One Month With Google Branded GMail
Posted on May 31, 2007, under Email, Search, Spam, Tools and Services.
So it has been one month since I converted my personal email over to Google Apps. There were several phases in this process, the initial being research and testing different setups. I knew what my ideal end goal was going to be, but did not know which of the many ways of accomplishing that I was going to go with. In the process I was and am still converting my machines over to Linux, where the software compatibility with my Windows Mobile device are lacking. I ended up trying a bunch of different software to sync my desktop with my mobile device and then Google. None worked in such seamless manner as I wanted. Give it a couple more revisions and I am sure the software will be mature enough, but not at the moment. So ended up just going completely web based, something that is very foreign to me as I have used Outlook for most of my life. I am still looking for a good solution to backup my GMail, because the thought that “in case something happens my mail would be gone” kind of has me worried. I am no syncing my calender and mail right on my device to Google, bypassing the desktop.
So how has Google scored in this whole transition? Well here is the break down.
Pros:
- Google is fast!: I am not just talking about from the web application side. But from receiving and sending a message, it is lightning fast. It’s even faster when you are going from a Gmail account to another Gmail account.
- Shared calenders: I have my better half setup so we can share our Google calenders together, which has really been a great feature. This is one of those features that once you use it, you wonder how you ever survived with out it.
- Features: I am not going to go as far to say that Google’s webmail application sis flawless, but it is dam good. Features like Address Completion, Spelling, Tags, are easy to use and just as convenient as a desktop application.
- Load: Less load on my server, which means it can do what is does best: serving up web pages.
- Spam Filter: The spam filter is not perfect, but much better than what I previously had.
Cons:
- No API: I am really not sure why no API has been created yet, but it leads to being less in sync with your email. Applications to syncronize, applications to notify; are the applications I needed and wanted, but are cumbersome because there is no official API.
- Tags not Folders: Coming from an Outlook background, as mentioned above, getting used to tagging mail and not putting mail in folders was a change.
- Trash is not Storage: With Outlook I would keep my trash, it was a place i could reference if I ever needed. With GMail you use “Archived Mail” and anything in the trash is deleted after 30 days.
- Setup: If you have basic knowledge or a will to learn about of DNS and MX records, you can setup Google apps. It’s not too difficult, and the turn around was quick.
Overall I am very pleased, and it;s good to just have it work and not have to worry about managing it. Best of all when new features roll out, they will be implemented with no effort from me. Meaning I will not have to go and update the web mail software just to get the new feature I was waiting for.
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