I stopped using Outlook, which made my computer run better, way better, and that made it happy. Well, I know it made me happy.
I've been using Outlook on both my work computer and my laptop I keep at home for many years. I use it because I like the way it presents my email, the ease of use of the folders and a few other reasons which escape me at the moment, but mainly for the first two reasons.
I started out using the contact manager but moved over to the contact manager program my MLS provides with our MLS program. With that program I can set-up automatic notifications of listings, put my contacts into several different groups, do groups mailings of listings and lots more. I didn't want to duplicate information into two different programs (I'm trying to save time, not create more work for myself).
I started having problems with both computers well over a year ago. The problems started small, my computer ran slower, Outlook would shut-down at times, which I found VERY frustrating, but I powered on through.
I had my tech guy check it out and he did stuff that seemed to fix the problem...for awhile, but I started having the same problems again and they got worse. My husband told me it was Outlook from the beginning, but you know how that goes? What does he know? He's not a tech guy? So, I ignored him and powered on through.
My husband uses gmail and so do a lot of my clients. I took a look at gmail, but missed my Outlook reading pane and just couldn't make the switch. Then about a week or so ago, the problems were making my computer so slow, I couldn't blog! That was the last straw. I set-up my gmail account and have been using it ever since.
What I like the most about gmail (it's still very new to me) is ONE email account to deal with that is always current and up-to-date. The label feature is OK, but I miss Outlooks folders and especially the reading pane. I made my decision to stick with gmail, though, because my computers, both of them, have NEVER RUN BETTER and that is so important to me in my business.
If you use gmail I am trying to figure out how to put one label inside another label (I don't think it can be done) or find a work around for it. I make a label (in gmail, but in Outlook it was a folder) for each client and group them in active, inactive, closed, etc. I can not find a way to group the labels in gmail. Any assistance you can offer would be very appreciated. Thanks ahead of time.
Thank you for stopping by. Your comments on this post are welcomed and appreciated.
No one sold more homes in Del Norte County in 2009, 2010 and 2011--*in units sold and volume--than Fran Gatti. Put Fran to work for you!
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I use G Mail instead of Outlook and love it. Although I do not have an answer to your question,maybe some knows.
Sorry, Fran. I haven't figured out how to do that either. I've been using gmail for a couple of years but haven't spent much time fooling around with it. I am wondering whether you use a contact management system other than the one provided by your MLS system and, if so, have you been able to import your gmail contact info into that system? Many thanks, and sorry I couldn't be any help at all! -- Tanya in Montreal
Fran,
I didn't realize Outlook is such a drain. Hmmm...I may have to look into ditching it as well. My laptop can be SO slow at times...even though I added a couple of memory sticks. :)
Fran,
Thanks for the informative post... Sorry I don't know the answer to your question.
Best wishes for your continued success in 2010.
Wayne Gomillion | PinehurstHomeTeam.com
My dad talked me into switching to gmail when I first got into the business and I've never looked back. Make sure you explore the labs. Some of them do some really amazing things. Good luck in 2010!
Although it requires a period of adjustment, we find gmail to be much more robust and easy to use than Outlook. Definitely, the folder vs. label issue is the most difficult to adjust to. Best of luck in 2010.
I've used gmail since the beginning of its beta invite period. I don't know the answer to your question though.
I also have set-up the email address for my business domains to use google apps so I have all of the gmail functionality but still keep my own branding.
There so many options. I never ever used Outlook for business except for trail. Gmail, yahoo or even hotmails are simple in some ways. I use my MLS system and gmail. MLS gives option to import/export the contacts info as .csv file. I do make use of Excel for new leads and then export to MLS. I try to keep it simple.
I have the same issues with Outlook - in the past 3 years it has crashed twice leaving me with no address book which is crushing. Recently it crashed and I had to reinstall from the internet but it would not reinstall from the disk. My son, a pretty techy 21 year old, told me that web based contact management is the wayto go because it frees up your computer from the burden and crash proof. He suggests Firefox Thunderbird - I tried it once a couple of years ago, after an Outlook crash, and it wasn't very "business" friendly I dumped it. He tells me that it has been improved so that is on my list of things to check out this week.
