17
Jun
2004
13:58

Gmail

I’ve often thought that maybe I should start using the “category” functionality of movable type where you can specify certain categories for each entry. I’ve never really thought that I would use or need it that much, but then I find my entries generally falling into a few categories. This would fall into the “Geek Stuff” category.
For those who may not know, the all-powerful Google have introduced their own web based email (like hotmail, yahoo mail, etc.), called Gmail. It’s currently in beta testing and the only way to get an account is to be invited by someone already in it, or get randomly chosen. For example, they randomly choose people with Blogger accounts (since Blogger is part of Google now). I was interested in checking it out so I checked my seldom used Blogger account to see if I had an invite. Negative. On a whim I checked my wife’s Blogger account. Bingo! Knowing that she would probably never notice it, and even more likely would have no interest in it, I took the invite and made my own Gmail account.
Since I have my own domain, I don’t really need an online email account, but I did occasionally use Hotmail when there were problems with my account, or when certain ISPs had my server blocked because they think my shared server sends spam (though this is a false claim, getting unblocked from an ISP is next to impossible). Goodbye Hotmail. Gmail will be my new alternate mail. Not only because I like Google far more than Microsoft, but because it is innovative, slick, and very cool. They give you a gigabyte of space, and encourage “archiving” as opposed to outright deleting. Then you can do a search through your old mail at any time. No more need for separating things into folders, since you can just do a search for “llamas” if you’re searching for that old email about what to do if your Llama has a stomach ache from eating your A-team action figures.
Keyboard shortcuts and other cool features make me actually want to use Gmail, but I doubt I could ever give up using my main heathallyn.com address and the ability to check it with Outlook or other POP3 mail programs. However, if they add POP3 access in the future, it will become even more tempting. If there’s anyone who needs a cool web based email, and wants to try Gmail, I have 3 invites left to give out.

6 Responses

  1. Beth says:

    I, too, really like GMail. I may set up my Yahoo account to forward to it, or force everyone to, once again, use another e-mail address for me.

  2. Jess says:

    G-mail account-stealing freak!
    Oh, it’s OK now because he invited me, but it was touch and go for a few days there.

  3. Mom/Kathie says:

    I took your invite, and this is my Gmail addy. haven’t switched all my other emails over yet though. Thanks . I love you
    Mom

  4. Mom/Kathie says:

    Midnightsong@gmail.com forgot to leave it. doh!

  5. Delle says:

    Oooh, I’m jealous. I love reading your geek entries (actually I like reading all entries, its just the geek ones that inspire me to a) reply and b) try new geeky loves). I looked at all the info on Gmail a while back, as I wanted to have a look at its geekiness, but I couldn’t get an account (I wouldn’t even know where to look to see if I had an invite through my blogger account). I guess I shall wait until they are available to the plebs before I can play.

  6. Simon says:

    One. Gig. Of. Space.
    *drool*

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