There are two basic options when it comes to checking your email. You can either use a web browser or a program called an email client.
Which method will work best for you is a personal decision, but it is good to understand the difference between the two.
The easiest way to get going with email is to use webmail. You simply use your internet browser to open up a webpage that has your mail. If you are a Rainman.com customer, the address is http://webmail.yourDomainName.com.
You simply go to that web address, enter your email address as your username and put in your password, and you can check your emails, change your spam settings, write new emails, and so on. You can do pretty much anything email related at that site. Another big benefit is that you can can check your webmail from any computer that can access the internet.
By contrast, an "email client" is a program for you computer whose entire purpose is to check your email. Windows Vista comes with a built in program called Windows Mail, Mac OS X has a program called Mail. Windows 7 Live brings an email client to Windows 7.
Other options are free programs like Mozilla Thunderbird or Opera Mail. Personally, I use Outlook, which comes with MS Office.
These programs are on your personal computer, and you have to configure them to go out on the 'net, check your email account, and download your email. This might seem like a downside, but they are really great if you want to have a handy, local archive of your email. In my email directory, I have every email I have sent or received since late 2001 because I can backup email, transfer it between computers. Also, these programs usually allow a lot more organization of contacts, more integration with other programs (I send mass email blasts using MS Word and Outlook), and are generally easier to search and archive.
Which is best for you? I couldn't say, but it is a good idea to know your options when it comes to email.
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