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RCA/MSN TV 2 Internet and Media Player | 
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| Brand: MSN TV
Category: CE
List Price: $199.99
Buy New: $20.00
You Save: $179.99 (90%)
New (2) from $20.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  78 reviews
Platforms: Windows 98, Windows Me, Windows Xp
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: Yes
Floppy Disk Drive: None
Modem: Modem (analog)
Shipping Weight (lbs): 4.5
Dimensions (in): 11.8 x 2.4 x 9
MPN: RM4100
Model: RM4100
UPC: 034909490075
EAN: 0034909490075
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Features:
| • | Surf the Web and view rich content (sports player stats, weather) from the Internet while watching TV (requires a picture-in-picture TV) | | • | Listen to MP3 audio files or view digital photos from the Internet or from your PC through your television | | • | Works with either broadband or dial-up Internet connections; includes 11 MSN e-mail accounts | | • | Read and respond to e-mail right on your TV using MSN TV 2's wireless keyboard | | • | Use of this system requires a subscription to MSN TV Service or MSN TV Broadband Service |
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| Accessories:
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| Similar Items:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com Product Description
The MSN TV 2 Internet and Media Player lets you access the Web or digital media on a PC right from your TV and the comfort of your living room, bedroom, or kitchen. Whether you're listening to MP3s, viewing movie trailers, or watching video streams of concerts, news, or other programming, MSN TV 2 consolidates all your home entertainment in a space of your choosing. 
Access and view rich Internet content on your big-screen TV. | Now you'll be able to create digital photo slideshows and set the mood with music from MP3s or commercial-free Internet radio. Enjoy videos, music, and photos saved on your PC through your TV or home entertainment system. You can also access Web sites, send and receive e-mail, and chat with others. When used with a television offering picture-in-picture, MSN TV 2 even lets you keep a Web browser window open while you watch TV. Imagine being able to look up player stats while watching the big game or hunt for additional perspectives while watching news commentators. The supplied remote control operates the MSN TV 2 set-top box in addition to most televisions. 
Read and respond to e-mail right on your TV using MSN TV 2's wireless keyboard. | MSN TV 2 is a perfect addition to your home broadband network and works great as a primary e-mail and Internet access point if you're using a dialup account over a regular phone line. The system includes a wireless keyboard and remote control (all batteries included). A subscription to MSN TV is required; see details below. What's in the Box
The MSN TV 2 set-top box, a wireless keyboard, a remote control, keyboard and remote batteries, an installation CD-ROM, a 6-foot audio/video interconnect, a user's manual, a quick-start guide, an AC/DC power adapter (for the set-top box), a registration card, and warranty information. Note: Use of this hardware requires a subscription to MSN TV Service or MSN TV Broadband Service. Use is subject to acceptance of the terms of service upon registration. MSN TV dialup services are available as a local call in most areas. In some areas, long-distance toll charges may apply. To check local access, call (866) GO-MSNTV. Windows Media Player features and commercial-free Internet radio requires a broadband home network and a subscription to MSN TV Broadband Service. MSN TV 2 only supports Windows Media-compatible music and video.
Product Description
Includes: wireless keyboard & remote (w/ batteries), 6 ft. A/V cable, 25 ft. phone cord, phone line T-splitter, power supply, & user guides. RCA MSN TV 2 Internet & Media Player - Get comfortable in your favorite chair or on the couch, because with MSN TV 2 you can e-mail, surf the web, stream Windows Media audio & video files, view digital pictures, and instant message family & friends right on your TV! You even have the option of connecting to a phone line for dial-up service, or using Ethernet or WiFi to utilize your existing broadband Internet connection. Built-in v.92 56k Fax Modem & RJ11 Port Built-in 10/100 Ethernet Port RCA A/V Composite Output S-Video Output Supported Image Formats - JPEG, GIF, BMP, & PNG Supported Media Players - Windows Media Player for TV (RealPlayer & QuickTime content are NOT supported) Web browser utilizes Internet Explorer 6.0 technology Unit Dimensions - 11.75 (w) x 9 (d) x 2.375 (h) Unit Weight - 4.45 lbs.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 73 more reviews...
Unit does some things well, but too many problems and bugs. November 25, 2004
48 out of 52 found this review helpful
The keyboard interface does not function well. As most of the buyers have reported here, it skips letters, and is impossible to use for writing emails or other text (like this) without constant fixing.
As a multimedia unit it has severe limitations as well, not being able to access many popular video and audio files if they are not Microsoft.
