Free email accounts

[rolanaj]

I've been using gmail for awhile now but am thinking of moving away from it and I'm wondering what everyone else is using and why they like it. I know there is yahoo and hotmail but they seem to get a lot of spam and hotmail loads really slow generally.

[Frank Golden]

I've been using gmail for awhile now but am thinking of moving away from it and I'm wondering what everyone else is using and why they like it. I know there is yahoo and hotmail but they seem to get a lot of spam and hotmail loads really slow generally.

I like Gmail.I have a Hotmail account but I have my mail forwarded to my Gmail account.I also have an account provided by my ISP.May I ask why you are thinking of ditching Gmail?Gmail has an excellent anti spam filter. Edited August 18, 2010 by Frank Golden

[zlim]

I use juno, yahoo, gmail, and gmx.You might like gmx http://gmx.com/it allows you to store and share files.

[Tushman]

I've been using gmail for awhile now but am thinking of moving away from it and I'm wondering what everyone else is using and why they like it. I know there is yahoo and hotmail but they seem to get a lot of spam and hotmail loads really slow generally.

What's wrong with Gmail? Been using it for years - wouldn't do without it.

[striker]

Rolana, is it for privacy concerns? Or the amount of spam?

[saturnian]

GMail for my main account. I've been using it for some years now. Love the way they deal with spam.I also have a couple of Yahoo accounts for when I have to give out an email address to someone other than friends and family.

[Neil P]

I also use gmail. Just for ease of use and general storage--I was lucky enough to get in while gmail was still in closed beta (and you needed an invite). I think that was 2004? And I'm still under 10% used, while never deleting a (non-spam) message.The only other address I really use is a me.com one, and I don't use that much at all. Apple sends me emails there, but I just have it setup to forward to gmail anyway. Plus gmail has a pretty great iPhone presence. Both on the built in Mail app and the web version. Although I suppose any standard mail account works with the Mail app.

[goretsky]

Hello,I use Gmail and Hotmail, but download messages from them using Qualcomm's discontinued Eudora Pro, a POP3/SMTP email client.Regards,Aryeh Goretsky

[Frank Golden]

Hello,I use Gmail and Hotmail, but download messages from them using Qualcomm's discontinued Eudora Pro, a POP3/SMTP email client.Regards,Aryeh Goretsky

Speaking about local email clients, you can't beat the latest version of Thunderbird.Version 3.12 has been out for awhile and like version 3 has a wizard to help setup pop3 accounts.The wizard defaults to IMAP but is easily edited.

[rolanaj]

Rolana, is it for privacy concerns? Or the amount of spam?

It is for privacy concerns really, I haven't had any real trouble with spam at all using gmail. I've been using it since the days when you needed a private invite as well. Some of the stuff I've been reading about google lately has made me question whether it is wise to rely on them too much. This for example: http://blogs.computerworld.com/16759/schmi...er_scenario_yet

[Tushman]

It is for privacy concerns really, I haven't had any real trouble with spam at all using gmail. I've been using it since the days when you needed a private invite as well. Some of the stuff I've been reading about google lately has made me question whether it is wise to rely on them too much. This for example: http://blogs.computerworld.com/16759/schmi...er_scenario_yet

I very much empathize with your concerns about privacy. Especially with Google or any other data giants out there harvesting information. Information about you, your friends, my friends... my shopping habits and... tracking my usage on the internet. All of it is quite frankly NONE OF THEIR business. I take offense to the notion that I'm somehow incapable or not smart enough to make decisions on my own. Did you read Eric Schmidt's comments on WSJ article? Ridiculous.Google and some of the ISP giants are fighting on Capitol hill to get net neutrality banished and write their own laws. This is a fight that is going on right now right under our noses and no one seems to really care or know what the fuss is about. There was a thread on this forum when Google Chrome came out and there was some discussion related to data privacy. I don't trust Google as far as I can throw them. They are a great search engine - but not the only game in town. I use Gmail on a regular basis purely for convenience of use and good spam filtering. If it was gone tomorrow - I wouldn't blink an eye. There are plenty of free alternatives available.

