Set up Gmail

Google's Gmail offers free web based email accounts. Though the service was launched much later than the competition - Yahoo! and Hotmail - it has gained a sizable subscriber base as per Gmail statistics. If you still don't have an account, refer create your Gmail address or get a free Gmail email address for step by step instructions with screenshots. The tremendous popularity of Gmail can be attributed to the constant innovation and addition of useful features to the email accounts. For example, free POP3 and IMAP access were introduced fairly quickly on Gmail; there are sorely absent in the free Yahoo! email accounts and only recently Hotmail has free announced POP3 settings.

Since POP and IMAP email protocols are enabled on all Gmail accounts - free and paid (yes, there are paid Gmail accounts too) - you can set up Gmail accounts in any email program or email program.

Downloading Gmail email has many benefits including accessibility even without internet connection, maintaining a copy on your local computer, backing up the messages and protection against accidental online deletions or malicious account hacking. Learn more about the advantages of email programs such as Outlook Express.

Which email program should you use?

There are tens of popular email programs but the choice will depend on the operating system your computers running. Here is a quick check list for popular operating systems:

• Windows XP
  Outlook Express or refer Gmail on Outlook Express
  Windows Live Mail
  Outlook from Microsoft
  Mozilla Thunderbird
  IncrediMail
  Yahoo email program - Zimbra desktop
• Windows Vista
  Windows Mail
  Windows Live Mail
  MS Outlook
  Thunderbird
  Zimbra desktop
• Macintosh
  Apple Mail
  Thunderbird from Mozilla
  Zimbra desktop from Yahoo!
• Linux
  Thunderbird email program
  Yahoo! Zimbra desktop