Anyone Really Love Google's Gmail?

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MerpsMom

MerpsMom

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
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Leawood, Kansas USA
I'm thinking of going to it exclusively but would like opinions. Also might change ISPs (from TW/Roadrunner to ATT Uverse).

And to be really dumb, can't I still use Outlook Express and have att.net forward to both OE and Gmail?

There's also Google Dox, etc., and on and on. Wonder why I'm trying to complicate my life.

Cathie
 
I use Windows Live Mail to download my Gmail, hotmail, live, rockebys, etc emails into a single email program. Windows Live Mail is the latest replacement for Outlook Express (I think) and will download regular POP email accounts as well as the webbased emails.

I don't believe Outlook Express will download Gmail.
 
I'll have to work on all that. :) Gmail is really foreign to me and sometimes doesn't load. I like OE but knew it was on its way out.

Hmmm.........Windows Live?
 
I looked at converting our Exchange based mail to GMail based Google Apps. The main thing that turned me off is that GMail doesn't support the same kind of folder hierarchy that Outlook does. It's alternative is called Tags. And while they work, I just didn't like them. Also, Google Apps does not support Tasks.

As far as plain ole GMail for personal use, it's got a lot of things going for it. It doesn't cost anything, so I'd suggest signing up and trying it (without sending out change of address forms to everyone) and if you don't like it don't use it. Nothing ventured nothing gained.
 
I do have a Gmail account and am comparing it to my other method: Roadrunner into Outlook Express. Also tried Yahoo that way. I have Roadrunner forwarding it to Gmail. I'm using IE7 right now.

Loading is probably not the correct term. I think I just figured out that instead of each individual message stacking up down the line, Gmail adds a number to it. I'm just used to seeing as you go when you receive. And there is one other truly annoying feature: you can't alphabetize your Contacts list as you wish. It's "first thing I see" for Google. So I'd have to be Simmons Cathie.

There are some nice things as well, so now I'll look at Windows Live. It's just such a pain in the rumbleseat to change ISPs. :(
 
I just started using a gmail account and absolutely love it...

...but then again, I only recently switched it from an AOL email account.

:shutup:
 
Well, Paul. I guess I don't get it then. If I leave TW/Roadrunner and go to ATT Uverse, are you saying I'd just use Gmail as my mail client and not get an address which ends in att.net? So my domain change would be to gmail.com rather than att.net then forwarded to gmail.com?

I'd still have to change addresses from kc.rr.com to gmail.com, correct? Maybe I'm thinking it's just a pain to change the domain name? And could I still use OE, couldn't I?

Too many questions, all the time. :icon45: It just takes a little turn in the road to get my off-track. :)
 
MerpsMom said:
And there is one other truly annoying feature: you can't alphabetize your Contacts list as you wish. It's "first thing I see" for Google. So I'd have to be Simmons Cathie.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure what you mean by Sorting. Maybe that it sorts by the way the name is typed in as opposed to FirstName, LastName, BusinessName and the choice to sort by any field?

I suppose it could be a pain, but if you just start typing in the search box it finds all names with whatever letters you're typing. I find that type of sorting logic vastly superior to having to type exactly as it's entered. And not only that, it looks in all the fields, not just the first name or last name. For instance, when I type in Vermont I have 38 contacts that come up, but only 2 have Vermont in the contact name. This makes it easy to find things when you're not sure what they are under. You can even add Notes that will come up in the search. It is very powerful, and easy to use, IMO.
 
Thanks! I see what you say. I had imported my Windows Address Book which is Last Name first, and it showed up as First Name first in Google Contacts.

I'll play with Gmail and will probably like it. But I still want to know about using OE as well. The devil you know. :)

Keep them comments comin'!
 
MerpsMom said:
Well, Paul. I guess I don't get it then. If I leave TW/Roadrunner and go to ATT Uverse, are you saying I'd just use Gmail as my mail client and not get an address which ends in att.net? So my domain change would be to gmail.com rather than att.net then forwarded to gmail.com?

I'd still have to change addresses from kc.rr.com to gmail.com, correct? Maybe I'm thinking it's just a pain to change the domain name? And could I still use OE, couldn't I?

