Email is by far the most popular computer activity for most people after things like web surfing.  Social sites like Facebook and Twitter are slowly replacing Email because they’re an easier way to share more complex stuff like photos, links, videos, etc.  Social sites appear to have fewer problems like email “Spam”, but have newer, unique problems of their own.

It used to be that you would install an email “Client” program on your PC like AOL, CompuServe, Earthlink, Outlook Express, or some other “dial-up” software to get email.  This was in the pre-historic caveman days of PCs, before the Internet, from the late 1970’s to early 1990’s.

With the Internet came software called “Browsers”.  Netscape and Mosaic were early examples of Browsers, and finally Microsoft followed with “Internet Explorer”, (IE).  Now there are all sorts of Browsers, from “Firefox” and “Chrome” to “IE” and “Safari”.

Someone finally figured out that Email could be done as a web site in a Browser, just like home pages and other Internet web sites.  But instead of just being a “static” or non-changing site like a home page, Email could be done as a dynamic site or “web application”.

Most Internet Service Providers (ISPs) now offer Email as a Browser page (application) instead of as a “Client”.  If you have Comcast, Verizon, Cox, Time Warner, or whoever, now they all offer Email as a Browser web page instead of a “Client” program.

So why is this a big deal?  “Client” vs. “Browser”?

How many of you still have all your email from 20 years ago?  Most likely you were using “Client” email and your computer crashed, lost files, had to be upgraded, got a virus, email blew up, etc.

Most of the bad things that happened with your old Email “client” will not happen with “Browser” email.  It’s that simple, and is the reason why I plead and beg customers to switch to Browser-based email.  As a computer guy, there’s nothing worse than having to tell a client that their email is all gone because of a virus or crashed hard drive.

So switch to Browser email.  It will be different and require some new skills, but believe me, it’s worth it.

Steve