[Gmail-Users] Re: Gmail vs. Hotmail vs. Yahoo Mail and the alternatives

On Thu, 22 Dec 2005 13:22:21 -0800
"atolk" <ATolkachev@gmail.com>
Subject: [Gmail-Users] Gmail vs. Hotmail vs. Yahoo Mail and the alternatives
Wrote these words of wisdom:

>
> I am SURE this has been brought up in the groups, as well as written
> about extensively in blogs and leading tech sites. And yet I can't find
> it.
>
> I am considering switching to one of the Big Three web mail services
> permanently. But which one? What is the good, the bad and the ugly of
> each one? Where can I see the side-by-side comparrison of the features?
> And maybe more importantly, the user testimony by real-life users of
> the three? And should I switch at all, or should I stick with ISP/POP
> and invest in home-based network storage?
>
> Please point me to the articles or threads on this topic, or le't's
> start one here if it has not been talked about in a while. The problem
> with the articles I am finding is - they become obsolete almost as soon
> as they come out, because all three companies keep adding features and
> storage and fixing the popular pet peeves.
>
> Just to clarify, I am not opposed to paying for Hotmail Plus or
> whatever Yahoo may charge for their souped-up service. I just want the
> best!
>
> Whatever everybody else may be looking in the web e-mail
> services, let me list my reasons and decision drivers:
>
> 1. I want to touch every e-mail piece I get exactly once - if it is
> that kind
> of e-mail. I use three computers daily and my Outlook inboxes
> are clogged with e-mails I have read on other computers. (Web good,
> ISP/POP bad)
>
> 2. I want to have access to incoming and outgoing e-mail no matter
> where I am. (Web good, ISP/POP bad)
>
> 3. I hate the fact that with web-based e-mail my e-mail is stored
> elsewhere. What if they go out of business? What if they get hit by a
> hurricane? What if they start charging me to access my mail in the
> future now that they got me by the you-know-whats? What if my
> connection is down? (Web bad, ISP/POP - good, I think)
>
> 4. I am lukewarm on the fact that Gmail scans (and indexes?) my e-mail.
> I am weary of the fact that some ISPs and businesses may treat Gmail as
> a pariah - blocking it or forwarding it to spam folders. (Gmail bad,
> Hotmail, Yahoo - better)
>
> 5. I don't like having my main address being @myisp - this denies me
> the
> freedom of switching to a better service. (ISP bad, web good)
>
> 6. What other decision factors are there that I am not thinking about?
>
> I want to read the reviews and comparrisons by the people who have
> agonized over the same desicions and compromises, not just some tech
> editor who is looking at the pros and cons based on a test drive or the
> latest
> press release from Google, Microsoft or Yahoo. Am I asking for too much?

***** REPLY SEPARATOR *****
On 12/22/2005 7:45:46 PM, Gerard Seibert Replied:

Have you considered SpamCop <http://SpamCop.net>? It offers IMAP and POP.
You can easily use PGP or A/MIME for security. You will not find those
offered by most other Web based services. There is auto forwarding, as
well as the ability to fetch from other mail services. Beside that, it
has probably the best SPAM controls available. You can add something
like eight or so different blacklisting services to the basic set up. It
also run Spam Assassin. You configure the level you want it to run at.

At $30 a year, I consider it a steal.

--
Gerard Seibert
gerard.seibert@gmail.com