Email has changed the way we communicate and our expectations of responses more than anything since the answering machine. Unlike Postal Mail (snail mail) where it may take one to several days to send a message and one to several days to get a response, email can be nearly real time. And, unlike Postal Mail, there is no extra cost in stamps.

On the other hand, e-mail requires us to rely upon written text and lacks the nonverbal cues we so rely upon to communicate meaning and tone. Also, like with the answering machine, we expect a response and often expect it quickly. Consequently, as we all adjust to this new and evolving technology, the rules of communication (protocols) are being rewritten.

With e-mail you have a variety of message types that can be sent.

• text messages
• formatted text messages
• files as attachments
• graphics
• links
• webpages

As noted before, email is one part of the Internet and works as a different electronic language with differing protocols from the WWW.

An e-mail account consists of:

• a username (account name)
• a password
• file space on the host computer, an eMail server
• an email address using the host computer's IP address, represented by the DNS domain name for the ISP example daambros@cabrillo.edu or your personal domain name.

Your ISP will provide you with one or more email accounts and can replace their domain name with your own if you register your own domain name.

You also need to select an email client, that is software that will give you the ability to send, receive, store, edit and in other ways manipulate email and gives you a nice GUI interface. The two most used email clients are listed at the top of the list below but many other are available to choose from:

• Netscape Messenger
• Windows Live and Email Client
• Eudora
• Thunderbird
• Pine (a multi-user system)

The email client software is installed and configured to run on your computer and runs electronic communications protocols to send and receive email files.

There are also eMail marketing software tools such as Lyris. These are used for creating, sending, and tracking highly effective email campaigns, newsletters, and discussion groups.

POP (Post Office Protocol) allows your computer to receive incoming email files, via you ISP connection (which uses PPP or SLIP), which are then stored on your hard drive. Another common protocol is IMAP (Internet Message Access Protocol).

SMTP (Simple Mail Transfer Protocol) handles outbound email messages and helps decide what path they take to their destination. Another common protocol is MIME (Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions) For help with Internet terms and definitions try
http://whatis.techtarget.com

Web-based email is an option that allows you to keep the email files on the host computer and allows you to use your browser as the interface for email instead of email client software. Often it is a free service, paid for by the presence of ads. It is also much less user friendly for manipulating your files. It is convenient because you can access your email from anywhere with a browser connection.

Examples of eMail screens:
Email screen with messages

Email screen sorted as threaded messages

Email Open

Email open with attachment showing

Let's explore the following tasks using an email browser:

• send a message
• spell check
• read a message
• responding to a message
• forwarding a message
• filing a message
• create a folder
• create a signature file
• send and receive attachments
• address books
• email a web page
• message filters