(This website is NOT part of any other set-top network or set-top box manufacturer. CLICK HERE for disclaimer. If you are making important purchasing decisions, you may want to first look at a demonstration unit. Screen shots represent what you may see on a TV set using a set-top box. What you actually see on a TV set may have a sharper resolution.)

Web.it Internet Box+
powered by Windows CE

Years ago, there was the Commodore 64. I received a Commodore 64 as a Christmas gift a long time ago and spent a lot of time playing games and programing it while sitting in front of a TV screen. When the IBM PC-compatible computers came along, the Commodore 64 became an antique device. Then, Web Computers International AEC, based in Antwerp, Belgium, sought to resurrect the Commodore 64. The result is the Web.it.

The Web.it Internet Computer television device was previously spotlighted on the news page as a Web.it device that was using an embedded Microsoft Windows 3.1.

The new Web.it Internet Box+ uses the latest version of Microsoft Windows CE (at the time of this writing on Xmas '99, version 2.12, SP2 Birch) along with an Internet Explorer class 4 browser. The WinCE is socket upgradable. The Web.it also includes the Microsoft Pocket Inbox for email, Microsoft Pocket Word, Bsquare's bSPREADSHEET, and Bsquare's bFAX Pro. The software is stored in a ROM chip. The Web.it Internet Box+ has a built-in 56k modem. A cable version is reported to be available. ISDN and DSL versions are said to be in development.

This Web.it Internet Box+ brings back fond memories of my using the Commodore 64. Although the television is primarily considered an entertainment box, there are people who expect to be able to do REAL computer functions on a TV. To be fair to those folks, they would say if you can surf the internet and do email using a TV set-top box, why not be able to do some REAL computer functions on the TV. For instance, there are some WebTV users who demand the ability to do word processing. If you are interested in performing computer functions on a TV, or you simply want to use a Windows interface on a TV, then you may want to be on the look out for the WinCE-powered Web.it Internet Box+.

Web.it Windows CE desktop on TV

What I think is significant about the Web.it Internet Box+ is that it is indeed using WinCE. I have not actually seen the Web.it Internet Box+ in action using WinCE. However, the folks at Web Computers International AEC provided the screen shots shown on this webpage [the pictures were reformatted to fit this webpage]. If you are a computer user, you may take to the Web.it Internet Box+ right away since it has the familiar Windows screen interface. So, take a look at these sample screen shots and consider whether a more computer-like Web.it is a set-top device you may want to use.

Web.it and browser on TV

Web.it and email on TV

Web.it and spreadsheet on TV

According to the Web Computers International AEC webpages, the Web.it Internet Box+ has a recommended price tag of $349. For availability, you may want to visit the Web.it websites at http://www.webcomputers.net, and http://www.commodore64.com, and http://www.webit-channel.com.