So far, I’ve been offered Gmail accounts by 6 different people. What’s the hype, really?
I have my domain mail. If my domain happens to go down for whatever reason - I have my main email account provided through my cable provider.
Is it the space that Gmail offers? I understand it offers 1 Gig of space for email - - are people actually storing that much email out there? I have four 80 Gig drives on my machine - - and about another 400 Gig available to me on our home network…what would I need a lousy gig of space available to store my email?
While I understand, for some, having an alternate email (apart from domain mail) available is handy dandy - call me cynical, but I don’t trust Google. I’m envisioning my email headers and content showing up in a Google cache somewhere online. I’m envisioning GoogleBots browsing my email…picking out keywords and selling the information to marketing firms. I’m envisioning targeted advertising directed toward my email. I don’t like the visions.
I’ve read up on a few of the concerns regarding privacy:
‘Delete your Google cookie before and after’
Gmail "Privacy" Policy
‘How I Learned To Stop Worrying’ (and love Google) [incomprehensible]
Google launches email, takes the Bill Gates defense
Google promotes Froogle
Google revives discredited Microsoft privacy policy for Friendster clone
Yahoo! Rips! Up! Privacy! Policy!
Google’s Gmail: spook heaven?
Google mail is evil – privacy advocates
Google Values It’s Own Privacy. How does it value yours?
Senator Drafts Google Opt-Out Bill
Big Brother Nominated for Google Award
Am I alone in my concerns regarding privacy with Gmail? Maybe. Maybe not. I’m playing it better safe than sorry - - call me overly cautious. Thanks to all who offered — however, I’m sure there’s someone else out there who would like and use it more than I 
11:43 pm on June 16th, 2004
So far I find it very convenient in many ways. Would I use it exclusively? No. I don’t mind the bots scouring my email, seeing as I’m not using it for anything real important. But I can’t drag myself away from pop3 accessible accounts.
11:44 pm on June 16th, 2004
No, I don’t think you’re alone by a long shot. I won’t use it nor will I email anything TO a gmail address.
I think it’s just a ’status’ thing however I’m not sure why having a gmail account would make anyone ’special’. I know it’s not on my list of requirements when choosing new friends.
(Sorry.. bit snarky tonight)
11:48 pm on June 16th, 2004
rachel - I’m with you on that one. It’s the latest and greatest thing….I think most people latch on to the bandwagon beause it’s the current trend and out of curiosity. It’s being hyped so much.
Reminds me of high school when all the cool girls were wearing Gloria Vanderbuilt jeans and my mother wouldn’t buy me a pair.
I felt left out.
Gawd - - did that date me or what? lol
11:50 pm on June 16th, 2004
Laura - you’re braver than I am! I definately mind the idea of bots scouring my email - - whether I use it for important stuff, or not. *shudder*
I’m just a paranoid schizophrenic, I guess. lol
11:15 am on June 17th, 2004
I have one *hangs head in shame*. But I don’t use it. It is just as Rachel said a status thing. Just another thing to add to my collection. I dunno…just crazy I guess.
5:31 pm on June 17th, 2004
I have got a Gmail because I am a Blogger user (Google owns Blogger). I thought it could be good to have for mailing lists, enter your email address on web sites and when your are writing comments on blog posts like this one!
I don’t want to use my main email address < my first name @ my surname DOT com > @ public sites too often, so it could be good to have an alternative email address handy. It is nice to have an extra web based email address when you are travelling. I don’t care if it is a “status” thing or not. I have never been interested in belonging to the “in crowd” anyway… I see Google as a company that is coming up with nice services. Personally, I am not concerned about the privacy thing and robots searching my email. I like to have personalized ads related to the text of the email. It could give you good leads, e.g. you are writing about a vacation to a certain location and you get an ad for a travel agent, tourist site, etc. Please read my post, LYCEUM@GMAIL.COM on how a politician tried to stop Google’s email service.
All the Best,
Martin Lindeskog.
Gothenburg, Sweden.
6:05 pm on June 17th, 2004
You know what’s nice about having a 1GB email box? Being able to mass mail big files very quickly and just store them in your box. Who says ya can’t have more than one Gmail? Hah!
10:11 pm on June 20th, 2004
Feel free to have one of your readers direct their offers for a Gmail account my way, if you want. I like the idea and don’t really care about the ads.
12:12 am on June 21st, 2004
Will do, Robert - - I’ll direct them over you’re way
2:05 pm on June 21st, 2004
It is all just hype I believe. I myself have about 80GB on a personally pc at my house which I use as a server. I don’t delete emails either, no need to really. Every once in awhile I’ll search them and find something I need. 80GB sounds a helluva lot better than 1GB that gmail offers. Plus, my domain name is way shorter than gmail.com
. Talk about an easy email to remember. HA!
5:50 am on December 26th, 2005
6:51 am on January 4th, 2006
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