Managing e-mail from three computers

Q: I have three computers that have Microsoft Office. Two are XP; one is Vista. The Dell machines run Outlook, and the Asus runs Outlook Express as e-mail readers.

My Internet service provider and e-mail provider is Comcast, and we use a Linksys wireless router at home.

So whatever computer I use to read my e-mail is the computer at which that e-mail stays.

I have made the mistake of forgetting an important or time-critical e-mail because I opened it on a computer that I didn't use for another week or two.

I have heard that it is possible to designate one computer as a server for all mail, so that no matter which computer I use, all of my e-mail and history is available? Is this so?

— Phil Luecke, Bellevue

A: Well, not quite.

Generally, if you use a Web browser to access your e-mail, the e-mail stays on your provider's server until you delete it. That means you can view it from any computer.

If you use a desktop e-mail client, such as Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express, the client generally downloads the mail from the server. You can, however, configure both programs to leave copies of mail on the server so that you can access them from a Web browser or e-mail client on another computer.

The downside of this strategy, of course, is that you've got multiple copies of e-mails floating around and you may be eating up your allotment of e-mail space on your Internet service provider's server.

To get a detailed explanation of how to configure Microsoft Outlook to leave a copy of mail on the server, call up the Help utility and type "leave mail on server."

Q: I have approximately 100 old 78 rpm records (mainly jazz) that I would like to convert to CDs. I was in a Fred Meyer store and saw two items that might do this.

1. A turntable that plays 45 and 33 rpm records that plugs into a computer and records them on CD. The box also says that the software includes being able to convert 78 rpm records. Cost $100.

2. A combo of turntable for all three speeds, single tape deck and CD tray so one could convert the 78 either to CD or tape. The salesman suggested that the quality of sound would be better since it records directly. Cost is $300. The argument sounds reasonable to me. Also, it would be a lot less trouble than going through my computer.

I would like to get your opinion of the two methods or any other suggestions to accomplish the conversion.

— Harry M. Reichenberg,

Federal Way

A: Just as with any stereo system — old-fashioned or new — every piece of equipment is important to the overall sound. But some pieces are more important than others. Whether it's a stereo system or a digitizing system, if you don't get good sound off that old vinyl, the digitized version can't be very good either. So while cost and convenience are always legitimate concerns, if the quality of the recording is the prime consideration, the most critical part of that process is going to be the turntable — and its needle — that you use.

The second most important factor is the quality of the digitizing board employed. Most computers don't come equipped with high-end digitizers. Recording the vinyl directly to a CD isn't important, but digitizing it with a good digitizer is. It doesn't really matter whether the digitizer is an external piece of equipment or in your computer.

If you care about the quality of your recordings, I'd suggest you spend some time browsing some Web sites before buying into a specific product. You can find a lot of discussion by searching the Internet for "digitizing LP records."

Questions for Patrick Marshall may be sent by e-mail to pmarshall@seattletimes.com or pgmarshall@pgmarshall.net, or by mail at Q&A/Technology, The Seattle Times, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111. More columns at www.seattletimes.com/columnists.