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There is a relatively new e-mail service that makes transferring mail from another Web-based service somewhat simple. It goes by the name of "GMX," and can be found at: www.gmx.com.

I have used it to aggregate all my e-mail accounts at Gmail and Yahoo, and so far it's working just fine.

Posted by: Doclocke at July 15, 2008 10:01 AM

Leo,
When you say PC based program are you referring to something like Outlook (not Outlook Express)? I am not sure I understand your term 'web-based email'
Since I have all my emails stored on my PC, I assume from what you are saying that Outlook must be acting as a client since I can backup and archive my emails. Am I correct in this?
Thanks,
Bevin

Posted by: Bevin at July 15, 2008 5:54 PM

I am confused about creating a PC-based e-mail.
I have heard recommendations about Mozilla Thunderbird. I downloaded it and attempted to install. I was stumped when it asked me the information like: IMAPI or POP3 and some other info.
I do not know how to get this information.
I also heard about Eudora. There was a feature(ESP) which would allow sharing from computers YOU, the user, assign/specify; and, so, I decided to try installing it on a computer that was in a broke-down state. The installation failed and now, instead of doing a transfer like this(would I have needed the Internet access on both computers??) I am having to backup to an external HDD(Thank goodness for its backup software being "intact" -- or so I think thus far -- otherwise I would have to transfer 18 GB of data via e-mail!
All that ranting aside, my top priority question is this: what is needed to set up a PC-based e-mail account? (follow-ups: How do you ensure secure use? How do you access the account from elsewhere?(does that computer need ALWAYS be online?)
Thank you.

Posted by: Snail at July 15, 2008 6:24 PM

Well I configured outlook to download mail from Gmail and my contacts have this address...so if and when I change providers (I am considering this)I will still be able to send/receive mail via the Google server whilst I configure the new address with the new ISP.
Interesting business
Mick

Posted by: Mick Rogers at July 15, 2008 9:46 PM

A useful tip is to get your own domain, e.g. yourname.com. It's best to buy your domain through a domain hosting service such as UK2.net, as they subsidise the price. Domain hosting services will provide email diversion, so you can keep your email address as, e.g. you@yourname.com and then arrange for the email sent to you@yourname.com to be diverted to you@your_isp_email_address. You will incur a small charge every couple of years to keep renewing your domain, and you may also need to pay for the diversion servise, but once this is set up, you can easily move ISP without having to change your email address - just change the diversion to your new ISP mailbox, which takes a couple of minutes. The same applies to website hosting. However, I'd also recommend keeping a 'throwaway' free email address on Hotmail or Gmail for use in filling in web forms; once that address gets 'spammed out', just get another one!

Posted by: JohnE at July 16, 2008 12:43 AM

Leo, I love your stuff. Thank your for your help!

I agree about using Free Web Based Email Account(FWBEA) like Gmail, Yahoo, MSN and others together with with an separate email account that works with a PC based application.

At some time in another thread, I am sure you have addressed this, but other considerations for FWBEA are useful because ISPs are indeed disposable. But now might be a good time to address personal security / saftey / spam avoidance strategies in setting up your email arrangements. Although this may seem a bit off topic/thread, you may wish to consider the following personal security and privacy suggestions.

Leo, you may wish to place this in the appropriate thread - These ideas may seem overly complicated but FEAR NOT - they can be suprisingly EASY.

From a personal security and privacy standpoint, remember that, ANYTHING you do or write or tranmit electronically can be accessed by any organization who chooses to explore your past, so if you are not able to encrypt it - BEWARE.

Generally, most people have multiple bonafide email addresses depending upon your needs. You might consider:

1) Personal email (permanent)
2) ISP email address with PC based email. (ISP may change)
3) Public email (Junk Mail)
4) Work/employment related eMail - Public
5) Other

First - Personal 'Permanent' email address: You might consider a a free FWBEA type address (without using any part of your name). The strategy some people use is to forward this to your present ISP email address. This type of an arrangement is really beneficial because allows one to 1) To utilize the FWBEA spam filter as your primary filter and FORWARD the 'Good Stuff) to your separate ISP based account with a secondary (and different) spam filter. 2) To switch ISPs more easily (keeping in mind address book, sent files, drafts and organiztional structure, etc.). For example, I use this as my permanent email address for friends and family and organizations that I care about.

