Free 19 inch PC Monitor
Dateline: 10/16/99Update: It appears that Broadscape has decided the free monitor idea will not be feasible, so they are now just offering a rebate.
There seems to be no end to the variety of new ways to deliver Internet advertising. Broadscape.com, Inc. is now offering a free 19 inch color monitor free to 100,000 applicants. They plan to start shipping in March of 2000. The monitors are PC compatible only, but they plan to support Macs in the future. You must be a US resident and 18 or older to apply.
Broadscape has partnered with MyWay.com for this offer. MyWay will be providing customized Web content. While you are online the monitors will display advertising across the bottom and navigation for the MyWay site on the right. When you are not on the Net you can use the full screen.
In order to keep the monitor for free you must be connected to the Net at least ten hours per month. It sounds like they will make allowance for vacations or other situations where that amount of online time is not practical. You can use any Internet access provider. After three years you are no longer required to use the monitor on the Net. There is no requirement to click on the ads periodically as there is with many ad supported free offers.
They have allotted 100,000 units initially and even with that number it is very likely that they will have many more requests than they will be able to fill. They will not be using a first come, first served approach. Broadscape indicates that they will choose a cross section of applicants.
Is this a good deal? It really depends on your tolerance for advertising and your need for a 19 inch monitor. If you have been wanting a large monitor but don't have the cash to buy one it may be a wonderful opportunity for you. If you spend most of your computing time online you may get tired of only having a portion of the screen available. On the other hand, if most of your computing is done offline you may find that connecting to the Net and viewing the ads for ten hours a month is a small price to pay.
As time goes on it seems people are inventing more and more ways to offer valuable products and services for free. Just a couple years ago the extent of free services on the Net were simple email reminders and the most valuable item you could get for free was a mousepad. The Internet is indeed a fascinating place.
Links to resources mentioned in this article:BroadScape.com
Previous Features