No ability to do CCP from web pages, though if you buy a mouse you can do it...sometimes. Scroll feature on mouse not enabled.
The MSN TV 2 does surf faster than the old Web TV did, even on dial up, though display of some webpages is eccentric.
Photo features a scrapbook which is limited to 100 low resolution pictures. With the addition of a card reader, digital memory cards can be read and images printed.
BTW, I am on my second unit, the first one was so faulty I couldn't even register it.
In summary, this unit is not at all ready for market. Caveat emptor.
 Perfect? No. But a lot better than other reviewers indicate. December 27, 2005
44 out of 44 found this review helpful
I am a computer person, but with some trepidation after reading some of the negative reviews on Amazon, I installed two of the MSNTV2 units over the holidays - one to upgrade my parent's original WebTV and the second for my Mother-in-Law whose visoin is poor. The former is using dial up while the latter is hooked to a cable broadband system. It is important to note that my parents did not use some of the features other reviewers miss from the earlier WebTV products, so for them all their needs are covered. Both `parents' primarily use these systems for email and basic web use, including shopping, music channels and photos. With that background, here are my notes about the units:
Pros:
1.Easy to hook up and easy to use. Nothing fancy or difficult whether upgrading an existing account or establishing a new one. Both units were quickly operational without any glitches (well, see one con below regarding USB).
2.Resolution is far better vs. my parents original WebTV unit, where blue type on a dark blue background on the email screens made reading very difficult. The new higher contrast `dark letters on white background' are much better and the pixel definition is also improved. The resolution improvement is easy to see on some web sites where my parents couldn't read anything before but now the text is legible. Again, this is no match for my laptop, but it is good enough for general use.
3.Related to the above, the new text size +/- buttons make it easy to change the text size on a web page for improved readability. Also, the `resize' button can help with those pages with cramped type. Great features for those with vision problems and they work easily.
4.While the keyboard lacks any TV controls for volume, etc. the keyboard does include ample `one-touch' keys for all the basic email, web and media needs. And neither of the two units had any glitches with the keyboard communications causing dropped letters, etc. that others have cited. One of the units has the keyboard within a foot of the main box, but the other is separated by about 12 feet and worked perfectly unless the signal was blocked by an object.
5.The greater range of file formats that can be viewed is a significant improvement vs. the prior WebTV (not Plus). Electronic greeting cards that were previously unreadable worked perfectly and the ubiquitous pdf files on the web are a great addition. (Almost humorous is the fact that Microsoft's MSNTV2 cannot read Microsoft's .ppt or .pps PowerPoint files! Hmmm . . . I would have really thought a simple PowerPoint reader like those you can download for PCs would have been built in. After all, it would seem in Mr. Softy's best interest to insure that all of their core software could at least be viewed on their own WebTV product, right?)
6.On dial-up the speed is perhaps slightly quicker, but only marginally. In fact, at times it seems to be slower, but that is usually when viewing pages or files that were previously not viewable on the original WebTV. These files, like animated cards and pdf files are often significantly larger than others so they seem slow. On broadband things pop up quite quickly in general, with occasional times when MSN seems to be thinking about it before it sends the page. But once it does, the page pops up quickly. This really shows up when displaying a large .pdf file vs. the dial-up installation.
7.While not perfect, Microsoft's media player does a good job of displaying most videos and playing many, but not all, radio / music stations. Having the media player as a `separate' application is nice since a music station can be playing in the background while surfing the web or reading emails.
Cons:
1.There are still limitations on file sizes and file types (like the PowerPoint noted above) so this is not a solution for someone who wants a `simple computer'. This is a web reader, email client and limited media player that is far easier for non-computer people to use. Not for me personally, but a perfect fit for my parents and mother-in-law.
