Gmail in the News

roadies writes "Despite all the negativity and privacy concerns that surround Gmail, it has still gained cult-like status where net-d0rks feel self validated by having a gmail address and will do anything to get one. Services like the Gmail Machine, a randomized Gmail lotto that has people hitting refresh until they get carpel-tunnel in the index finger, reports over 7 million pageviews (though, definitely not uniques) in 3 days and 55 invites given away. They just added 222 more through donators who have given up invites in exchange for a text link on the high-traffic site. GmailSwap (covered recently on /.) has given away everything from cameras to good vibes. Good news for hardpressed geeks: The invites are becoming more and more available and mainstream. Ebay once had gmail invites going for a couple hundred dollars. Now, nobody is bidding on them anymore, so you can purchase one the old-fashioned eBay way for a dollar or two." Reader marklyon writes "Third party developers have stepped in with utilities that enhance and improve GMail. One utility, Mbox & Maildir to Gmail Loader allows users to upload their existing email to their GMail account. Another, POP Goes the GMail, offers the ability to access your GMail account with any POP mail reader, giving users the ability to permanently archive messages. GTray lives in your taskbar and alerts you to incoming messages. Other, more general programs, allow you to forward your Hotmail or Yahoo! Mail messages to your new GMail account. The question that remains, however, is whether Google will work with or against third party developers in GMail's future."

Comments

I thought about bidding on an account...

[k4_pacific]

But instead bought an old 1 GB harddrive on eBay for 50 cents.

I got an account a few days ago

[sulli]

And if it's offered to the likes of me, it can't bt that cool. (I was a very brief user of Adwords.)

My impression: It's nice webmail. That's it.

I don't see the huge hype, but then again I did click on that invite link, didn't I?

Oh, bloody hell

[lorcha]

After reading that it seems like they're gonna take away my geek credentials if I don't have a gmail account. Could someone please send an invitation to lorcha@hotmail.com?

Thanks,
A geek who needs to feel some validation.

Re:Well...

[mekkab]

ohhhhh me!

send it to: Mekkab @ gmail DOT com.

Oh, Wait...

Getting Invited

[xp]

How does one get invited. I crave the invitation. I am almost tempted to start my own Google just so I could then invite myself to gmail.

----
Is Your Boss A Muppet?

Re:Getting Invited

[Anonymous Coward]

I got invited by hanging out with (not just stalking) hot girls who use blogger. No, I'm serious. Now if I could just get one of them to sleep with me for once I'd be the coolest guy on slashdot.

Re:Still policy blocked from work...

[Anonymous Coward]

The proxy server update that allows us to read your mail will be installed this weekend.
-- your sysadmin

Gmail Maching Brutally Raped ;)

[Zone-MR]

Slashdotting a site which encourages users to repeatedly hit refresh?

A new low, or were they just asking for it? ;)

Start Your Betting!

[Farley Mullet]

I've you'd like a Gmail account, send me an email at chrislamothe@gmail.com and as I get invites I'll hook you up. I've hooked up 18 people this week alone.

Slashdot vs. a 1 Gig Inbox: Who Will Win?

Re:The GMail Market

[ajayrockrock]

...I managed to get unlimited virtual hosting...

Are you sure about that? Your site has a big ass "This Account Has Been Suspended" page on it. :)

--ajay

Re:My experiences with Gmail invitations

[nacturation]

Silly wabbit, tricks are for kids.

Obligatory Gmail whoring.

[cgenman]

Come on now, if you're going to grovel, be creative!

There was a man without gmail
Whose VAC could tell quite the tale
his wife worked real hard
to stack the punch cards
but she died, and now he's in jail

One gig, two gigs or three
Gmail's the right size for me
Don't be upset
I read the usenet
all archived, from 1903

My Friendster, and his big gut
has been reclusive somewhat
Gmail requests
he won't address
I think that he moved to orkut

I could be rich, without a doubt
I found an unbeatable route
this Nigerian guy
wants a reply
but I can't with my inbox maxed out

My mailbox will always O flow
inflators, fellators, you know
I get lots of spam
Thanks to my mam
That woman named me Info

Anyone have a spare invite for a clever guy?
cgenman@pobox.com

cookies

[Anonymous Coward]

I like cookies! If you like cookies too then I think you are cool! can you invite me to join gmail ? thanks man, I'll send you some cookies. tech@vozip.net

Darn! I got 1338 on Gmail Machine...

[callipygian-showsyst]

I got 1338 on the Gmail Machine, and they gave me a HOTMAIL account! So close....!

MP3 Player for GMail Account

[CaptainTux]

I have a few GMail invites laying around and would like to trade one of them for an MP3 player. Doesn't have to be an IPod but just one with decent storage space and easy to use. Email me if interested.

Anthony

Life sucks.

[jhobbs]

I think I'm going to cry. I was trying the Gmail Machine lotto. . . I was hitting refresh so fast all I saw was a blink of a page with a big yellow font that said "Winner!" with a text entry box below it. Then 1/5 of a second later, I tapped my touch pad and the page refreshed. I think I need a moment of reflection.

Re:My experiences with Gmail invitations

[njan]

I have more :p