All students recommending the web-based Postoffice e-mail service are in the running for a Palm Pilot V hand-held organizer in a contest sponsored by The U of M Information Systems.
Student Technology Liaison Cedric Burgess said the contest is to encourage students to convert to Postoffice.
"After students convert to Postoffice, a survey will appear and students can check a box that says who referred them to Postoffice," Burgess said. "Then the name of the referring person can be entered. The person with the highest number of referrals wins."
Burgess said the final conversion from the VAX e-mail system to the Postoffice system is Dec. 15.
"The Palm Pilot winner will be announced after Dec. 15," Burgess said. "The total number of people converted so far is 1,622."
Junior special education major Marion Bacon said the conversion was simple.
"It was easy," Bacon said. "I enjoy checking my e-mail from anywhere -- on campus, the library, anywhere."
Burgess said Postoffice has many advantages over the VAX system including the amount of space a student or faculty member can have for e-mail storage.
"The VAX system only gives one five megabytes," Burgess said. "Postoffice gives 15 megabytes.
"You can also check your e-mail from anywhere you have a Internet connection and a browser," Burgess said. "With the VAX you could only check mail at a VAX terminal."
According to the Postoffice Website, the disk quota of 15 MB comes with an automatic notification when one is about to exceed their quota limit.
Old stored e-mail will remain on the VAX server, both Mocha and Latte e-mail servers.
The information systems department recommends students and faulty to use Netscape Navigator Version 4.5 or higher for accessing Postoffice.
"You can receive attachments and pictures," Burgess said. "Whereas on the VAX, you could not.
"The server for Postoffice is dedicated only to e-mail. The VAX was dedicated to e-mail, statistical programs and webpages," Burgess said.
Burgess said student's websites that were created on the VAX will still remain there and be supported.
Senior journalism major Tamara Cunningham said she does not use her University account because of the speed.
"I really don't know why I don't use it," Cunningham said. "But I have Road Runner and the speed is faster and that is probably why I don't use the school's account."
The Postoffice service started this semester, according to the Postoffice Website.
The Palm Pilot contest rankings are as follows: Valeria Wiggins with 13 referrals, Mark Savage with 11, Ann Marie Hall and Lynne H. Owens with eight and Melvin A. Humphreys with six.
Burgess said if students have any questions about the conversion or the Postoffice service, they should consult http://postoffice.memphis.edu.
"Overall," Burgess said. "Postoffice is better due to size of storage, the speed and the ability to access it from anywhere."
