Google May Offer Alternate Gmail View Without Conversations
Google May Offer Alternate Gmail View Without Conversations
Posted 06/03/2010 at 3:07pm
| by Ryan Whitwam
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Gmail has been around for a while now, and most regular users of the service have gotten used to the Conversation view. In fact, most users seem to find it vastly superior to a standard email list view. But a group of users have been calling for Google to offer the option to turn off the conversation interface and allow them to use Gmail like a standard email account. Now it's looking like Google may offer the option.
The Conversation view groups all relies with the same subject line together in one set. This can keep an inbox less cluttered and offer faster access to attachments and older messages. Still some users claim Conversations are confusing and cause them to miss important messages. Luck for them Google has handed over control of Gmail to a new VP who is reportedly receptive to this idea.
No official word from Google as of yet. Though, Google is known for rolling out updates to Gmail with little fanfare. Is there anyone out there that would like to turn off the standard conversation view? If so, what is it about Conversations that don't work for you?
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Change the view
June 06, 2010 at 11:42pm
Conversation view might be good for some people but I haven't spoken to them. It annoys me that I can't delete some replies to an email without deleting everything attached - and the fact you can't change to the old view "because it's just better" reminds me of something Microsoft would do.
Tekzel
June 05, 2010 at 2:14pm
Wow, I am surprised by all of the hate for conversation view on here. I find it far better than the old way. I would hate to have to go back to non-conversation view for emails. It would feel like going back to the stone ages.
Deleting entire conversations by accident? Just stop hitting the delete button, that is for entire conversations. Expand the message you want to delete, click the little arrow on the top right, click "Delete Message". Easy as it comes.
---
You know users... Buncha bitchy little girls.
Phrish
June 04, 2010 at 1:31pm
I would definitely vote for a normal email view.
Sometimes when I delete a "conversation" thinking it dead and not wanting it to clutter my inbox, it deletes prior threads as sent items. I've wiped out my entire thread when I trash the latest email, and have no reference anymore.
I'm a strong organizationalist, and traditional email view is WAY easier to understand, organize, and maintain. Each response to an email is a separate unit, detached from others. No chance of missing something that's hidden behind another window's tab, or deleting the wrong item to clean up an inbox.
- Phrish
Phrish
June 04, 2010 at 1:33pm
Now we just need a contacts function that is actually useful and powerful, and introduce notes as an integrated app that is separate from Google Docs, and a tasks function that isn't just a specialty calendar.
Then put those into the standard suite of apps for Android.
Heck, just appoint me product planner!
- Phrish
andyjos
June 03, 2010 at 8:30pm
I use Google Apps for many companies, most of which are in the health care industry. In the health care industry, nearly all emails are transaction based - think faxes. Gmail's/Google Apps conversation view is a deal killer when it comes to transaction based email simply because incoming messages with identical subjects (think "incoming fax from NA") are grouped together. Imagine having over 400 faxes grouped into a single conversation and you'll get the picture.
AND DON'T YOU DARE SAY USE OUTLOOK FOR ACCESSING EMAIL! The whole point of utilizing Google Apps is to get away from Msft/Apple based crapware.
Thanks for listening - sorry for ranting. PLEASE NEW GMAIL VP - let us turn off conversation view!!!
BTW.. just received a new voicemail from Skype - I now have 35 messages with voicemail attachments grouped into one conversation -- CONVERSATION VIEW SUCKS!
angryone
June 03, 2010 at 6:13pm
It leads to a LOT of clutter. If I exchange a dozen e-mails with someone but only need to save one of them, I can't!! I have to either save the entire "conversation" or delete the entire "conversation." I would be easier and neater if I could save only the messages I want to save.
Cy-Kill
June 03, 2010 at 4:54pm
If they are going to offer that, then they should also offer the ability to have folders instead of tags.
Cy-Kill
Tekzel
June 05, 2010 at 2:10pm
Not even close. Labels are WAAAAAAY better than folders. Can't have an email in more than one folder. I often tag emails with more than one label.
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You know users... Buncha bitchy little girls.
EyesSewnShut
June 03, 2010 at 4:06pm
The whole reason I don't use gmail is because of that feature. I tried it a few times but didn't like it very much. Maybe if I gave it another chance I would like it, either way though it would be nice to turn it off if I so choose.
Neufeldt2002
June 03, 2010 at 3:43pm
I like the view I have now thank you. All replies are easy for me to find, and I don't miss something.
pellier
June 03, 2010 at 3:10pm
Am I one of the few that found the conversation view some what cluttered? I want an email program that treats email like IMs
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