Is Fastmail concerned about losing paying customers to Gmail? - Page 4

adam15c · 28 Mar 2010, 11:41 PM

I too was an FM user for many years. But Gmail just offers so much more. I need contact, calendar & email sync with mobile, Gmail just do this perfectly. I could probably do it all separately and continue to use FM, but then why should I? I'm getting it all for free. Its a shame as I promoted FM to all my friends and added links to FM on my websites. But unfortunately they just haven't moved on. Just my humble opinion.

Prognathous · 29 Mar 2010, 03:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adam15c

I too was an FM user for many years. But Gmail just offers so much more. I need contact, calendar & email sync with mobile, Gmail just do this perfectly. I could probably do it all separately and continue to use FM, but then why should I? I'm getting it all for free.

So it turns out there is free lunch, right?

Prog.

**ReuvenNY** · 29 Mar 2010, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prognathous

So it turns out there is free lunch, right?

Prog.

This lunch is as free as out television in the US. We pay with viewing commercials and clicking on advertising links.
Most people consider it a small price to pay for great service.

ChinaLamb · 29 Mar 2010, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Prognathous

So it turns out there is free lunch, right?

Prog.

Hmmm... Let's see. What value do you place on your data privacy?

Google is collecting information on everything about you. No such thing as a free lunch.

They know your friends, your bank, your employment, your home address, everything that is ever in your emails, they have that information...

Not only that, they use all that information to make money off you.

They sell statistical information information on you to others, then they also target you with advertising most likely to influence you.

Ain't no you you are gonna get me to do that.

qwertz123456 · 30 Mar 2010, 04:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChinaLamb

Not only that, they use all that information to make money off you.

They sell statistical information information on you to others, then they also target you with advertising most likely to influence you.

So, basically we should be asking google for money

OK, for every email I send through gmail I want 2 USD from google!!!

ChinaLamb · 30 Mar 2010, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qwertz123456

So, basically we should be asking google for money

OK, for every email I send through gmail I want 2 USD from google!!!

My privacy is worth a lot. But when you compare 11c-14c per day for email service ($40-$50 per year for many of the major email providers) it seems pretty cheap.

biffbulkie · 5 Apr 2010, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChinaLamb

My privacy is worth a lot.

Someone posting from China might have more internet privacy issues to be concerned about than Google.

ChinaLamb · 5 Apr 2010, 08:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biffbulkie

Someone posting from China might have more internet privacy issues to be concerned about than Google.

What? Who?

Oh, You mean me? ha ha

hobbes · 7 Apr 2010, 05:25 PM

I'm certainly considering moving to Gmail or Zoho Mail, using my domain name, purely for the interface.

I'm really impressed with the FM back-end system. It is really good. However, the front-end webmail design is lacking. Yes, it's an improvement on the old interface, but it will never win an interface design or usability award.

I would recommend FM for those who use a desktop client. However, for those who use the web interface exclusively, it is cumbersome and ugly, making it a relatively unpleasant interface to use. It is clear that a programmer designed it, not a user interface designer (BTW, did you know that there are more colours in the rainbow than blue? And, just how many font sizes are being used in the interface?). Yes, I know that I can code a custom.css, whatever it is, and redo it myself. But, I have neither the time nor the ability to do so. It's like giving someone a Ford car with a Porche engine for the cost of a Porsche and telling them "Well, it can also look like a Porsche if you want it. Here's a tool kit. Do it yourself!"

Sorry if this sounds harsh. When the new interface was being done, I saw this as a massive opportunity for FM to stand out in the webmail market, beyond just throwing features at the user. With the outcome, and the apparent view that the new interface is finished, I'm genuinely disappointed.

pengrus · 10 Apr 2010, 02:43 PM

I didn't really use FastMail that much even I paid for 5 years Enhanced.

Reason: I found FastMail VERY SLOW in implementing new feature requests. Let's say, threaded view? Better Search?

However, I just made FastMail my mission critical email service provider, why?

Google failed me. I have an email address hosted with them. For almost a year, people who emailed me did not get any error or bounced messages. And I do not get them. I thought no one email me at this address, until one day, a guy showed me he emailed me and I got nothing.

I checked my google hosted account, and it shows everything FINE and ACTIVE.

Out of frustration, I paid another 5 years of Enhanced and moved my domain over. I want to make this my mission critical email service now. The only paid email I got.

