Computer Beginner Needs Assistance

harrassedmum

Can anyone tell me how I can get my laptop to alert me to new e-mails that I receive whilst I am viewing other sites (usually this one) or using word etc. Please explain in very simple terms, learning to turn it on was hard enough, I still believe in the benefits of pen and paper!!!!!! Thanks

esuhl

Well, that depends how you access your email. If you have POP3 access (which you probably do if you use an email client such as Thunderbird or Outlook), you can probably configure the email client to display a message when you receive new email. Each program is different, though, so you'll probably need to read the help file or user manual to find out how to set this up.

If you use web mail (i.e. you go to a website to check your email), you *may* be able to use a program like Natty (see http://www.sheepfriends.com/?page=natty) if you are provided with POP3 access to the email servers. Many web mail providers don't allow this, though.

Sorry if this is a bit more technical than you were hoping for. If you let us know which email provider you use, and how you access your email (i.e. via Outlook, web mail, etc.) hopefully someone can give more specific details.

isofa

If you are running Outlook:

Tools Menu > Options > E-mail Options > Advanced E-mail Options > Display a new mail desktop alert

richt71

In many mail programs you can set an bleep for mails recieved. However it depends how you've configured it as many mail programs allow either automatic collection at period defined by you or you can manually send/recieve (in which case you'll not recieve any even with your mail program open until you hit the send/recieve button).
Maybe you can give us some more info on the provider and how you recieve mail and we can help you (I used to do internet support for a living!).

buyitall

If you want something more subtle, set your Taskbar (the one across the bottom of the screen) to 'always on top' and a little envelope will appear in the bottom right-hand corner (alongside the volume/safely remove hardware etc) to show that you have unread emails. This is with Outlook Express.

spud17

I use Thunderbird with the add-on called MinimiseToTray, when you close in the normal manner it closes to the tray and will notify you of new mail.

snowman2_2

Thunderbird and Minimise to Tray is what I use for what you want. Very easy to use.