This week we’re starting a series of articles discussing ways to make your “web life” easier, more efficient, less stressful, and more trouble-free.  We’ll begin with three tips on email.

Tip #1:  Get a Mac.  Mac OS X gives you an excellent email application, a fast (arguably the fastest) and secure browser, and the ability to (with a little common sense) pretty much surf the web with impunity.  No viruses.  No spyware or adware.  No internet security programs constantly running in the background gobbling up precious memory or clock cycles.  No constant nagging.

If your situation prevents you from leaving the Dark Side and walking into the light, the following tips will work for you as well, until your deliverance.

Tip #2:  Have one email address that you use to correspond with friends, family, and perhaps close business associates.  Don’t use this address when you visit any web site that requires an email address in order for you to gain access or receive goods or services.  I mean any web site, even if it’s “trustworthy” like a bank or credit card.

For web surfing, acquire another email address.  Now, I know what some of you saying, “Pete, why don’t I just make up an email address when they ask for one”

That may have worked “back in the day” (which was a Tuesday, by the way – I checked on it), but most reputable web sites who want to grant you access or authorize a download or put you on a legitimate mailing list are too smart for that today.  They want an email address they can “verify” by sending an email to the address you provided that requires you to click on a link back to them to get what you’re signing up for.  But, again, that address doesn’t have to be your “personal” email address.

How do you go about getting a second (or additional) email address?  You could ask your internet service provider for another address, but chances are they’re going to charge you around five bucks a month.  Or, you could use one of a couple of “free” email services, like Yahoo! Mail, Windows Live (Hotmail), or Google Mail.

I use Google Mail for several reasons.  One, they’re not Microsoft.  Two, they’re reliable, have excellent spam filters, and support IMAP email.  Three, there’s no advertising – when checking my Yahoo! and Hotmail accounts today I was presented with ads touting the Saturn Astra’s sport-tuned suspension, an application for a credit card, and an offer to regrow my hair for free.  If I have to endure omnipresent random advertising, I don’t call it “free”.  And, four, I can access and manage Google Mail (no ads) with ease through my Mac’s Mail application and my iPhone as well as my browser, which segues perfectly into my second tip.

Tip #3.  Access and manage your email with a dedicated email application rather than a web browser.  While Web 2.0 interfaces have greatly improved browser-based email management, there are many advantages to using dedicated emailers like Outlook (Express), Eudora, Entourage, or Apple Mail.

Here’s some of them:  Have access to all your email all the time.  Answer email offline, then send it when you get back online (admittedly not that big a deal when you’re online all the time).  Add and send attachments (photos, documents, etc.) with ease, as well as save the attachments others send you.  Manage sending and receiving email through multiple email accounts – every time you click “Get Mail” you get all your email.  And, finally, most computer-based email programs interact with your calendar and address book, which should rightfully be kept on your computer as well.