> Now, I'm going to try my best to see if there is a way out of this, and
> still use synth1@... as my "account default" in Outlook. However,
> after checking around several forums, this practice seems to be widespread
> with AT&T, Verizon and others (the originating address on the email has to
> match the ISP account email address).
FWIW, the way it works on Comcast and Earthlink (or at least the way it used
to work on Earthlink, which I used for a number of years before switching to
Comcast) is that the originating address can be pretty much anything, but
you have to set up Outlook to provide your ISP account email address (and
password) to the SMTP server for authentication when sending email. I would
actually be surprised if AT&T, Verizon, etc. don't let you do it this way,
because operating in this manner would preclude the use of their ISP
services for anyone who has their own domain name(s).
> Meaning, airmail (Internet America)
> is ∗not∗ my ISP, AT&T is (because AT&T is my local phone provider, and I
> get a REALLY good deal on it).
FWIW, I've used three different ISPs at this residence and the service
provided by my local phone provider (Qwest) was easily the worst. It hardly
seems necessary to point out to Mr. MOTM that price is not the only concern
when evaluating a "REALLY good deal". ;-)
> I REALLY need to see if I can fix this, as now all of my forums (AH, SDIY,
> etc) are tied into the airmail address.
>
> This is why I HATE COMPUTERS!!!!!!!
This is why, years ago, I registered a domain name: to create email
addresses that are independent of your ISP. I've sent and received email
from the same address for years, despite using five different ISPs
domestically, as well as handling email in four countries other than the
U.S. (That's when I discovered it was useful to create a second account just
for mailing lists: I can stay subscribed while on vacation but not have to
drag down tons of list mailings over an expensive dial-up connection.) Given
how inexpensive simple domain accounts are these days, it seems silly not to
operate this way.
--Adam