Thoughts on .Mac

[patrickj]

I just started the 60-day trial of .Mac today. I only have a single Mac machine, so not sure as yet whether it will be worthwhile.
So far, I think I like its mail account quite a bit - I've had problems with Mail.app when trying to use various POP3 accounts (had tons of hangs, never quit cleanly without a force-quit, required mailbox repair way too often etc.). Now with just having .Mac and Gmail accounts in it, so far anyway, no bad behavior.

Also like some of the sync stuff, even if for now it is just syncing to the web, rather than to multiple machines.

Would love to hear what any of you all think of .Mac, what you use it for, what you think are good features (if any) even for a single Mac environment so to speak ...

[Eragon]

I have the family plan set up. I have all my hotmail accounts forwarded to my .Mac account. Works like a charm. Will be even better when the .Mac push e-mail feature is released.

[patrickj]

Yeah, I have to admit if rumors of push email and calendar / contacts sync over-the-air getting added to it are true, that would be a *big* plus point.

I'm doing some major forwarding to it for now as well while I try it out.

Which of its features / services do you use the most?

[Eragon]

Primarily the mail. .Mac also supports synchronization of folders so you have remote access to files or documents. There is a bandwidth limit, however, that you need to be mindful of. This is particularly true if you want to upload movies and download them to other locations.

I haven't made my own web page, but the option exists.

[connie]

I also am on the trial version. I don't use it that much though, I always go back to my gmail just cause I'm use to it. I don't think I want to shell out $100 more a year to Apple. I find it a little steep.

[Lincoln]

I agree with Connie. I used the trial last year - I really liked it - but I think it's a bit expensive. If they offered a lifetime membership, I would get it, but a yearly free... sorry.

- John

[geordisjd]

I've had a .mac account for several years. When options suddenly increased (more space, data transfer, etc...) last year, I was "rewarded" with 30 GB of online space and 300 GB of monthly transfer for the same price. As far as I know, that much stuff isn't even an option if somebody wanted to actually pay for it. Go figure... I have some 20 GB stored online.
All my computers (I know, I have too many...) are synced through it: several mail accounts, calendars, bookmarks, widgets, contacts, bookmarks...

I've had web pages and sites since about 2,000 (I think). I put movies on my site that I can access with iPhone.

I think it's been worth the cost.

[patrickj]

I've had a .mac account for several years. When options suddenly increased (more space, data transfer, etc...) last year, I was "rewarded" with 30 GB of online space and 300 GB of monthly transfer for the same price. As far as I know, that much stuff isn't even an option if somebody wanted to actually pay for it. Go figure... I have some 20 GB stored online.
All my computers (I know, I have too many...) are synced through it: several mail accounts, calendars, bookmarks, widgets, contacts, bookmarks...

I've had web pages and sites since about 2,000 (I think). I put movies on my site that I can access with iPhone.

I think it's been worth the cost.

I've been thinking a bit about how useful some of that space might be (think it just 10GB with a standard account?).

The mail client so far is very good, and if it proves true that push mail / contacts / calendar will soon come along for it, that would almost be worth it on its own for me (though more pricy than some hosted Exchange options).

How easy is it to share movies / pics etc. with people who are not .Mac members?

[geordisjd]

How easy is it to share movies / pics etc. with people who are not .Mac members?

Very easy. You put them online on your web page(s) and they can see them/ download them from there. There is also a public folder where you can store stuff you want to share, but not display.

[patrickj]

Thanks. It is growing on me already - keep having to resist the urge to just sign up now, without really trialing it much ...

[geordisjd]

Thanks. It is growing on me already - keep having to resist the urge to just sign up now, without really trialing it much ...

And, of course, you can finally use that "send to web gallery" from your iPhone.:smile:

[patrickj]

And, of course, you can finally use that "send to web gallery" from your iPhone.:smile:

Jeez - need to un-memorize credit card details and avoid the Paypal plugin button :)

[kokogirl]

I am not very techy at all.

When I got my Macbook earlier this year, I got a .mac membership. I have not used the mail much, but I may ending up using it more if the push mail rumors are true. (I have 2 personal gmail and 2 work yahoo bizmail accounts).

I did make a family photo gallery and a family webpage. It was very easy with the iLife 08 suite that came with the Macbook. When I got stuck, I just went over the the help section of the apple website. I am not good about updating the webpage or photo gallery very often, but it is nice. When you change or add something you can send an email announcement to all your friends and family.

[chris]

I find myself only using the email portion of the .mac. Having upwards of 20 assorted email accounts from the various sites I manage, I really do not have any use for my .mac. That being said, I renew every year because it's been my "main" email address for years. I also use my account to purchase email add-on accounts for my family.

