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Feature
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One of the questions I am often asked by new Internet users is, "Ok, so email is useful, and I know about tracking my stocks and reading the news, but what is there to do on the Internet that is fun?" Admittedly, good clean fun that is truly interactive is something many users have not yet discovered on the Internet. With the advent of the holiday season, I thought I would share with you one of those "fun" things to do.
While AOL
users (as well as other "on-line services" users) can pay a
fee to send customized greeting cards to friends, any Internet user
can send some of these special greetings for free by using
specialized sites on the net that offer "on-line greeting
cards" or "digital postcards". Some of these sites
provide animated images and/or sound to make the "card"
appealing. Usually these services support Typically, you visit one of these sites, or are "linked" to the sites' services by some page you are viewing (I've provided a couple below!), and design a "card". After indicating the email address of your intended recipient and other requested information (usually your name and email address), your "card" is delivered to them via email. Some of these services prepare your "card" and send it as an "attachment" to an email message for your recipient. Most modern email programs allow the "attachment" to be downloaded for viewing, or allow the attachment to be viewed directly in the email program. One such service that I enjoy using on occasion can be found by visiting: Other services notify the recipient via email that they have a card waiting, and provide them with a link to the card service and a "code" or "claim check" number to enter to receive the "card". When your recipient receives the email, they can visit the site and see the special message you prepared. One of the best examples of one of this type of service can be found by visiting: The above listed site is really pretty neat, and has a good variety of cards and graphics, as well as the ability to design your cards and have them delivered at a pre-arranged time up to 17 months in the future. Both types of sites have advantages and disadvantages; try a few and you will probably find one, or several, that you like. There are "gobs" of these sites on the net, and you can explore on your own by using any of the search engines and searching for keywords like greeting cards, on-line, free, etc.
As always, I welcome all comments, criticisms, and opinions and encourage you to email me to let me know how you liked this feature. May each and every one of you have the happiest of holidays. robert l.
parker, jr.
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themselves
with advertising, but they still provide a novel way to make your
email a little special, and maybe even send some unique Christmas cards!
Everything
on the Internet doesn't have to be about business,
or even have to be "productive". On-line greetings are
just one of those things that is "cool", and are a lot of
fun to send and receive.