The two Internet facilities most of us use are electronic mail (e-mail or email) and the World Wide Web. Most of us access both of them with the tools included with Windows -- Microsoft Outlook Express and Microsoft Internet Explorer.

A shrinking minority use alternatives, most frequently a suite of applications from Netscape. Microsoft Office users tend to use Outlook Express' big brother, Microsoft Outlook fir email. 

Email doesn't really have a manual equivalent. It falls somewhere between telephone calls and formal letters sent via Canada Post -- although many emailers use it as an alternative to both. (I am among the growing majority who don't use the post office anymore because of email.)

Email has several advantages over either the phone of post office. For starters, its free; it costs no more to reach England than it does to reach your next door neighbor. 
Second, it can be almost as immediate as the ringing phone.
Third, it eliminates the need to run out to the nearest post office drop box -- especially appealing in lousy weather.
Fourth, it is extremely convenient; write your message anytime you want, the recipient will receive it as his or her first next available opportunity. 
Fifth, email programs double as email filing cabinets, so you can easily review previous messages.
Sixth, all messages on your computer can be sorted into sequence by date, subject or source, at the click of your mouse.

There are downsides, however.
You need to know the Internet ID of the people you wish to write to. Thankfully, writing (even replying) to anyone automatically adds their "email address" to your email program's "Contact List" so you don't have to remember it.
And of course, there's Spam and Viruses.

"Spam" is electronic junk mail. Some users seldom get any, others receive dozens of electronic junk mail messages every day. Spam has grown as e-mail's popularity has exploded in recent years, and has spawned a new application category: spam fighters. (There is a link to Spam Busters here.) 

But the true plague of email isn't spam, it is viruses. You don't want a computer virus anymore than you want a human virus. Either can really spoil your day, week or more.

Viruses are nasty programs that mess with your computer. They typically travel over the Internet as email attachments. When you open the message they are attached to, they start running amuck, perhaps deleting files on your hard drive, perhaps sending themselves to everyone in your email Contact List. The worst will put you back to square one in seconds, destroying years of genealogy research, accounting records, programs -- whatever you have on your hard disk. Then carry on to duplicate that feat on the PCs of every email contact you have had.

If you haven't already, as soon as you can, get and install a virus fighting program. Norton's Anti-Virus is the market leader. McAfee's VirusScan program is second on this hit parade. Their competitors tend to be low-cost or free Internet downloads. My advice: get Norton. ASAP. (Just beware Norton ignores rebate coupons mailed from Canada, so you don't expect that cheque.)

There are other downsides to email, like the time required to type as much as you could say in three minutes talking during a phone call. But writing (typing) your points out works better than voice, when reaching out to a distant family member about his or her ancestry.

Email Tip: E-mailers are easily offended. Learn to write defensively or risk offending some inadvertently. It never hurts to start "Hi [first name}" and end by wishing them well.