Sorry, Google ate my Outlook
I've had Yahoo! Mail account for as long as I can remember, and I've always been very happy with it.
I've also had a Gmail account since the time they were still only in invitation-only beta. I forward all my other mail to it so it acts as a searchable permanent reference. I also set it up with filters and labels and use it to email stuff to myself (reminders, notes, todos…) so that everything is filed away automatically.
Until recently, I never used it to email anyone, but scarily over the past month I've been using the Gmail web interface so much that some days I don't even run Outlook. So, if I've forgotten your birthday or if you were expecting me for dinner last night, I'm sorry, but Google ate my Outlook.
Unfortunately, I am still incapable to take the plunge, give up on Outlook and trust the web with all my mail. Perhaps listing the pros and cons on 'paper' will help me make up my mind.
Reasons why I like Yahoo! Mail:
- intuitive, Outlook-like drag-and-drop web mail interface
- Yahoo! sends emails to my phone every five minutes, and lets me compose emails offline and send them when connected
- it has been my main address for a very long time
- I like lots of stuff Yahoo! is developing (Fire Eagle, for instance)
- unlimited storage!
Reasons why I do not like Yahoo! Mail:
- only fifteen filters allowed, more if you pay
- having to switch to their standard interface every time you want to access mail options
- I do not understand their spam filter: last week it blocked two genuine personal messages, and even killed a message from Yahoo! itself updating me on the process of moving the photos I have at Yahoo! Photos (which is closing) over to Flickr. However, it happily let through to me a filthy message from a lady of dubious moral qualities wanting me to order from her the leading remedy against erectile malfunctions. Go figure.
Reasons why I like Gmail:
- it pushes email to emoze, no need to keep the home computer switched on during the day
- it has a Java mobile application
- it uses labels
- search is impressive (that's what they do best, after all)
- it has an impressive list of shortcuts
- it can be infinitely customised with Greasemonkey scripts (I highly recommend BetterGmail)
- the look and feel of the UI can be changed (I use the Super Clean skin)
- infinite email addresses (you just add '+something' after your username)
- it lends itself very well to GTD (I use GTDInbox, a Firefox extension)
Reasons why I do not like Gmail:
- the never-ending rumours of Google reading your mail
- the built-in email client on the old K700 phone I am using at the moment does not work with Gmail.
- I do not want to switch my main email address
Perhaps Yahoo! Mail has exactly the same features as Gmail, but they are not as evident or talked about, and today it's all about how much people talk about you.
Yahoo! Mail vs Gmail: the jury is still out.
Thursday 11 October 2007 at 1:10 pm
You don't need to switch your main email address, just tell Google to pick up emails from the server.
I currently have my 3 'main' personal email addresses set that way and I'm Google all the way. Add in Google Calendar and I don't use Outlook at all for home use.
I have it at work and sync calendars with Google…
And, frankly, if someone wants to read my email they can. Be they Google or a.n. other hacker. I take as many steps as I can to protect myself but the only way to be certain is to be OFFLINE.. (ack, what a thought!)
Now, what's "emoze"?
I have used Yahoo Mail in the past but prefer the fact that Google Mail is quick and now loaded up with AJAX 'goodies'. It's also too strictly tidied to my Yahoo login/account which I hardly use but which it insists on trying to log me into 'chat'.. or whatever that we thing up the top of the screen is trying to do (I just cancel it and ignore it).
Friday 12 October 2007 at 7:04 am
I already have Gmail pick up emails from my other accounts. I'm just annoyed (in an OCD sort of way) that when I send email from it (under my Yahoo! identity) recipients will see "blahblah at gmail.com ON BEHALF OF blahblah at yahoo etc". Is there any way to mask that too?
Emoze is a free service that pushes email to your phone. You either set up Outlook to send email to it, or Gmail (in which case your computer does not need to be left switched on with Outlook running when you are away).