Rating online email accounts ~

I saw this, and even though there are other more than adequate answers on here, I had to put in my half penny's worth. My first online account was Yahoo! I had it because it was the one my ISP back in Indiana had partnered with, so it was easy to set up a free account when I came out here. But! There are so many ads, and that constant interruption of ads popping back in as I moved around in my mail account drove me to look for another account.

I opened up a Gmail account. I like Gmail. It's nice, it's clean, it's simple. And you can chat with other Gmailers right inside your account. It is extremely well set up, and the reasons for the other two accounts are rather specialized, or this is the only account I would want and need.

I opened an AOL account because I discuss my art projects with a close friend and mentor back in Indiana, and AOL handles pictures within the email body better than any other email account, in fact, unless I am mistaken, it's the only free email that does that. Unless my friend then wants to see a detailed, "up close" and personal look at the project, I don't send the pic as an attachment. This works extremely well for quick discussions of ongoing projects.

Now, my live.com account. Years ago I had had a hotmail accout. I allowed it to slide when my ISP went with Yahoo! as their partner, and I hadn't tended to it in years. When I tried to reactivate it, It was completely closed, but I was allowed to open a live account with more features. No complaints. It is professional looking, handles a banner from one of my "artsy" accounts, and lets me use linking more easily than all the others except perhaps Gmail.

I like them all for various reasons, obviously I don't plan on closing them until I find an email that does all that rolled up in one account. I would, by no means, object to that, it would be easier. You must choose according to how you use this wonderful new concept. Yes, I know there are many of you who are young enough to only barely remember a time when email did not exist for ordinary citizens. (If you were military, you could have had this form of communication a bit longer, but not nearly in such a "neat" form). The internet is fun!

Though for young people may I put forth a caution? I am almost certain that the "powers that be" are working on ways to be more controlling of the internet. That is almost a given. When those controls are in place, those who have acted irresponsibly and used the new freedoms we have with the internet to harrass others, and commit criminal acts will be brought forth to answer for their irresponsible and criminal behavior. It will happen.

It is already happening with predators of children. Please be careful out there. Don't put yourself in jeopardy and don't harm others. If you do not cause harm to others, there will be nothing for which you will need to answer when the dust settles and the internet is no longer like a frontier town waiting for a sherriff. In the meantime, people will do as they choose, but, if you want others to respect your space, the least you can do is respect the space of others.

Suzi