[striker]

It is for privacy concerns really, I haven't had any real trouble with spam at all using gmail. I've been using it since the days when you needed a private invite as well. Some of the stuff I've been reading about google lately has made me question whether it is wise to rely on them too much. This for example: http://blogs.computerworld.com/16759/schmi...er_scenario_yet

What's privacy these days? Everything is or gets networked all over the globe, everyone can read who we are, our medical records are next, what we do in our spare time, when we are getting our groceries where and at what time, how we paid for that and with what, what the accounts balance was, who we're married to if at all, how many children we have, the names of them, and ... and ... what car we're driving... do I need to go on?Be careful out there.

[striker]

Like Tushman I don't trust them one bit. Their spam filter however is top of the notch imo. I don't see any reason myself yet switching to an alternative, however if they would burn down ... I'll switch to another one.

[Neil P]

That's a somewhat alarmist article.

George Orwell's dystopic imagination in 1984 couldn't ever venture this far. He imagined a government knowing everything about you. Even he didn't see that it might be private industry one should instead be scared of.

Really? 1984? Everything you tell Google you do so voluntarily. Don't want them to know your search history? Don't search with Google. Don't want them to know where you are? Don't use Android and/or Google Maps.I understand some concerns. You can manage all (most?) of the data Google has about you with Google Dashboard.

[rolanaj]

I think it is kind of strange how all these apps are linking or trying to get you to link them, you can link your gmail to your youtube account and that can be linked to your facebook account and that wants you to link to your twitter account as well as your email account. I don't think people realize really how much information about themselves they are putting out there.

"I actually think most people don't want Google to answer their questions. They want Google to tell them what they should be doing next."

This is too much like telling me what I should be thinking and I don't think being so wired in that google knows where I am at all times is a good thing, sometimes it is nice to be off the grid. I really don't like the idea of companies telling me what I want and I don't like the idea of personalized advertising, that could lead to personalized pricing based on what they figure I can afford with all the info they have gathered about me. If I really want to buy something I can research it.

[Tushman]

That's a somewhat alarmist article. Really? 1984? Everything you tell Google you do so voluntarily. Don't want them to know your search history? Don't search with Google. Don't want them to know where you are? Don't use Android and/or Google Maps.I understand some concerns. You can manage all (most?) of the data Google has about you with Google Dashboard.

1984 is really not a far stretch from the truth of what is about to happen if people don't wake up and smell the coffee. I disagree with your assertion that this all benevolent and it's "voluntary". How is it voluntary that Google or any other data giant can keep track of all your usage and they don't have to disclose how they use that information? Is that "voluntary"? Does the Google dashboard let me control their servers and delete, remove personal information they may be currently harvesting about me? or my family or how about my community in general. Does their dashboard let me delete what I've typed into their search engine after a certain period? Google dashboard is cosmetics. Merely a mirage or an illusion you have control. You and I have control over nothing what Google does behind closed doors.You're convoluting the issue. Just because I choose to use a product/service associated with a company doesn't mean I'm going to just lie down and let them take whatever information they want. It would be one thing if Google made it clear upfront that they going to track personal usage habits. Then you know what the score is up front. The so-called "free" services (such as Gmail) comes at a price. When you sign up for these sites (whether it's Hotmail or Gmail) they don't ask - they REQUIRE certain information from you. Have you signed up on Hotmail lately? Do you know they require City, State, D.O.B. for their free account? How do you know that information isn't being used for nefarious purposes? How do you know that the information isn't being used aggregately to manipulate/ influence the masses?You give these giants far too much credit. Edited August 23, 2010 by Tushman

[striker]

I think it is kind of strange how all these apps are linking or trying to get you to link them, you can link your gmail to your youtube account and that can be linked to your facebook account and that wants you to link to your twitter account as well as your email account. I don't think people realize really how much information about themselves they are putting out there.This is too much like telling me what I should be thinking and I don't think being so wired in that google knows where I am at all times is a good thing, sometimes it is nice to be off the grid. I really don't like the idea of companies telling me what I want and I don't like the idea of personalized advertising, that could lead to personalized pricing based on what they figure I can afford with all the info they have gathered about me. If I really want to buy something I can research it.

Good point Rolana!@Neil: the article may be indeed somewhat written alarming, however that's the way to write these days because if you don't you'll get fired right away or at the minimum replaced. However, I think you have to wake up a bit: it's 2010 and not 1984, they're far more into this harvesting/profiling business than they will admit. I think it's time someone rings a bell about what is happening right now.

[Neil P]

I disagree with your assertion that this all benevolent and it's "voluntary". How is it voluntary that Google or any other data giant can keep track of all your usage and they don't have to disclose how they use that information?

