Email Can Be Easy and Free

[Frank Harper]

For some time now, I have wanted to let APP members know how they could improve their e-mail experience.

And now I've finally taken the time to put keyboard to blog, and the result follows
--
Frank


Wouldn't it be great if you had an email address with all the following advantages ?

1 - Spam Free

2 - Permanent, no more changing your address when you move or change you Internet Service Providers
3 - Protected from viruses

4 - Automatically backed up, so that even if your computer goes on the fritz you still have access to everything.

5 - Accessible from wherever you are in the world
6 - Search for that is fast and just works

Well guess what? Not only is it possible. It's free with Gmail by Google.

The only potential drawbacks that I know of with Gmail are
- you can't access your email if you don't have a working Internet connection
- your email is stored on Google servers, so you shouldn't use it if your have very high security needs. Of course you shouldn't be using unencrypted email at all in that case.

There are other competing email systems from Yahoo, but I recommend Gmail, because it combines simplicity, great functionality and it's free.
If you're interested in leaving your old e-mail behind signing up for an Gmail account is very easy.

[Frank Harper]

Yes it does require a bit of work to let people know your new address. But doesn't going through all the spam require work every time you have to do it? In my opinion dealing with the spam requires many times more effort in the long run. About the "non-friends", well there isn't any magical solution, either you give them the new or let them stay with the old.

[Sharon Jones]

Thanks Frank for that info. You persuaded me to have a gmail account some time ago but I am still a bit afraid to make that leap from wanadoo. Isn't it a lot of hassle to notify people that you have changed addresses? And more especially, what about all the "non-friends" that are in your address book but you don't necessarily want to advise of the new address yet at the same time, you don't want to miss anything! Tall order I know. Any suggestions?