To watch TV or to surf the Web? That is the question. With information coming at us from seemingly every direction, sometimes it can be quite overwhelming.  What if you just want to know what time the game starts or the name of the movie you've just started watching? Where do you go to find the information you want?

If this is your problem, you obviously have a television set. So why not enhance it with a set top box? The AOL TV from Philips will have you on the road to the information you want in no time at all. With an Enhanced Programming Guide, chances are you'll never have to sit racking your brain to try and figure out what the name of that movie is ever again. And with picture-in-picture technology, you'll be able to figure it out without having to miss a moment of the movie.

But the AOL TV is not just about watching TV. It's also about surfing the net. Equipped with a wireless keyboard and remote, you'll be ready to visit any Web site, send Instant Messages or emails, or even record television shows with the touch of a button. It is probably an obvious stipulation, but you must use the AOL service for browsing. Internet connectivity from the AOL TV is achieved via a built-in 56K v.90 modem.

The AOL TV runs on a 166 MHz Cyrix MediaGX Gxi processor and has 12 MB RAM and a 4.3 GB hard drive. A Smartcard reader is included for future Web purchases, as is secure e-commerce functionality. External devices can also be attached through the AOL TV's USB port, parallel printer port, or IR port.

The AOL TV measures 15 x 10.5 x 2.75 inches, and weighs 6.98 lbs.

Pricing and Availability

The AOL TV WVH111 is currently available for $249.95.

(For access to more than 4,500 other hands-on product reviews on all variety of wired and wireless appliance and consumer devices, go to the iAppliance Web Portal Page. )