Check, Respond To, and Print E-Mail Messages

To check your e-mail, go directly to your Inbox. There, Outlook Express tells you a lot about your messages before you even open them. For example, as you scan messages, it's easy to see which messages you haven't read (they're still highlighted in bold), which messages have attachments (look for the paper clip), and so on. The image below gives you some idea of how Outlook Express does this.

Key to Inbox features

A. [list of folders] The Folder list shows the different folders where messages are stored.

B. [Contacts]The Contacts list shows the names in your address book.

C. [bottom pane] The Preview Pane lets you glimpse your message.

D. [!] The exclamation mark shows that the sender deems this message to be important.

E. [paper clip] The paper clip indicates that a message has an attachment.

F. [icon with little returned arrow] An envelope with a return arrow indicates that a message has been responded to.

G. [unopened mail icon] A closed envelope and bold text indicates unopened mail.

H. [opened mail icon] An open envelope indicates opened mail.

Note: High priority mail (marked with a !) doesn't get to you or your recipient any faster. The exclamation point is simply a flag to the reader that the sender considers the message to be important.

Click the Inbox in the Folder list, and double-click the message you want to read.

If you don't see the Inbox, on the View menu, click Layout, and then click Folder List.

Send e-mail manually. For whatever reason, Outlook Express can't always send e-mail right away (For example, if you are working offline). In that case, you can take matters into your own hands, and click Send and Receive on the Tools menu. Outlook Express instantly sends any messages waiting in the Outbox.

Be careful. Outlook Express blocks certain types of attached files that could contain viruses. When you open the message, Outlook Express warns you that it "removed access to the following unsafe attachments." However, even under the protection of Outlook Express, unless you are expecting a file from someone, it's a good idea to save attachments to your hard disk so you can use your specialized anti-virus software to scan them before you open them.

If you have a Hotmail account in addition to your standard e-mail account, Outlook Express handles both gracefully, each with its own set of folders.

You can print a message that is either displayed in the preview pane or open in a separate window. You'll find that printing in Outlook Express is a familiar Windows experience.