Google Gmail again

[Coldicote]

I recently raised a question here about setting up a Google Gmail address (4th September) but am sorry to say I got in a bit of a state and finished up cancelling the whole thing, but I'm thinking about having another go. Not understanding about servers and service providers was the problem. I was expecting Google would tell me what to do about pop3 and smtp but I couldn't find anything helpful. Obviously I wouldn't want to use 'dial up' every time, when I have Orange broadband. Very grateful if someone could please straighten out my understanding about this, especially regarding pop3 and smtp and the use of dial-up and/or broadband.

[VHG]

If you want to set up a google gmail address you do it all via a browser on their web site - google.co.uk

No need to worry about servers and smtp or anything like that.

If you have broadband you just access the internet via broadband, go to the google home page, select gmail at the top and set up your email address.

Do the same to log to your email address.

You read your emails and send emails all via the browser, nothing is stored on your PC.

You do it all via your web browser.

[Coldicote]

Very many thanks VHG. I'll have another try.

[Buenchico]

The 'dial up v broadband' issue is irrelevant. There's no difference as far as your email is concerned.

As VHG states, you can access all of your mail via the Gmail website but (unless you need to access your mail from several computers) that should always be regarded as 'second best'.

If (as I much prefer) you want to access your email service via a proper email client (such as Outlook, Outlook Express, Thunderbird or Windows Live Mail) you need to decide whether you want to use POP3 or IMAP. POP3 is the 'traditional' way where (unless you specify otherwise) your emails are downloaded to your computer and automatically deleted from the host server at the same time. IMAP has certain advantages:
http://email.cityu.edu.hk/faq/popimap.htm
but it can be harder to configure. (I'm happy with POP3 for my email access).

You've not told us which email client you've got. I'll guess at Windows Live Mail. If that's correct, you can read how to set up IMAP or POP3 access to a Gmail account here:
http://email.about.co...s/qt/et_get_gmail.htm
(You'll see that the instructions for POP3 are FAR shorter!)

If you need the manual configuration settings for POP3/SMTP access, they're here:
http://support.google...py?hl=en&answer=13287

Chris

[Coldicote]

Thank you for your advice. My regular email client is Outlook Express with POP3. When I open the Google page I see in the top right corner my name, then three boxes - Notifications (which is empty), then '+ share', and a third one for a photograph, but I don't see how to prepare, send or receive emails. I sent one to myself, at my new Google address, but it hasn't arrived - at least I can't find it! I'll try to persevere, but this does seem more like a chat blog which I was not really expecting.

[Buenchico]

IMAP instructions for Gmail with Outlook Express:
http://support.google...py?hl=en&answer=77659

POP3 instructions for Gmail with Outlook Express:
http://support.email2..._Outlook_Express.html

My preferred email service (which I like better than GMail):
http://www.gmx.co.uk/

Chris

[Coldicote]

Thank you Chris. I'll follow up but not this evening - have other calls on my time just now!