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Google Introduces Gmail Paper

Posted by Zonk on from the finally-i-can-be-pc-free dept.

SlashRating© 56 slashdottit! tm nacturation writes "Everyone loves Gmail. But not everyone loves email, or the digital era. What ever happened to stamps, filing cabinets, and the mailman? Now with Gmail Paper, you can request a physical copy of any message with the click of a button, and it'll be sent to you in the mail. Photo attachments are printed on high-quality, glossy photo paper, and secured to your Gmail Paper with a paper clip. And it's totally free: the cost of postage is offset with the help of relevant, targeted, unobtrusive advertisements printed on the back of every print."

31 of 134 comments (clear)

  1. What? by Opportunist · · Score: 4, Funny

    No Google stamps?

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  2. Google TiSP by rchatterjee · · Score: 5, Funny

    Remember that your requests for Gmail Paper go through faster if you're a subscriber to Google TiSP.

    1. Re:Google TiSP by julesh · · Score: 2, Funny

      The best part of Google TiSP...

      "Insert the TiSP installation CD and run the setup utility to install the Google Toolbar (required)" :)

  3. Beware of viruses by MSRedfox · · Score: 4, Funny

    I caught a nasty virus when I got a paper cut from a piece of Gmail paper spam.

  4. weird quotes by Takichi · · Score: 2, Insightful

    "It's paper, plain and easy. I sometimes find myself wondering: what will Google think of next? Cardboard?" Bill K., Armchair Futurist This must be an April fool's.
    1. Re:weird quotes by HAKdragon · · Score: 3, Informative

      thanks for that insight, Captain Obvious.

      --
      "Our opponent is an alien starship packed with atomic bombs. We have a protractor."
  5. C'mon now... by clifgriffin · · Score: 4, Funny

    This is the second time I've been fooled since getting to work an hour ago.

    I can't be discerning at this ungody hour.

    --
    clifgriffin > blog
  6. Photos could almost be useful by Kelson · · Score: 2, Interesting

    ...for people who don't have photo printers.

    1. Re:Photos could almost be useful by Aladrin · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Seriously. I -have- a photo printer, and with dealing with low-ink, misprints, misalignments, streaks, etc, I'd -gladly- let them put advertisements on the back of the photo. I'd even promise to look at them. Most of the time, I simply don't print any more, because it's just too much hassle. If a family-member asks me to print a picture, I just glare them down until they give up.

      It's too bad this is a joke, because I think it might actually work. -sigh-

      --
      "If you make people think they're thinking, they'll love you; But if you really make them think, they'll hate you." - DM
    2. Re:Photos could almost be useful by Shawn+is+an+Asshole · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Photo printers, like all inkjets, are a scam. The companies gouge you for the ink. The quality is piss poor compared to real photos. The photo paper is seriously over priced. The very expensive ink runs and smears when it encounters any moisture. Etc.

      I fell for this once, but never again. What I do now is have my digital photos printed. Snapfish does it for $0.15/photo. Walmart does it for $0.12/photo and you can upload it online and pick it up at a local store. What you get is a photo that looks exactly like what you'd get with film. Only you get to do some GIMPing to it first.

      It's significantly cheaper doing it this way rather than printing it with a photo printer. I mean, not counting the paper, with $60 worth of ink I was about to print maybe 30 photos. And they looked like ass, plus often the ink would smear before it dried. That's compared to the $27 (shipping was $8 or something) I paid Snapfish for the 180 photos I took on my vacation last summer, all of which look great.

      --
      "It ain't a war against drugs.it's a war against personal freedom" --Bill Hicks
  7. Re:I miss the ponies. by linuxci · · Score: 4, Funny

    Is it really necessary to make the site completely useless one day of the year?

    What day in particular is that? I'd like to see them make the site completely useful for one day of the year :)

    It'd be a start

  8. Re:Mod me insightful for no special reason by fondacio · · Score: 5, Informative

    Thanks! Maybe by posting this, now I can get modded informative for no particular, real or special reason.

  9. Re:Mod me insightful for no special reason by Eudial · · Score: 3, Funny

    I'm here to mod insightful and chew bubble gum, and I'm all outta mod points.

    --
    GAAH! MY PRINTER IS ON FIRE!!! PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT!
  10. Proposal by ceeam · · Score: 3, Funny

    May we have 32 days in March and then April, 2nd, please?

    1. Re:Proposal by suv4x4 · · Score: 2, Funny

      May we have 32 days in March and then April, 2nd, please?

      That's probably what they thought when introducing the daylight saving change "with a change in the calendar, we'll eradicate stupidity worldwide". Didn't work.

  11. This is real by Aqwis · · Score: 2, Informative

    This is no april fools joke (you heard it here first).

  12. Re:Mod me insightful for no special reason by denver38 · · Score: 4, Funny

    What's next, Cowboyneal gets laid?

  13. TiSP & Soft Google Paper - the perfect mash up by NZheretic · · Score: 5, Funny
    When your finished reading, just select the amount of Google paper you require and tear along the pre-perforated line ...

    Frankly, I cannot wait to tell my boss what I did with his last memo.

  14. Re:Mod me insightful for no special reason by VirusEqualsVeryYes · · Score: 2, Funny

    There needs to be a mod for unoriginality.

    Oh, wait. There's one.