Second - When you make the decision to switch away from your ISP telephone or Cable company broadband services there are a myriad of complications as detailed in this thread - transfering email addresses, organizational structure or sent mail can be problematic. By maintaining a separate outward facing email address and managing a PC based email account, you can easily move from ISP carrier to another with minimum difficulty.

Third - Public email for JUNK MAIL- Everyone hates spam! This address can be given to anyone/organization for whom it may be beneficial to supply it - but you really do not need or want to stay in touch with.

One can use an FWBBEA address that serves to satisfy the obligatory email address requirements of just about any organization. You might choose to look at this once a month whether you need to or not, for entertainment i.e. like a FREE triple-strength male dietary supplement that makes your sex life more exciting and perhaps formulated with a proprietary product that is GUARANTEED to keep your strength up during a challenging encounter.

Generally, Spam is filtered on a limited basis and you can choose to sort and view it if you wish to cull the gems of eCommerce! If you make an online purchase and need a receipt, you can use this if do not anticipate EVER having to go back to it.

Fourth - Work related email. Use this for work ONLY even if you own your own company.

Many people transact personal related business on their own 'Work' account. This indeed jeopardizes your relationships at work and could expose ANY aspect of your personal life to scrutiny by your employer and or the IT department without your knowledge.

Furthermore, if your company or employer is ever subpoenaed for email records, it could expose innocent people with whom you have engaged to down the line scrutiny.

In reality, ANYTHING you do on your work computer rightfully belongs to your Employer and is accessible by the IT department, so if you are not proud of it or do not want them to be involved with your personal matters, then most certainly DO NOT use your company computer.

On the other hand, if you simply do not give a darn, then at least be aware that you are jeopardizing yourself and possibly your employer with any personal stuff you do on the company equipment.

Abstinance is the BEST firewall!!

Posted by: John Edwards at July 16, 2008 11:03 AM

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Bevin: a "PC Based" email program is, as you say, a program
like Outlook Express or Outlook or Thunderbird or any of
several others that run on and typically download email to
yoru PC.

A "Web Based" email is something like Hotmail, Yahoo Mail,
GMail and others where you manage your email by visiting a
web page in your web browser.

Some ISPs provide both approaches to viewing your mail.

Leo


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Posted by: Leo at July 16, 2008 3:14 PM

We use Eudora (albeit no longer supported by Qualcomm). I also have Thunderbird running, and a couple of years back decided to move all my Eudora mail to Thunderbird. Piece of cake---simple export/import activity. Then, when Mozilla's T-Bird and I had a falling out (no doubt over some silly issue that I've long since forgotten), I decided Eudora was more to my liking (it's a VERY intuitive mail program, IMHO), so I wanted to move the Thunderbird mail (formerly Eudora mail) back to Eudora. Forget that! It's not even really very clear where T-Bird keeps its mail files (or at least not clear to me, and I really have been doing this email stuff for more than a couple of decades). So, when I need an "old" email, I simply fire up T-Bird, search, and usually find what I'm looking for. The issue, for me at least, is that there is not more standardization in all of this email structure to preclude users (remember them?) having to jump through developers' hoops to make programs work. OK, I'm off my soap box.

Keep up the great help, Leo; your tips and insight are invaluable---to pros and novices alike!

Posted by: Doug Hagan at July 17, 2008 6:08 PM

Transferring your address book when changing addresses is covered pretty well in Google. I have not attempted it; however, it goes something like this: Export your Yahoo! Mail address book so you can import it into Gmail.

Visit http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/ab/impexp/ to learn more about exporting your Yahoo! Mail contacts in .CSV format.

Once you've exported your contacts' information from Yahoo! Mail, import it into Gmail.
Sign in to your Gmail account at mail.google.com
Click 'Contacts' along the left side of any Gmail page.
Click 'Import.'
Select the .CSV file you'd like to import by clicking 'Browse...'
Once you've located your file, click 'Import Contacts.'
View a quick demo to learn more about importing your Yahoo! Mail contacts into Gmail. Whew!! Your right! I copied right from Google. :>)

Posted by: Phyllis Working at August 28, 2008 4:25 PM

Moving your email to Gmail is in fact trivially easy. In Mail app on OS X, for example, set up your gmail account and drag your mail folder(s) for your existing ISP onto the Gmail folder. It will upload and preserve dates and sender details.

Posted by: Bruce at September 21, 2008 3:37 AM
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