Internet cafe novice

[Angela S]

Hi
We are not as yet 'silver surfers' but equally not of the generation that was born with a mouse in one hand and video remote in the other. Whilst on holiday I would like to send an email or even electronic postcard to our teenage sons (just to show them that Mum is switched on to the 21st century). Since we're staying at the Coco Reef would the Clothes Wash Cafe be the best place? Previously the only cafes we've been in serve coffee. Is it easy and can I use hotmail?
Thanks for any instructions
Angela

[Steve Wooler]

Hi Angela

Easy, peasy (or however you spell it)! I’m pretty sure that the Coco Reef has a computer available for guest use, although I also think that someone recently said that it’s cheaper to use one of the Internet cafés. Anyway, the Clothers Wash Café is just next door, so you can wash your smalls, have a cup of coffee and email your messages home. Or is it wash your messages, drink your smalls and send your washing home?

How do you download your mail at the moment? Through Outlook Express? If so, sadly you won’t be able to do it the same way, because that would mean setting up accounts in the Outlook Express and the hotel/café wouldn’t want you doing that as it could also download viruses. You will use a system called webmail. Yes, Hotmail offers that – in fact up to a couple of years ago, it was the only way to use Hotmail.

Fire up your Internet browser (Internet Explorer) or whatever and connect to http://www.hotmail.com. Once you’re in, sign in with your email address and password. You’ll then see a row of tabs titled “Home”, “Inbox”, “Compose” and “Contacts”. Simply click on “Inbox” and you’ll see your messages. There are then options to reply, send new messages and all the usual facilities. Practise before you go and whatever you do, don’t forget your password.

Have fun!