ItsGeekToMe.co

I’d like to extend my thanks to the Center For Lifelong Learning Computer Club for hosting me at their May 13^th meeting.  Spouse Peripheral and I had lots of fun meeting you all, and spreading some Geek cheer in your neighborhood.

Q: I note that you use Gmail.  I use OE and Cox.net.  I am familiar and satisfied with both for my PC and notebook.  Would I gain anything to switch to Gmail? 

– Alex G.
Fort Walton Beach, FL

A: Let’s address this in less-specific terms, Alex, and say that I use web-based e-mail (aka: webmail) as opposed to using my internet provider’s e-mail server and a remote mail client to receive e-mail.  There are several advantages to webmail over client/server mail.  First, when you use webmail you’re not tied to one computer, or even a particular piece of software to read and send e-mail.  Using webmail, you can access your e-mail from any internet-enabled computer in the world – even web-enabled cell phones.  Your own internet provider (IP) might provide webmail, which gives you the advantage mentioned above, but using a non-IP-specific provider, such as Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo! Mail, etc. means that if you change IPs, or if your IP changes e-mail services (as happened when Sprint converted to Embarq, and dropped Earthlink) you will not be forced to change your e-mail address.  I had to change my personal e-mail address last year, and it entailed me contacting almost 50 different web services.  Perhaps the burden won’t be as tough on someone who isn’t as Geeky as me, but still it’s no fun to have to make all those changes.  Finally, some webmail services provide more than just the ability to send and receive e-mail.  Gmail, for example, has a very effective SPAM filter, online document storage, built-in chatting with other Gmail users, and a whole host of other nice-to-haves.  Besides that, Gmail doesn’t even force you to use it exclusively as webmail.  You can actually program OE to send and receive e-mails through the Gmail server using SMTP and POP3 protocols.  That way, you can use OE at home, and webmail on the road, and always have access to your e-mail.

TIP OF THE WEEK: With security such an important aspect of online life these days, it’s important to know what makes a good, secure password, resistant to guessing.  Make sure your password is at least seven or eight characters long – the longer the better.  If your password is all lowercase, include at least one letter that’s uppercase, and vice-versa.  If the site you’re on allows it, include at least one number, and/or a symbol, like $, *, or #. Make sure your password is entirely different from previous passwords, or passwords you use on other sites.  Don’t use words or names found in a dictionary, AND never use personal information, names of family members, your address, pet’s name, or birthdays, anniversaries, etc. as passwords.