I was asked to try out the Presto service with the HP printing mailbox. Now, this is not something I would ever use, BUT it is absolutely something my grandma or aunt would use, so I agreed. Let me explain what this is. Presto is a service that works with the HP printing mailbox. It enables the user to receive email (text and images) without a computer. It just uses your phone line to dial out in order to receive emails. Presto explains it better than I can HERE.
I don't know about you, but my aunt and my grandma aren't exactly tech savvy. They don't have a computer, don't have a need for one, and don't have a desire to learn how to use one. But they do like keeping in touch with friends and family. And I have to admit that I'm not so great at the lost art of correspondence. I can't remember the last time I actually wrote a letter. I'm much more likely to keep in touch with relatives and friends via email. This enables people like me to keep in touch with people like them.
When I got my HP printing mailbox, I took it to my aunt's house so she could try it out. It's basically a printer that connects to your phone line. It only took a couple minutes to set it up - plug it in, plop the ink cartridge in, put some paper in, voila!
Next I set up an account for her online (on my computer). Never fear - if a person without a computer buys this to receive email, they can still set up an account over the phone. I just figured it would be easiest for me to do it online. It only took a few minutes and I was able to set up her email address, choose the font size of my aunt's emails, and the time(s) the machine would dial out to retrieve emails. You can have the machine dial out at midnight every night for email messages, for example, or you could set it to dial out a few times a day, or whatever's convenient for you.
As the account manager, I can change the settings any time, I get alerts if the ink is running low, and I can add email addresses to her address book. (That's a cool feature too. She can only receive email from addresses that are on her Friends List to prevent spam and junk mail.)
I really do think this is a cool service for mom and dad or grandma and grandpa, especially if they live out of town. You can send them pictures from Johnny's baseball game, Sarah's ballet recital, or your new bundle of joy. You can send email updates, invitations to parties and get-togethers, or just a note to say you're thinking about them. Everyone loves to get mail, right? Instead of getting grandma a computer and paying for internet service that she wouldn't really use, this is a less expensive alternative that will still enable her to receive email and pictures from you and other friends and relatives. The HP printing mailbox is on sale now for $99.99 and the service is just $9.99 a month. Go HERE and click "view demo" to see a video about this service.
The only drawback that I could find is that the Presto user can't send email out. They can receive letters and beautiful, color photos, but they can't respond via email. Of course, if you've gotten the HP printing mailbox and Presto service for grandma and grandpa who have never used a computer, chances are they wouldn't be interested in replying via email anyway. They're more likely to pick up the phone to thank you for sending them a letter and pictures of their little grandchildren (great grandbabies).
What an awesome idea for Father's Day for dad or grandpa - a way for him to get mail and photos without a computer! And right now, in time for Father's Day, you can get $50 OFF the price of the HP printing mailbox!!! Just go HERE for the discount! And because my readers are so awesome, Presto is offering one lucky winner a FREE unit and 3 FREE months of Presto service! Just leave me a comment here and I'll choose a random winner on June 10th.
* Yes, I know that many senior citizens own computers and are tech savvy. I'm not saying that grandparents aren't capable of working a computer. This is a great product/service for individuals who don't own a computer because they don't want one, can't afford one, or are afraid of them and don't want to learn how to use one.
78 comments:
Wow thats kinda nifty. Just think....All those people that thought they weren't high tech can get one of these and WHAM their High tech now!
So cool...Love reading your blog... I don't know how you find the time. But You do an Awesome job!
That's sounds AWESOME and perfect for my husband's grandpa!
I have been looking for something like this for my MIL...and since I figure any woman that can juggle six kids, a husband, write a book, volunteer, run a house, blog, (I'm tired just listing your accomplishments!)and have time for extended family should have some valuable advise on new family friendly electronics! I look forward to reading more of your reviews and of course your daily blog!
We bought Presto for my grandma this year. She doesn't have or want a computer, but is lonely living in a big old farm house. It has been great. She has been able to hear from kids and grandkids almost daily and loves it. She lives half way across the country and we rarely get to see her, but have now been able to keep in touch better than we were before. She absolutely loves it.
That is such a neat idea! I would love to try one out on my grandmother and see how she likes it! Do you have to use a special program to send the emails or can you use aol?
My Aunt Mary Jo needs one of these!!
:)
Thanks for the chance.
hawdieann@yahoo.com
Oh this would be perfect for us to send pictures to our technically challenged relatives!
Dawn, PICK ME PICK ME PICK ME PICK ME!!!!
Thanks
Karen
I would love to have one of those for my Mom! She is so not tech savy she was once looking for the rewind button on the remote for her DVD player. That's how bad she is. She has a written list of how to turn her tv on cause if she doesn't then she forgets how to turn it on. And she is only 63.
That is awesome! I would love to give this to my grandpa for Father's Day! He is always complaining that he is out of the loop when it comes to email, but he wouldn't dream of owning a computer ;) Thanks, Dawn!
omg what a great idea! This would be great for my grandma who is sad since she can't see our blog or email updates of our 2 boys.
