I figured it was about time I ditched outlook for a web based application.  Yet I wanted to keep as much functionality as I could.  Here is my review of GMX Mail.

First thing you'll notice is that it looks very much like yahoo web mail or windows live web mail.  I consider that a good thing and the interface itself is solid.  In fact, there is a lot to like about it.  All of my email accounts were added flawlessly, even ones that are a bit obscure.  It runs fast and I haven't had any errors using it just yet.  The mail size is limited to 5 gig, but who will use more than that?  There are also NO ads anywhere that I could find unlike gmail.  In fact, I have no idea how the heck they make money.

Better yet is that it has an online personal storage section that lets you store images, docs, pdfs, etc for up to 1 gig.  It even has an application that lets you add it as a Networked HD in My Computer.  Very very cool!  When I format or go on the road, I'd like to know my files are easy to get to.  However GMX is not perfect, so lets get onto some of the issues that need fixing.

First off, I have yet to add a mail filter to it successfully.  Normally when you use outlook, you click new rule and some of the fields are filled out based on the email you have open.  Not this one.  NOTHING is prefilled and it blocks the email behind it.  You can't even copy and paste the subject or To: sender!  When I entered it in manually, it still wouldn't work.  MAJOR problem with mail filtering that needs to be addressed.

It does not have spell check.  Firefox users usually don't need it because we can right click and fix the red underlined words.  They disable right click in favor of their ajax web interface.  It's annoying not to have spell check, but I am sure it's something they are working on.

It does not have email notify. There is no beep and there is no browser window flashing to alert you.  This needs to be added ASAP too.

It won't let you automatically login when you visit their homepage like gmail does.  This also HAS to be added.

Each time you login, you have to redrag the left hand column to the size you want so it doesn't block how many new items are in each email account. ANNOYING!

Upon entering their email interface, it opens up a fixed window popup.  I am personally not a big fan of popup windows that force me to use it.  Why not just let me use a regular tab? 

The real question is whether or not I would recommend it to replace outlook.  I'd have to say yes, but maybe not quite yet.  Some of these things I mentioned really ruin the otherwise great experience.  Until some of these problems are ironed out, I'd recommend you stick with Outlook. 

Check back in a month or two to see if they have fixed any of the problems I mentioned.  You can also check out their forum which seems to be updated frequently of new changes.

OLD Comments (31)