Comments on: Six steps for changing your email address http://www.hawkwings.net/2007/02/06/six-steps-for-changing-your-email-address/ Tips and add-ons to make Apple Mail / Mail.app even better Fri, 09 Jan 2009 04:06:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: John http://www.hawkwings.net/2007/02/06/six-steps-for-changing-your-email-address/#comment-82775 John Wed, 07 Feb 2007 22:10:01 +0000 http://www.hawkwings.net/2007/02/06/six-steps-for-changing-your-email-address/#comment-82775 It looks like someone beat me to the punch, but I recommend people get their own domain, even if they use it to forward to a "real" email address. I got my first domain during the "dot-bomb" era. I was still on dial-up at the time and would discover my ISP no longer existed and I had no notice whatsoever. Since then I use broadband and real mail hosting for my domain. It's doubly nice because I have an authenticated SMTP server, so I can take my laptop anywhere and send email. The technically challenged may want to get a Yahoo!, GMail, Hotmail, etc. account. I've had my Yahoo! account for over 10 years now and I doubt they're going anywhere. It looks like someone beat me to the punch, but I recommend people get their own domain, even if they use it to forward to a “real” email address.

I got my first domain during the “dot-bomb” era. I was still on dial-up at the time and would discover my ISP no longer existed and I had no notice whatsoever. Since then I use broadband and real mail hosting for my domain. It’s doubly nice because I have an authenticated SMTP server, so I can take my laptop anywhere and send email.

The technically challenged may want to get a Yahoo!, GMail, Hotmail, etc. account. I’ve had my Yahoo! account for over 10 years now and I doubt they’re going anywhere.

]]> By: David http://www.hawkwings.net/2007/02/06/six-steps-for-changing-your-email-address/#comment-82501 David Wed, 07 Feb 2007 11:00:51 +0000 http://www.hawkwings.net/2007/02/06/six-steps-for-changing-your-email-address/#comment-82501 As a luddite who fixed the "own a URL scenario just for email consistency" a decade ago I am amazed that computer wiz's and power users can get into this situation! mmm perhaps i am a geek in the making? As a luddite who fixed the “own a URL scenario just for email consistency” a decade ago I am amazed that computer wiz’s and power users can get into this situation! mmm perhaps i am a geek in the making?

]]> By: Jay Welshofer http://www.hawkwings.net/2007/02/06/six-steps-for-changing-your-email-address/#comment-82464 Jay Welshofer Wed, 07 Feb 2007 08:19:58 +0000 http://www.hawkwings.net/2007/02/06/six-steps-for-changing-your-email-address/#comment-82464 Buy a pobox.com account and redirect at will. I have had the same public-facing account for 8 years but can redirect at will (currently gmail). Buy a pobox.com account and redirect at will. I have had the same public-facing account for 8 years but can redirect at will (currently gmail).

]]> By: benry http://www.hawkwings.net/2007/02/06/six-steps-for-changing-your-email-address/#comment-82216 benry Wed, 07 Feb 2007 02:11:02 +0000 http://www.hawkwings.net/2007/02/06/six-steps-for-changing-your-email-address/#comment-82216 Or you could just get your own domain and never have to change your e-mail address. Flexibility matters. Or you could just get your own domain and never have to change your e-mail address. Flexibility matters.

]]> By: Jeff Flowers http://www.hawkwings.net/2007/02/06/six-steps-for-changing-your-email-address/#comment-82157 Jeff Flowers Wed, 07 Feb 2007 00:44:13 +0000 http://www.hawkwings.net/2007/02/06/six-steps-for-changing-your-email-address/#comment-82157 Your own domain name is the best way to go, in my opinion. You have control over your username and you don't need anyone's permission to change it. And it can be pretty cheap if you use Google Apps For Domains, like I do. Your own domain name is the best way to go, in my opinion. You have control over your username and you don’t need anyone’s permission to change it. And it can be pretty cheap if you use Google Apps For Domains, like I do.

]]> By: Chris http://www.hawkwings.net/2007/02/06/six-steps-for-changing-your-email-address/#comment-81826 Chris Tue, 06 Feb 2007 16:11:07 +0000 http://www.hawkwings.net/2007/02/06/six-steps-for-changing-your-email-address/#comment-81826 I've had similar thoughts about .mac recently, but I'm working under the assumption that Apple knows that the service is overdue for a refresh. What would be the optimal time to roll out new features in .Mac? I'm thinking that would be in a few months when they release the latest version of the operating system. We'll see - in the meantime my .mac subscription doesn't expire until September, so I can hang in there. I’ve had similar thoughts about .mac recently, but I’m working under the assumption that Apple knows that the service is overdue for a refresh. What would be the optimal time to roll out new features in .Mac? I’m thinking that would be in a few months when they release the latest version of the operating system. We’ll see - in the meantime my .mac subscription doesn’t expire until September, so I can hang in there.

]]> By: Shawn Levasseur http://www.hawkwings.net/2007/02/06/six-steps-for-changing-your-email-address/#comment-81802 Shawn Levasseur Tue, 06 Feb 2007 15:16:08 +0000 http://www.hawkwings.net/2007/02/06/six-steps-for-changing-your-email-address/#comment-81802 I agree, having your own domain name is the "number portability" of the internet. I got my own domain nearly a decade ago. Haven't had to change my address since. It's allowed me the flexibility to switch ISPs, and hosting providers. It's allowed me to use special use e-mail addresses with the domain for help in filtering marketing mail, spam, etc. (in that way it's almost like having your own area code, not just your own phone number) I agree, having your own domain name is the “number portability” of the internet. I got my own domain nearly a decade ago. Haven’t had to change my address since.

It’s allowed me the flexibility to switch ISPs, and hosting providers. It’s allowed me to use special use e-mail addresses with the domain for help in filtering marketing mail, spam, etc. (in that way it’s almost like having your own area code, not just your own phone number)

]]> By: Michael http://www.hawkwings.net/2007/02/06/six-steps-for-changing-your-email-address/#comment-81685 Michael Tue, 06 Feb 2007 12:50:56 +0000 http://www.hawkwings.net/2007/02/06/six-steps-for-changing-your-email-address/#comment-81685 What I'd recommend: don't use a .Mac, Yahoo Mail Premium or similar fee-based email account as your main email address. When you sign up for an email account, make sure you can set it up to forward all incoming email to a different account. Or better yet, use an email address on your own domain name - that way, you can change providers without needing to change your email address (simply transfer the domain name). Of course, all of this only helps if you do all of the above in advance. What I’d recommend: don’t use a .Mac, Yahoo Mail Premium or similar fee-based email account as your main email address.
When you sign up for an email account, make sure you can set it up to forward all incoming email to a different account. Or better yet, use an email address on your own domain name - that way, you can change providers without needing to change your email address (simply transfer the domain name).

Of course, all of this only helps if you do all of the above in advance.

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