# Gmail vs Hotmail vs Yahoo **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 15, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843 "2006-05-15T16:24:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![seoulsoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@seoulsoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seoulsoul)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/1 "2006-05-15T16:24:30Z")
I’ve hopped on the gmail wagon, and am wondering if I’ve done so too quickly. I have a hotmail account and a yahoo account, and lately have found the features of gmail very useful (search saved e-mails, remember e-mail addresses, sort things quickly depending on my stipulation). So much so that I only use my other accounts as back up. But tonight I was disappointed by my inability to send a .41 MB attachment with gmail. I switched to hotmail and it was sent-not exactly easily- with a long upload rate. I realize the problem could have numerous origins, (quite possibly my old computer) but it made me think. :smack: Which free e-mail service is the best to use? ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/2 "2006-05-15T16:30:13Z")
I just find it odd that you couldn’t send your attachment. I send/receive 4MB files all the time with no trouble. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/3 "2006-05-15T16:31:37Z")
I have a 10 MB limit on my Gmail! I know because I send large size digital pictures all the time and was only blocked from sending like 10 at a time. Check your settings. ---
**Author:** ![Catalyst](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@Catalyst](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catalyst)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/4 "2006-05-15T16:36:53Z")
The limit is indeed 10MB for gMail. One thing to keep in mind is that some people have reported that gMail has dropped mail headed towards their inbox. The other guy’s server says it sent okay, Google’s servers say they received it, yet somehow it never makes it to the user. I haven’t had this problem yet … as far as I know. ---
**Author:** ![seoulsoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@seoulsoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seoulsoul)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/5 "2006-05-15T16:37:10Z")
It is strange, but gmail said “cannot connect with gmail check your connection” (basically) but my connection was intact and I had no problem sending other e-mails. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/6 "2006-05-15T16:41:02Z")
> [@seoulsoul](#): > > It is strange, but gmail said “cannot connect with gmail check your connection” (basically) but my connection was intact and I had no problem sending other e-mails. Sometimes this happens for a moment…see if you can save your e-mail and try it again. Occasionally I have connection isses. They have never lasted more than 10 minutes and usually are more like 1-2 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![seoulsoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@seoulsoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seoulsoul)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/7 "2006-05-15T16:41:39Z")
> [@Catalyst](#): > > The limit is indeed 10MB for gMail. > > One thing to keep in mind is that some people have reported that gMail has dropped mail headed towards their inbox. The other guy’s server says it sent okay, Google’s servers say they received it, yet somehow it never makes it to the user. I haven’t had this problem yet … as far as I know. This may be related to what’s happening, I’m sending to a gmail account, but I can’t finish sending my e-mail. ---
**Author:** ![seoulsoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@seoulsoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seoulsoul)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/8 "2006-05-15T16:45:16Z")
I’d love to keep this open though to opinions about the above mentioned internet services… :smack: ---
**Author:** ![seoulsoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@seoulsoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seoulsoul)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/9 "2006-05-15T16:47:39Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Sometimes this happens for a moment…see if you can save your e-mail and try it again. Occasionally I have connection isses. They have never lasted more than 10 minutes and usually are more like 1-2 minutes. When I try to save that particular e-mail I get the same response (just a picture attached to Word document) ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/10 "2006-05-15T16:50:56Z")
If you want opinions, then I will never go back to Yahoo or Hotmail as long as I live. Gmail is constantly upgrading and working to help me. I will henceforth begin to sound like an advert for Gmail. Fair warning. Between filters, labels, incredible space, no annoying pages or adverts - my Yahoo mail has a giant advert right on the page. Often it’s some bikini-clad woman. Yeah, just what I need to open up at work. Threading conversations. “Away” messages when I go on vacation. A great search feature. Built-in chat so I don’t have to download a damn thing. An easy help section. Highlights of the day. Different languages. An excellent spam filter. It remembers my e-mails by just typing a few letters. Gmail IMo is by far and away the best e-mail program I have ever worked with. I like it better than outlook. One of the things I hope they add as a matter of fact is a calendar. Never, never again - I am completely devoted. ---
**Author:** ![fishbicycle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aeb1de/32.png) [@fishbicycle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fishbicycle)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/11 "2006-05-15T16:53:08Z")
I use Yahoo mail, with its 10 MB upload, to send myself audio files uncompressed, in .wav format, from home, and retrieve them at work. It’s aways gone off without a hitch. If my filesize is larger than 9 MB, I have a split file program, and I send the parts in sequential e-mails. That works, too. ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePasto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c68b51/32.png) [@AuntiePasto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePasto)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/12 "2006-05-15T16:59:57Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > One of the things I hope they add as a matter of fact is a calendar. Your wish is Google’s command: the google calendar is still in Beta, but it does have integration with Gmail, and more integration is planned. [www.google.com/calendar](http://www.google.com/calendar) ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/13 "2006-05-15T17:02:10Z")
> [@AuntiePasto](#): > > Your wish is Google’s command: the google calendar is still in Beta, but it does have integration with Gmail, and more integration is planned. > > [www.google.com/calendar](http://www.google.com/calendar) Oooo. _drools_ I like. ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/14 "2006-05-15T17:06:28Z")
