Useless Nexus » service http://uselessnexus.com The convergence of the mind of Michael Johnson with the World! Fri, 10 Sep 2010 02:51:07 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Custom domain name from Microsoft http://uselessnexus.com/p/228 http://uselessnexus.com/p/228#comments Thu, 12 Feb 2009 01:52:30 +0000 Michael Johnson http://uselessnexus.com/?p=228 Continue reading →]]> A few days ago, I wrote an article, Don’t Use Your ISP for Email. At the end, I suggested that you just get a domain account from Google Apps Standard Edition. Today, I was listening to Buzz Out Loud 909: The 404 hacks Natali’s computer and was reminded that Microsoft has a similar offer. Office Live Small Business allows you to have a domain and email and more.

I used it when it first came out a few years ago but prefered Google’s offer. Since then I have just forgotten about it. But if you are looking for an easy and inexpensive place to host your own domain and manage your own email then Microsoft is worth a look too.

And of course DreamHost Apps, can give you some other options and Google Apps.

]]> http://uselessnexus.com/p/228/feed 0 Don’t Use Your ISP for Email http://uselessnexus.com/p/223 http://uselessnexus.com/p/223#comments Mon, 09 Feb 2009 02:58:25 +0000 Michael Johnson http://uselessnexus.com/?p=222 Continue reading →]]> Last weekend, FairPoint Communications found themselves in a big mess while taking over the email of their customers since they bought the landlines and phone services in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont from Verizon. I can’t say I understand what happened. It sounds like server problems in handling the domain change due to the hand over of account control.

You can read about this at the Concord Monitor website.

This incident highlights something I’ve been telling friends and family for years. Do NOT use the free email from your ISP. It’s tied to the ISP! If they change ownership or you decide to change to a different service provider then you will be forced to change your email address. That’s never a good experience. In fact, I personally find it more of a hassle then changing phone numbers.

Dick Eastman has written a great article entitled, “Why You Need a Second (and Better) E-mail Address“. Hat tip to the Maine Genealogical Society where I first read the Mr. Eastman’s article.

I agree with everything Mr. Eastman says. Gmail is my favorite as well. Free Gmail or Yahoo mail or whatever is an improvement over being stuck to a particular ISP’s email. But I might go even one step further and suggest you take a look at Google Apps Standard Edition. For a very small annual fee you could have Google manage email at your own domain. By owning your domain then you never have to fear it changing. And if Google does not satisfy you then simply move your domain to another host. Your own domain puts you in complete control!

Don’t Use Your ISP for Email!

]]> http://uselessnexus.com/p/223/feed 1 Share This http://uselessnexus.com/p/27 http://uselessnexus.com/p/27#comments Sat, 23 Feb 2008 03:09:12 +0000 Michael Johnson Continue reading →]]> I’ve added Share This to this website. Not sure how much visitors will use it but my traffic is up lately and some people might like it. Let’s see what happens.

Please, leave a comment and let me know what you think.

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