43 Folders

43 Folders feed subscription icon - Shiny!Time, Attention, and Creative Work. After 4 years and a lot of productivity pr0n, we’re shifting gears. Re-learn how to use 43 Folders. Then back to work. [»]

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43Folders.com is Merlin Mann’s website about finding the time and attention to do your best creative work.

Desktop or web-based email?

After getting used to Gmail 3 years ago, I swore I’d stick to web-based email. With IMAP now available, I set it up last week in Apple’s Mail client on my desktop to integrate better with offline storage, emailing links, etc, and found myself changing my ways.

It wasn’t easy: The initial download took forever and I had to work at getting Apple’s Junk Filters to cooperate. (I.e., still work on the 2 POP accounts I check in Mail while leaving Gmail’s already filtered mail alone).

I’m a convert. I used to open a browser window with three tabs: Google homepage, RSS, and Gmail and check it throughout the day. Now I’m in Mail only when I need to be, and ignore RSS and news until it occurs to me to catch up.

I did really like the Gmail interface, with conversations, shortcuts, etc, but I’ve been trying to make Safari my full-time browser and it wasn’t playing nice. I’ve found a surge of productivity by sticking to the desktop.

How do others find web-based vs. desktop email to impact their productivity?

labête's picture

GMail is VERY risky

For the past 3 years I have used the Gmail interface for all my mail. As I worked across multiple machines didn’t have a mail client, just using the webmil interface which was excellent.

All of that changed 2 months back when somehow my gmail was hacked. I ended up locked out of my own account and Google have done nothing to get my account back to me. I have submitted their on-line form multiple times which has resulted in a handful of automated emails and the account being deleted.

I have lost every mail for the past 3 years and the main address I used to communicate. Google have been unresponsive and unhelpful. The Google Groups insiders seem to be of the opinion that expecting anything else of a ‘free’ service is unreasonable and, beyond pointing you to Google’s help pages, they are unable to help.

By all means use gmail, and make use of the excellent web interface. However I would make very sure you have your mails backed up elsewhere and I would not expect any support or service from Google if you run into problems. I am now using a paid for POP account via mail.app.

 
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The Podcast Feed

Inbox Zero

The original 43 Folders series looking at the skills, tools, and attitude needed to empty your email inbox — and then keep it that way. Don’t miss the free video of Merlin’s Inbox Zero presentation.

Making Time

3-part series on attention management for artists and makers. Read Bad Correspondence, The Job You Think You Have, and One Clear Line.