When Google announced it’s new tabbed inbox, I couldn’t wait for all my Gmail accounts to have this new feature!
I imagined my email being sorted just how I like it, much like setting-up automatic labeling, and my inbox becoming a well oiled machine.
Newsletters go here, notifications go there, social messages are kept together, it was a dream come true—right?
Gmail’s New Tabbed Inbox
Just look at it, isn’t it wonderful?
This new optional feature gave Gmail users the option of having four basic tabs. Although they were pre-labeled with no way to add more than four or add your own name, the basic tabs are well thought out and should meet the needs of just about any users. They include:
- Primary
- Social
- Promotions
- Updates
The order can easily be moved around and re-categorizing email that lands in the wrong tab can easily be corrected by simply dragging the email to the appropriate tab. Much like the ease of use and solid design we are seeing more and more of on Google+, is seen in the new Gmail tabbed inbox. Certainly, a job well done as far as design goes—a total #WIN.
I was really excited to get started, and after several weeks of using the new tabs with five different email accounts being used in various ways, I was surprised to find a disturbing trend.
Why I Quit Using Gmail’s Tabbed Inbox
Considering Gmail’s folder/labeling system, the tabbed inbox is almost a redundant feature. You can have a similar effect by setting up some simple label filters. This new tabbed inbox, however, automates most of the process and does make it a lot easy to redirect mail to the appropriate tab.
Like I said before, the design is good, and even the execution of the tabbed inbox is done really well. To date, this is probably Gmail’s most well executed feature as of yet.
So what happened?
Maybe it’s just me. I admit that, but after a couple weeks of using the tabbed inbox, I began to feel really overwhelmed with my email. I was falling way behind; what was going on? It wasn’t as if switching to a tabbed email system generated more email.
That’s when I decided to get rid of my tabbed email. I was under the suspicion that my inbox loaded slower, so I figured it was worth a try to turn this new feature off and see if it was really loading slower or if it was just my imagination.
That’s when it hit me:
My new tabbed email wasn’t helping me, it was hurting me!
Out of sight, out of mind? I don’t know, but as you can see, my email had really stacked-up against me. When I was using the tabbed Gmail, it didn’t look like it was nearly this much—but it was! My tabbed inbox was hiding the fact that my email was backed-up. The tabbed inbox wasn’t working for me.
Conclusion
I’ll have to chalk this up to personal preference and maybe even some sort of mental condition. I am sure that the new tabbed email has been a great addition for some, but for me, it was a total #FAIL.
How about you? Do you like the new tabbed inbox?
Mickey says
As I’ve taught Google how to handle the mail more accurately, I’ve grown to like that feature. More importantly, the only emails that generate a notification on my phone are ones that land in “primary”. Far fewer notifications = happy!
The only downside is that sometimes I’d read a message in a tab, leave it, and then forget it was there. Really, though, that’s just poor execution on my end. If I read it I either need to deal with it (and then delete/archive) or star it so that it shows up in primary.
Eric Dye says
I agree. As you said, it comes down to execution on my end—something that just doesn’t work for me. I’m glad it’s working for you, though! 😀
Chris Huff says
I just recently switched to gmail. I turned this feature off almost immediately. Knowing my personality, I knew I would check each tab every time I logged in anyway, so it really did nothing for me. It only added more clicks. I think it is genius, just not for me.
Eric Dye says
Exactly! I also find that my inbox loads faster, too. Just another advantage for me to keep this feature turned off.
millca says
I too thought I’d like this feature but it only took about two days for me to realize I hated it. I didn’t like having to now check even more tabs in all of my various gmail accounts. I like filters much better.
Eric Dye says
I know what you mean. I already run a number of tabs with different accounts to subdivide me email, this only made it worse.
wvpv says
I tried it for about 6 hours and deemed it redundant with my current set of filters.
Eric Dye says
Exactly! That was my first thought after seeing this feature. This is just filters done simple.
Jeff Grosse says
I too am finding myself falling behind in the tabbed interface, though I didn’t take the step of turning it off yet. Thanks for the article. I think I’ll make the leap (back) today.
Eric Dye says
Ah! Good! I can’t tell you how much happier I am—especially since I hit inbox zero on these accounts. It took about 5 hours, but I did it! Phew!!!
Dennis says
whoa! I’ve felt the same way and experienced the same thing, but couldn’t figure out why. I’m still using the tabs, but i’m just going to the tab and deleting everything in it because I am trying to catch up.
Eric Dye says
I know that feel.