Landel MailBug Email Appliance (LT-302W)

by Landel

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004LMEC
• Item model number: LT-302W
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (65 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #15,516 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: February 17, 2000

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

If you'd like to send and receive e-mail but don't want to bother learning about or paying for a computer, the MailBug may be perfect for you. With the MailBug, checking your e-mail is a easy as pressing a single button.

To set up the MailBug, we connected the AC power and plugged in the telephone line cord. The MailBug's screen came to life and instructed us to press a button so that it could call a toll-free number to set the date and time. After setting the time, the MailBug informed us that we had new e-mail. Without checking the manual, we intuitively determined how to view, read, reply to, and later compose e-mail. (When you receive your MailBug, you must obtain an e-mail address and sign up for Landel Telecom's proprietary e-mail/Internet service by calling the customer support number included in the box. For more information, click on the FAQ in the left navigation bar, and see the question that asks "How does the MailBug e-mail service work?" Note that our test unit was preprogrammed with an e-mail address.)

The MailBug has 61 main keys, 8 function keys above the main keyboard, and 12 menu buttons next to the LCD screen. Typing on the full-size keyboard is fast and easy. The Shift keys and functions keys are conveniently placed and all the keys were responsive and comfortable as we typed our messages.

While browsing the onscreen menus, we discovered the Services function, which let us view headline news and look up stock quotes. We also located the built-in phone book, which allowed us to create and save names and phone numbers. The entire process was straightforward and intuitive.

Additional features include an e-mail address book and caller ID with a 100-call history and automatic "display and dial." A status LED blinks rapidly to indicate that the phone is ringing and blinks slowly to indicate new caller-ID calls or voice-mail messages. (A subscription to caller ID and voice mail is optional through your phone company.) The documentation, which is easy for novice users to understand, completely explains how to compose, send, receive, and manage e-mail.

If you don't want a PC but you do want to send and receive e-mail, the MailBug from Landel Telecom is an easy-to-use alternative.

Pros:

• Very easy to set up and use
• Comfortable keyboard for fast typing
• Requires no computer skills

Cons:

• Does not accept e-mail attachments
• Requires monthly subscription fee

Product Description

If you'd like to send and receive e-mail but don't want to bother learning about or paying for a computer, the MailBug may be perfect for you. With the MailBug, checking your e-mail is a easy as pressing a single button. To set up the MailBug, we connected the AC power and plugged in the telephone line cord. The MailBug's screen came to life and instructed us to press a button so that it could call a toll-free number to set the date and time. After setting the time, the MailBug informed us that we had new e-mail. Without checking the manual, we intuitively determined how to view, read, reply to, and later compose e-mail. (When you receive your MailBug, you must obtain an e-mail address and sign up for Landel Telecom's proprietary e-mail/Internet service by calling the customer support number included in the box. For more information, click on the FAQ in the left navigation bar, and see the question that asks "How does the MailBug e-mail service work?" Note that our test unit was preprogrammed with an e-mail address.) The MailBug has 61 main keys, 8 function keys above the main keyboard, and 12 menu buttons next to the LCD screen. Typing on the full-size keyboard is fast and easy. The Shift keys and functions keys are conveniently placed and all the keys were responsive and comfortable as we typed our messages. While browsing the onscreen menus, we discovered the Services function, which let us view headline news and look up stock quotes. We also located the built-in phone book, which allowed us to create and save names and phone numbers. The entire process was straightforward and intuitive. Additional features include an e-mail address book and caller ID with a 100-call history and automatic "display and dial." A status LED blinks rapidly to indicate that the phone is ringing and blinks slowly to indicate new caller-ID calls or voice-mail messages. (A subscription to caller ID and voice mail is optional through your phone company.) The documentation, which is easy for novice users to understand, completely explains how to compose, send, receive, and manage e-mail. If you don't want a PC but you do want to send and receive e-mail, the MailBug from Landel Telecom is an easy-to-use alternative. Get quick and easy access to news, sports scores, stock quotes, weather, and more; for use in United States; not compatible for use in Puerto Rico or U.S. Virgin Islands

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

138 of 138 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent product -- convenient, easy, full-featured, April 23, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Landel MailBug Email Appliance (LT-302W) (Personal Computers)

First of all ... just to reassure you all, I am reviewing the Landel MAILBUG... not the Mailstation or the V-tech Postbox!! The previous review gave the Mailbug a terrible rating, but when you read the review, it was actually about the Mailstation, which is a totally different product!! Their review did not belong here! (Hopefully someone will be able to remove it.)

