Best Free (Or Even Paid) E-Mail Provider

Post by **js3901** » Dec Thu 06, 2007 10:29 am

I've never had a problem with any of the free email programs (I've used Yahoo, Hotmail, and AOL/AIM mail). If you have any of the messengers like AIM/Y! Messenger/Windows Live Messenger), it can tie into your email accound there and alert you when you have mail.

I'm too cheap (and too poor) to "pay" for my email, so I've never tried any of those email servers.

Post by **Dr. Ravenscroft** » Dec Thu 06, 2007 11:13 am

For me Gmail is the best. Reliable, easy to use, tons of storage, spam is filtered with ease, and I love the chat feature too. I would atleast give it a try.

Post by **spaulo** » Dec Thu 06, 2007 11:56 am

Gmail, Gmail, Gmail, Gmail

The best UI, best filtering system, best spam blocker, 5+GB of space, plus integration with Google Docs, Google Calendar, Google Maps, Google Talk (with support for AIM as well), etc. I've used Hotmail, Yahoo, and others, and Gmail is the best best best.

Plus it has both POP3 and IMAP support for those who just have to use a desktop email client.

danimal3114u · Post by **danimal3114u** » Dec Thu 06, 2007 12:01 pm

Dr. Ravenscroft wrote:For me Gmail is the best. Reliable, easy to use, tons of storage, spam is filtered with ease, and I love the chat feature too. I would atleast give it a try.

Agreed! I use my gmail religiously. It's very easy to set up and use, and the spam filter is leaps and bounds better than any other one I have ever seen (I've been using it for about 2 or 3 years, and have yet to have any non-spam email be labeled as spam, and have only had about 6 spam emails get through).
If you're looking for a free desktop program, I would probably suggest Thunderbird, which is Mozzila's (Firefox) email program:
http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird/
I haven't personally used it, but have heard good things.

stev02 · Post by **stev02** » Dec Thu 06, 2007 12:16 pm

gmail owns

coasterphil · Post by **coasterphil** » Dec Thu 06, 2007 12:39 pm

Another vote for gmail here.

DisBeamer · Post by **DisBeamer** » Dec Thu 06, 2007 11:44 pm

spaulo wrote:Gmail, Gmail, Gmail, Gmail

What he said, for all the reasons already mentioned.

cnunle · Post by **cnunle** » Dec Fri 07, 2007 12:18 am

gmail or mail.com!

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Dec Fri 07, 2007 1:45 am

Gmail is probably the most functional and useful, as long as you don't mind the Next Great Evil Empire knowing everything there is to know about you (all your purchases, searching habits, ID numbers, interests, associations, etc.). If you thought Microsoft or ExxonMobil was evil, wait until a single corporation knows absolutely everything about you and isn't shy about selling the info, handing it off to the government, getting hacked/robbed, etc.

People tend to think I'm a paranoid lunatic for even mentioning this, so take the free advice for what it's worth, but remember that Disney used to be a benevolent company and then there was The One They Call Eisner. You can never guarantee what the behavior of a corporation is going to be and they rarely get held accountable.

Still, there aren't a great many options, but I'd suggest using one that isn't obviously the most reckless choice.

Using all of Google's "free" apps is just asking for Mr. Orwell to personally apply the bar code to the back of your neck.

Mandi · Post by **Mandi** » Dec Fri 07, 2007 7:21 am

i dislike webmails.. but since i know gmail i only use it

it's really great

AKLRULZ · Post by **AKLRULZ** » Dec Fri 07, 2007 7:44 am

I also use gmail.

Post by **rdeacon** » Dec Fri 07, 2007 11:12 am

did someone say gmail? haha

I would agree gmail.

If you have your own domain google can set you up with email, calendar, etc for free. Its a sweet deal. I use it for rdeacon.com and never had an issue.

Here is the link

http://www.google.com/a/help/intl/en/ad ... s_spe.html

Rich

Post by **spaulo** » Dec Fri 07, 2007 3:04 pm

Captain Schnemo wrote:Using all of Google's "free" apps is just asking for Mr. Orwell to personally apply the bar code to the back of your neck.

Just, wow.

Captain Schnemo · Post by **Captain Schnemo** » Dec Sat 08, 2007 5:34 am

I've seen Google aggressively pursuing Universities and other organizations, attempting to get them to move all their documents and transactions to Google platforms. There's a reason they are willing to do all of this (which normally is extremely expensive) for free. The stock answer is "advertising", which is somewhat plausible, but you have to wonder why they are so anxious to get at that information (as well as all other information).

It's not just that they want to throw ads at you while you work, they want the data itself.

Think about that in a University setting...they'll have all student records, coursework, medical history, financial information, sure. But they'll also have access to cutting-edge research on just about every topic under the sun.

Google has this warm and fuzzy image right now, but do you really think they'll hang on to that just because they're such wonderful guys? That's not how capitalism works. There's no guarantee they won't change their policies, and even if you trust them, they won't control the company forever.

That said, I have a gmail account for nonsense things. I use when I need a throwaway address and for online games and such and I think it's great for things like that.

But I'm not about to hand them my life, gift-wrapped, with every aspect of my personal life, work, financial history, etc. It just doesn't make any sense.

But convenience is king, so I don't expect anyone to notice until it's too late. Maybe they won't even care then and will just accept the complete lack of privacy as the new normal. If the Bush administration were doing this, there would be a public outcry (well, from half of the population anyway), but Google is a media darling right now and not subject to laws of rationality.

casrin · Post by **casrin** » Dec Mon 10, 2007 7:48 am

I'm okay with GMail. I presently use Yahoo as my main e-mail, because I've had it forever. Lately, I've been less than pleased with it as, as a rule, they defer e-mail like crazy.