I vote for Google Skynet.

Both features are similar, but I just switched over to a macbook pro and google has a lot more integration with macs. Also I hate outlook, and as neat as the online apps are I doubt I will spend that much time using them.

On a similar note, I am seriously convinced that google is turning into skynet. They are integrated into everything! Just to name a few: GPS, news, advertisement, scholarly journals, email, computer applications, web browsers, books, internet search, phones, HYDRO GRIDS etc. etc. etc. etc. etc. AND NOW THEY'RE IN YOUR SCHOOLS!

However I do find google to convenient to give up, so I think it's to late. It's just a matter of time before we here that the department of defence has decided to use google maps as the guidance system for their nuclear war heads. Oh well.

I have had gmail retrieving my school emails since first year. Works great so the change is making me nervous. I think I will have to go with google though simple because my experience with hotmail in the past was that they want you to use more MS products like IE (hate!) and if I really hate the UI they won't let you link it back to my gmail.

On a seperate note i don't know if I like the idea of web based email. maybe I have been brain washed by my father but I do not like the fact that an outside coperation has all my sent files on their servers. Maybe not such a big deal in undergrad but if I was doing research it might bother me.

To be honest, your files are almost certainly safer stored outside of your computer. Its much easier to steal your laptop and break your password than it is for a hacker to get info from Google, or for Google to be able to sort through the millions of emails and documents stored on their computer systems looking for something to steal.

Originally Posted by Marlowe

To be honest, your files are almost certainly safer stored outside of your computer. Its much easier to steal your laptop and break your password than it is for a hacker to get info from Google, or for Google to be able to sort through the millions of emails and documents stored on their computer systems looking for something to steal.

It's annoying that I have to point that out to people so often, but theres a group of people who just don't trust putting anything in the cloud for w/e reason.

I don't understand what's wrong with MUSS. Sure, the system is well, okay I'll admit that it is ancient, but it works. It's basic and simple. Personally, I don't think we need a bunch of fancy stuff like group messaging etc. That's what we have avenue for. Why can't we just leave it as it is.

Also, I don't want to get the profs confused by it. They're already confused enough over avenue so we can't email them through that; if this new system takes some time to get nto place then we'll have no way to contact our profs. If it's absolutely necessary to make this change (and I don't see how it is), make the change in the summer.

Originally Posted by lizziepizzie

I don't understand what's wrong with MUSS. Sure, the system is well, okay I'll admit that it is ancient, but it works. It's basic and simple. Personally, I don't think we need a bunch of fancy stuff like group messaging etc. That's what we have avenue for. Why can't we just leave it as it is.

Also, I don't want to get the profs confused by it. They're already confused enough over avenue so we can't email them through that; if this new system takes some time to get nto place then we'll have no way to contact our profs. If it's absolutely necessary to make this change (and I don't see how it is), make the change in the summer.

It costs us a few million a year to maintain MUSS, it'll cost us less than $1 Million to switch to Google/MS and the maintenance is free. Even if there are some slight growing pains with the switch it'll be worth the millions that can be reinvested elsewhere and the on-campus servers it'll free up for MUGSI/SOLAR.

Originally Posted by Tailsnake

It costs us a few million a year to maintain MUSS, it'll cost us less than $1 Million to switch to Google/MS and the maintenance is free. Even if there are some slight growing pains with the switch it'll be worth the millions that can be reinvested elsewhere and the on-campus servers it'll free up for MUGSI/SOLAR.

How will it help wo free up MUGSI/SOLAR? I'm curious. ???

For each of you that doesn't vote Google, I'm going to kill a kitten.

Remember...don't be evil.

In terms of cost the system is a one time cost and it should be less than $50,000 for both systems. I have asked about it freeing up MUGS/SOLAR by repartitiong the servers but it doesnt seem as if UTS is interested in that short term solution but instead a complete overhual.

I totally understand the feeling that MUSS works just fine and that it is archaic but simple. But why stick with something that can be at best defined as 'functional' when it could be amazing?

In terms of confusing profs I think one issue we all have is

1) missing emails from profs because our inbox is full.

2) We can only communicate with profs with our McMaster Email accounts and sometimes when we send from other accounts it simply doesnt work.

3) With features you are completely right, simplicity is best and so if nothing else having an inbox that allows us to send PDFs, images, presentations will make our lives better

4) Both of these systems down the road have the potential to be integrated with Avenue and so again it will reduce that confusion that Professors/classmates have regarding how to communicate with eachother.

Hey everyone,

The polls are open today so go to www.NoMoreMailFail.co m and click Vote here and then click Cast Ballots.

If for whatever reason you are having issues please email the MSU President Mary at [email protected] r.ca and she will get it sorted out with UTS.

Originally Posted by MD-L

In terms of cost the system is a one time cost and it should be less than $50,000 for both systems. I have asked about it freeing up MUGS/SOLAR by repartitiong the servers but it doesnt seem as if UTS is interested in that short term solution but instead a complete overhual.

That's disappointing, I was hoping they'd repartition the servers as a stop-gap measure before the overhaul. From what I understand, the over all is going to cost so much that it probably won't be happening anytime in the near future, anything that could improve MUGSI/SOLAR should be considered/tried in the meantime.

Originally Posted by collinbf

I vote for Google Skynet.

...

However I do find google to convenient to give up, so I think it's to late. It's just a matter of time before we here that the department of defence has decided to use google maps as the guidance system for their nuclear war heads. Oh well.

Good line!

Originally Posted by Tailsnake

That's disappointing, I was hoping they'd repartition the servers as a stop-gap measure before the overhaul. From what I understand, the over all is going to cost so much that it probably won't be happening anytime in the near future, anything that could improve MUGSI/SOLAR should be considered/tried in the meantime.

I agree and it does seem like that issue is going to take a while. The CIO John Kearney asked the university for 60million for the next 5 years to upgrade our technology services but he only received 20million. So I guess we shall see.

Don't worry about the Prof's being confused by the email change! This is only for undergraduate students for now; If it goes well they will approach the faculty and staff asking them to switch over their univmail. But I've actually had staff working at various faculty offices at Mac approach me asking if they could show their bosses our posters in the hope of getting Gmail or Microsoft; since they have to send out tons of emails everyday they aren't big fans of the University email system.

I'm actually glad this is finally changing. Every other university's email system I've seen is much MUCH better than MUSS. And I don't see why we shouldn't be at the same level as other universities or even better. That aside, I find MS has better services overall, but the Google system is really reliable.. Hmm, did anyone happen to check the trials in the student centre today? Any comments?