In Gmail I label every incoming email and then I hit the archive button to make it disappear out of my inbox. This seems more cumbersome than having folders or folder-like containers. An option to change the inbox view to one with all labeled emails hidden could be a solution. Not being able to create hierarchies is a small disadvantage as well. Apart from these issues Gmail is a very smart webmail app and I use it frequently. I especially like the implemented chat function.
On 10/11/07, Claude Knaus <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Bianka, > > What speaks against using a label as a folder? Do you miss the ability > of creating hierarchies? > > -- Claude > > On 10/10/07, Bianka McGovern <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > The advantages of labeling are clear, but one paradigm doesn't have to > > exclude the other. Labeling and foldering can happily co-exist and I > > think that's what missing for me when using Gmail. I understand > > "folder" as a container filled with information. I'm not longing for > > yellow folder icons but I'm sure one could come up with an intelligent > > solution which could satisfy my archiving obsession and the need to > > categorize things. > > > > > > On 10/10/07, Matthew Nish-Lapidus <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > I'd argue that folders are broken on the desktop too.. which is why > > > your see Mac OSX moving towards saved smart folders (searches) based > > > on metadata.. and of course MS followed suit in Vista. > > > > > > Labels/tags can be used in the same way as folders, but it allows data > > > to exists in more than one category. That way I don't have to > > > remember where I put everything, I can look where I think it should > > > be. > > > > > > When you put a piece of data in a category in a one to one > > > relationship you have to search/hunt around to find that data again > > > after.. especially if it could easily fit under more than one category > > > header. > > > > > > I'd rather have data where I want to look for it then have to remember > > > it's structure every time. > > > > > > For instance, when I bookmark a site in my browser i have to choose a > > > folder.. if the site is about design, the web, and usability, which > > > folder does it go in? If I tag it with all three then I will find it > > > when I'm looking for content based on any of those words, based on the > > > context when I need it again. > > > > > > > > > > > > On 10/10/07, Bianka McGovern <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > Although I like gmail a lot, I do miss the folders. I like archiving, > > > > getting rid of emails in the inbox. I don't understand why the folder > > > > model is supposed to be broken. It's not exactly a reflection of the > > > > underlying system. It's a metaphor taken from real life. > > > > Interestingly, in real life we don't usually label the things we want > > > > to archive, we put things into boxes, drawers, folders and label these > > > > containers. Just because foldering is an old metaphor it doesn't mean > > > > it's bad. In fact, it might be a great metaphor since it's been > > > > successful for a long time. I survive by labeling everything and then > > > > archiving it. I also set filters, but they don't always work, > > > > interestingly. Labeling is a good way of categorizing emails but it > > > > shouldn't replace foldering necessarily. > > > > > > > > Also, why does the web have to be different from the desktop? Why not > > > > take working paradigms from the desktop and implement them into the > > > > web? In a few years we won't talk about "desktop" and "web" anymore, > > > > it will all be the same animal. > > > > > > > > B. > > > > > > -- > > > Matt Nish-Lapidus > > > email/gtalk: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > ++ > > > LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/mattnl > > > Home: http://www.nishlapidus.com > > > > > ________________________________________________________________ > > Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! > > To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Unsubscribe ................ http://gamma.ixda.org/unsubscribe > > List Guidelines ............ http://gamma.ixda.org/guidelines > > List Help .................. http://gamma.ixda.org/help > > > ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://gamma.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://gamma.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://gamma.ixda.org/help