From an email perspective, it's rock solid and spam-free.

The other features are nice, but unfortunately I don't have a need for them.

[macgirl]

i've had a .mac account for about 5 years now. i primarily use it for email (this is my main account that i use to communicate with friends and family), and i do use the idisk a fair amount for back-ups of my calendar, address book, a back-up of my site files, and other miscellaneous documents. i am hoping that push email and the other rumored goodies will become fact. once i finally get ilife '08 installed (or upgrade to a macbook air with it pre-installed), i'm sure i'll use the "send to web gallery" option on my iphone that kokogirl mentioned.

[i robot]

hi guys I just purchased my iMac lately but havent ativated the .mac account. The main reason is that most people I know are PC users as is my work. Can you access online storage from a PC?

And what's the send to web gallery from iPhone I have never seen this on my phone. Is this a jailbroken thing?

[chris]

hi guys I just purchased my iMac lately but havent ativated the .mac account. The main reason is that most people I know are PC users as is my work. Can you access online storage from a PC?

And what's the send to web gallery from iPhone I have never seen this on my phone. Is this a jailbroken thing?

Yes, but I forget how I did it. It was years ago, but I used to always access my iDisk from my work PC.

[i robot]

Yes, but I forget how I did it. It was years ago, but I used to always access my iDisk from my work PC.

Cool Chris just activated an account looks pretty simple to access idisk. Could someone tell me how i get the export to web gallery option to appear on my iphone. The instructions on this on the apple web site are crap.

[i robot]

And, of course, you can finally use that "send to web gallery" from your iPhone.:smile:

But how????? do you get it to appear do you have to have the full account???

[chris]

But how????? do you get it to appear do you have to have the full account???

I think you need the latest version of iLife. I just bought my Mac in March, so I guess it added it to my iPhone. Honestly, I haven't used it, but just confirmed it is there.

[patrickj]

But how????? do you get it to appear do you have to have the full account???

I think possibly just by adding a .Mac email account on the iPhone. I do not have the full service yet (still trialing it), have not synced to the Mac since starting the trial, and have not done anything else particular that I can think of except setting up that account via Mail settings.

Oh, and publishing a gallery or two to the web gallery via iPhoto. You'll need to have done that so that there is somewhere to send to ...

[i robot]

I think possibly just by adding a .Mac email account on the iPhone. I do not have the full service yet (still trialing it), have not synced to the Mac since starting the trial, and have not done anything else particular that I can think of except setting up that account via Mail settings.

Oh, and publishing a gallery or two to the web gallery via iPhoto. You'll need to have done that so that there is somewhere to send to ...

OPTION ONE WORKED working on iphoto. Thanks:smile:

[patrickj]

OPTION ONE WORKED working on iphoto. Thanks:smile:

Cool - hope it works for ya. Obviously, I'm pretty new at this as well ...

[kokogirl]

I used iDisk today. I have a customer in Sweden who needed an installation manual to translate for his customers. These manuals are really large PDFs so I cannot email them. He gave my a link to his iDisk account and I uploaded them for him. Worked great!

I am not sure about sending pics to webgallery from the iphone. I usually do that from my computer after I crop the pics in iPhoto. I will experiment with that and let you know. I am not sure if my default email on my iPhone has to be my .mac email for it to work. Right now, one of my gmail accounts is my default iPhone email.

[i robot]

I used iDisk today. I have a customer in Sweden who needed an installation manual to translate for his customers. These manuals are really large PDFs so I cannot email them. He gave my a link to his iDisk account and I uploaded them for him. Worked great!

I am not sure about sending pics to webgallery from the iphone. I usually do that from my computer after I crop the pics in iPhoto. I will experiment with that and let you know. I am not sure if my default email on my iPhone has to be my .mac email for it to work. Right now, one of my gmail accounts is my default iPhone email.

I was loving things (.mac) until I tried moving stuff from my PC at work. Can you only upload files not folders. Does anyone know..... thats a bummer!

[geordisjd]

I was loving things (.mac) until I tried moving stuff from my PC at work. Can you only upload files not folders. Does anyone know..... thats a bummer!

I guess I never thought about it till now. I just made up a folder and threw in different types of files (pics, mp3, text...) and it uploaded nicely.

I've been sending pics to the web gallery since the option has been available. Hundreds of pics. I love it.

[i robot]

I guess I never thought about it till now. I just made up a folder and threw in different types of files (pics, mp3, text...) and it uploaded nicely.

