G(imp)-Mail!

[obi]

I got my google mail beta account up the other day, and I must say, google new mail is looking pretty damn impressive. It moves e-mails from the same user (in your inbox) and replys into a sort of thread format which is very nice.
Here's some pics, they shoudl explain it better.
http://gerudo.net/obi/misc/gmail1_s.png (http://gerudo.net/obi/misc/gmail1.png)

it also has a 1 Gig inbox...
http://gerudo.net/obi/misc/gmail2_s.png (http://gerudo.net/obi/misc/gmail2.png)

The set up is quite nice with lables (to replace folders) and starred mail for important e-mail.

From the G-mail Team

First off, welcome. And thanks for agreeing to help us test Gmail. By now you probably know the key ways in which Gmail differs from traditional webmail services. Searching instead of filing. A free gigabyte of storage. Messages displayed in context as conversations.
So what else is new?

Gmail has many other special features that will become apparent as you use your account. You’ll find answers to most of your questions in our searchable help (http://gmail.google.com/support/) section, which includes a Getting Started guide (http://gmail.google.com/gmail/help/start.html). You'll find information there on such topics as:


How to use address auto-complete
Setting up filters for incoming mail
Using advanced search options
You may also have noticed some text ads or related links to the right of this message. They're placed there in the same way that ads are placed alongside Google search results and, through our AdSense program, on content pages across the web. The matching of ads to content in your Gmail messages is performed entirely by computers; never by people. Because the ads and links are matched to information that is of interest to you, we hope you'll find them relevant and useful.

You're one of the very first people to use Gmail. Your input will help determine how it evolves, so we encourage you to send your feedback, suggestions and questions to us. But mostly, we hope you'll enjoy experimenting with Google's approach to email.


Speedy Delivery,

The Gmail Team
I feel so special :D But a Gig of mail? surely no-one coudl ever fill that? But it would be a great title to hold :p

[moocow]

Right now I'm only using 13% of how ever much they give you at hotmail. I definitely wouldn't need a gig. Of course, when I was in highschool and I was getting all kinds of emails everyday, I probably could have used a gig.

[Riku]

A gig sounds nice. I might check it out.

[Master Ghaleon]

1 gig of porn mail yay :D

[deathbyhokie]

Right now I'm only using 13% of how ever much they give you at hotmail. I definitely wouldn't need a gig. Of course, when I was in highschool and I was getting all kinds of emails everyday, I probably could have used a gig.

the big thing for me with gmail is the searchable e-mails. as well as the ads are much nicer than MSN's. text ads are a heck of alot eaiser to ignore than flash ads that make noise and move around.

[Menokh]

So how many thousands of servers if google adding to their nearly 80,000 or more existing servers to provide this service?

Looks interesting though, I already get email with my webhosting(for a total of one gig) so I don't need it. But my dad and friends might be interested when it is final for normal users.

[obi]

the only problem i see with this being a completely free service is, that if everyone who uses google gets an account.....

[AtmaWeapon]

So how many thousands of servers if google adding to their nearly 80,000 or more existing servers to provide this service?

Looks interesting though, I already get email with my webhosting(for a total of one gig) so I don't need it. But my dad and friends might be interested when it is final for normal users.
OK see someone on /. explained this and it makes sense. Very few users will actually use their 1GB allocation. Sure, all the geeks on the planet are going to use it as a personal fileserver, but how many of you really going to upload an entire gig to your space? It'd be convenient for me to keep my mp3 collection online, but that's already 3GB so I'm over. I'd have to multinick, and then it starts getting inconvenient because I have to remember which account has which files and such.

So, assuming a good spam filter and regular deletion of bulk mail, most users are going to use a couple hundred megs. Google can take advantage of this. Usually a host buys about 75% of their promised capacity and leaves room to grow because very few people will use 100% of their allocation. Your bank works the same way. If every member were to come to the bank and demand their account in cash, the bank would have to close quickly because it would run out of cash.

So in the end, it will cost google. But with the increased ad impressions they will be able to afford it, because Jane Doe will still visit every day and click an ad from time to time, but use less space than cyb3rh4xx0r Jim. There are far more Jane Does than geeks.

It is a gamble, one I hope google will win.

BTW, how does one get a beta account?

[deathbyhokie]

BTW, how does one get a beta account?

you have to be specialy selected *coughsignupforablogathttp://www.blogger.comcough*

[AtmaWeapon]

Blogger is pretty cool, but I have one question... can users leave comments? If not, then I'm signing up the account but sticking with Xanga for my blogging needs.

[deathbyhokie]

you can get services to set up notes. but you don't have to have a blog, or even update it to get the g-mail beta. i haven't used my blogger blogs in half a year and was still able to get g-mail.

and you don't use xanga all that often atma:blah:

[AtmaWeapon]

o rly

My last post was only like 8 months ago thank you very much.