I am looking for an internet/email appliance for the computer
phobic(my mom).  It needs to have the following features:

1)  Doesn't have a monthly fee (or will work with 3rd party ISPs)
2)  Can be set to automatically download new messages on a daily basis
     (and have some sort of indicator light/buzzer to let you know when a 
       new message has arrived)
3)  Allows messages to be composed offline(not an absolute requirement)
    and when the message is sent, automatically dial up and send it.

It also of course has to be fairly idiot proof.
I know I could probably configure an old 486 running linux to do this,
but I am looking for something smaller and cheaper than an entire computer.
Also, the ability to surf the web would be a plus.

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Request for Question Clarification by hailstorm-ga on 19 Nov 2002 22:12 PST

gabriels,

What is your price range for this item?

The coolest, friendliest such device I have ever seen is the Sony
Airboard, but unfortunately it is not available outside of Japan...

http://www.time.com/time/interactive/living/sony_np.html

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Request for Question Clarification by easterangel-ga on 20 Nov 2002 01:05 PST

Hi! All I found in the US have ISP tie-ins. At this point would this
be considered as a legitimate answer? Just let me know. :)

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Clarification of Question by gabriels-ga on 20 Nov 2002 06:16 PST

In answer to the two questions.

Price Range:
I would probably say under $400, or something in that range.

ISP tie-ins:
ISP tie-ins with monthly fees would not be acceptable because:
1) i already have an internet connection
2) i live in rural MO, and most of your big isps don't cover this area.
The only exception would be if it was a juno type service that
didn't charge and used advertising to pay for it.  I know that I 
would still incur a small LD phone bill, but that would be acceptable.

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Clarification of Question by gabriels-ga on 20 Nov 2002 18:35 PST

I have about a dozen 486s in my basement, but the two problems with
this is:
1)  Too Large, I want something she can set on her kitchen counter.
2)  My mom is computer phobic, I need something idiot proof with
    very few things to scare her.

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Clarification of Question by gabriels-ga on 24 Nov 2002 16:55 PST

for clarification of the question, i am wanting something
similiar to the "mail station"(i saw it at kmart), but without being tied to a
specific ISP.

The outdated 3com Audrey might be a good choice.  If you don't mind the appliace
to be bulky with a keyboard, you could also use a sega dreamcast!

You may be rather limited by your specification, because most
companies seem *very* keen on keeping you on a subscription. Some do
offer 800 access numbers, though, so the monthly fee really is all you
would pay - no long distance charges. Would a product like this
satisfy you?

The 486 linux box sounds like a better way to go, though!

Seizer makes an excellent point: a complete 486 box can be had for
~$50 through almost any auction site, or even the forums of tech
sites.  If you have the expertise, you can get a stripped-down version
of Linux running on it with just the bare essentials for email, and
tie it in through whatever ISP you have.

I just happened by this today, and thought that I would add a 
comment about it.  It is a $200 full computer that fits in my
price range, unfortunately it is still a full computer which makes
it too large as well as too complicated.  But for anyone else in
the market for an internet terminal, it looks like it would be nice.
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.gsp?product_id=2009645

Similar to the Linux-based Wal-Mart box, one can certainly get an older
486-based laptop for under $100, install a minimal Linux configuration,
set up Mozilla Mail, and configure things so that the computer boots
up and goes straight into Mozilla Mail, with no other programs except
an 'off' button. I did something similar but not quite so extreme for
one machine in my house. Of course, although this technically meets
most of your requirements -- it's cheap, it's small, it's totally simple
for your mom -- it's quite a task for *you*, so I'm not presenting it
as a formal answer.