New Verizon DSL user: Is their e-mail really this suck?

August 10, 2006 8:22 AM

Just got Verizon DSL. A simple question: Is it just me, or is their web-based mail client incredibly, weirdly pokey? It seems to take forever to open up my mostly empty in-box.
posted by desuetude to computers & internet (9 comments total)

It's not you, it's just a clunky webmail interface (compared to something like gmail). I use Thunderbird to retrieve email from my verizon account and now I rarely have to use the webmail version.
posted by 543DoublePlay at 8:32 AM on August 10, 2006

It also arbitrarily deletes read mail from the in-box, so grab those important messages while you can. And it no longer provides "block sender" or "mail filters" options (open status ticket since 3/9/06; "There is currently no date for the features to be re-enabled.").
posted by Dean King at 8:49 AM on August 10, 2006

I'm w/543...I'm a Manhattan resident and have been very pleased with the speed & uptime of the service but, like you, have found Verizon's Webmail client to be behind the times. Let me know if you want an invitation to gmail.
posted by NYCinephile at 8:50 AM on August 10, 2006

It has been very slow the past few days.
posted by Gungho at 8:56 AM on August 10, 2006

Did you get the Yahoo! or MSN branded email?
I got the Yahoo! and they offer the classic old school web based email, which is fine and zippy and then they offer the new Yahoo! Beta which is very close to looking like a web-based Outlook (nested folders, viewing panes, etc) and the Beta is slower than heck.
Not sure if this is due to Verizon, my computer or the fact that's still in beta.
posted by willmize at 8:58 AM on August 10, 2006

If you're fine with web interfaces (some people need outlook or what have you for work email), I advise changing to Gmail permanantly. I've had verizon and comcast's web-email, and gmail is the same thing but with a much friendlier interface, a system tray inbox chime, and relatively low on ads.

DSL might only entice you to go for cable soon anyway, and changing addresses is a pain.
posted by cowbellemoo at 9:15 AM on August 10, 2006

I just got the regular ol' e-mail, not the "upgraded" interface, and it takes literally two minutes to refresh a page.

Crazy. I'll give it a couple of days and if it's not improved, I'll likely go through the chore of changing addresses for the second time this week. If someone's got a gmail invite, I'll take 'em up on it.

Cowbellemoo, I'm not going to cable because Comcast has a monopoly in my area, and it's prohibitively expensive. (Especially since I don't have/want cable TV.)
posted by desuetude at 9:24 AM on August 10, 2006

You don't need an invite to sign up for gmail - just a cell phone.
posted by dmd at 9:44 AM on August 10, 2006

screw it, they don't want you to use it, that's why it sucks, they just want to advertise that it exists, they don't actually need to provide the service. this is a good business strategy. by the way, verizon isn't a software company anyway, i'm not sure what they do, i think they just train sales people.
posted by qbxk at 8:52 AM on August 11, 2006