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I've been a mutt user for years and I was skeptical when I came to know about gmail. After I started using it though, I started to see all the good stuff, mostly the ability to access my email with just a simple browser, the end of email backups and the spam filter.

I then tried to go back to a dedicated email client (even using my gmail account via IMAP), but fell back to web based gmail usage every time.

So I was wondering, what are there reasons NOT to use it, if any?

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Questions about web applications are off topic on Super User - check out the FAQ – ChrisF Sep 3 '10 at 13:35
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But: there's webapps.stackexchange.com/faq to the rescue. (If you find a similar question there, or if not and you decide to repost it there, then please leave a link here? Success!) – Arjan Sep 3 '10 at 13:38
Well gmail techically can be used with an email client too, and it's an alternative to using one, so I thought it was "super user" enough. No complains if people want to close this, though. – Matteo Riva Sep 3 '10 at 13:39
@Arjan: thanks, missed it – Matteo Riva Sep 3 '10 at 13:40
And if you decide to repost: it's Gmail with a lowercase M! ;-) – Arjan Sep 3 '10 at 13:44
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closed as off topic by Arjan, ChrisF, Nifle, Doug Harris, Matteo Riva Sep 3 '10 at 13:58

Questions on Super User are expected to generally relate to computer software or computer hardware, within the scope defined in the faq.

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up vote 6 down vote

It's off topic, but I'll answer anyways. Personally I like gmail, but some concerns would include:

  • No automatic offline access (you can configure it with imap or pop3, though, and this applies to all web based mail)
  • No privacy. Google actively searches all your email to advertise to you when you are logged in.
  • No folders. Some folks like folders! I know the labels work in a similar fashion, but it's not quite the same.
  • Linking to other logins. Your google account is now used for other stuff like Youtube, OpenID, etc. If you need to check your email on a shared PC or someone else's pc, they get logged off everything else.
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Anyone care to explain their downvotes? – JNK Sep 3 '10 at 13:52
Not having folders is the major drawback IMHO. But i like its threading view and the keyboard navigation. Far better than thunderbirds. – MrShunz Sep 3 '10 at 13:54
I agree @MrShunz. Personally I use web-based Gmail as my primary email. I was just playing devil's advocate here. – JNK Sep 3 '10 at 13:57
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I guess answering off-topic questions doesn't help keeping this place from becoming Yahoo! Answers. :-( – Arjan Sep 3 '10 at 14:21
I'm one of the downvotes. And it's -1 for It's off topic, but I'll answer anyways. – Nifle Sep 3 '10 at 22:16
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