I've been sending pics to the web gallery since the option has been available. Hundreds of pics. I love it.

so you can upload entire folders. I take it you only use macs. Have you ever tried it from a pc?

[geordisjd]

so you can upload entire folders. I take it you only use macs. Have you ever tried it from a pc?

Come on now, I try to help and you insult me!:angry:
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It's a joke!:laugh2::laugh2::laugh2:

No, sorry, I've never tried it from a PC.

[i robot]

Come on now, I try to help and you insult me!:angry:
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It's a joke!:laugh2::laugh2::laugh2:

No, sorry, I've never tried it from a PC.

You got me there. Just got your reponse by email the 'insult' part and rushed back to apologize. Nice one:wink:

[kokogirl]

I was uploading files, not folders from my PC at work to my customers account. I have not tried uploading folders.

[i robot]

I was uploading files, not folders from my PC at work to my customers account. I have not tried uploading folders.

Yeah folders don't seem a runner from PC!

[geordisjd]

Yeah folders don't seem a runner from PC!

Sorry, I tried to access my iDisk through Parallels and couldn't figure out how.
The iDisk's address wouldn't accept my password (same password I've had for several years) from the PC side, so I gave up. I spend too much time trying to figure out PC stuff and it gets me in a bad mood every time:angry:.

[geordisjd]

Yeah folders don't seem a runner from PC!

OK, I got on my iDisk on the PC (Parallels), after entering my password dozens of times, one for each action:frown:.
I had the same problem: files will copy, folders won't.
I think I'll need a very large dose of Xanax or similar stuff to go to sleep tonight.

[i robot]

OK, I got on my iDisk on the PC (Parallels), after entering my password dozens of times, one for each action:frown:.
I had the same problem: files will copy, folders won't.
I think I'll need a very large dose of Xanax or similar stuff to go to sleep tonight.

thanks for risking depression to try this out for me

[Lincoln]

Looks like (http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/30/mobile-me-the-new-name-of-mac/) .Mac may be in for a name change.

http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/2008/05/macbox.jpg

- John

[impaler]

I've had a .mac account since it was known as iTools, way back when. I really really really want to use and like .mac exclusively, and have gone back and forth between .mac and Gmail so often my friends hate me by now. :angry:

Why do I swap? Gmail is just tighter, integrated, and with things like Google Calendar, Reader, and of course, Gmail, all integrated into one account, it's a real plus. I also like the conversation method of storing emails. Folders are sooooo 2000... :smile:

But now there's evidence Apple bought the .me domain, and there are tags in the 10.5.3 update to Mac OS X that suggest a "Mobile Me" service is going to be revealed in EIGHT LONG DAYS! I really like the idea of a "mac" experience regardless of platform, and when the next iPhone comes out, I think I'll make hte plunge. The Backup program is nice...backs all my crap up to an external USB drive, and settings to my iDisk. The feature I most value is the sync stuff...my iMac and MacBook are always in sync, and the "back to my mac" thing is cool. I am able to shut down my iMac remotely. Very cool. I plan to jump ship from Google to Apple on the email front, if it winds up being as functional and amazing as Gmail.

[overbo0st2k4]

If you're in the market for a new Apple computer, there's a promotion where you can sign up for .Mac for $69.

I love all the features of .Mac, especially the iDisk, 10gb storage, being able to host webpages...its awesome!

[Saverino]

I never found it interesting as to what you could do with it...but everyones kinda making me curious to try it now lol

[iHuman]

I have been using .mac for a few years at this point, and have even tired to branch out a few times to other programs. I have gmail linked to .mac, and with the last update of leopard, my contacts from address book sync, making it a better all around program. I think tuesday will offer some great options, and can't wait to see what happens

[patrickj]

I've signed up for it now. Enjoying the mail client and the web gallery space enough to want / need more space than the trial allowed.

Very much hoping some shiny new service improvements are coming to it as well :)

[i robot]

I have been using .mac for a few years at this point, and have even tired to branch out a few times to other programs. I have gmail linked to .mac, and with the last update of leopard, my contacts from address book sync, making it a better all around program. I think tuesday will offer some great options, and can't wait to see what happens


yeah saw the new gmail mac address book sync I was going to try this but I was worried about duplicates how did it work out for you?

[iHuman]

yeah saw the new gmail mac address book sync I was going to try this but I was worried about duplicates how did it work out for you?

I found some duplicate, however, that being said, there is a "find duplicates" option in address book, and it merges all content. I just did that. I have around 250-300 contacts in my address book as well. It didn't duplicate all of them for some reason.

I haven't checked my gmail book, but I don't really use it anyway. Address book is my primary.