These days, you gotta have an email account. It's simply the way the world communicates. Whether you're looking for a job, trying to find information, or just keeping in touch with friends, you need email. There are several free web-based email services, and you're welcome to choose whichever one you like. But we feel Gmail offers great service and will better prepare you for all your online communication. So, let's get started...

Step 1
Type www.gmail.com into the URL window or what's called the Address Bar at the top of the screen. (If you're starting on the google.com main page you'll notice a link to Gmail at the top of the screen to the left.)

Step 2
Click the big 'create an account' button on the lower right hand side of the screen.

Step 3
The next step is it's a lonnnnng step... but you only have to do it once.

Fill in your first and last names.

Create a login name. This has to be something that isn't already in use. Try some combinations of your first and last names, initials, etc. Try putting a period between your first and last name (Bob.Smith). Keep clicking 'check availability' until you find a login name.

Choose a password. This needs to be a word or combination of words and numbers that isn't obvious to other, but that you can remember. ('Password' is a bad password. So i.