2.Nice of Microsoft to take the meaning of `Universal' out of their implementation of Universal Serial Bus (USB)!! Okay, so this is not a PC so maybe it is too much to expect it to handle all USB devices, but when I bought a recommended model of USB 802.11 b/g adapter the MSN's site specifically states as being compatible, I would have thought it was! I intentionally avoided any of their recommendations that stated `only version x.x' or some other disclaimer, buying a quality DLink G122 adapter. Plugged it into the MSNTV2 and, voila - a big box stating that the device was not compatible with MSNTV2. I checked it in my laptop just to be sure it was working and, of course, it was. But back into the MSNTV2 and the same `incompatible' box popped up. Fortunately, I could move the cable modem and wireless router to where the MSNTV2 box was so I hardwired it via Ethernet and that worked as it should have. So even if you follow MSN's recommendations on USB adapters or printers, you have the potential that it will not work due to some change in software made by the adapter manufacturer. Be sure you have return privileges on your USB purchases! (FYI, I did try my wireless travel mouse and that worked nicely, including the scroll function that another reviewer said didn't work. Perhaps because mine is a Microsoft mouse?a)
3.No memory expansion? It seems that it would have been relatively easy to allow a plug in of extra memory to allow larger pages to load. I had only one site, featuring lots of photos, not load, but it caused the unit to freeze and a box come up saying to power the unit off and then on to free up the memory. Minor glitch, but plug in memory is relatively cheap - why not allow it.
4.While USB card readers will (theoretically!) work so you can transfer photos, etc. it would have been a lot nicer if Microsoft had built in front loading slots for a few basic memory types like CF and SD.
5. Not sure why Microsoft included the separate remote control. Yes, it works some basic web functions, but it is not a real universal remote (didn't work with my mother-in-law's Panasonic TV and has no VCR or DVD functionality) and the web functions that it has are all easily found on the keyboard. I would gladly give up this remote for memory expansion or a built in card reader.
In summary, after reading some of the `horror' stories that other reviewers have posted I feared that indeed the product was poorly built and worse than prior generations. Maybe the bugs are worked out and the quality of manufacture improved, but having bought and installed two units I have to say that, in general, they work as advertised. Yes, the N-USB (Non-Universal Serial Bus) is a potential headache and the occasional file type or page size problem will crop up, but for their intended uses, both units worked quite well right out of the box. Heck, I have had more problems getting a PC to do what I want at times, so the minor glitches here seem minor in comparison, especially for the targeted user group.
So if you do not need a full PC, only want basic email, internet and media playback, and you understand / accept the limitations of the MSNTV2, this could very well be an excellent solution for you. However, if you need much more functionality, and you are willing to put up with the more complex demands of a PC (software upgrades, security and virus issues, etc.) then a PC of some type is your only solution. (Having spent a couple of very intense days helping a friend clean up mass quantities of viruses and spyware from two of their PCs, I now realize that some PC users probably shouldn't be PC users! Or at least they must have some basic understanding about keeping virus and spyware software updated and active!) I can tell you that both my parents and mother-in-law think this generation of MSNTV2 is perfect for them.
 Very Dissapointing November 20, 2004
20 out of 24 found this review helpful
I have owned the RCA Msntv2 receiver for all of one week, and must say that compared to the Webtv classic receiver & service, it is very dissapointing.
The only good points I can find are more memory/storage space, and the log-in music is more pleasing.
The cordless keyboard misses just as many keystrokes as the old one, page loading is just as slow as before, and the changes to the keyboard are definitely not for the better.
Someone decided not only to remove the command key, making highlighting text a thing of the past, but also moved he escape key to the bottom left-hand corner, the power button to top center, and added a redundant 'OK' key less than an inch frm the enter key, which does the same thing. This key is now in the position formerly occupied by the page down key.
Navigation usualy requires two to three keystrokes & page changes to accomplish the same task as one keystroke did before.
Making something more complicated does NOT make it better. All in all, I would reccomend that you stay with your trusty classic receiver, if you have one. For simplicity and convenience, it is still better than buying a PC, and better than the MSNTV2 receiver, too.
I would be surprised if this review remains viewable. After all, this site's job is to sell you this stuff, good or bad. And be advised, critical complaints to MSN support techs can result in your account being sabotaged. I speak from personal experience.
Sincerely,
CCE
 broadband connection November 29, 2004
19 out of 26 found this review helpful
Just purchased this item and had my local cable hook up broadband and it works excellent.
None of the below mentioned keyboard skips in other reviews.
I have noticed computer snobs have gone out of there way to trash this product and im confused....
I wanted to email and use the internet sitting on the coach with no worries of viruses etc.
I hooked my canon sd 110 digital camera up to the box and it works great also.
This product was made for entertainment and im entertained,
Broadband Internet without a PC November 1, 2004
17 out of 29 found this review helpful
MSN TV 2 turns on instantly and can connect via broadband or modem to the internet. No viruses, popup ads, or spyware to worry about. It's as easy to setup as a VCR.
It's great as a 2nd Internet access device (who wants the expense and hassle of a 2nd PC?) and can act as a media hub that can share photos, music, and video from your PC to your TV.
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