The computer-illiterate make up a potentially lucrative market. Companies are offering simpler, cheaper devices. From all the hoopla, you would think the Internet was about to do away with TV, radio, CDs, retail stores, telephones, fax machines, books, magazines and newspapers. More than 60 percent of the U.S. population aged 16 years and older are still offline, according to a recent survey by market research firm IntelliQuest, and 44 percent have no intention to go online.
Most analysts point to the cost and complexity of personal computers as the reason.
Macs and Internet access still cost good money. And unless you're a child weaned on them, computers aren't child's play. Seeking to tap the potentially lucrative market of the computer-illiterate, companies are introducing devices designed for connecting to the Internet that are smaller, simpler and cheaper than PCs. I spent the last few weeks testing the one Internet appliance that to me looks best on paper, and I was impressed with its potential. It distinguishes itself from personal digital assistants such as 3Com's Palm VII and smart phones such as Motorola's i1000 plus in that it has a full-size keyboard for speedy text entry.