In order for the add-on keyboard & email feature to be useful and effective, the process absolutely, unequivocally has to be foolproof, gorilla-proof, grandma-proof.  The reason we buy Prestos is that our elderly parents and grandparents simply can't deal with the technology....even WebTV was way too hard for mine so they just gave up altogether until we got the Presto.   

I doubt,  in my case at least, that an add-on keyboard would be welcome or even used.   The communication via the Presto is usually one way with a phone call response when needed.  An additional keyboard & email interface would complicate the machine's use and certainly the troubleshooting processes.  It seems that the Presto development team could address other items requested by those of us who are administrators before complicating a simple machine, which was the whole intent of the device in the first place!

I think it's a given that alot of the senior population don't care to learn about how to use a computer but they certainly do enjoy something simple to use such as their Presto machine. My mother absolutely adores hers as we can now keep in touch with photos. But she also has an "email appliance" that works simply with a phone line and is pretty much just a typewriter that sends and receives email. There is no computer hookup. Also there are no graphics. If something simple like that could be incorporated into the Presto machine, I think most seniors would like it. I don't know how much longer she will be able to use her email machine as there is very little support for it anymore and that will be a sad day for her. Hopefully by then, there will be another alternative. Such as Presto with email?

The unique genius with Presto is its goal to be As Simple As Possible. This immediately begins to erode as 'features' are added -- usually thought to be a 'good thing', but not when 'feature creep' is diametrically opposed to the original design concept!

The suggestions for keyboard input and scanner input are good ones! They would make the device (or a similar device) more useful for those that (a) would like an option for sending outgoing messages, and (b) have the ability to handle the technical details to make this work. OTOH, this will make the device LESS USEFUL for those that are on the fringes of being able to load paper and change ink cartridges!

ALTERNATIVES:

1. A keyboard input would almost certainly require significantly more operating system within the device (although I don't know what is currently designed in already). It would also require a plug-in connection. Taken together, this is likely to make the basic machine more expensive (even if the keyboard itself is a separate option). It would be better to have a Presto+ with this feature, while maintaining a BASIC Presto as is.

Obviously, This becomes a business decision re product line, inventory, support, etc.) If the features (Gen 2) could be included at no extra cost, with a simple (unused) input connection for an optional keyboard, then there would be no added confusion for the current target audience.

2. The scanner sounds like a different animal altogether. Perhaps this could be a Presto+2 device, but I can't imagine this in the BASIC device without causing confusion.

My 2c. Presto is a GREAT idea - we're ordering it now for my uncle in assisted living. I'm quite confident it will be a very effective addition to the family.

Yes too much technology would be a bad thing considering the true function of Presto. A way though to send a quick note either through a fax like scanner attachment or in the presto2 as suggested I think would be of a big help. Make it so that notes would become like graphic attachments to an email message sent to a default account that could be maintained by those of us watching over the older folks accounts on-line. The sending then would therefore be transparent more or less to the Presto User. It would then be the responsibility of we administrative types to make sure the message got delivered or distributed to whom ever it needed to go to but it would give them a quick way of responding in a written manner or even allow them to send us copies of things they got in the mail or even other documents in an easy and user friendly fashion.

I can really appreciate what Presto stands for but I cam across this machine called the E-Mailer and think that it would be fantastic if available in the US (I've emigrated to Australia but all of my family, including Grandma, are in the US). It looks like a big phone (with big buttons which is GREAT) and it has a screen for displaying emails and a sliding keyboard (no noticeable cords and no mouse) for sending them. Please don't see this as a business threat to Presto as it cannot be used outside of the UK (which is why I haven't bought one already) http://www.amstrad.com/products/emailers/emp.html

Despite international phone calls being quite cheap now, Grandma still thinks that she can't afford to reply if I get her a Presto.