I have a grandmother that this would be perfect for! She doesn't know the first thing about a computer, but I think she could actually use something like this. What a great way for the family to keep her up-to-date with pictures of the great-grandchildren!
BOTH sets of my grandparents would love one of those. If I win it will be hard to decide which one to give it to :-).
my grandma would love this! she would love that i could send her pictures of my son this way. she can barely work an answering machine!
That's cool! I've never heard of this before I don't think. I would love to win one! :)
How interesting! I have so many pictures of my gorgeous son born in Guatemala, so I could use this to send pics to family.
Thanks for the non-stop entertainment!
Sabrina Hill
poor high school teacher
What a great idea!
Hi! I am emailing this to my Mom right away! Her Mom would LOVE this! They have a computer but her Dad is 100% against the internet! Thanks for the great idea! ~Nichole~
Looks great! I have a few people in mind...
We got my Grandparents this in March for a gift. They love it! He loves getting emails and photos. Unfortunately, in this day and age, "we don't have time" to write notes anymore. But now he is up to date on all his grandkids and kids and knows what's going on.
Sounds pretty great! Even though my Grandmother is HIGHGLY tech savvy (she never goes anywhere without her iPhone!) I think this would be a great gift nonetheless :)
Thanks, Dawn!
I would love to give one of these to my in-laws. With my husband being in the Marine Corps we don't get to see them much. They are in their 70's and don't have a computer, so this would be perfect! Love your blog Dawn:0)
how very cool
This would be great for my mother in law. She always feels out of the loop.
That sounds great! It would be awesome for my mother in law, so much easier to keep her in the family "loop".
This is such a cool idea! I know my grandma would love it.
that'd be cool for the grandparents in our life.
and how cool would it be for my kids to be able to email the grandparents whenever???
my kids are ages 12 and under (6 of them), and i know they'd think that would be so 'grown up' to send stuff to grandma.
This would be perfect for our grandparents. I hope I win it!
Pick me, pick me! lol :) This sounds really cool and I'd love to have it for mygrandfather, who has probably never touched a 'puter in his life. :)
~Shirley Ann~
how cool would that be?!? my nana would probably love that. (she had a computer but it was WAY too complicated for her.)
neat idea.
and who knows, maybe just maybe i'll win a free one!! yahoo.
I would love to get one of those for my Grandma!
Pick me! My parents still live in the dark ages and would love to have pictures of the grandkids without running to the store all the time. :)
Christine
my email is: godsbeengoodtome(at)hotmail(dot)com
This is cool. I think this ould be great for my mom.
This is an AWESOME idea!! My 83yo grandmother just had triple by-pass surgery in March and to keep her positive & looking to the future we created a "Wish List". She thought she may like a laptop, but I don't think she would use it & it would be a waste of $$. Presto would be great for her to keep up with what is happening with her great-grandchildren, who keep her going everyday. Nana has 4great-grandchildren & 1 on the way. 2 live away from her in NE. Thank you, Dawn for the review on this!! Nana would LOVE ONE!
My grandpa would love this. This would be a great way to send pictures of the grandkids so he can stay involved in their lives despite living many miles away. Thanks Dawn!
This really sounds like a neat little gadget. My parents refuse to get a computer or cell phone so this would be neat for them. Whether they'd use it or not...hmmmm? I'd love to be able to just send a note here and there since I'm terrible about snail mail AND phone calls. Email--I love! Thanks for the review and hope I can win one! :-)
That's cool! :)
I have seen this advertise on tv and have ALWAYS meant to go online to check it out, but LIKE always I get distracted checking mail, reading Dawn's blog, etc I forget! I would LOOOOVE to get one of these for my less tech savy Gramma!
i've been telling my spinster aunt that she needs this.. she told me to look into it, and i did a little, but this was a great reminder... i hope i win for her!!!
Sounds great, I hope your random smpler picks my lucky number!
This is the perfect gift for those of use who live far away from the grandparents. Thanks for getting a free one to give away! :-) Tell Joe to have a Great Father's Day too!
This would be a great thing for my 84 year old Grandma. She has 8 Great GrandChildren and I am always having to print things to take to her!
I'm a pastor's wife and my precious parents live 3 states away. This would be a wonderful gift for them. They are older and not tech savvy, and I am the last of their 7 children. Thanks for the review.
What a neat thingy!!! You're right, that would be awesome for grandparents. But it would also be great for little ones, like my 6year old that gets email from her cousins and aunts. She could print her cute messages and invitations without having to get mom to sign on and help her. Whoo hoo, I see more time in Mom's future already! Keep up the great work, Dawn.
Cecilia
This seems like a great idea. I know my parents would love it!
This would be great for my grandma! I have never heard of anything like this before.
itsjustjody@yahoo.com
This would be so awesome to give to my grandma!
Wow! This is just what we need. As a military family, we are always so far from home, and we (of course) are now living in JAPAN with the ONLY grandchild..
oh I know a Pap Pap who would love one of these!
