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Mary G
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| Posted: March 14 2006 at 7:00am | IP Logged
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As we proceed with plans to head to Austria in June  , I am looking at web-based email options. Google has a new one called ....Gmail that looks good --
any advice, comments, criticisms or kudos that I should know about?
any suggestions for web-based that won't inundate me with spam?
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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JennGM
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| Posted: March 14 2006 at 7:21am | IP Logged
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I've just started a Gmail account this past month. I really like it. It's fast, tidy, efficient, much easier than Yahoo or MSN or hotmail. I've set it up to go into my Outlook. While I'm enjoying this spam free, easy to use email, I do have a few problems.
1) I'm not getting all my mail from this forum and Yahoo groups. Not sure if it's gmail's fault or not. It's sporadic and random, I'll get some messages of a thread and not another.
2) I have to close and restart Outlook periodically to get my gmail email.
3) Privacy concern. Google and other web-based email target you with ads on the side from words in your email. I read a humorous article on it, but now I can't find where I read it! Here's a brief review, but I also searched "WSJ Gmail" to pull up some technology reviews that might help you.
If I can find that article, I'll send it.
I think some of my problem might be using it as Pop3 email. But the convenience of checking my messages when I'm out of town on the web is great.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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kristina
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| Posted: March 14 2006 at 7:31am | IP Logged
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Dear Mary,
For all of the mail that I did not want in our family inbox, I had a yahoo account. It was okay. However, I was given an invite to gmail and the difference is like night and day. With g-mail, spam is stored in a separate folder and is easily deleted in one fell swoop. Occasionally a spam slips in the regular mail, but not often and I simply click the 'report spam' button.
G-mail is most perfect for anyone who belongs to any sort of e-mail lists because all related emails with the same subject are linked together. It is so convenient. I am really pleased. I think it is strange that one needs an invite to create an acct. Anyone who wants an invite to open gmail account, pm me with your e-mail and I will send you an invite.
The gmail website explains their service here.
1. What makes Gmail different?
Yes, Gmail is another email service. But it's different in lots of ways, starting with a philosophy: that communications can be made simpler, more efficient and more fun. When building Gmail, we looked at the frustrations people were having with email, and started with our product from scratch. The result is something that's faster, cleaner, and more intuitive. For example, Gmail automatically groups an email and its replies into a conversation, so you can easily follow the back and forth of an email exchange. It's just like you were chatting. And now, you can chat in Gmail too.
There are no pop-ups or banner ads in Gmail, and very little spam. With Google search, it's easier for you to find the things that matter to you. And Gmail even has some personality. But don't take our word for it, try it yourself. Think of it as a fresh start.
2. How do I sign up?
You can get a Gmail account if you're invited by someone who already has one. Or, you can sign up for an account using your mobile phone.
3. What about spam?
Innovative Google technology on the inside keeps spam messages on the outside. Lack of spam is one of our users' number one reasons for loving Gmail. And we keep improving our sophisticated spam filter every day. You can help by using the Report Spam button, which removes spam from your inbox and automatically improves spam filtering in the future.
Blessings,
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kristina
yesterthoughts
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kristina
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| Posted: March 14 2006 at 7:41am | IP Logged
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Jenn,
I am not computer savvy enough to know that g-mail could go into my Outlook.  I use it on the web and have never had any problems.. so far.
I forgot about the target ads. I don't really notice them because when I read my e-mail, it is almost like reading an article on a website that has ads or other stories to click on in a box on the side.
Blessings,
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kristina
yesterthoughts
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stefoodie
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| Posted: March 14 2006 at 9:24am | IP Logged
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i've been a happy gmail user for about 8 months now. my only complaint is that i can't sort by sender, or by subject, though of course you could use the filtering thing, but i'm not a big fan of that.
to get the sorting thing i need, i use thunderbird (free e-mail client, similar to outlook -- download at firefox w/c is also my favorite browser) -- no problems as with outlook (probably b/c it's open source) and i can do all the sorting and searching i want.
another neat feature about gmail (or not, depending on how you look at it) is that it has the chat feature built in. i usually have mine set to "off", but the times that i choose to use it it's very convenient.
edited to say: two more pluses with gmail: the capacity keeps on increasing! and, you can actually use a gmail account for online storage of files and stuff. (i haven't yet, but i've got the instructions for doing so if i ever want to do this.)
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stef
mom to five
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Mary G
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| Posted: March 14 2006 at 9:31am | IP Logged
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Thanks folks for the input -- Jenn, thanks too for the pm -- I do appreciate that also.
Looks like it might be a great alternative as we won't know our server, etc until we get settled (probably mid-August) and this way I'd be able to check from anywhere! A big plus.....
has anyone used the switch feature for shifting to GMail from other emails?
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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JennGM
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| Posted: March 14 2006 at 9:38am | IP Logged
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No, I haven't used the switch.
My sister just reminded me of the article. It was in the Washington Post Magazine Gmail Intuition by Gene Weingarten.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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MacBeth
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| Posted: March 14 2006 at 9:47am | IP Logged
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Mary, Libby has a friend who recently moved to Norway, and her gmail account (both of them) work very well. My dh has moved most of his mailings to gmail. I only use it sometimes, but it has so much room!
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God Bless!
MacBeth in NY
Don's wife since '88; "Mom" to the Fab 4
Nature Study
MacBeth's Blog 
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~Rachel~
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| Posted: March 14 2006 at 12:21pm | IP Logged
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I started using my g-mail as my main account when I had a problem with spam coming into another one. I love it.
it does take some getting used to... I figured out the filtering thing.
My favourite feature is the sorting by thread when you read your email 
I have not got it set up to go into Outlook because I want to access it from any computer  , but it is fast and efficient.
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~Rachel~
Wife to William
Mum to James 13, Lenore 8
Lighting a Fire
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Joanna
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| Posted: March 14 2006 at 2:47pm | IP Logged
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I have an Yahoo account and I like it. It is so easy to access it from all over the world. I use an option which sends all spam e-mails to the separate mailbox and deletes them immediately (one can also store spam messages for a week or a month, but I would rather not see all the unpleasant advertisements).
Joanna
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: GMail anyone?
