Zen computing: simplify with gmail. part 9 of 20

Tip 9: Check your gmail on the plane.

One of the nice things about a dedicated email client is that you can compose your emails and respond even when you're offline - which is just a jargon-based way to say "not connected to the Internet." (Granted, this inability not to connect is becoming less and less common.) And since gmail is an Internet-based email client, you can't check your email offline.

Until now. Gmail has recently introduced an Offline mode which makes it possible to handle already-downloaded email (and compose new ones) without an Internet connection.

The offline ability utilizes something called Gears, which is an open-source browser extension. Here's how it all shakes out, from google's offline documentation:

"With offline access enabled, youcan read messages, star and label them, and do all of the things you're used to when reading mail online. If you want to write a message, just click Compose Mail and write away. When you click Send, the message will go to your Outbox and will be sent automatically next time you connect."

In other words, it works pretty much like any other dedicated mail client like Outlook or Thunderbird or Apple Mail.

And enabling it couldn't be easier. Just click the 'offline' link from the top of your gmail page, should be right there next to your account name. You'll get a popup dialog that will take you throught the other click or two.

Next up: how to check gmail using a dedicated mail client (if you must). Be sure to subscribe to ensure the latest is delivered fresh to your doorstep.