I’m with Anaamika. Hotmail is terrible. The world has passed it by. They haven’t significantly changed in seven or eight years (other than allowing more space for free accounts.) Yahoo is ok. The world will soon have passed it by. They’re two or three years out of date. I do like that it’s connected with Yahoo Messenger which I still use. I love my Gmail account. I have one hotmail, maybe seven Yahoo and two Gmail accounts that I use for various reasons but one of the Gmails is the one that I use the most for day to day stuff. ---
**Author:** ![seoulsoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@seoulsoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seoulsoul)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/15 "2006-05-15T17:13:30Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > If you want opinions, then I will never go back to Yahoo or Hotmail as long as I live. > > Gmail is constantly upgrading and working to help me. I will henceforth begin to sound like an advert for Gmail. Fair warning. > > Between filters, labels, incredible space, no annoying pages or adverts - my Yahoo mail has a giant advert right on the page. Often it’s some bikini-clad woman. Yeah, just what I need to open up at work. Threading conversations. “Away” messages when I go on vacation. A great search feature. Built-in chat so I don’t have to download a damn thing. An easy help section. Highlights of the day. Different languages. An excellent spam filter. It remembers my e-mails by just typing a few letters. > > Gmail IMo is by far and away the best e-mail program I have ever worked with. I like it better than outlook. One of the things I hope they add as a matter of fact is a calendar. > > Never, never again - I am completely devoted. I agree and have had a similar experience, which is why I’m surprised to have trouble sending my file to another gmail account. The explanation was unhelpful. ---
**Author:** ![seoulsoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@seoulsoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seoulsoul)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/16 "2006-05-15T17:14:59Z")
> [@seoulsoul](#): > > I agree and have had a similar experience, which is why I’m surprised to have trouble sending my file to another gmail account. The explanation was unhelpful. I meant: the explanation (sent from the gmail program) was unhelpful. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Eonwe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eonwe/32/240_2.png) [@Eonwe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eonwe)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/17 "2006-05-15T17:21:50Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Oooo. _drools_ > > I like. Yeah, I started using this yesterday in fact. Pretty snazzy. I’m still trying to figure out how the sharing works, but it’s a pretty cool bit of software. _And_, it’s integrated with google maps, so that when you enter a location for an event in your calendar, it automatically gives you a link to the map of the location. ---
**Author:** ![SpaceDog](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spacedog/32/9932_2.png) [@SpaceDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpaceDog)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/18 "2006-05-15T17:25:02Z")
GMail is great, but I haven’t used the others. Then again I’m unlikely to unless GMail really screws something up. I dunno if you can do this via Yahoo/Hotmail but you can get GMail to send using different ‘From:’ addresses. Which means I can choose which e-mail address I appear to be using depending on what I’m doing but it’s all tied together in my GMail account. And the new Calendar is great too, you can type something like “Meet so-and-so at someplace at 7pm on Friday” in an e-mail and it’ll pick it up and offer to add it to the Calendar. It’s not perfect but it’s still pretty cool. Regarding your problem sending mail, I’d imagine what’s happening is that the operation is timing out. To send the mail you’ve got to upload the large(ish) file to GMail which takes a while. If your browser decides to time out during this or there are other problems it’ll not work and you’ll get the unconnected message. It is a bit of a pain, there’s some things you could try depending what browser you’re using, have you tried using a different browser to upload it ? SD ---
**Author:** ![Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cab0a1/32.png) [@Man\_With\_a\_Cat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Man_With_a_Cat)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/19 "2006-05-15T17:38:06Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > If you want opinions, then I will never go back to Yahoo or Hotmail as long as I live. > > Gmail is constantly upgrading and working to help me. I will henceforth begin to sound like an advert for Gmail. Fair warning. > > Between filters, labels, incredible space, no annoying pages or adverts - my Yahoo mail has a giant advert right on the page. Often it’s some bikini-clad woman. Yeah, just what I need to open up at work. Threading conversations. “Away” messages when I go on vacation. A great search feature. Built-in chat so I don’t have to download a damn thing. An easy help section. Highlights of the day. Different languages. An excellent spam filter. It remembers my e-mails by just typing a few letters. > > Gmail IMo is by far and away the best e-mail program I have ever worked with. I like it better than outlook. One of the things I hope they add as a matter of fact is a calendar. > > Never, never again - I am completely devoted. What she said. In fact, when I asked, **Anaamika** was my invite to gmail. I asked how she liked it, and got essentially this same speech, in e-mail form. I’ve been using it a little while, and am constantly finding new, very cool things to play with. And now, today I find the calendar. I may never get back to work… ---
**Author:** ![seoulsoul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@seoulsoul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seoulsoul)\ **Post date:** [May 15, 2006, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843/20 "2006-05-15T17:45:20Z")
> [@SpaceDog](#): > > GMail is great, but I haven’t used the others. Then again I’m unlikely to unless GMail really screws something up. > > I dunno if you can do this via Yahoo/Hotmail but you can get GMail to send using different ‘From:’ addresses. Which means I can choose which e-mail address I appear to be using depending on what I’m doing but it’s all tied together in my GMail account. And the new Calendar is great too, you can type something like “Meet so-and-so at someplace at 7pm on Friday” in an e-mail and it’ll pick it up and offer to add it to the Calendar. It’s not perfect but it’s still pretty cool. > > Regarding your problem sending mail, I’d imagine what’s happening is that the operation is timing out. To send the mail you’ve got to upload the large(ish) file to GMail which takes a while. If your browser decides to time out during this or there are other problems it’ll not work and you’ll get the unconnected message. It is a bit of a pain, there’s some things you could try depending what browser you’re using, have you tried using a different browser to upload it ? SD I have not. I have an explorer browser. Can you recommend something else? I tried Moxilla (though not with this particular problem) but the download had some problems with my system. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gmail-vs-hotmail-vs-yahoo/356843.md?page=2)