Introduction

Welcome to the Emulator.ca Systems Electronic Mail System -- quite possibly the most exciting advancement in personal communications since the telephone.

Consider the alternatives. A letter mailed today might arrive in three to five business days -- if you are lucky, if the postal service cooperates, if your recipient remembers to check their mailbox. A telephone call requires both parties to be available at the same instant, and leaves no written record of what was discussed. A telegram is expensive and painfully impersonal. A telex requires specialised equipment that most individuals simply cannot afford.

Now consider this: you compose a message on your personal computer, press a few keys, and seconds later your words appear in your recipient's mailbox -- ready to be read the moment they dial in, preserved exactly as you wrote them, available for reference indefinitely. This is electronic mail, and it represents nothing less than a fundamental revolution in how human beings communicate with one another.

For the first time in history, the written word travels at the speed of light. No postage. No waiting. No hoping. Just instant, reliable, private correspondence between any two users on the system.

The Emulator.ca Electronic Mail System brings this extraordinary capability to your home computer. Unlike the public message boards where every user sees every post, electronic mail is private correspondence -- your messages go directly to their intended recipients and to no one else. The system stores your mail securely between sessions, so messages will be waiting for you whenever you dial in, whether that is an hour from now or a fortnight hence.

Think of your mailbox as a private post office box that you can access from anywhere there is a telephone line. Dash off a note to a friend across the country. Coordinate a project with collaborators in another time zone. Keep a permanent record of important discussions. All without stamps, envelopes, or waiting for the mail carrier to make his rounds. The possibilities are, quite frankly, breathtaking.

Quick Start

Ready to send your first electronic message? The process is remarkably straightforward. Follow these steps:

1. Dial 555-0750 from your terminal
2. Enter your username at the login prompt
3. Enter your password when prompted (characters will not be displayed for security)
4. Press C to compose a new message
5. Type the recipient's username and press RETURN
6. Type a subject line and press RETURN
7. Type your message -- press RETURN at the end of each line
8. Type a period (.) alone on a line and press RETURN to send

That is all there is to it! Your message is delivered instantly to the recipient's inbox -- no stamps required.

To read messages sent to you:

1. Press I from the main menu to open your inbox
2. Type a message number to read that message
3. Press R to reply, D to delete, or B to go back

Getting Connected

Dial-Up Procedure

To access the Electronic Mail System, configure your modem software with the following parameters:

Pick up your telephone handset, listen for the dial tone, and dial away. Within moments you will be connected to the future of correspondence.

Login Process

Upon connection, you will see the Email System banner followed by a username prompt:

╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║      EMAIL SYSTEM v2.0                 ║
║   SMTP/POP3 Message Center             ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝

Username: _

Type your username and press ENTER. Usernames may be up to 20 characters long and consist of letters, numbers, underscores, and dashes.

After entering your username, the system will prompt you for your password:

Username: guest
Password: _

Type your password and press ENTER. For your security, the characters you type will not be displayed on screen -- this is normal and by design. Rest assured that the system is receiving your keystrokes even though nothing appears.

Authentication

The system verifies your credentials against its user registry. If the username or password is incorrect, you will see:

Invalid username or password.

You will then be returned to the username prompt to try again.

Main Menu Navigation

After logging in, you will see the Main Menu displaying your mailbox statistics and available options:

Inbox: 5 messages (2 unread)
Sent: 3 messages
Quota: 8/100 (8%)

           EMAIL SYSTEM

  [I] Inbox
  [S] Sent Messages
  [C] Compose New Message
  [Q] Quit

Selection: _

The quota line shows your current storage usage. Each mailbox can hold up to 100 messages across both Inbox and Sent folders combined. When your quota exceeds 80%, the system will display a warning -- a gentle reminder to tidy up by deleting messages you no longer need.

Menu Options

Reading Messages

The Inbox

Press I from the Main Menu to view your Inbox. The message list shows all received messages with sender, date, and subject information:

 INBOX (3 messages)

*1. From: postmaster               Today 14:30
    Subject: Welcome to BBS Email!
*2. From: admin                    Yesterday
    Subject: System Maintenance Notice
 3. From: hacker42                 2 days ago
    Subject: Interested in your game?

[1-3] Read message  [B] Back
Selection: _

The asterisk (*) beside a message number indicates an unread message -- correspondence you have not yet opened. Enter a message number (1-3) to read that message, or press B to return to the Main Menu.

