Gmail

Gmail

I have been using e-mail since 1980. Gmail is the best overall system I have used -- it's not even close.

Here are instructions for trying Gmail out. The best part? If you don't like it after you try it for a while, you just stop using it and go back to your old system. It will be as if you never left.

1. Set up a Gmail account.

2. Import your other provider's e-mail and contacts into Gmail.

3. If your current e-mail provider offers forwarding (e.g. Yahoo!, Comcast, Verizon), forward your e-mail to your new Gmail account. If you want the option of running side-by-side for a bit, check the box (or whatever) that says something like "Forward, but keep a copy on the server". That way you'll have incoming e-mail in both places in case you bail on Gmail. [But, you won't bail. No one who has followed my instructions ever has. Really.]

4. If your current e-mail provider does not offer forwarding (e.g. AOL), Google up instructions for accessing e-mail from your provider from Gmail. You'll set this up on Gmail's "Settings >> Accounts and import" tab, under "Check mail from other accounts (using POP3):."

Important notes

--From now on, just give out your Gmail address to new contacts. Old contacts can keep doing what they have been doing. I have about 10 old e-mail accounts funneling into Gmail -- Gmail doesn't care, and neither do the people who have my old addresses.

--Did you check the box to "Keep e-mails on the server" (discussed above)? If you did, write a note to uncheck it after you decide to stay with Gmail. Otherwise, your old e-mail account will eventually fill up and start bouncing e-mails!

--Some e-mail providers require a periodic login (e.g. Yahoo!, AOL) to keep an account active. Gmail forwarding/importing doesn't count. So, remind yourself to log in, say, monthly to keep your account active.

--Let's say you're the first person I know who decides to leave Gmail and go back to your old provider. What to do?

1. Seek professional mental health counseling. You cra cra. :-)
2. If your old provider is forwarding to Gmail, log in and stop that.
3. If Gmail is importing your e-mail via POP3 (see above), stop that.
4. Set Gmail to forward your e-mail to your old provider.
5. It's like nothing ever happened. If someone did make a note of your Gmail address during your trial period, no worries -- now it will get forwarded to your old provider.

--How to delete e-mails in Gmail: no. Don't ever delete e-mails in Gmail unless they are bothering you. Gmail users simply archive old messages. If you want a message at some future time, just search for it. If you don't, it ain't hurting anything or using up a valuable amount of space. I imported e-mail going back to the early 90's into my Gmail account -- long before Google existed. I did need to purchase some additional storage space (the $5/yr didn't break me), but you likely won't need to worry about space. Ever.

--Say goodbye to spam problems. Google will rarely trap non-spam e-mails. And, when it does, you simply create a filter and check the box to "Never send to Spam folder." Done.

--Create folders (called labels) to organize your e-mail. If helpful, set up filters to automagically move your e-mail into the appropriate folder (label).

Miscellaneous Gmail tips

--My recommended iPhone app for Gmail is Microsoft Outlook. It does everything the Gmail app does, and it allows threaded conversations to be turned off. For people who like a lot of control, I use the Airmail app -- but, it's more complex and not as intuitive.

--I use the Gmail app when I need to search my e-mail on my phone -- it's faster. That's all I use it for -- not being able to turn off conversation threading makes it a one star app for me.

--Once you get comfortable with Gmail, turn on keyboard shortcuts. Wait until you're comfortable, though -- otherwise you'll press a button and do something you don't understand.