Thanks for this review. If we don't win, we will have to be sure to remember to get one as a gift. I just can't convince my 70 year old Dad to give computers a try, and without being there to help him.. well.. anyway... great product!
this would be perfect for either of my 2 grandma's! they would love seeing pics of the little ones more often and i would be more likely to keep them better updated on what they are doing. we don't live close enough to visit often.
WHAT A GREAT IDEA FOR MY GRANDPARENTS. YOU DESCRIBED THEM PERFECTLY. THEY LOVE PICS AND UPDATES ON THE GREAT GRAND BABIES BUT HAVE NO DESIRE FOR A COMPUTER OR INTERNET.
LOVE IT. :) THANKS FOR SHARING.
bennettelizabeth2000@cox.net
I had heard about this on TV and wondered how well it really worked. I think this might be something that my grandmother would really like!
Thanks for all your wonderful reviews!
This would be the perfect gift for my son's birthparents! I could easily send them pictures and updates.
It's amazing the technology that is out these days. This would be the best gift for my Dad. Being a military wife and always far away from family, I always email everyone updates and pictures. But my Dad just cannot understand the internet. No matter how much I try, he just doesn't get it. The man can build a house from the ground up, yet he can't even figure out how to turn the computer on. This would be an awesome thing for him to have so he could get updates too!
My Mother is 84 and I think the HP printing mailbox would be a great idea for her. She lives far away from some of her 7 children and many Grandkids,great grands and even 1 great great grandchild. I can imagine her face lighting up to receive photos through the presto service hp printing mailbox.
Wow, wish I would have found this before Grandma blew up my hard drive! Thanks for the info!
Dawn how very cool for the non-tech savvy family members, like my nana whom I call daily. At one time a fax she didn't know was faxing her house, she decided the answer was to take the phone off the hook! I can actually see her using this to communicate with loved ones 3 states away.
wow, my parents would love this so much!! Thanks for the review!
This would be perfect for my Dad!
I need this!!! I've been wanting to get one for my grandmother and would LOVE to have one from you :) I love your blog. I read it every day!
Oh that sounds perfect for my Aunt. Can't wait to win on June 10th! That's my anniversary and my third son's fifth birthday...it's a good day for me!
Hmmm...my 35th birthday is June 15 - that would be a GREAT present :). Not to mention the fact that I just had this shocking "A HA" moment at the OBGYN's for my annual physical...My doc looked at me and said, "You need to schedule a mammogram." Say what...what's wrong, what did you find in my exam?" My doc looked at me oddly and said, "Nothing...you're 35, it's time for your baseline." I can't possibly be old enough to need a mammogram, can I? Of course, I thought more catastrophically because I work for Hospice and stay paranoid that something is wrong with me...UGH...Im old enough to need a mammogram. Happy 35th to me...sigh...Good grief...LIFE! :) Love your blog...cant wait for the book! Lauren in FL
I swear someone must have been thinking of my Mommom and Poppop when they created this!!! Those two can't operate the VCR, let alone a computer, but I know they would love to get e-mails and pics from us. Not that we live more than 5 or 6 miles away, but still, lol.
My grandma would love one of these. She hates waiting to get pictures.
Heather
That's prety cool. I'd bet my aunt would use that since she doesn't have a computer. I'm not even sure they can get internet service where she lives.
I saw this t.v. and immediatly thought of my grandparents who winter in FL. Didn't know about setting a dial out time, but it would be a good reminder for older people too who have to take meds at certian times. Whenever their presto dials out its time to take their meds. I am only imagining you can hear it like the dialup on computers... maybe not!! Hope I win!
awesome! I'll try it!
That sounds like something my parents would like. They have email and hate it because it's too complicated. (Too complicated?!?) So they are getting rid of the computer. This won't be the first time I haven't understood my parents!
Brenda in SC
Wow, what will they think of next? I would love to have one! Then I could send pics to family and not have to worry about them being bent or lost in the mail!
Have a great day!
Allisha
amount@cox.net
That would be so great for my dad, he finally broke down and got a cell phone but he still won't go near a computer!
This is so great, I want to get one for my grandpa so he can see his great grandchildren more than once every few years.
Thanks for letting us know about this one
Melissa
mcrain@the-i.net
looks kinda awsome :)
This would be great for my grandma. My grandfather recently passed away and the pictures we send her of our daughter are so special to her. This would make that process much easier. I know she would love it.
ashleydod@gmail.com
This would be wonderful for my grandmother in South Africa.She wold love to get pictures of her gret grandchildren more often. Thanks for the review
This would be AWESOME for my grandmother!! She has 5 kids, 10 grandkids and 11 great grandkids and only a few of them live near her... it would just be so cool if we could all send her regular updates!!
Wow, That would be PERFECT for my grandma..
I have seen this before, and have considered it for my mother-in-law, especially since she is 6 hours away and we now have a 5 month-old (her first grandchild).
The main thing that has held me back from the purchase is wondering about the cost of the ink refills...
love your blog!
This is pretty cool. I've been looking for something like this for my grandparents.
Wow! What a great product. I can think of 4 or 5 family members immediately who would LOVE this!!
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