It's voluntary because they have a privacy policy and a Terms of Service that you have to agree to before using their products. There's also nothing making you use them. Don't like Google's tactics? Use another service.

Does the Google dashboard let me control their servers and delete, remove personal information they may be currently harvesting about me? or my family or how about my community in general. Does their dashboard let me delete what I've typed into their search engine after a certain period? Google dashboard is cosmetics. Merely a mirage or an illusion you have control. You and I have control over nothing what Google does behind closed doors.

Actually, removing search history is probably one of the easiest things they make available to you. In addition to that you can delete your Google account in general.I agree that it's important to stay aware of what we're sharing and what these sites/services know about us. And it's important to know what kind of changes these services are making. And Google in particular seems to know a lot. But how many of us have actually stopped using Google altogether? (I realize that's the reason this thread was created ) Here are a few sites talking about technology and privacy:http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/technology/17privacy.htmlhttp://www.aclu.org/technology-and-liberty (they have a quiz to see just how exposed you are)http://www.eff.org/issues/privacy

[Tushman]

It's voluntary because they have a privacy policy and a Terms of Service that you have to agree to before using their products. There's also nothing making you use them. Don't like Google's tactics? Use another service. Actually, removing search history is probably one of the easiest things they make available to you. In addition to that you can delete your Google account in general.I agree that it's important to stay aware of what we're sharing and what these sites/services know about us. And it's important to know what kind of changes these services are making. And Google in particular seems to know a lot. But how many of us have actually stopped using Google altogether? (I realize that's the reason this thread was created ) Here are a few sites talking about technology and privacy:http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/17/technology/17privacy.htmlhttp://www.aclu.org/technology-and-liberty (they have a quiz to see just how exposed you are)http://www.eff.org/issues/privacy

You make this out to be such a dry & cut issue. I don't live in the same black & white world as you do.Sure it's easy to tell someone to stop using Google if their terms & conditions appeal to them. In words it's easy to say - 'just use another service'. To be honest with you, Google isn't the only game in town and I've used other search engines but not on a regular basis. I like the fact that if I need to search for something difficult, their search engines will turn up links that are more accurate yielding less frustration & quicker results. I continue to use them because for now because of that convenience factor. How much of a price are you willing to pay for that? For me the price is too high if it means I have to give up my privacy or autonomy. Eventually I will have to limit my uses for Google -- i.e. use other search engines more often and be mindful of whatever information I save in my Gmail accounts. For now, they are not quite at the Big Brother status. But will soon be and this thread is a wake up call. Actually I was suspicious of them earlier on when we had that thread discussing Chrome - Rolanaj's post here reminds me that I need to stay on top of this issue and awake!And Google dashboard is nothing more than a semblance you have control. Sure it says you can delete the search history - but that's what they say! You don't have any control over what they actually do behind closed doors - and if you believe that, then I've got some swamp land in Florida to sell you. Once you hit the submit button, and the moment it hits their servers, it's a done deal - it's being recorded somehow, in some fashion, in some vague obscure way -- it's all being recorded in digital format. Sound paranoid? I think not. What happens when you delete a file off your hard drive? Does it disappear forever? Same thing happens when their search engine has to turn up links for you based on the words you type in..... you can clear the search history all you want. It's all pure BS..... nothing is really ever deleted from their servers. Edited August 23, 2010 by Tushman

[lewmur]

That's a somewhat alarmist article. Really? 1984? Everything you tell Google you do so voluntarily. Don't want them to know your search history? Don't search with Google. Don't want them to know where you are? Don't use Android and/or Google Maps.I understand some concerns. You can manage all (most?) of the data Google has about you with Google Dashboard.

Much ado about nothing! If Google gets advertiser to target what ads I'd prefer to see, then that is a "service" to me as far as I'm concerned. Means I see more ads for computer stuff and fewer for Viagra. What's wrong with that?It's not like credit card companies that can actually up your interest rates if they don't like what you are buying or where you are buying it. Or cell phone companies that can tell the govt not only who you are talking to but where you are and where you've been every minute of the day. If you want to get paranoid, at least pick something that is really dangerous.

[striker]

Ouch, here's more oil to the fire:Why Google Live Search Creeps Me Outhttp://www.pcworld.com/article/204048/why_....html?tk=hp_new

[Neil P]

I don't really see how that's different than the "suggestions" that come up when you're typing? It just takes out the extra step.