Thoughts on .Mac

patrickj · 05-24-2008, 09:54 PM

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 · 05-24-2008, 10:00 PM

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 · 05-24-2008, 10:03 PM

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 · 05-24-2008, 10:19 PM

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 · 05-25-2008, 02:57 AM

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 · 05-25-2008, 07:35 AM

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 · 05-25-2008, 05:46 PM

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 · 05-25-2008, 06:08 PM

Originally Posted by 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.

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 · 05-25-2008, 06:32 PM

Originally Posted by patrickj

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 · 05-25-2008, 07:06 PM

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