[geeks] Q: How to set up "private" Presto email  service?

[Patrick Giagnocavo]

On Oct 18, 2007, at 6:51 PM, Lionel Peterson wrote:
>
> You've got it backwards - I want them to poll for email, rather  
> than have my computer/fax modem call them on their one line and  
> have the phone ring at odd hours (FAX is a push model, I want to  
> implement a pull model).
>

A cheap 100-hours dialup account is $5.95 per month.  Cheaper than  
any phone calls no matter how inexpensive the long distance.   
Includes email account.

Build a custom KNOPPIX disk, pre-configured to pull down and print  
email, and pre-configured with access number to dial.

Insert into bog-standard PC, connect to phone line.  Boot the CD, it  
shows the status of the system, and halts itself when all photos are  
printed, printing a message to the screen to "turn off system now".

>
> I was going to send them a Mini, but then they got a WebTV, but  
> even that doesn't get turned on - what I want is a "magic photo/ 
> email printer" that only needs occasional paper and ink replacement.
>

You could render the files to be printed to a bitmap, but would need  
a lot of bandwidth.  Better to print to JPEG and have a little bit of  
intelligence on the other end to rasterize the JPEG to the printer.

Cordially

Patrick Giagnocavo
patrick at zill.net