Thursday, January 26, 2006

Old Habits Die Hard

Many months ago, my friend introduced me to the simply phenomenal email system that is fast becoming the standard web based email... Gmail. I have been using it for almost a year now.

The people at Google are always coming up with new features and such (my love for Google is a topic for another blog post entirely). The most recent new feature is the addition of the "delete" button. Users used to have to click on a drop-down menu in order to delete a message. Well now, you can just click a button... so much easier.

However, it has taken me 9 days of consistant use to go directly to the delete button. Today was the first time that I didn't instinctively go to the drop-down menu to delete a given message. It is very much like writing dates during the first two weeks of January... it takes about that long for me to use the right year.

This is so interesting to me because it shows how habits (even simple ones like those mentioned above) are so hard to break.

Again, on a side note... I have another shout-out to give to another dear lurking friend of mine... again, she knows who she is. I am pretty comfortable saying that she makes the best brisket that I have ever put in my mouth. Seriously... it was grandmother/years of cooking experience quality. So kudos to you, Lurker Friend, for your brisket (and for just being all around fantastic).

24 comments:

Ryan said...

I changed to a different office slightly down the hall from my old one a couple of weeks ago and I still naturally walk directly to the old office. When will the new become habit?

Jessica said...

Todd, you just made my day... I had not yet seen the "new" delete button until I just read your blog... That has been a major kink in my overall love for gmail for a while now too... :)

Troy said...

I thought that the beauty of Gmail was that you never had to delete email ever again.

I love the Google search engine, but have never liked Gmail. I have been using Yahoo! mail since college, so I am probably just prejudiced. I find Gmail to be snobbish and awkward. But that is my just my opinion.

Troy said...

To all my Gmail friends, I didn't mean to just call you snobs. I just think it is kind of weird that you had to be "invited" to sign up for an email account.

Todd Richards said...

Troy... please see my post on "The Element of Cool." Clearly you are not quite ready for the Lifeboat if you don't like Gmail.

Unknown said...

Ugh- I hate gmail- I got an account and used it for about a week- give me my hotmail any day!!!

Shanna said...

Yahoo! is the shiznit (yes, I am digressing back to high school). And now my TiVo has Yahoo! capabilities which means I can do all sorts of rad stuff on my television. Google is drowning in the water while Yahoo! is sailing home.

Anonymous said...

It's funny how gmail keeps deleting its original meme. Pretty soon, they'll offer an amazing technological advance called "folders."

If I can't get to it with IMAP4, I'm not interested.

Laurie said...

So many things I love about gmail...and many things I hate as well. It's definitely not the crowning touch in Google's arsenal...but it's better than any other web-based email out there. And Todd, the new delete button threw me off for a few days as well. I kept "starring" my email instead of deleting it.

Laurie said...

As long as we're posting cool Google links...check this one out. You can turn any word into the Google logo.

http://www.logogle.com/

Troy said...

Karie, the Google "mirror" page is awesome!

Laurie, I must disagree with you. Gmail is not "better than any other web-based email out there." I will say, however, that I think Google Groups are amazing!

Laurie said...

Troy,

Are you seriously trying to start a fight on Todd's blog?!? Google groups ARE amazing...as in amazingly annoying, frustrating and repetitive. Don't even get me started...

Todd Richards said...

Can't we all just get along?

Anonymous said...

Google maps is the best...

Anonymous said...

I love lamp...

Todd Richards said...

Given that no one has agreed with Chet's comment about Google maps... I have to assume that none of my readers are all that cool. Google Maps is definitely one of the best features. However, Chet... their maps are not always as accurate as one would like. But they are surely working on that... surely.

Laurie said...

Google maps are cool (especially the one of the moon/cheese) but still awkward. I'm surprised no one has mentioned Google Videos. There is so much fun to be had with that one.

Anonymous said...

I use yahoo maps to find the dopest routes.

Dustin said...

LOUD NOISES!!

Anonymous said...

I got a gmail account a long time ago, yet still use yahoo. I think my problem is that I can't access ANY outside email account from work, so I use my work account for personal mail. Yahoo has more storage than I could EVER need (I am currently at less than 1% usage) so why switch?

Ashley said...

I have had my gmail account for nearly two years now and I love it! Somehow blogger and gmail are related because due to my blogspot account I had I was able to be "part of the very first gmail users!" And I was right there with you about the delete button.

Have you checked out google earth?

Anonymous said...

I prefer Mapquest.

68th and Broadway, step on it...driver! ;)

knelson said...

Hey Todd!
I love reading your blogs! Ya'll have inspired me, as well, and man do I need your help.
Please get that brisket recipe from your lurking friend, I would love to have it! :)
Sure would love to see you! Let me know when you head back toward your Alma Mater again.
Kathy Nelson

Anonymous said...

Where have you been??