What is Under the Table all about? Well, when we are playing cards or in meetings, we put our cards on the table, play our hand, put our proposals "on the table". This is for everyone to see. Sometimes there is plenty of action going on "under the table" also. Partners in bridge or other card games, use foot signals. A would be Romeo gets a swift kick. You get the picture. Everything important is not always "on the table" for all to see.
This column will attempt to cover some of the not so obvious, not so popular characteristics of the WebTV browser and the weird goings on in MSNTV land. It is not intended to be a technical treatise nor is it going to go along with popular beliefs of many WebTV users. I will try to keep it in layman's terms and I guarantee I will step on a few toes.
Now for a timely editorial.
MSN One Plan Rains on Our Parade
The NGs are abuzzing with the news that everyone who does not change their MSN one plan password will soon lose their internet access via the One Plan. Well, let's qualify that with a bit of the whole truth and then editorialize a bit. Online services that require logins usually are set up with a default user and password for the initial access by a new user. Most of these services clearly state that the user name and/or password will only work one time (or for a short time period). The user is to change these to suit according to a set of rules for number and type of characters. I have had to do that routine dozens of times with online banking, online pharmacy, online broker, online technical publications. Nothing unusual about that -- rather the norm, I would say.
MSN One Plan users who have set their own password at anytime since signing on have no worries in this regard.
This whole scenario plays out as usual on the WebTV users' side. First we have a service that was intended for PC users to gain access to the Internet and be able to keep their WebTV units active at no additional costs.
- Did everyone signing up have a PC?
- Did MSN have a plan to make sure everyone signing up actually had a PC on the system?
- Did the MSN site explain about temp passwords needing to be changed?
- Will many of the users who get caught "under the table" think MSN has wronged them?
ANSWERS: NO, NO, probably not, most assuredly.
NOT to begrudge anyone a better deal. I try to "make the system work for me", too; as much as possible in all aspects of everyday life. But let's not forget; whatever games we play, the rules usually prevail. We may get away with a fudge or foul, but eventually we follow the rules or we foul out. Too bad that MSNTV has never been the best at posting and/or explaining the rules. And in this case, as in law, ignorance is no excuse.
Until next time,
blessings to all.
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