The Netscape Mail being tested came with Netscape 2.0. It was made specifically for sending e-mail over the Internet. I have used it on several platforms, connecting to the Internet in different ways. Without going through a complicated setup routine, or answering any technical questions, Netscape was always able to find my mail server, and bring my mail to me.
The main audience of this application would be the typical Internet browser. Many of these people do not need to understand the technical aspects of the computer, and Netscape saves them from this.
It has a nice graphical user interface. A button bar is present, that gives the user access to all of the
basic functions in the click of a button. These functions are:
Delete Messages - Delete current message
To: Mail - Compose new message
Re: Mail - Reply to selected message
Re: All - Reply to selected message, and include all people that were
included in the first message
Forward - Forward the selected message
Previous - Go to the previous unread message
Next - Go to the next unread message
Print - Print the selected message
From looking at how the functions were named, the experienced user may have trouble. It took me a while to figure out that "To: Mail" meant compose a new message. Throughout this mailer we run into several examples of that. At first it is hard to understand the new term, but after playing with it, it is easily explained. I think if a new computer user starts by using Netscape mail, they will have few problems understanding how to use it.
After looking through the mailer, I find that it includes all the functions that an average user would need.
To mail a message, all you have to do is click on the "To: Mail" icon. Then,
a new window will appear, allowing you to compose the new message.
The address of the main people you are mailing the message to will be placed
in the "Mail To" section.
The address of the people that you will be sending a carbon copy to should be
placed in the "Mail CC" section.
The subject is placed in the next tool box.
A function that is new to me is the Attachments option. (This will be done
later)
The last box that you can play with is the message box.
Everything was laid out in a easy to understand manor.
Task 2) Create a mailing list
An essential function of mailers is the ability to create mailing lists.
Since e-mail is used for discussion between people and groups of people over
any distance, I would have thought that any mailer would have dedicated group
function. Apparently Netscape mail did not find this as important as
I did. After a bit of playing, I was able to use their nickname function as a
group listing. A major problem that I found was the fact that I could not use
peoples aliases in my group alias. Instead, I has to type out their full addresses.
After typing in all the addresses, and getting the group alias set up, it worked beautifully.
Task 3) Send a message with an attachment
Mailing an attachment over the Internet is something I have not done before.
After I opened up the mail message, I tried to type into the attachment box.
Much to my disappointment, I was unable to just type in the file name I wanted.
I looked at the button bar, and found an attachment button. When I clicked on
it a window appeared seeing whether I wanted to attach a URL or a Normal file.
You even have the choice of saving it as text or postscript.
After I chose the file I wanted, I went back to the message screen, and the
file was listed in the attachments section. This was surprising, as
the mailer I used to use on a Windows PC, showed the file as an icon.
Task 4) Create a user alias
Creating an alias in Netscape was rather difficult at first. This first
problem I encountered was the fact that it was not named alias. After a lot
of searching, I found the menu "Message | Add to Address Book". I
clicked on it and found the properties for the users message that I was
reading. A box at the top said "Nickname". Taking a stab in the dark, I
put in an alias for the persons account.
To test what I just did, I clicked on the "To: Mail" icon. When it asked me who I wanted to mail
to, I put in the persons nickname. When I went to the next field, the
alias was automatically replaced by the persons address. I was impressed.
I found it hard to create an alias for somebody who has not sent me an e-mail message. After looking for a while, I had to give up. I don't think it is possible
Task 5) Forward and Reply to a message
Forward a message: It was a simple task. I highlighted the message, and
then clicked on the forward button. The message to be forwarded was then sent as
an attachment. I liked this format, as the text to be forward was not a distraction when I was writing the message.
A drastic problem with this form of forwarding is that sometimes when I forward
a message, I want to make comments imbedded in it. This is a lot easier
than trying to make the recipient of your message understand what section of
the forwarded message you are referring to.
Reply to a message: This was easy to use as well. All that needed to be done was click on the "Re: All" button. Unlike the forward message, the text in the original mail message was editable.
Get Mail - Check for new messages
Usability Study
Task 1) Create and send an E-mail message