon and dotted line).

printers are even more crappy than computers! i am a computer programmer and even i refuse to deal with a problem printer. and they have LOTS of problems.

this is not going to work, at least not for long once a whole host of dissatified customers get the word out.

She looks like she’s having a heart attack.

I’m 60, have a network of about 500 boomer friends and associates and I am hard pressed to think of any one of them who don’t have a computer. Sure, not all of them use it to more than 5% of its potential but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to learn more. That’s why I set up my blog. Presto’s marketing strategy is an insult to boomers and seniors. Look at the subject line “Presto-because computers scare old people.” I realize its supposed to be tongue in cheek but if that’s basically what people think about boomers and seniors that’s just wrong!

Brian -
Having blog may not be the best way to reach Seniors ( I see zero comments for all your posts in the blog).
I agree, you can not insult your own consumers.

Cruncher: So far I have done little to market it-it’s mainly for my boomer friends and associates who encouraged me to start tthe blog because of my technical background and they usually end up emailing me because I email them the posts every day. But I did check my stats and it does show 11 comments but they are all from people I don’t know. So far, I have 16 emails from the Presto post but I guess I should start encouraging people to comment on the blog site. Thanks for the feedback.

Brian, I’m glad you said something. The discriminatory tone not only in Presto’s in-your-face ageist marketing but, frankly, in most of this thread is offensive beyond belief. Substitute any race or religion for the ageist comments anywhere above, and you’d have the PC police all over you like a cheap suit!

Why do internet appliances insist on trivializing the internet?

As this service only operates with US landlines, it will do no harm to specify it in the first place. The product could be a hit if it was to be transnational, and deployed to other countries with much less internet penetration than the lucky and almighty US. Globalization does not only mean being able to communicate from one State to another, folks.

This won’t get any spam because it only accepts authorized senders? No spammer/virus out there is capable of faking the return address of someone I know? Whew… I feel much safer now.

Seriously, the FAQ mentions a security code, but it appears to only be to prevent other units from retrieving your mail - not keeping fake messages out.

Also:
Q: Can I reprint messages that are difficult to read or did not print because my Printing Mailbox was out of ink?

A: Unfortunately, no. Be sure to replace your print cartridge as soon as it starts running low on ink. If you would like a reprint of a message, you will need to ask the sender to resend it.

*cough*

You know, this is very close to the device that Netpliance was building, marketing, and providing content to in 1999. The only difference that I can see is that now, there is a significant service cost for consumables.

I think that the Netpliance device was more appropriate.

My grandmother’s been keeping up with family photos for a couple of years using a Ceiva digital photo frame (http://www.ceiva.com/). Similarly, it plugs into an outlet and phone line. We log into an account and upload our latest photos, then they rotate through her frame. She can’t print them out, but that avoids the toner and maintenance issue. And considering the gazillion baby photos sent her way, I’m sure she appreciates having a nice clean, clutter-free way to enjoy them.

BTW - She uses a regular computer for emails, so wouldn’t need that feature.

Why not just set their home page on the browser to the webmai accont the person usess? They type in their email address and password (they can have it written on a piece of paper they keep next to the computer if they can’t remember this)……..I mean surely anyone can use hotmail or yahoo.
And if the cartridge for the ink runs out, do they have to pay an engineer to replace a new one? This is a lame idea, for the same price they could get a cheap computer and a fully functional internet service instead of being short changed for some limited feature email service.

I’VE PURCHASED THE PRESTO SYSTEM FOR MY 92-YEAR OLD MOTHER. WE’VE TRIED MANY OF THE PREVIOUS PRODUCTS TOUTED AS BEING VERY EASY TO USE BY NON-COMPUTERIZED FOLK AND HER TOTAL LACK OF ABILITY TO USE EVEN A TELEPHONE ANSWERING MACHINE SEEMS TO ELIMINATE THE USE OF A FAX AND CERTAINLY EVEN THE SIMPLEST COMPUTER. WE HAVEN’T GOTTEN THE PRODUCT YET, BUT IT’LL BE INTERESTING TO SEE HOW WELL IT SERVES ITS PURPOSE. I’M RELYING ON THE 60-DAY RETURN POLICY IF IT DOESN’T FIT THE BILL. I JUST WANT HER 7 GRANDKIDS(ALL ADULTS) TO STAY IN TOUCH FROM TIME TO TIME!

Any any age, certain personality types are resistant to learning or trying new things. Clearly, this product is targeted to the elderly, and ageist or not, my 90 year old dad and early 80s stepmother are convinced they can’t learn email, don’t want to spend the time, don’t want to feel stupid as a student, and they can’t hear much of anything. Also, they say they ‘don’t want to bother anyone ‘. (that’s their story and they’re sticking to it) They are already frightened of the answering machine. A fax machine would scare the bejammers out of them.

They are headed for assisted living in two weeks. I just learned about Presto today, and will make it their housewar….apartment warmi….cubicle warming present. Sitting and receiving is what they like to do best. Phone calls are a nightmare. (What? What? Camel talking? Sock of dandy? Speak up!)

I’m gleeful that I can put everything in writing. I’d never write them a note a day, or a letter a week. Their grandchildren will be much more likely to stay in touch.

As for the product? My immediate reaction was–Oh, sure. Gussy up the emails into colorful newsletter form. Use up the ink. That’s where the money is. There should be a b/w option for text only missives, the way other HP printers can be set up.

I think the idea will be good for a decade, and especially appeal to scattered families with folks in assisted living who have memory problems, motor skill problems, and anxiety issues. PLUS, it’s hard to think of good presents for older folks. Buying a fancy walker with brakes and a seat for dad was not exactly a high point of my gift giving history. Presto’s got me excited, which means they’ll get my money.

This seems like the perfect thing for my father who is 80. He is resistant to doing computers because he knows he will get addicted. (Keeping in mind that he’s been deaf all his life.) Phone conversations through TTY service leave much to be desired. I’ve been trying to find something that would fit the needs of my being able to email or text message without using computers.

Knowing that he will only be able to receive email from approved addresses also gives me comfort that he wont be inundated with junk mail or taken advantage of by false advertising.

I’m definitly going to check it out.

I think a big part of this product that’s been largely overlooked in these posts is that it has two users–the receiving customer and their sponsor. The sponsor takes an active, continuing role in managing the account for the receiving customer, monitors their ink and paper usage, and who can send e-mail to the receiver. Sometimes they’ll manage other things, for instance finding a local friend at the nursing home who can change toner, buy new paper, etc. It’s going to vary a lot from person to person. I don’t think Presto is trying to be insulting or condescending to “seniors”. My own 75 and 77 YO grandparents are far too tech savvy for a product like this. But I do think there is a huge silent group of people out there who have no interest in computers. This product is great for them.

Let’s not bash the elderly, okay? That sounds a little juvenile. Just remember, all of you will be elderly someday…that is, if you’re lucky?

I purchased my mother a Presto last month and it works as advertised. Understand this is not the be all, end all. Its sits in the corner of my Mom’s house and everybody in the family sends her photos from time to time, which she enjoys. Yes, its just another gadget but so what. Everybody I know promises to send photos and write a letter but they never do. Now my family just attaches a photo to an email and presto (I know, I know). I manage everything from my browser with no problems. I buy third party ink cartridges, show it doesn’t get expensive. For $9.99 a month, I bring joy to my Mom, money well spent.

Is there a way for the user/receiver to also send a message back?