    *click*

  15. Re:Since when? by Rhinobird · · Score: 2, Informative

    They've got that covered:

    But what about the environment?

    Not a problem. Gmail Paper is made out of 96% post-consumer organic soybean sputum, and thus, actually helps the environment. For every Gmail Paper we produce, the environment gets incrementally healthier.



    --
    If Mr. Edison had thought smarter he wouldn't sweat as much. --Nikola Tesla
  16. April Fool's Modding? by zaguar · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Can I get an insightful mod for nothing? Come on...

    --
    "Sure there's porn and piracy on the Web but there's probably a downside too."
  17. Moo by Chacham · · Score: 2, Funny
    Quoth the article:

    "Now that I have Gmail Paper, I understand the difference between labels and folders. I had one message with two labels, but when I tried to stick the paper version into two filing cabinets at the same time, it just wouldn't go."


    Of course, Google Filing Cabinet, soon to be announced, does allow double filing by creating an ethereal copy for the second cabinet.
    --
    Have you read my journal today?
  18. Re:Mod me insightful for no special reason by sas-dot · · Score: 2, Funny

    I have rejected the service. I selected, 'I don't agree' button as they are not yet ready to print 'mp3' and 'mpeg' files...

  19. I knew it was a joke... by joe+155 · · Score: 2, Informative

    I just wanted to say that I had forgot that today was the 1st but I got the joke (even without the OMG PONIES!!!!) or opening TFA (hell, I wouldn't do that on a regular day) - there was one massive tell; it was already ou of BETA, less than 100 years after they thought of the idea...

    come one guys, this has to be believable

    --
    *''I can't believe it's not a hyperlink.''
  20. This will make some people a lot more comfortable by jrothwell97 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I know people who really will benefit from GMail Paper. For example, Farmer Files has always been uncomfortable with normal Email and prefers paper mail. This will really help him.

    From memory, he farms spaghetti on a farm in Switzerland that was featured on Panorama in the 1950s... :-)

    --
    Those using pirated Tinysoft signatures(TM) are a real threat to society and should all be thrown in jail.
  21. Sate Government would love this by linebackn · · Score: 2, Funny

    I know of some State Government agencies that would LOVE this! Of course they would most likely get talked in to using Microsoft paper instead, which locks you in to using only Microsoft Pens, Microsoft Staplers, etc.

    On a side rant, it boggles my mind how everybody think putting something "on a computer" or worse yet "on the web" magically makes things better. Sometimes paper and pencil is the best solution.

  22. Most depressing. April Fools. Ever. by Channard · · Score: 3, Informative
    No, not this one, but while we are on the subject of April Fools, the BBC's article on April Fools reported that

    "In Romania, during the Ceausescu era, one newspaper printed an article as an April Fool's joke saying all political prisoners were being freed. People started turning up at prisons and waiting for family and friends to be released. It didn't go down well when it was revealed to be a hoax."

    I checked this wasn't a fool with in a fool, and it wasn't. This really happened. Jesus Christ, can you imagine that? A mother and her kids rushing along to the prison, the kids skipping along.. 'Yayy! We're going to get Daddy back!' And then to be told it was a joke. Easily the most depressing thing I've read about in weeks.

  23. Re:TiSP & Soft Google Paper - the perfect mash by saskboy · · Score: 2, Funny

    "I cannot wait to tell my boss what I did with his last memo."

    I've gotta tell my boss to hurry up with their memo writing, I HAVE TO GO!

    --
    Saskboy's blog is good. 9 out of 10 dentists agree.
  24. I'm still holding out for....... by Cnik70 · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'm still holding out for Apple iPaper :)

    --
    -Cnik
  25. Actually a service in rural India? by caryw · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Trolling around the "upcoming" section of digg last night I found this:

    "Oh this is so funny!!! Google tried to release an April Fool's joke today about Google Paper
    - the ability to have your emails printed and sent via snail mail!

    The problem they didn't realise is that in the latest issue of Fast Company, this ACTUALLY HAPPENS in India!!!

    It's called the ePost service from the Indian post office. Now you have a Billion Indians who are thinking that this is a legitimate alternative to their ePost service - nice try Google, but next time, make sure your PR people read Fast Company!!"

    Link to blog: http://www.vinnylingham.com/2007/04/massive-google -blunder-seriously-read-this.html
    Link to article: http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/113/next-world -class.html

    And no this definitely isn't my blog. And wtf, people being modded insightful just for asking? This must be April Fools day.
    --
    Northern Virginia? Fairfax Underground! Forums, Wiki, and database of arrests and traffic tickets

  26. Slight Problem with their plan ... by i_wanna_be_a_scienti · · Score: 2, Interesting

    OK 8000 messages is equal to about 550 megabytes (including some attachments) Most people have multiple accounts - lets say 3 per person Most people have filled theirs up anywhere from 300 - 1000 megabytes (excluding attachments)(probably not true, but lets just say) so lets say that they have filled theirs up at about 800 megabytes per account so that is 2400 megabytes, or 34000 or so emails problem a. Where would you store it? problem b. How would they ship it easily? problem c. How many printers would they need? problem d. How long would it take to print all of these? problem e. What if they were to ask for, like it said in the article, 10000 COPIES OF EACH??? So, its all good and well that this is april fools :P