e-Mail Tips

On October 21, I gave an “All About E-Mail” talk at the Fairfield Library.  Being the second speaker in the Technology Topics Series running through March 13, 2001, the honor was especially meaningful.  The September 1999 issue of American Libraries ranked Fairfield’s library 24th in the nation in its population category of towns with 50,000 to 99,000 people. The topic of e-mail historically draws the largest audience.  This year was no exception.  Competition from warm autumn weather reduced the attendance somewhat, but not the enthusiasm for the subject.  Like many libraries in Connecticut, the main Fairfield branch uses state-of-the art hardware.  Often, the main meeting room provides Internet access.  For many, the local library offers a first time exposure to the Internet.  Most run Internet training courses, often free or low cost.

E-mail continues its reign as the most popular Internet activity.  Even seasoned e-mailers enjoy a topical review.  Consequently, I offer a few tips to users - new or experienced.

Hardware

Try to keep hardware running at peak performance.  This means defraging the hard drive regularly.  If you cannot remember the last time the drive was defraged, it is time to do it.  Deleted messages help cause fragmentation.  Heavy e-mailers should defrag monthly or more frequently.  All connections at the back of the computer should be securely fastened.  Screw in plugs where possible.  Surge protectors for both power and the telephone line should be used.

Software

Many e-mail software packages (such as Microsoft Outlook) have grown in complexity.  If you have not explored the options available on the e-mail client, you should attempt it.  Increasing the font size for older Interneters who may have difficulty reading small typefaces makes sense.  Keeping directory information current reduces frustration in sending e-mail.  People using older versions of e-mail products my find benefits in upgrading to a newer model.  Because e-mail holds such popularity, easy to use, glitch free software reduces frustration and headaches.  It has become common practice for many Internet users to have multiple e-mail accounts: Yahoo, Hotmail, and Juno, along with the primary account issued by the Internet Service Provider (ISP).  Anti-virus software (Norton and McAfee are the two most known) should always be used and kept up-to date.

Techniques

Never open file attachments from strangers.  Delete them.  In fact, my policy is to scan all file attachments before opening regardless of the source.  Although rare, close friends and relatives can transmit a virus via an e-mail attachment.  Stay vigilant.

E-mail directories should have entries to your e-mail accounts.  When making software changes, send test messages to personal accounts.  Most free e-mail providers will close accounts without activity.  Periodic “this is a test” messages to low activity accounts assures availability for stand-by addresses.  Free e-mail providers often add advertising to the bottom of messages.  In some cases, long ads can become annoying to the point where you drop the service.

E-Annoyances

In March ‘97, I wrote a column “E-Mail Pet Peeves.”  It stood the test of time.  Numerous courteous webmasters have asked (and been granted) permission to link to it.  To date, it has been updated once.  In brief summary, the list includes bad spelling, big signature blocks, chain letters, excessive length and more.  Take a minute to re-read.  You should recognize the humor along with frequently encountered e-gaffs.  An annoyance not mentioned, but also of note, remains the private e-mail accidentally released that spams the entire e-list.  Invariably, a second note of apology (again to the entire list) follows shortly after the initial embarrassment.  It makes one wonder.

Spam

UCE (unsolicited commercial e-mail), more commonly call spam, remains an issue unto itself.  It grows worse daily especially for active web surfers.  Ignore it, do not read it, and delete it.  Do not reply to Spam.  For goodness sake never buy anything from a spammer.  Never!

As an aside, the urban myth of a proposed five-cent tax on e-mail (known as the Bill 602p hoax) entered the Clinton/Lazio New York Senatorial race when a WCBS moderator raised it as a legitimate question during an October debate.  Many consider spreading hoaxes and myths through e-mail as the ugly troll of spam.  I do.

In My Experience

I continue to use JUNO for most important e-mail.  File attachments have been made easy, the 64k byte file size has been lifted, I have never received a virus using it and reliability remains unusually high.  Most importantly of all, Juno is the easiest to learn and use e-mail program with free nationwide access.  It may not be for everyone, but it works well for me.

URLs (Uniform Resource Locators) of interest:

http://www.juno.com

http://www.thebee.com/bweb/iinfo43.htm

http://www.thebee.com/bweb/factsoflife.htm

(This is the 230th of a series of elementary articles designed for surfing the Internet.  Next, Double Nickels 55 is the subject on tap.  Stay Tuned.  Until next week, happy travels through cyberspace.  Previous issues of  Internet Info for Real People can be found: http://www.thebee.com.  Please e-mail comments and suggestions: rbrand@JUNO.com or editor@thebee.com.)