So I use Gmail. You probably do too…and if not, you’re probably using something comparable like Yahoo!
Gmail really changed the way that I approach e-mail. And at the expense of sounding like I’m a Google spokeshole, let me just say that I can’t imagine doing e-mail the way I used to it. I keep everything now, with labels and the whole nine yards; the day that I run out of space looms in my nightmares, but I’m only at 13% of my allotted capacity, so I’ll continue to defer the inevitable.
THAT BEING SAID…it’s extremely difficult for me to swallow when I get either of the following two messages:
We’re sorry, but Gmail is temporarily unavailable. We’re currently working to fix the problem — please try logging in to your account in a few minutes.
or…
Oops! We’re sorry, try again in a few seconds (paraphrased).
Google, with your Desktop software that helps me overload my brain at all hours, and your fantastic e-mail client that’s storing a massive quantity of fairly important information of mine – including the customer e-mail whose preview I see in Google Desktop, but can’t access because the server is down – you’ve got me by the proverbial short and curlies. It’s days like this that make me feel like I’m an uneducated stock market investor, and that I need to diversify.
The question is: where?
In some respects, it’s scary how much I’ve come to depend on the stability of Google, and I’m being actively reminded that such dependence on one entity is either really, really good…or really, really bad.
I saw the message also and was sort of glad cause that meant I had to get back to work. My boss liked it too.
I love google. Big fan and advocate. I love gmail, gtalk and the intergration of both. Having said that, it is incredibly annoying to get those messages, as you’ve said. I guess that comes with having the best service on earth. It needs fixin’ sometimes.
Stephen
So very true – I depend on google. It’s a bit scary, isn’t it?
You do know that Google Mail offers POP3 access as well?
Download your mail to your local client; you can still access everything online via the web-based client, but you’ll also have it all to yourself on your very own computer.
I hate getting that message. It’s frustrating because of how powerful we know Google is. I don’t think I have ever encountered Google search breaking like this, so we know they have the technical ability to stay up all the time – which makes it all the more frustrating when Gmail goes down. If Google search can work all the time, why can’t Gmail?