It seems that everybody wants to get on the Internet. The story I hear most is that they are pressured by family members scattered around the country to have e-mail. Many of these people have never used a computer. It must be hard on someone that has finally decided to buy a PC and doesn't know diddly-squat.
Computers still cost a lot of money despite the fact that prices have dropped.
If setting up your VCR timer seems complicated you may want to give second thoughts about buying a PC to use on the Internet because there's many software options that have to be set up. However, the monthly charges will be higher than connecting a PC to the Internet. Neither unit will have the standalone capabilities of a PC but the people I know that have them seem to be satisfied. When buying a new PC, one has the choice of buying it off the shelf locally, ordering it by mail or having it custom made locally. Each purchase method has pros and cons.