I emailed google yesterday asking for their help to recover my lost emails, as you guessed, no reply yet. I already got several emails from FastMail telling me what might be wrong in my domain set up.

Let's give FastMail some support, and play with other free emails. I do not wish to lose any emails ever again.

ChinaLamb · 10 Apr 2010, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobbes

I'm certainly considering moving to Gmail or Zoho Mail, using my domain name, purely for the interface.

Why would you just give all your sensitive information to a company that admits that they will earn money off of it?

hobbes · 10 Apr 2010, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChinaLamb

Why would you just give all your sensitive information to a company that admits that they will earn money off of it?

They haven't got all my sensitive information. They haven't got a little bit.

Who, in their right mind, would store/send sensitive information via an email system? Even on a technical level, email is inherently insecure.

cococo · 10 Apr 2010, 09:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobbes

They haven't got all my sensitive information. They haven't got a little bit.

Who, in their right mind, would store/send sensitive information via an email system? Even on a technical level, email is inherently insecure.

a sheep minded person definitely might do it.

alapzaj · 12 Apr 2010, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hobbes

Who, in their right mind, would store/send sensitive information via an email system? Even on a technical level, email is inherently insecure.

I registered on Gooze.eu, a small and nice webshop for PKI hardware a few days ago. After registration, they sent me an email with my login name and password(!) in clear text. And this is a place where you use your credit card for buying security hardware...

hobbes · 12 Apr 2010, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cococo

a sheep minded person definitely might do it.

Indeed. But, those who have read the Privacy Policy, particularly the "How we use and disclose your information" section, should reconsider.

That's not to say we should not use such services. But, we should not kid ourselves about the extent of privacy within services like Google AND Fastmail.

7 Apr 2010, 05:25 PM	#54
hobbes Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: UK Posts: 463	I'm certainly considering moving to Gmail or Zoho Mail, using my domain name, purely for the interface. I'm really impressed with the FM back-end system. It is really good. However, the front-end webmail design is lacking. Yes, it's an improvement on the old interface, but it will never win an interface design or usability award. I would recommend FM for those who use a desktop client. However, for those who use the web interface exclusively, it is cumbersome and ugly, making it a relatively unpleasant interface to use. It is clear that a programmer designed it, not a user interface designer (BTW, did you know that there are more colours in the rainbow than blue? And, just how many font sizes are being used in the interface?). Yes, I know that I can code a custom.css, whatever it is, and redo it myself. But, I have neither the time nor the ability to do so. It's like giving someone a Ford car with a Porche engine for the cost of a Porsche and telling them "Well, it can also look like a Porsche if you want it. Here's a tool kit. Do it yourself!" Sorry if this sounds harsh. When the new interface was being done, I saw this as a massive opportunity for FM to stand out in the webmail market, beyond just throwing features at the user. With the outcome, and the apparent view that the new interface is finished, I'm genuinely disappointed. Last edited by hobbes : 7 Apr 2010 at 05:55 PM.

28 Mar 2010, 11:41 PM	#46
adam15c Essential Contributor Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: UK Posts: 352	I too was an FM user for many years. But Gmail just offers so much more. I need contact, calendar & email sync with mobile, Gmail just do this perfectly. I could probably do it all separately and continue to use FM, but then why should I? I'm getting it all for free. Its a shame as I promoted FM to all my friends and added links to FM on my websites. But unfortunately they just haven't moved on. Just my humble opinion.

10 Apr 2010, 02:43 PM	#55
pengrus Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 50	I didn't really use FastMail that much even I paid for 5 years Enhanced. Reason: I found FastMail VERY SLOW in implementing new feature requests. Let's say, threaded view? Better Search? However, I just made FastMail my mission critical email service provider, why? Google failed me. I have an email address hosted with them. For almost a year, people who emailed me did not get any error or bounced messages. And I do not get them. I thought no one email me at this address, until one day, a guy showed me he emailed me and I got nothing. I checked my google hosted account, and it shows everything FINE and ACTIVE. Out of frustration, I paid another 5 years of Enhanced and moved my domain over. I want to make this my mission critical email service now. The only paid email I got. I emailed google yesterday asking for their help to recover my lost emails, as you guessed, no reply yet. I already got several emails from FastMail telling me what might be wrong in my domain set up. Let's give FastMail some support, and play with other free emails. I do not wish to lose any emails ever again.