What is this page for you ask? Well, to put it as simply as we can, Orbiter Online allows you to handle your email in one of two ways: as plain text through (like you'd see on a BBS, such as Orbiter's BBS) or in full-HTML support mode, which is more like the mail you'd get from other Internet users.

Normally it really shouldn't make a difference either way. However in some cases, when the plain text mode is forced upon Internet messages, special formatting is lost, and the message may lose a desired effect or look that was intended.

When that conversion occurs, some information is stripped from the internet Email header to fit the header format used by the BBS's internal mail database. The BBS is also unable to preserve and display foreign-language accentuations so that type of information is also stripped. Most importantly, you lose stuff like RTF (Rich Text Format) Emails, HTML Emails (like those you can do with Mail Programs or your browser's email software) and certain kinds of file attachments.

Although these limitations are rarely a problem for most people, some may want access to an alternative. To that effect, this system can route mail directly into your internet mailbox, without mangling the letters in the process. When you activate the direct Email mode, the messages are preserved exactly like they would be if this system was running a unix-based or NT-based solution. At this point, it's recommended that you retrieve all your mail using a POP3 mail client like Eudora or Netscape Mail, as this modifies the way Mail is displayed in terminal mode or in Client/Server mode.

The disadvantage of the direct method comes when you want to retrieve the Email in terminal or Client/Server mode. What you get is the Email in it's "raw" form with no conversion performed to it. The Email will be readable most of the time except when there's a file attachment or the mail is very large. That's why, once the direct mode is engaged, you shouldn't try reading your mail from the BBS in Terminal mode or Client/Server mode. If you check your email exclusively from your web connection, the DIRECT MAIL method is for you!