A childhood belief about technology

I saw a commercial for AOL when I was young, and I didn't understand what computers or Internet or anything like that were, right?

So I figured that you get a computer, and set it all up, and when the mailman outside puts your fliers and bills and letters in the mailbox, your computer would tell you that 'You've Got Mail!'.

Why didn't they make the phrase 'You Got E-Mail!'? At least then I wouldn't have been so confused ... ^_^;