As I already had a gmail account which pointed to my Outlook e-mail, I then moved over to gmail- very frustrating in the beginning ( I moaned and groaned yet again). Then I had to write a learning object to get my teachers onto gmail- and that was it- hooked! I choose gmail for them as they do not all have their own computers and had to access their e-mail from various pc’s. It also gave them acess to all the other fine tools google offer and I could also stay in touch with them via g-chat. But it was only when I looked under the hood in order to write my learning object that I realised how cool it really is.

Contrary to the previous comment- I find the contact very intuitive- I just search in 3 secs flat! What I would like to have (and maybe it is there I just have not figured it out yet, is how to add a contact straight from an e-mail (eg in Outlook you can rightclick on a person and –> add to contacts….)

The main thing that did it for me was that it syncs accross all my computers without me having to lift a finger (smartphone- pc’s–>no sweat) and that it is available offline as well.

My gmail learning object for my teachers is here: http://maggiev.edublogs.org/learn-how-to/set-up-an-e-mail-using-gmail/ (Novice level)

I do enjoy using google docs and the google note book. Notes are great for just jotting down quick ideas, kind of like an electronic version of the sticky note.