When Microsoft rolled out the MSN TV 2 Internet & Media Player, it did more than just add another gadget to the home‑entertainment lineup. The device, produced by Thomson under the RCA brand, brings a full‑blown internet experience to the living room wall, marrying premium MSN content with the music, photos and videos stored on a user’s own PC. With a sleek design and an MSRP of $199.95 - plus a subscription that opens the floodgates to online services - the MSN TV 2 sets a new standard for how households can interact with digital media without leaving the couch.
At its heart lies an Intel 733 MHz Celeron processor that delivers sixteen times the processing power of the original MSN TV receiver. Coupled with 128 MB of RAM and 64 MB of flash memory, the hardware is built to handle high‑definition video streams, smooth web browsing, and rapid email access. The device ships with an Ethernet port, two USB ports for peripherals like card readers and wireless adapters, and even a 56 kbps phone modem, giving users the flexibility to upgrade from dial‑up or stay on a broadband connection.
MSN TV 2 runs on Windows CE, pre‑loaded with Windows Media Player for TV, Internet Explorer 6 technology, and a fresh Microsoft feature called Windows Media Connect. The latter simplifies sharing media across a home network, letting you push MP3s or Windows Media files straight to the TV from any computer on the same network. The remote control is a bright addition: a wireless keyboard and a remote with color‑coded buttons give instant access to email, the web, and the MSN TV service menu, so even the least tech‑savvy family member can hop into the digital world without fumbling for a mouse.
Beyond the hardware, the MSN TV 2 offers a subscription model that caters to a wide range of internet users. Those who already have broadband can choose a monthly plan of $9.95 or an annual subscription of $99.95. For homes still on dial‑up, Microsoft provides a slightly higher price point - $21.95 monthly or $199.95 annually - so no household is left out. Each plan opens the door to the same library of MSN services, from streaming video to instant messaging, all delivered over the network that the TV is connected to.
The launch strategy is aggressive and consumer‑friendly. Retailers like Best Buy, Circuit City Stores, and CompUSA will have the MSN TV 2 on shelves by the first week of October, while online sales will begin at Amazon.com and Microsoft.com simultaneously. The product’s marketing voice is straightforward: it frees users from the confines of a home office by allowing them to enjoy web‑based photo slide shows, music, or videos with family in the living room. As Sam Klepper, MSN TV’s general manager, puts it, the service offers a vast array of entertainment, information, and communication options that are easy to set up and use, thanks to eight years of experience in interactive television.
All of this translates into a tangible upgrade for households: a single device that brings the richness of the internet onto a TV screen, backed by powerful hardware and a flexible subscription model. Whether you’re a media enthusiast who loves to binge videos or a family looking to share photos with a larger audience, the MSN TV 2 positions itself as the bridge between your digital library and the centerpiece of your home entertainment.
All the Entertainment, Info and Communication Tools in One Box
Once you power up the MSN TV 2, the first thing that hits you is the breadth of content that’s instantly at your fingertips. The MSN TV service opens a portal to hundreds of video clips from major broadcasters like NBC, Discovery Channel, Fox Sports, Food Network, and AtomFilms. New clips are added daily, so there’s always fresh footage to watch. The interface presents these videos in a clean, easy‑to‑navigate layout, letting you browse by category - news, sports, entertainment - without ever leaving the comfort of your sofa.
Music lovers will find the MSN Radio feature especially appealing. With access to 200 commercial‑free stations across dozens of genres, the device turns any living room into a personal radio station. The audio output is integrated with the TV’s speakers, eliminating the need for external headphones or separate audio equipment. Because the radio streams are high quality and free of ads, the experience feels more like a curated playlist than a typical radio broadcast.
For those who cherish photography, the MSN TV 2 includes a built‑in photo viewer that transforms your TV into a giant slideshow projector. You can pull images directly from email attachments, a networked PC, or even a digital camera’s media card - if you’ve plugged in a USB card reader, the device will read JPEG, GIF, BMP, and PNG files with no fuss. The slideshow controls are intuitive: pause, rewind, or jump to a specific photo with a simple press of a button.
Home‑network integration is where the MSN TV 2 truly shines. The device can connect via Ethernet or a compatible wireless network to any computer in the house, allowing you to stream MP3s, Windows Media videos, or any media file stored on the network. Windows Media Connect simplifies the process: you simply point the TV to a shared folder, and the content appears in the media library on the screen. This makes it possible to share movies from a hard drive, play music stored on a NAS, or even broadcast a presentation from a PC, all without having to run cables across the living room.
Email is woven into the core of the service. Each subscription includes an MSN email account with 2 GB of storage, plus ten secondary accounts with 250 MB each. The interface supports attachment viewing for common file types - including Microsoft Word, Adobe PDF, and image formats - so you can read or view documents directly on the TV screen. The MSN Junk Email Guard filters spam automatically, and the built‑in antivirus protection scans attachments before they’re opened, keeping the device safe from malware.
Communication extends beyond email with MSN Messenger for TV. Users can keep their existing MSN Messenger display names or create new ones, then chat with friends, family, or colleagues in real time - all from the living room. The MSN Chat feature provides a public chat environment where you can discuss interests or join group conversations without the need for a separate computer. These messaging options give the device a social dimension that rivals dedicated gaming consoles or streaming boxes.
Web browsing is powered by Internet Explorer 6.0 technology, delivering a full‑featured browser experience right on the TV. Text can be resized for readability from a distance, making it convenient for news sites or e‑commerce pages. The browser’s compatibility with modern web standards means you can access a wide range of sites, while the automatic updates feature keeps the software fresh and secure without manual intervention.
Parental controls are built into the MSN TV 2, offering content filters that block unsuitable material. Parents can set restrictions for movies, music, and web pages, ensuring that children only see age‑appropriate content. This feature, combined with the ability to personalize the information center - where the device pulls in real‑time news, weather, and stock data - makes the MSN TV 2 a versatile hub for family information and entertainment.
What ties all these capabilities together is simplicity. The remote and wireless keyboard work in tandem, giving quick access to the most frequently used functions: email, web, media, and MSN services. No complicated software installs or driver downloads are necessary; the device is ready to use as soon as it’s plugged in. When new features roll out, the MSN TV 2 updates automatically over the network, ensuring that every household gets the latest improvements without a trip to a service center.
In sum, the MSN TV 2 Internet & Media Player transforms the television into a full‑featured digital hub. It brings together streaming video, radio, photo viewing, email, messaging, and web browsing in one cohesive package that is both powerful and user‑friendly. For households eager to unlock the potential of their broadband connection and share media across the home, the MSN TV 2 offers a compelling, integrated solution that feels less like a peripheral and more like an essential component of modern living.
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