(MONEY Magazine) – When you sign up for Internet service, you get an e-mail address and e-mail software such as Eudora Light, Netscape Messenger or Microsoft Outlook Express bundled with your browser. So why bother changing e-mail programs? Here are three features worth the switch.

A MAILBOX WITH WHEELS. Browser-bundled e-mail is easily accessible only from your own computer. If you want to be able to check mail at any computer with Internet access--and keep your address, even if you switch Internet providers--consider a free Web-based e-mail service such as Hotmail (hotmail.com), MailCity (mailcity.com), NET@DDRESS (usa.net) or Yahoo! Mail (mail.yahoo.com). All are options even if you use America Online, which otherwise locks you into its e-mail.

You should keep in mind, however, that free e-mail has its drawbacks. Only NET@DDRESS, for instance, clears your messages from a browser's memory, and extra storage or virus protection is unusual. NET@DDRESS does offer these features but charges $15 to $25 a year for them.

A MAILBOX SECRETARY. You can buy an e-mail program that helps you run a home business. Microsoft Outlook 98 (Windows and Mac, $109; free upgrade for Microsoft Office 97 users) can sort your e-mail based on any criteria you can think up, such as mail with attachments or client names. Plus, the program includes a calendar linked to your e-mail, which makes setting up meetings easier.

A MAILBOX THAT MAKES OLD COMPUTERS SEEM YOUNG. Not all advanced e-mail programs work on low-end PCs. If you're still cranking away with a 486 chip or using Windows 3.2 and want advanced features like spam filtering and multiple addresses, Eudora Pro 3.0 ($29; www.eudora.com) can do the job.

--Adrienne Carter