Gmail

[The Grim Reaper]

Hey there,

I've been wanting to get off my hotmail account for ages, and obviously move to gmail so i can use pop/imap and all the other nice features.

However there is two problems.

1. I have a gmail account which i registered ages ago, which is my first name and middle and last initials. This gets 60 spam emails almost every time i log in (almost exactly). It all goes to the spam folder, but sometimes forum signups etc do also, so i have to filter through it all. And its the traditional 'Enlarge your manhood' 'URGENT: I need to get 6 billion out of nigeria'.
hello moto
turn your trouser mouse into a one eyed giant with MANSTER
Though right now im being sent the german versions.

This is a pain in the ass since i dont ever use this address (never have). It seems they are going through common names in the alphabet to spam to. eg bobsw bobsx bobsy. I dont know of any way to stop this.
The same email, but with an underscore, gets no spam on hotmail. I used to average 10 a week a year or so back, but now i get none, not even to the junk mail folder. And i've used this address heaps.

2. The other problem is almost every username i want, to include my name, is taken. It seems spammers/idiots have gone on a signup spree and taken every single common name. When i add my last name in, which isn't very common i'm sure, even those are taken. eg ive tried jimbs jim.b.s jim.bs jimsmith

Ideas how to get around/fix these?

[basstard]

It all goes to the spam folder, but sometimes forum signups etc do also, so i have to filter through it all.

If you're expecting something like a forum signup, then once a week use the gmail search (which is a fantastic idea and should have been in hotmail years ago) to search your email for 'forum'.

[pieeater]

To get around the username problem simply buy a domain name and email server, then you can have any username you desire. Simple.

[Mr Salek]

While there's a thread for it, can i ask why i have no imap service on my account?

[The Grim Reaper]

@basstard: Thanks, good idea, i'll try it, though i'd still like to not sign in to lots of spam.

@pieeater: Great idea, though i still need to get a job first, though i'll keep that in mind when im rolling in cash.

@Salek: Imap appears to be for some accounts only, not sure what the general rule for it is, my account has it. They are still adding it to more accounts.

While im at it, any idea how in outlook 2003 how you can merge a all accounts inc. a hotmail account at the side with all other accounts?
Ones imap, ones pop and ones http hotmail, i want all to have the same 'folder'

[pieeater]

You can find out how to set up imap for gmail HERE (http://mail.google.com/support/bin/topic.py?topic=12760) but i wouldn't recommend it, it starts to download headers for all of your emails not just in you inbox. Including spam, and even says that you have new mail when you get more spam.