I just signed up today and although I havent really used it for very long - I love it already. I didnt get any of the usernames I wanted (I must have a common name) but..

"You are currently using 0 MB (0%) of your 2686 MB." - loving that.
And the fact that it tells you how to import your contacts from hotmail/yahoo.
And they let you personalise your google homepage.

If anyone wants an invite - I have a few to spare.

The "conversation" approach is reasonable - but I've just emailed 220 people who are now in one "conversation".

I got the usernames I wanted btw. Thanks

I've been on Gmail for about six months and I like it a lot better than Hotmail, for one thing, I've got it configured so that my MS Outlook downloads all the mails so I never have to bother logging into the site all the time.

Another Google Toy worth looking at is GoogleTalk, it's a VOIP system a little like Skype or MSN Messenger, but without all the silly toys you never need, instead it's very simple and concentrates on the most omportant thing, crystal clear, full duplex voice communication over the net. It must have saved me almost a thousand francs in phone calls in the last year.

Hi Alicia,

I don't use such services, but I do think that if I were going to I would use gmail before I trusted all my personal emails and data to the likes of Microsoft or Yahoo, two companies which will disclose your information at the drop of a hat. So far google has been doing it's best to follow it's mission of "don't be evil", but we'll have to wait and see how true that is. Hats off to them for fighting the subpoena given to them by the US government to hand over a chunk of data from the last 6 months' worth of everyone's search queries. Interesting to note that all the other companies handed over the data without a fight... Quite scary if you think about it.

No I'm not a terrorist, I just like to value my own privacy (which is probably why I post up so many messages here hahaha). For that reason I prefer to register my own domain, and keep all my mail within that domain.

P.S. Even though I never used hotmail, I always hated it the most, because whenever I mailed someone with a hotmail account they always said "oh, I didn't get that, hotmail seems to put all my mails in the spam folder".

Just my two cents' worth...

Mark

Hi Neil, I'm curious - what are these silly toys? I use Skype for Japanese lessons (my teacher is in Cape Town), and I find the quality excellent. As you could imagine quality is important when it comes to checking pronunciation etc. Skype isn't big on bells and whistles, but I do find that I like to use the text chat mode of it as well, it's very clean and I like the features like keeping a chat history etc.. Is there a compelling reason for me to switch to GoogleTalk?

I do like some of Google's other things though - Google Earth is an awesome application, and this new service of theirs Google Analytics looks very interesting indeed. But it's currently invite only and I'm waiting for an invite..

Mark

No. Although you can use MSN messenger for VOIP, CheapVOIP, GoogleTalk... Skype IMHO is still the better of them all. There are no bells and whistles, it's a straight VOIP application that does not userp your system and the 'paid for' service it offers is the one i would trust above the others... (topping up to call landline numbers internationally etc)

As for GMail, I've been a member for ages, I love it, I use it more than my domain account and you can use it as a mapped drive (Given that one account can hold over 2GB space, and if you have 10 accounts, well you do the math - not optimal but when you're moving about the space can come in handy) - gmail has the best spam filter, I don't get any junk.

well, those people probably don't read manuals, or take the time to learn about how to use a software or site either... Hotmail provides an option to turn on 'strong' spam-protection, and it explains clearly in the help page that, this option will result in every mail from a sender who is not listed as one of your contacts to be seen as spam.... simple and effective, but certainly not what an average user expects...

I'm no fan of Hotmail (and much less, of Microsoft), but just wanted to clarify that the behaviour mentioned above, is a 'feature', not a defect...!

Gmail is the best email i have used.It has all the things like more that 2 GB space, pop3, fast search, big attachment. If some one is still require this, please let me know i have some invite left.

gmail-yay.

I love the conversation storage method. Then when you get a mass email and all of your friends decide to try and be funny all the responses are just in one line instead of getting 100 emails with the subject "RE: FW: You were born in the 80's if... VERY FUNNY!!!!"

Google and gmail fans should also not forget to check out our other thread - google at your own peril.

Just so you all understand what's behind all those fancy features and "free stuff".

Hi Mark,
Thanks for pointing to that thread. But i think every email provider is doing search on our emails and some are saying it and other are not. And the other point if i am not doing something wrong then I should not have any tension.And further privacy is more important to them , who have really something private.

Still thanks for pointing to usefull thread.

Best Regards,
Raju

Hi raju - the best place to make comments raised in that thread is - on that thread. Will be happy to debate the privacy issues with you there, but not here

Gmail is fantastic, and I don't really care if a computer scans my email. The advertisements are far more subtle than Yahoo or MSN banners, and are sometimes even for something I might be interested in.

The spam filter works for better than anyone else I've used, the search feature is unmatched, storage space is great, labels and organizational tools are innnovative, I could go on and on.

One more intresting feature is you can forward all mails to any other address ....I found this feature handy, cause at my workplace all private email sites are blocked ....

Yahoo mail has just taken a great leap forward. The beta version works like a proper piece of email software. Quite happy that to say the least.

Resounding Yay from me....

I have email accounts that I use from yahoo, live (hotmail) and gmail. In terms of interface I find yahoo and live the best. Google is a fascinating company in that is able to maintain that "it does no evil" but at the same time carries out a lot actions that should raise some privacy concerns.

For example, as a normal user with no google alias they track you by IP address and store a "permanent" cookie on your computer. As soon as you start using the google toolbar or google desktop search they get even more information about you and once you have gmail account they can even associate your name with your surfing habits.

What google data mines in your email and your surfing habits and other google programs such as google maps etc is all aimed at allowing advertisers to target you better.

What they are interested in is your "attention data" and how that can drive the way users target you. When you take out a store card then the store is able to data mine your spending habits and target you appropriately. Google is doing the same but you are also exposing a lot more potential information about yourself: such as your friends, your regular email contacts and potential if you receive e-tickets where you travel.

A free 2gb is interesting, but remember what you are trading for that space.

Martin

Not to mention Google Office apps, like online spreadsheets and documents, calendars and even blogger.

GMail is definitely cool. Although I don't really use it for daily use. I just use it to archive all my e-mails from various e-mail accounts that all have limited space. I redirect everything to my gmail account in addition to saving it in each mailbox. That way I can empty my boxes without losing anything.

I love the fast search on my gmail account.