Obtaining an Email Box
Now that you are aware of this comparison, the question is will you be using email from your pc or someone else’s. Keep in mind, your day job pc is someone else’s.
If you are going to be using someone else’s pc, definitely get a web based email box. You simply cant go wrong with free can you? While most new users will not need more than what the free boxes provide for a long time, you should be fine to go with Hotmail, Yahoo, Safemail or Netscape.
All of these provide ample room for mail storage. They have most contemporary features needed for typical email sending. Casual mailing to friends and relatives is plenty for these providers.
If you will get or have your own pc at home, you should use the local client your operating system provides. All operating systems provide one of some kind if they are relatively new pc’s. You will need an ISP to use it. All ISP’s provide mail services with the Internet connection they are giving you.
This just goes without saying. Remember, email was the basis for the inception of the Internet.
Your next task will be to shop around to find a local ISP service you can subscribe to. The word “local” is meant literally, you will want to find an ISP that you can access with a local phone number. I highly recommend you do not use a service that gives you a long distance number you must use to access their services. The costs on your phone bill will be astronomical if you don’t practice rigid discipline while online.
Services that give you a “toll free” number, while not costing you phone line charges, are known to be busy when you dial up and try to connect at times. Choosing this option will soon result in very frustrated experiences trying to surf or use your email.
I recommend DSL or Cable ISP services. They are extremely fast, and pose no limits on hours you can surf. You can stay online 24 hrs a day for one flat fee using these type services. In the event you live in a remote area and you do not have access to this service, my sympathy is extended to you, but you have no choice but to go with a dialup service.
But the major telephone services provide a very reliable service, and have a range of plans to fit most budgets. Most of them offer a surf accelerator of some kind as well to speed up your time to send mail or browse as well.
When you have decided on the ISP you wish to use, its simply a matter of setting up your account with them. They will provide you with instructions on exactly how to install and setup your Internet connection, your email address, and any other pertinent info relevant to this. They will ask you what operating system you are using and also what local email client you will use.
Now you know what to tell them!