Do you use Google?

[becky]

I know Google is great for lots of stuff. I love their Google Voice and Google Maps on my phone, two things I just can't live without. Of course there is online searches and Web stats but aside from the phone number stuff, I don't use Google for personal stuff like email, contacts, and calendar. I have this weird phobia about having so much personal info online. How do you all feel about that?

I know when it comes time to upgrade my phone I am getting a constant push to get an android and how it syncs to google. I am not sure I want to leave the comfort zone of my Outlook and Blackberry just yet and would love to know your feedback.

[phredgirlie]

I use gmail and google+ (which is the new social network) i like it a lot, but they do ask you to allow that they can use your search information to put applicable ads on your pages, but they do that whether you have a gmail account or not. The gmail spam filter is really good too.

[MamaLaura]

I have two gmail accounts, but don't use them for anything other than what I need to (blog and YouTube). I'm on Google+ but so far I don't like it. I use it for searches, and I think I have an app on my phone that uses Google Maps.

[Lorah]

I have gmail, I try to not use it too much as they never purge the information. Every email sent and recieved is forever stored. Not unlike most though. Just a little more honest about it is all.

Travis uses gmail and google stuff for work however and loves it.

I keep hearing people upset with Google+ saying it's Google's sad attempt at being the new FB. I have no interested at the moment.

[Christyn95]

I know Google is great for lots of stuff. I love their Google Voice and Google Maps on my phone, two things I just can't live without. Of course there is online searches and Web stats but aside from the phone number stuff, I don't use Google for personal stuff like email, contacts, and calendar. I have this weird phobia about having so much personal info online. How do you all feel about that?

I know when it comes time to upgrade my phone I am getting a constant push to get an android and how it syncs to google. I am not sure I want to leave the comfort zone of my Outlook and Blackberry just yet and would love to know your feedback.


I use Google for all my searches and have 2 Gmail accts, but it's not for my usual emails - 1 is for job stuff - which I use to send off resumes and such...and then the 2nd one I made up solely (a few weeks ago) for all the coupon/store/solicitation emails I get on a daily basis.

With regards to the Android and syncing up to Outlook...DH just got an Android and I think he downloaded some Outlook App and he is now able to sync up w/Outlook, even for his Gmail account. So...it might work out for you...

[NeddaM]

i use google everything. gmail, google calendar, google+, google voice, picasa for my pictures, etc etc
i love the google products and i feel secure in their privacy/security.
i've had more trouble keeping my privacy settings secure on facebook.

i use an iphone and i have it all synced up with my google accounts.
my iphone calendar shows my google calendars, my iphone contacts are imported/backed up on google, my iphone email is my gmail... etc.

google has great support pages with clear succinct instructions for absolutely anything you need to do!
http://www.google.com/support/mobile/bin/answer.py?answer=138740&topic=14252
:banana

[NeddaM]

i like google+, i like the ability to control the privacy of my information more easily than in FB.

the only problem with g+ right now is that there aren't enough people using it for it to work best. just like FB when it first started.

g+ is good for getting info to certain circles of people in your life without getting the info to everyone. it's also convenient to have it linked to other g services (like calendar and email- for invites & branching a convo into email)

LOL!
I sound like I work for google, but I dont!

[becky]

I am still new to google and didn't know it did all this stuff. I only found out about Google Voice from a fellow photographer at one of our meetings. I have been in love with it ever since. I did see there was G+ but google is not letting new folks in just yet since they are still testing. I love and use FB so much though its going to be hard to switch.

[MamaLaura]

i like google+, i like the ability to control the privacy of my information more easily than in FB.

the only problem with g+ right now is that there aren't enough people using it for it to work best. just like FB when it first started.

g+ is good for getting info to certain circles of people in your life without getting the info to everyone. it's also convenient to have it linked to other g services (like calendar and email- for invites & branching a convo into email)

LOL!
I sound like I work for google, but I dont!

See, I have absolutely no problem doing that with FB. I have tons of groups set up and I only share information, posts, pictures, etc with certain groups at certain times. For example. I hide a lot from older family members that I have on my friends. I have a lot of moms on my list from boards for grieving parents, and since I don't know any of them personally, they're only permitted to see things pertaining to my son. So the groups and such are something I find easy and take full advantage of.

I think part of my hesitation with G+ is that I already switched everything from MySpace to FB, and now I'm annoyed with the idea of having to switch everything to a new site, when the original worked just fine :dunno