What is Electronic Mail?
Electronic Mail, or E-mail, is a simple tool for exchanging brief text
messages between individuals or among a larger audience. ListServs and
digests are special forms that address larger audiences, typically a
specific group with common interests.
- Metaphor: Office memo or traditional mail
- Form: Fixed Message
- Medium: Simple Text
- Distribution: Private or Group
- Administration: Unmoderated or Moderated
- Similar Tools: listserv, digest, Majordomo
Software
- UNIX: mail, pine, mh
- Macintosh: Mailstrom, Eudora
Example
This is a screen image of a Pine session:
This document was created at the University of Michigan
School of Information and Library
Studies (SILS), but it has been designed for public use. Permission is
hereby granted for unlimited print and electronic redistribution. Your
feedback is encouraged.
fprefect@umich.edu - 12/12/94