Google Inbox and Gmail offer two different venues for accessing and managing your e-mail.
So, how do you choose which one to use?
If you’re already a Gmail user, why would you switch?
We did some searching on-line and collected some information and tips that may help you decide.
The newbie or old reliable?We started with an article by Craig Lloyd on Gotta Be Mobile titled Gmail vs Inbox: Which One Should You Use?
He notes that the main differences between the two e-mail systems has to do with how your e-mails are organized and presented to you. Inbox “bundles” your incoming mail. (As you may remember, Gmail started doing a version of this, too, some time ago – to very mixed reviews.)
Bundling may save time for some users, but if you like to open your inbox and see all of your e-mails in one place, it can be very disconcerting. Inbox does give you the capacity to personalize how your e-mails are bundled – and if you’re going to use Inbox, it’s worth your time to spend a few moments doing this.
Here’s how it works (taken from the Inbox Support Site):
If you think an email should be somewhere else, you can move it.
- Open a label in your inbox like Promos or Finance.
- Open an email.
- Select “Move to”
.
- Choose another label listed under “Bundled in the inbox.”
- In the black bar at the bottom, you’ll see options to Undo or Always do this.
Here’s a quick Inbox how-to video:
The pinning, snooze and reminder features allow you to make your in-box function like a to-do list. As we explore the capabilities s of Inbox here at The Time Finder, these features are especially intriguing.
Inbox appears to be especially geared to mobile devices, and its swipe feature makes it very easy to sort, prioritize and/or clear out e-mails.
The Undo feature is now available in both Gmail and Inbox and is a major plus in both settings! (Below is a video showing how it works, in case you’ve not accessed that feature for yourself yet.)
If you’re already a Gmail user, one of its great advantages is its familiarity – and that’s not something to be brushed aside lightly. It takes time and energy to learn any new app or technology – and that’s not always an investment easily made.
After looking at both Inbox and Gmail, our sense is that, for people who access their e-mail primarily on mobile devices, Inbox is a tool that you’d be wise to spend some time exploring.
If you’re happy with Gmail, however, and if you primarily access your e-mail on a PC or laptop, you may be perfectly well-served by sticking with Gmail for your e-mail needs.
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