A Web Hookup With Something Extra
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THOMSON CONSUMER ELECTRONICS INC., owner of the well-known RCA brand, thinks this is the year consumers will flock to those stripped-down personal computers known as network computers (NCs).
On July 17, Thomson introduced the RCA Network Computer--a set-top box that rivals the offerings from WebTV, Philips, and Sony. The device connects to any TV set and offers access to the World Wide Web using a built-in 33.6-kbps modem and a special Internet service provider called NetChannel. The NetChannel service will also offer E-mail, personal Web pages, and a daily electronic TV-program schedule for a flat $19.95 monthly fee.