Avoid large file attachments; protect yourself from spam and dopey messages.
Robert NeubeckerDo associates e-mail you humongous attachments? Do dopey friends not know how to blind-copy e-mail to protect your privacy? I have a few ways for you to be less annoyed--and less annoying.
The Hassle:Don't laugh, but I'm still on dial-up (I live out in the sticks and can't get broadband). I've asked my friends not to send file attachments the size of the Poseidon, but they often forget. Other than getting new friends, do you have a solution?
The Fix: When I travel and stay in motels that offer only dial-up (my wife calls me cheap; I think I'm thrifty), I skip gargantuan downloads. It takes just a few minutes to change the settings in your e-mail program. In Outlook Express, create a rule: Select Tools,Message Rules,Mail,Modify, and then scroll through the conditions and check Where the message size is more than size. In the 'Select actions for your rule' menu, scroll to and check Do not Download it from the server. (Unfortunately, you'll never know that the person sent you an e-mail.) In the Rule Description box, click the size link, set the maximum allowed message size, and click OK twice. I set mine at 1000KB (about 1MB). In Outlook 2003, choose Tools,Options, select the Mail Setup tab, click Send/Receive,Edit, and check Download complete item including attachments and Download only headers for items larger than xx KB (where xx is a number you pick from a drop-down menu). Be sure to check the box next to Receive mail items.
The Hassle: I e-mail a message to a bunch of friends, and they complain that the list of addresses is longer than the actual note. What's the deal with my e-mail messages?
The Fix: I'll bet you're adding e-mail addresses to the To: field--and broadcasting everyone's address in your e-mail. Instead, maintain everyone's anonymity by using your e-mail's blind-copy feature. Finding it can be tricky, however. In Outlook Express, create a new message, select View, and check All Headers. In Outlook, choose View and check Bcc Field. In Netscape, click the To field and scroll to Bcc. In Yahoo Mail, click BCC. The easiest are AOL.com, Eudora, and MSN Hotmail--just fill the 'bcc' field. The classic AOL online service is more work: In the Copy To box, enter each recipient's e-mail address in parentheses.
There's a downside to blind-copied addresses: Some ISPs matter-of-factly bounce them. But I have a workaround. Instead of using e-mail, I send batches of messages (as many as 2400 at a time) on one or the other of two free Web services--Yahoo Groups or Topica.
Quick tip: You can make it easier for friends and family to filter your e-mail messages by including a phrase like "Geeky Buddies" or "Today's Joke" in the To: field. It's easy to do and it may work with your e-mail program. Experiment by typing (Special Friends) in the To: field. Then fill in the blind-copy fields using the steps outlined above in the discussion about sending smart with BCCs. For a blank To: line, enter an open parenthesis, a space, and a close parenthesis (in some e-mail programs, such as AOL and Hotmail, use just a space).
Steve Bass
Contributing Editor Steve Bass writes the Bass Blog. To read his previous columns and newsletters, click here. Contact him at hasslefreepc@pcworld.com.