The Sent Folder

Press S from the Main Menu to view your Sent Messages folder. This displays a record of every message you have composed and dispatched to other users -- a remarkably useful feature for keeping track of your correspondence:

 SENT MESSAGES (2 messages)

1. To: hacker42                    Today 15:45
   Subject: Re: Interested in your game?
2. To: admin                       Yesterday
   Subject: Question about file uploads

[1-2] Read message  [B] Back
Selection: _

Viewing a Message

When you select a message to read, the full message header and body are displayed in their entirety:

From:    postmaster
To:      guest
Date:    Today 14:30
Subject: Welcome to BBS Email!

Welcome to the BBS Email System!

This is a fully functional email client with inbox, sent
folder, compose, reply, and delete capabilities.

Your messages are stored persistently.

- The Postmaster

[R]eply  [D]elete  [B]ack
Action: _

Composing New Messages

Press C from the Main Menu to compose a new message. The system will guide you through three simple steps: recipient, subject, and body. It really is that straightforward -- no special training required.

Step 1: Enter Recipient

 COMPOSE NEW MESSAGE

To: _

Enter the username of the person you wish to correspond with. The recipient field accepts up to 40 characters. Usernames may contain letters, numbers, underscores, and dashes.

Step 2: Enter Subject

To: hacker42
Subject: _

Enter a brief subject line describing your message (up to 60 characters). A clear, descriptive subject helps the recipient understand the purpose of your message before they even open it. "Question about modem settings" is infinitely more helpful than "Hi" -- remember, your recipient may receive dozens of messages.

Step 3: Compose Message Body

To: hacker42
Subject: Game collaboration idea
Message body (type . on a line by itself to finish):
_

Type your message, pressing ENTER at the end of each line. Each line can be up to 70 characters long. When you have finished composing your masterpiece, type a single period (.) on a line by itself and press ENTER to send.

Message Size Limits

Each message (subject plus body combined) must not exceed 10,240 bytes -- roughly ten kilobytes. That is more than enough for even the most verbose correspondence. If you somehow exceed this limit, the system will inform you and the message will not be sent. Brevity, as they say, is the soul of wit.

Message Delivery

When you complete a message, it is immediately delivered to the recipient's Inbox and a copy is saved in your Sent folder. The system confirms successful delivery with the satisfying message:

Message sent successfully!

Imagine: your words, delivered across any distance, in the blink of an eye. The postal service simply cannot compete.

Replying to Messages

When reading a message, press R to compose a reply. The Reply function automatically fills in the recipient address and prefixes the subject with "Re:" -- saving you valuable keystrokes and keeping the conversation thread intact.

 REPLY TO MESSAGE

To: postmaster
Subject: Re: Welcome to BBS Email!

Message body (type . on a line by itself to finish):
_

The reply process works exactly like composing a new message, but you skip directly to entering the message body since the recipient and subject are pre-filled. This makes carrying on a conversation wonderfully efficient.

Deleting Messages

When reading a message (from either Inbox or Sent folder), press D to delete it. The system will ask for confirmation before proceeding:

Delete this message? [Y/N]: _

Press Y to confirm deletion, or N to cancel and keep the message safely in your mailbox.

After deletion (or cancellation), you are returned to the folder you were viewing (Inbox or Sent).

A Typical Email Session

Here is what a complete email session might look like, from the moment you pick up the telephone to the moment you hang up. Study this example to get a feel for the natural rhythm of electronic correspondence:

ATDT555-0750
CONNECT 1200

╔════════════════════════════════════════╗
║      EMAIL SYSTEM v2.0                 ║
║   SMTP/POP3 Message Center             ║
╚════════════════════════════════════════╝

Username: sarah_k
Password:

Logged in as: sarah_k
You have 2 unread message(s)

Inbox: 5 messages (2 unread)
Sent: 12 messages
Quota: 17/100 (17%)

Selection: I                    <- Check inbox first

*1. From: mike_z                Today 09:15
    Subject: Re: BBS meetup this weekend?
*2. From: postmaster            Today 08:00
    Subject: System maintenance scheduled
 3. From: hacker42              Yesterday
    Subject: Got your file working!

Selection: 1                    <- Read the new message from mike_z

From:    mike_z
To:      sarah_k
Date:    Today 09:15
Subject: Re: BBS meetup this weekend?

Sounds great! I can make it Saturday afternoon.
Should I bring my acoustic coupler?

- Mike

[R]eply  [D]elete  [B]ack
Action: R                       <- Reply immediately

To: mike_z
Subject: Re: BBS meetup this weekend?

