Free Email (This is primarily for AOL users)

No one need pay for email.  There are many free options and I’ll list four, along with a quick discussion of advantages and disadvantages.  For a full discussion, go to Kim Komando article on free email options and tips for migrating.

NOTE:  An email account is different than your ISP provider.  The ISP Provider is the company that provides access to the internet.  For most of us, that is AT&T (Bellsouth).  You get automatically get an email account with AT&T when you sign up with them.  However, you don’t have to use their email system.

Yahoo

If you are with AT&T you can use their web email, which is Yahoo.  It is free.  However, the web pages are loaded with ads, which slow down your computer and are a significant distraction.  Those with older computers or who have slower DSL should not use this option.

AOL

No using bellsouth/AT&T one should pay for AOL service.  It is free.  I find the desktop AOL is such a resource hog that it should never be considered.  The web based AOL is as bad or worse than Yahoo.  One of the worst features about AOL is a little technical but very important:  you can forward your email to another email provider to consolidate your email and get away from the ad overload on AOL.  How to convert from a paid AOL account to a free AOL account 

Windows Live

This is a viable alternative.  You get a live account and a hotmail.com domain.  I don’t want to go into detail, but most, if you keep windows up to date, have been hit with the option to download the Live Essentials, which comes with a client email application, Windows Live mail, the replacement for Outlook Express. 

Google

The choice between Google and its suite of products and Microsoft (Windows Live) and its suite boils down to personal preference.  Google does not have a direct competitor to Windows Live, but you can use the highly rated Thunderbird or, for that matter, Windows Live.  However, the web interface for Google mail is clean and full function.  I don’t use a email client because I access my email from many computers, and don’t want my mail in many different places.  (This is said knowing that you can always keep your email on the host, even when you manage it through an email client.  I just don’t like that.)   The clean Google interface- no ads or mess- is perfect for a DSL web interface environment. 

Questions?