Review of Presto Mailbox and Service
Friday, November 2, 2007

Most of us rely heavily on our emails and instant messages to connect with friends and family (and you do use the internet, or you wouldn't be reading this now!) But what about those special people in your life that don't have/use computers to communicate? Think for a moment about how left out your grandparent or niece who doesn't use the internet may feel knowing that they don't get all the email updates and photos that everyone else does.

Presto Printing Mailboxes are the answer we've been waiting for! I was given the opportunity to share a Presto Mailbox and service with my Grandma (who while very young at heart, is terrified at the notion of trying to learn to use the computer.) While a little apprehensive at first, we got the Presto Mailbox connected and working in less than an hour! When I explained to her that she didn't need to do anything but sit back and collect her emails and photos, she was so excited!

Here are some of my favorite features of the Presto Mailbox system:

Hooks up directly to your existing phone jack. No hardware needed to keep your phone and printer in the same location.
Printer connects automatically to receive messages at the three times per day that you or the user specifies (We picked 8 am, 1 pm, and 6 pm to be sure that Grandma gets all the news she needs throughout the day.)
I never have to worry about checking in with Grandma to see if she needs more ink or paper. The online system administration tools alerts me to low ink or paper from my computer.
No spam! Only approved senders may send mail, photos, and more to Grandma's own email address at presto.com. If you're not on the list, you're not gettin' in!
Vivid photos and future memories are a snap! Sent as a regular email attachment, it's easy to give Grandma a peek at what goes on in our lives, as they are printed on her Presto printer in full, high-quality color!
Newsletter subscription options for extra goodies. Low on news? I can be sure that Grandma has something special to look forward to by choosing a weekly newsletter to arrive in her Presto Mailbox. (She now gets health news for the 50 and over crowd for some extra reading material!)

I really could go on and on. The printer is reasonably priced, and service is a low monthly fee that is far lower than what it would cost to get that loved-one in your life a computer. It's even lower than internet plans!

To learn more about Presto, visit their website for a full tutorial. (And Presto isn't just for your loved ones without a PC... I know a guy that uses his to send documents from his work to his vacation cabin that doesn't have a high-speed internet connection or PC.)

Available at the Presto online store and Amazon.com!

Labels: 2007 Reviews, technology