[delpi]

First let's define ISP. The ISP, Internet Service Provider is an entity that manages connections to the Internet. The ISP is location specific (dial up excepted) and has nothing to do with a specific computer.

If you choose Embarq DSL at your home, any computer connected to the Internet (wired or wireless) from your home is using Embarq as its ISP.

If I choose Comcast at my home, any computer connected to the Internet (wired or wireless) at my home is using Comcast as its ISP.

The problem with email occurs when a computer is configured to send email via one ISP but is connected to the Internet via a different ISP and is only a problem when using client software (Outlook Express for example) to manage email.

If you use webmail when you are away from your normal ISP, all will work just fine. You could take your computer to Paris and connect to the Internet. Webmail will work. In fact, you can use any other computer and webmail will work so long as that computer is connected to the Internet.

Comcast and Embarq provide web based email as do most other email providers.

So, you ask, why would one not use webmail exclusively. Because client based email (Outlook Express) is far less cumbersome to use (you don't have to login ) and much faster. It also provides the ability to monitor several email accounts and to store and filter messages based on your needs.

In summary. Client based (Outlook Express, Outlook, thunderbird, etc. software is the best bet for your computer when connected to the ISP you've selected for your home.

When away from home. You should use webmail.