Gmail is perhaps the best net based email provider around. However the bane of internet email providers is that in order to use them you must be connected to the internet. It would be nice to be able to take your Gmail with you wherever you go, just like those who use desktop based systems like Microsoft Outlook or Mozilla Thunderbird. Well, wait no longer, a few weeks ago Gmail introduced it’s “desktop application.” I put that into quotes because it’s not so much an application as it is a browser extension, but it’s a great feature nonetheless.
In order to activate the feature you must sign into your Gmail account and click on the Google Labs icon in the upper right hand corner. Once inside simply click to enable offline, follow the prompts to install gears if it’s not already installed, and you’re done. The only thing left to do is allow Gmail to archive and download your messages. It will download your most recent 10,000 messages, attachments and all (this may take some time, so just relax, you can continue using Gmail).
While using the service without internet you can view, search, and even create new messages. One thing that cannot be done, however, is attach files to your created emails. However, it would not surprise me if this feature was added in the future as the service is in beta. When you sign back on the internet, your messages will be sent and any new messages will be downloaded. Also, there’s a setting for flaky internet for those times when your connection is weak. So, let’s get to it.
The Good:
This is so far my favorite addition to Gmail. I often take my laptop to work where I do not have personal internet access and Gmail is blocked on the company computer. It’s nice to be able to bring my email with me. For me, 10,0o0 messages goes back years so I have a nice archive of my email with me wherever I go. It’s wonderful to have that capability while still having Gmail’s splendid user interface.
The Bad:
Since Gmail.com is no longer dynamically updated on your local computer, it changes your experience a bit. If you are accustomed to signing into Gmail and automatically seeing your new messages, you’ll notice that you will now have to wait for a few moments to ensure that the system is synced. Also, you will have to pay attention to make sure the sync actually occurred. This can cause some to miss messages received because they don’t realize that their email simply isn’t synced.
The Bottom Line:
Gmail offline is a wonderful and welcome addition ot the Gmail lineup. Despite the small flaws, it’s taking Gmail to a much higher level of usability. I highly recommend setting this feature up on your Gmail account!
Photo Credit: Wikipedia