Message body (type . on a line by itself to finish):
Perfect! Saturday at 2pm works.

No need for the coupler - I have a spare
Hayes 1200 you can use.

See you then!
- Sarah
.

Message sent successfully!

Notice the natural workflow: check for new messages, read them, reply to anything urgent, and compose new messages as needed. Most sessions follow this satisfying pattern. What once would have taken days of postal back-and-forth is accomplished in mere minutes.

Multi-Line Message Body Editing

The Email System supports composing multi-line messages using a simple yet effective line-by-line editor. For those accustomed to typewriters, the paradigm will feel instantly familiar.

Line Input Mode

• Each line of text is entered separately
• Press ENTER to finish the current line and start a new one
• Maximum line length is 70 characters -- plenty of room for expressive prose
• Use blank lines (just press ENTER) to create paragraph breaks for readability

Ending Your Message

To signal that your composition is complete, type a single period (.) on a line by itself and press ENTER. This elegant convention is borrowed directly from the SMTP mail transfer protocol used by the great mainframe systems -- you are using the same technique employed by computer scientists at universities and research laboratories worldwide.

This is the first paragraph of my message.

This is the second paragraph, separated by
a blank line above.

Thanks for reading!
.

Editing Limitations

Command Reference

Main Menu Commands

Inbox/Sent Folder Commands

Message Reading Commands

Compose Mode Commands

Confirmation Prompts

Tips for Electronic Mail Etiquette

Electronic mail is new enough that social conventions are still forming -- you have the rare privilege of helping to shape them. The guidelines below represent the emerging consensus among experienced users about what makes electronic communication effective and pleasant for all involved.

Writing Effective Messages

• Make subject lines count. Your recipient sees the subject line before deciding whether to read your message. "Question about modem settings" is infinitely better than "Hi" or "Question." A thoughtful subject line respects both parties' time and makes finding old messages much easier.
• Keep it brief. At 300 baud, a long message takes minutes to download -- minutes your recipient is paying for in long-distance charges. At 2400 baud, it is still considerably slower than speech. Say what you need to say clearly and concisely. If you find yourself writing more than a screenful, consider whether all of it is truly necessary.
• Structure longer messages. When you must write at length, use blank lines to separate paragraphs. A wall of unbroken text is as unwelcoming on screen as it is on paper. Your recipient will thank you.
• Sign your messages. End with your name (and optionally your username if it differs from your real name). Some users develop elaborate signatures with favourite quotations or ASCII art, but simple is often better.
• Reply promptly. Electronic mail creates an expectation of faster response than postal mail -- that is rather the point, after all. Try to reply within 48 hours, even if just to acknowledge receipt and promise a fuller response later.

Common Courtesies

• Do not shout. ALL CAPITAL LETTERS IS THE WRITTEN EQUIVALENT OF YELLING. It is hard to read and suggests aggression. Use capitals for emphasis sparingly, if at all.
• Cool off before responding to provocation. It is dangerously easy to fire off an angry response (known as a "flame") and regret it later. If a message upsets you, wait an hour -- or better yet, a day -- before replying. What seems urgent rarely is, and hasty words cannot be unsent.
• Respect privacy. Electronic mail is personal correspondence, no different from a sealed letter. Never forward someone's private message to others without their explicit permission.
• No unsolicited advertising. Commercial messages to people who did not request them are strictly forbidden on this system and most others. This is a community, not a marketplace.

Common Abbreviations

To save precious typing time (and connect charges!), some common abbreviations have developed among electronic correspondents:

Emoticons

Since electronic mail lacks tone of voice and facial expressions, resourceful users have developed "emoticons" (emotional icons) to convey feeling and prevent misunderstandings. Tilt your head to the left to see them -- clever, is it not?

Troubleshooting

"Invalid username or password."

Double-check that you are entering your username and password correctly. Remember that the password is not displayed as you type -- this is a security feature, not a malfunction. If you have forgotten your credentials, try one of the default accounts listed in the Login Process section above.

"Too many failed attempts. Disconnecting."

You have entered incorrect credentials three times in succession. The system disconnects as a security precaution. Simply redial 555-0750 and try again, taking care with your typing.

"Username cannot be empty."

You pressed ENTER without typing a username. The system needs to know who you are before it can show you your mail! Type your username and try again.

"Password cannot be empty."

You pressed ENTER without typing a password. Even though the characters are hidden, you must still type your password before pressing ENTER.

