Gmail and web mail

Being Digital Dad, I was recently invited to test out Gmail, Google's new email service.

For starters, Gmail is a web based email system like Yahoo! or MSN. I switched the family over to web based email a couple of years ago primarily because we have several computers in the home (or at work) and web based email enables you to get to your email from any connected device with a browser, even a mobile phone. Setting up a web based email account is a DDUS of 2.

I know there are benefits to "offline" mail programs but they tend to be slow and difficult to set up and maintain (SMTP, POP3, IMAP...what the heck is all of that?). DDUS=5.

I set up a domain for my family and for a small fee you can email us at firstname@familyname.cc, etc. I can point that address to any email system I want, which means I can switch to a new email service with a few clicks without having to notify all of my friends. DDUS=4.

Getting back to Gmail, I set up my account and in general I think it holds some promise. The primary difference between Gmail and other web mail systems is:

1 Gb of storage for free, rather than the typical 10Mb. That's 100x more storage to you and me.

Use Google's search technology to find the mail you want, rather than organizing mail into folders and setting up filter rules

Easy way to highlight "important' mail with a star

The Gmail system reads the content of your email and shows "relevant' ads in a column to the right of the message

Ok..ok..that's where it gets a bit weird. Before I get into this Ashcroftian feature I'll list out a few items that Gmail is missing:

You can't alter the FROM address in your Gmail account. Therefore if I emailed you from Gmail it wouldn't be from me@digitaldad.net but me@gmail.com. That's a big bummer, as no one wants to start proliferating a new email address just because they change their email reader.

It shoukd have a way of enbaling a "receipt" so you can know when someone read the email you sent them

Why just one star for important messages? Why not "go iPod" and have a 1-5 star system?

Offline reader would be nice

The contextual ads are a great idea but already there is concern about privacy that is generating some good PR for quick thinking elected officials. Others have general concersn about someone "reading" their email.

Fair enough but I think this is a falsely placed fear.

First of all there isn't a person reading your Gmail. It's a computer. And I am absolutely sure that computer doesn't care about your latest health issue, except perhaps to promote some soothing cream. More importantly, what makes you think someone isn't already able to read your Yahoo or MSN mail? There are many many ways that law enforcement and others can already collect a great deal about you. If you use credit cards you are already trackable.

Gmail is a logical extension of traditional direct marketing where they know where you live, what magazines you subscribe to, etc. I suppose if someone is trying to hide their identity surreptiously they will always be able to that, Gmail or no Gmail.

If Google can make some adjustments then I think they will have a good service on their hands.