How to set up Mail without own Internet account

Question

I stay at different homes, using their Internet connections to check my e-mail online. If I get e-mail via the Internet, using any available network, how can I set up Mail? Mail asks for my incoming and outgoing server, but I am using any available network. Can I use Mail at all without my own Internet account? What if I use the account of a family member or friend who has Internet at their residence?

Answer 1

Well, you need a permanent email address somewhere to which all your email goes. You cannot use web mail addresses such as the free email accounts at Yahoo or Google because they are not accessible from Mail.
If your parents have cable internet service from RoadRunner, for example, then they can authorize an email account for you. Your email address would be something like "[email protected]" You would set up the account as you would normally using the ingoing and outgoing mail servers provided.
Now when you are at some other location on the internet you can retrieve your email by simply letting Mail fetch it from your email address. If you need to send email then you will need to provide the outgoing mail server address used by the internet mail system you are now using. You can add this as a second server so it's easy to switch between them when you need to.
I suggest you look at Mail Help from Mail's Help menu where you can search for more information on configuring Mail.