[Ham-Computers] Fast Web mail Service

[nn6o]

Jim,

It's not very pretty, but try using the "mobile" gmail webpage:

  http://m.gmail.com

The pages are formatted for use on a mobile phone, so it's basically plain
text and very few graphics.  The interface looks funny when using a full-sized
web browser, but in a situation like yours where bandwidth is limited, it can
make the difference.

Also, I haven't played with gmail much (I do have an account), but Yahoo mail
still has a "classic" interface that's less bandwidth intensive (and they also
have a "mobile" interface).  Try signing up for a Yahoo account and in the
mail options, change the GUI to "Classic" rather than the "New" interface and
see if it's any faster with the slow hotspots.

Another option...POP mail clients often include tools specifically for POP
retrieval (designed when bandwidth was low, such as dial-up).  With these
clients (such as Thunderbird and Outlook), you can download just the headers,
review them, and mark specifically which e-mails to fully download.  You can
also mark to delete the e-mail without downloading the body (mark for
deletion) or ignore the header (e-mail will be kept on server and ignored for
now).  You then "process" the headers and the client "acts" on them by either
ignoring the e-mail, downloading the body, or deleting the e-mail depending
how you marked (or not) the header.  Yes, it requires two "connections" to
retrieve your e-mail (first for the headers, then to process), but it uses
minimum bandwidth.  This is how I did e-mails via dial-up before
ISDN/DSL/Cable/fiber became affordable.  The headers can get a little messy at
times (out of sync), but nothing that using the full web-client couldn't fix.

And, last but not least, this is where a tablet or smartphone comes in handy -
most allow you to configure the e-mail client to retrieve POP or IMAP accounts
at regular intervals (as long as a connection is available).  In the case of a
tablet with WiFi, connect it to the hotspot and let it sit for a while while
you do other things - all the e-mails will eventually sync-up.  Many tablet
e-mail apps also allow you to do the "header" thing where it only retrieves
the header until you actually want to read the e-mail.  A bit more expensive
(to buy a tablet/smartphone), but just a thought.

73,

  - Aaron, NN6O
    {nn6o}@arrl.net


-----Original Message-----
From: ham-computers-bounces at mailman.qth.net
[mailto:ham-computers-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Jim Hill
Sent: Wednesday, June 06, 2012 9:28 AM
To: ham-computers at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [Ham-Computers] Fast Web mail Service

Hi:
I hope I'm using the correct terminology - I'm referring to email clients that
can be used in wireless hot spots, such as those available at some coffee
shops, RV parks, etc.

I'm a RVer, and have been using gmail for emails when on the 
road.   Most RV parks have setups with insufficient bandwidth to 
handle all the users.  Service really slows down, and if you are unlucky it
becomes nearly impossible to access the Internet during the evening.  gmail is
very slow in starting up under these 
situations.   Thunderbird is better, but maybe there is something 
even better.  Not every Internet access is slow.  AtomTime (for checking time)
starts up much faster.

Any suggestions, particularly from those who still use dial up 
modems?   Maybe the ARRL email service is faster.

Thanks, Jim