Mac® Bible

Chapter 16. Staying Connected Through E-Mail

IN THIS CHAPTER

• You've got Mail

• Get rolling with your first account

• Sending e-mail

• Receiving and replying to e-mail

• Alternative e-mail clients

E-mail is almost as common these days as a mailbox in front of a home. People all over the world send messages to one another in the blink of an eye. We're so close to living in the age of the Jetsons that I can almost hear Astro barking a "Ruh-roh!" in the background! Part of the promise of the computer age was that communication would be almost instant, and I would certainly say that we have arrived with the advent of e-mail.

E-mail has come a very long way from its earlier days, though. When you combine e-mail with a fast Internet connection, you have the ability to quickly send pictures and even video without causing your Mac to so much as break a sweat. And of course, when it comes to doing e-mail the right way, no one can touch Apple. The Mail application that ships with Leopard is a top-notch e-mail utility that is so easy to set up and use that you can't mistake Apple's signature on it. Let's get started with learning how to use Mail, and even some alternative e-mail applications, to keep you in touch with family, friends, and co-workers.

You've Got Mail

Mail has been the e-mail application of choice since the first release of Mac OS X way back when. Mail has matured by leaps and bounds with each subsequent version, and version 3, which ships with Leopard, is a very big step forward from its previous ...