Great Gadgets

Appliances offer e-mail access sans PC

By Gina Smith

Ready to hop on the e-mail bandwagon but don't want to shell out for a computer system? Consider a dedicated e-mail appliance. VTech, Cidco and Landel all offer compact, integrated display and keyboard packages that are designed solely for easy sending and receiving of e-mail.

VTech's e-Mail PostBox ( www.vtechworld.com ;888-468-8324 ) features an eight-line, text-only display for $99.99. The MailStation from Cidco ( www.mymailstation.com ; 800-718-1242 ) offers a similar setup for $149.95. Landel's MailBug ( www.landel.com ; 800-831-2169 ) is $149. All three require an additional service fee of about $10 per month.

There's something new on television: eNote.com's TVemail.

A new entrant, TVemail from eNote.com ( www.enote.com ; 802-288-9000 ), uses a set-top box to display e-mail on your television. Hook up the box to your TV set and your phone line, and it automatically dials in four times a day to check your mail. A blinking light on the box alerts you to new mail. You can have up to five e-mail accounts per household. Unlike the all-in-one models, TVemail lets you receive e-mail attachments, including pictures.

The wireless, full-sized keyboard includes four color-coded keys that correspond to system functions, which makes navigation simple. Users can customize the system to retrieve local news, sports, weather and, of course, TV listings. eNote.com plans to offer shopping capabilities.

TVemail will be available this spring for $79.95, plus $9.95 per month for the service.