Some brief help

E-mail

Your starting point is your e-mail address. You can very simply access it through the webmail interface.
Firefox 3 might complain about mis-matched security certificates, which is fine. Once logged in, double-click e-mails to read them, and drag-and-drop them in your folders.

Your password

You can change your password and alter a few settings at the mailbox settings page.

Mail client

Your e-mail client (such as Thunderbird) needs a little information so it can fetch your mail. Always use:

• your full email address as a login,
• your regular password,
• the address sub3.homie.mail.dreamhost.com
  
  (Note: this was previously otherwise.)

Sending messages is done over the SMTP protocol. Make sure you are using SSL encryption and check that the port is 465.

Receiving messages is done either one of two ways:

• With POP3, which always downloads messages from the server onto your computer. Make sure you are using SSL encryption and check that the port is 995.

• With IMAP, which always leaves messages on the server (so they remain accessible with the webmail) but which requires a working Internet access at all times. Make sure you are using SSL encryption and check that the port is 993.

More information is available here, here, and there.

Thunderbird 2 is known to complain about certificates (bug #228684); if so, you can use the Remember Mis-matched Domains extension.

Instant Messaging

For instant messaging, menopresto uses Jabber, an open protocol – so you can chat in real time with other acquaintances. The chat feature in the Google accounts is compatible with Jabber (whose real name is XMPP).

Your Jabber account has the same name as your e-mail. Just login with a program such as Pidgin.

Your own blog

You can have your own webspace at http://you.menopresto.net/. Olivier can install the Wordpress blogging software there for you, but you can also set-up your own schmingy yourself. This project started like that.

Your own domain

If you want to push things further, you can also register your own domain (something like betterthanmenopresto.net), and plug it into the hosting at menopresto. It costs $10 per year though, and a little more for European domains. Talk it over before you do anything.

Huh?

In case you struggle, share the fun with Olivier.