Anyway, as to my experience with the MailBug ... After researching on Amazon and elsewhere, we decided to purchase the MailBug for my mother (who is 80+) in January. She has a computer, but had found computer-based email increasingly frustrating, especially in that she didn't want to pay $20 for unlimited Internet access just to do email. (The pop-up windows for the free and cheaper email services were annoying and problematic, so they weren't an option.)

The MailBug has been just great; my mom has been using it regularly since day one, and is more and more delighted with it as times goes on. (The user interface is so simple that you can use it initially without even reading the manual, but by reading the manual, you can learn about extra features. She has learned those extra features very gradually.)

She finds the keyboard comfortable, and navigation easy to understand. I worried about the words on the backlit screen being too small to read easily, but she hasn't had any trouble, although I don't know that she uses it very much after dark. (Initially she had trouble seeing the screen after dark, but had just had eye surgery, and was without her glasses ... so that may be better now.)

She is able to use it in her easy chair (with an angled cushion under it, to bring it to a comfortable typing level), and has it on a small table in the living room, which is warm and comfy year 'round. (It has a VERY small footprint, no bigger than a standard piece of paper.) She especially like that it doesn't tie up the phone line for composing emails, and that it dials in automatically several times a day to check for mail, and then lets her know with the flashing light that she has mail. (You can also manually make it check at any time.)

We did have it lock up on us just twice in the past several months (not sure why), but all it took to remedy that was to unplug the power cord right at the machine, and plug it right back in. After doing so, it automatically dialed in and reset its internal clock on its own. (Now, if only our microwave would do that after a power outage!)

Some people may not like that it can't receive attachments, but she hasn't missed that at all. But, I have to admit that my Dad does have his own computer, so they have that option for receiving attachments. She also doesn't miss that it can't access websites. However, it does have an "e-info" feature that allows retrieval of some news (text only), including sports, weather, top stories, etc.

Our experience with customer-service has been limited because we haven't had problems with it ... but so far so good. When I did call in for setup, I didn't have to wade through numerous phone trees to get assistance, and the tech support was patient and explained things well. Set up was absolutely a breeze and only took a few minutes.

Cost is great ... I think the Landel website states that it's around $12 a month, but because there was a local dial-up number for my mom (rather than a national toll-free number), she pays just $10. (Discounts are offered if paying for multiple months.) She's thrifty, and wasn't sure about the cost initially, but I explained that it would cost more to send a postal letter each day over the course of the month than it does to have the Mailbug.

All in all, a great product, a great deal, and a perfect "fit" for my mom.

54 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it, February 24, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Landel MailBug Email Appliance (LT-302W) (Personal Computers)

I had purchased the Cideo Mailstation. I saw all the reviews on this Amazon web site that I decided to buy a Landel Mailbug and see if it was everything that they said on the reviews. I only had the Mailstation for a few weeks, but was unhappy about the cost to get the e-mail, so I could send and receive messages. I was able to take the Mailstation back. I found that the Mailbug was about the same to get e-mail service and there was no charge for a 800 number as there was with the Mailstation. I also like the way I can get the news, sports, weather and the other things they said you can get and they told the truth. I love my mailbug and would recommend it to anyone. I got it for my vacation home so I wouldn't need to get a full size computer.

I LOVE IT.

51 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, June 9, 2000

By 

pat dane (wilmington, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Landel MailBug Email Appliance (LT-302W) (Personal Computers)

I have used the mailbug for the past 11 months, have bought 9 for family members and find the mailbug an unbeliveable tool for me at home. It sits in my kitchen and my wife and daughter use it daily.

My father is literally on the mailbug 5 times a day sending email, checking his stock and being a news buff, checking on the latest political happenings.

I strongly recommend this product for ANYONE that wants easy access to email and news, stocks, entertainment and weather.

GREAT product !