"Recipient cannot be empty"

You must enter a recipient username when composing a message. Make sure you type the username before pressing ENTER.

"User does not exist"

The username you entered as a recipient is not registered on the system. Verify the spelling and try again. You can only send messages to users who have existing accounts.

"Subject cannot be empty"

All messages require a subject line. Enter at least one character for the subject -- your recipient will appreciate knowing what the message is about.

"Invalid selection"

You entered a number outside the valid range for the message list. Check the numbers shown in the folder listing and enter a valid message number.

"Message too large"

Your message exceeded the 10,240-byte size limit. Try shortening the message body or splitting your thoughts across multiple messages.

"Your mailbox is full"

You have reached the 100-message quota. Delete some old messages from your Inbox or Sent folder to make room for new correspondence.

Lost connection during compose

Unfortunately, unsent messages are not preserved if your connection drops. For important or lengthy messages, consider composing your text offline in a text editor first, then pasting it into the compose window when connected. This also saves on connect-time charges!

Quick Reference Card

+------------------------------------------------------------------+
|              ELECTRONIC MAIL QUICK REFERENCE                     |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+
|  LOGIN                    |  MAIN MENU                           |
|  Enter username + ENTER   |  I - Inbox                           |
|  Enter password + ENTER   |  S - Sent messages                   |
|  (3 attempts maximum)     |  C - Compose new message             |
|                           |  Q - Quit                            |
+---------------------------+--------------------------------------+
|  FOLDER VIEW              |  MESSAGE VIEW                        |
|  1-9 - Read message       |  R - Reply to message                |
|  B - Back to main menu    |  D - Delete message                  |
|                           |  B - Back to folder                  |
+---------------------------+--------------------------------------+
|  COMPOSE MODE             |  CONFIRMATION PROMPTS                |
|  Type text, RETURN for    |  Y - Yes (confirm)                   |
|    new line               |  N - No (cancel)                     |
|  . (period alone) - Send  |                                      |
+---------------------------+--------------------------------------+
|  TIPS:                                                           |
|  - Commands are not case-sensitive (i and I both work)           |
|  - Unread messages marked with asterisk (*)                      |
|  - Subject lines help recipients prioritise messages             |
|  - End messages with your name as a signature                    |
|  - Password is hidden when typing (this is normal!)              |
+------------------------------------------------------------------+

Glossary

Authentication -- The process of verifying your identity by providing a valid username and password combination. Think of it as showing your identification card at the post office window.

Bandwidth -- The amount of data that can be transmitted over a communication line in a given time. Measured in bits per second (baud).

Baud -- A unit of data transmission speed. 300 baud means 300 bits per second, or roughly 30 characters per second -- about the speed of a fast typist.

Compose -- The act of writing a new electronic mail message. Derived from the Latin componere, "to put together."

E-Mail -- Short for "electronic mail." Messages sent between computer users over a network. Destined, many believe, to one day rival the postal service in volume.

Inbox -- The folder where incoming messages are stored until you read or delete them. Check it often -- you never know what might be waiting!

Mailbox -- Your personal storage area for electronic mail messages, including your inbox and sent folder.

Password -- A secret word or phrase used to verify your identity when logging in. Choose something memorable but not easily guessed. Never share it with others.

POP3 -- Post Office Protocol version 3. A standard method for retrieving electronic mail from a server.

Quota -- The maximum number of messages your mailbox can hold (100 messages total across Inbox and Sent). Messages count against your quota until deleted.

Recipient -- The person to whom you are sending a message. Must be a registered user on the system.

Reply -- A message sent in response to a received message. The system automatically addresses replies to the original sender and prefixes the subject with "Re:".

Sent Folder -- A folder containing copies of messages you have sent to others. An invaluable record of your outgoing correspondence.

SMTP -- Simple Mail Transfer Protocol. A standard method for sending electronic mail between systems. The period-on-a-line convention used to end messages comes from this very protocol.

Subject Line -- A brief description of a message's contents, displayed in folder listings to help recipients identify and prioritise important mail.

Username -- Your unique identifier on the system, used as your mail address. May contain letters, numbers, underscores, and dashes.

See Also

Expand your BBS experience with these related services:

• Chat Lounge (555-0705) -- Meet fellow users in real-time conversation, then follow up via email for anything that needs a permanent record
• Editor (555-0730) -- Compose longer messages offline before sending, saving precious connect time
• File Manager (555-0603) -- Download utilities and games to discuss with your correspondents