I personally love Outlook and have been using it for years. I think it really depends on what OS you are running that determines speed and drainage.
Hi Fran, I am sorry to learn that you have been plagued with these computer issues. I am having some issues as well and until you mentioned it, I did not think that outlook was the cause. My computer crashed last night and it is currently limping. I have been considering getting away from windows in general and switching to a mac. My daughter loves gmail and swears by the mac. Hoever, my MLS is not mac compatible nor is my CMS (Advantage XI). it creates a dilemma. I think we are all getting tired of these slow computers that are prone to crashing! You would think Microsoft would find a way to fix this annoyance by now. Perhaps becasuse we go out and buy a new computer every two years, they do not have the incentive! LOL!
Fran do you know the reason Outlook is causing these issues. I have several email accounts and wonder if it is possible to forward all to one server (gmail), any ideas if you can do this?
Thanks
One other question did you uninstall outlook, what do you mean by not using it?
Nick,
Yes, you can forward all your emails to gmail. I'm currently forwarding two there. I did not uninstall Outlook but don't click on the icon to open it. Since I stopped opening Outlook, my computers (both of them) are running much faster and having no problems. I love an easy, economical fix to my computer problems.
I still haven't found a way to use the labels in a manner that really satisfies me, but gmail has loads of functions that I'm only now learning about. One really cool one is the task list.
I have also been having slowness even after adding new memory. I need to check this out and get a Gmail address. The biggest problem I think about is if I change and make Gmail primary then what happens to everyone who has my Yahoo address.
Tom,
Keep your yahoo and just forward it to gmail. It's easy to do and keeps you from missing out on any emails. I currently have two email addresses forwarding to my gmail.
Fran - i have a couple emails, can gmail integrate email accounts from different providers?
Christine,
Yes, gmail can handle many accounts.
Fran, you always have such good information to share with us, I'm sorry no one knows the answer to your question. I have the same experiences with Outlook as you did; my husband, too, has told me that's the problem. Unlike you, I'm still limping along with it. Some day -----
Oh No! I'm so far behind everyone else. I don't think I know enough about Outlook to be having problems with it. I'm sorry to hear what I have this to look forward to. Margaret C.
Fran,
Thanks for the post. I have been thinking about it for a couple of weeks. I asked the Folder question in Google Gmail Forums and recieved an answer just a few minutes ago.
" But creating the subfolders may be tricky. You actually use labels. So, you would use folderlabel/sufolderlabel Test if you can use can create such labels in Gmail and their usage is satisfactory to you.
You can create an IMAP account in Outlook. Then copy the folders from Personal Folders to Gmail IMAP folders. When copying limit copying to 300 emails at a time, as there is a bandwidth limit per transfer. "
I have been using outlook in the following manner.
I first created a Buyers Folder and a Sellers Folder ect. I then create separate accounts for all of my Buyers and Sellers. As a lot of my clients are long term I then create additional folders for the properties. Then all correspondence regarding that property is placed in its appropriate folder.
I like the drag and drop convenience.
I do not know if the comment that I recieved on forums will help me yet. I was hoping to find someone local who is using gmail . Perhaps a title rep or loan officer to see if they use it similar to the way I use Outlook.
So you downloaded Gmail and then began using it? I imagine then that the emails you had in Outlook remain in that program as an archive?
I was just playing around and found out that I had signed up for an Gmail account back in 2008. So now I understand a little bit about it.
I created a label and then sent myself serveral emails from different computers. those sent from the same computer with the same Subject arrived in the inbox with a ( 2 ) meaning I had two messages from the same person.
I then used the Move to feature to move the messages into the lable.
When I clicked on the label in the left hand margin then all of the messages popped up in the center reader.
When I clicked in the left hand margin show all then all messages poped up the ones with labels showed the label.