GMail, Hotmail and Yahoo -- what's in a name?

[tnt]

There are a lot of things I like about Gmail, but I think one of the best things is the Gmail name itself. Nice and simple.

One of the problems I have with both Hotmail and Yahoo are the names. Maybe it's just me, but "Hotmail" always sounded kind of smutty. And "Yahoo" carries the baggage of it being often used as an unpleasant term -- "stay away from him -- he's a real yahoo."

"Gmail" seems pleasantly neutral. I like that in an email address.

[antioco2003]

Personally, I like that "Yahoo!" name because it makes me remember that excellent novel written by Jonathan Swift: Gulliver's Travels (the fourth book), a book I find excellent.
When I see the word "Yahoo!" I remember the voyage to the country of the "Houyhnhnms".

Also, I associate that word "Yahoo!" with an expression of victory, and that's something positive

I find the word "Gmail" strong, energetic, convincing, and this is why I like it.

And for Hotmail? Well, I don't know, I've never felt anything reading that word, I'm sorry...

[intelliot]

I like Gmail too. The only downside is that when spoken it sounds too much like "email" and people unfamiliar with Gmail might type @email.com (and you'd lose the message)

[tnt]

And for Hotmail? Well, I don't know, I've never felt anything reading that word, I'm sorry...

Way back before the internet was publicly available, I used Compuserve. That had a chat service -- I think it was called CB Simulator or somesuch -- and people liked to have what were called, "hotchats." I think that's why I always think of "hotmail" as being vaguely disreputable.

(Gratuitous side note for those who weren't online before the Internet -- chatting on Compuserve cost a minimum of $6.30 an hour at 300 bits per second and around $12.00 an hour at anything higher.)