Too many questions, all the time. :icon45: It just takes a little turn in the road to get my off-track. :)
Click to expand...


That's a common misconception Kathie, don't worry:

Each ISP will give you a free email address, say Cathiexyz at att.net, MissGoldFramer at Aol, etc.

But you can still get any number of email accounts anywhere you want (Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc) and they have nothing to do with att. You can tell people to send you email at those accounts.

Gmail, and possibly others, allow you to pickup email sent to other non-gmail accounts.

Look at this also, regarding Gmail / Outlook and other email systems: http://mail.google.com/support/bin/answer.py?hl=en&ctx=mail&answer=75726
 
Hope you don't think I'm beating this horse :bdh:, Paul! :)

I'll look at the link when I return from an appointment. But, no matter what, all the people who know me as whatever@kc.rr.com will no longer be able to get them there, correct? I'll have to tell them to get at blahblah@gmail.com, or who'sit@att.net, or yahoo.com, etc. I still have to tell them or I won't get mail because kc.rr.com isn't interested in me after I leave. Right?

Someone actually tried to tell me I could keep the domain name forever, with them or not. I called TimeWarner and they were too polite to laugh. Of course, the answer is "why would we be interested in handling your mail if you don't pay for our TW/RR services." Amen, I say. I wouldn't order mats and frames for you either if you were going to have someone else do the work.
 
"Own" your email address, don't "lease" it from your ISP or from a free email provider. (http://www.websitevalet.com/email/own-your-email-address/)

I am a big advocate of owning your email address rather than leasing it from an ISP or free email provider. I've had my e-mail address since 1997 and have never sent out a change of address notification. Over that time period, I have had numerous ISPs (AOL, Earthlink, Verizon, Comcast) and changing ISPs has never affected my e-mail. Also, during that time, my e-mail has resided on at least 6 different servers. Currently, my mail resides on an Exchange server in Boston and I live in Seattle.

You can "own" your email address and use Gmail. Rather than getting a Gmail account, you simply "host" your domain with Google Apps (www.google.com/a). I personally don't like the Gmail system, hence the reason I use Exchange, however 98% of my clients use the Google Apps system with their own domain. The reason so many use it is because they like the idea of "owning" their email address and they like the Google Apps cost: free.

I also recommend using an IMAP connection to your Google Apps mailbox so that all your mail is synced whether you send/receive on your mobile phone, webmail or local mail software.

For those who like the Hotmail interface, you can also "own" your e-mail address for free using the Hotmail system. Find out more here: http://domains.live.com.
 
I don't understand the post about gmail not supporting tasks. I find Google's task list very useful as it is integrated with the Google calendar. It is great to have desktop, home computer, and phone all work the same way automatically.
 
Markf, sorry - I wasn't clear. The Google Apps server does not support synchronization of Tasks with Outlook (which is my preferred primary method of communication).
 
Gmail supports standard POP3 email, so it'll work with any email program. (outlook express, outlook, windows mail, thunderbird, etc) You're not stuck using it from a web browser.

I was one of the first early beta testers of the gmail service, and have been sold ever since. I use a gmail account as my primary personal account (but not for Get The Picture). It has an impressive spam filter, and doesnt block innocent emails as often as hotmail, yahoo, aol, etc. (those 3 are a lost cause, imo) I don't use the email accounts provided by our ISP, because they seem to be spam magnets. (and I dont want to lose my email address, if I ever change ISPs)

Outlook express was discontinued after Windows XP (2001), and Windows Mail is no longer included after Vista (2007).

The new Windows 7 (less than a month away) is intentially lean, and includes no email program. However, you can still install Windows Mail in Win7 by clicking START, type ESSENTIALS, and it'll bring you to a website where you can get some optional items.

Thunderbird is another great (free) alternative, from the folks who brought you FireFox. It has features that Outlook Express and Windows Mail do not. Eudora is another. There are others, too.

Happy emailing
Mike
 
I'm so used to OE that I'll probably still use it no matter what...that is, until this desktop dies and my laptop gets replaced.

Gmail seems to get the most accolades from everyone and I'm finding more and more about it that I enjoy.

What to do.....what to do. :)
 
You can use OE with Gmail, no problem. I did before I got Vista.
 
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