Using Gmail Labs to Enhance Your Email Experience

I’ve been toying around with my Gmail account recently, doing what I can to make it function just the way I want it to.  I’ve explored a few Firefox extensions and Greasemonkey scripts, but surely the easiest way to add new features to Gmail is simply by activating experimental features released by Gmail Labs.  All you have to do to activate Gmail Labs features is click on the Labs tab of the Gmail settings page.  There are features for all kinds of little tweaks, from adding a Snake game to Mail Goggles (designed to prevent you from sending ill-advised emails).  So far I have the following six Gmail Labs features activated:

• Offline – Offline Gmail is the response to one of the most common critiques of webmail services, users are unable to access (view, search) they’re message while they are offline.  Offline just allows you cache a copy of your email messages on your local computer so you can email as you please while you’re offline and sync everything once you get connected again.  This feature is even more useful outside the United States where you may not be able to access the internet (or at least a stable connection) very often.
• Tasks – I added this in the hope that it would help me manage my to do lists, but as it turns out I don’t use it that much.  I may force myself into a trial period and see if it becomes useful for me.
• Ride-side Chat – This feature just moves the Google Chat window on Gmail to the right side of the page, making it easier to see your GChat and AIM buddy list.  This simple tweak just makes IMing in Gmail easier, but I have found a downside.  While I’ve been in Ecuador much of the time I’m only able to access the internet on older computers that have lower resolution screens than I am used to in the US.  This means when GChat is on the right side of the screen, often times it doesn’t fit in the maximized browser window.  As a result to see the buddy list I have to scroll to the right, which is fairly uncommon in browser windows and as a result very difficult and time consuming.  The lesson here is, if you have a low resolution screen moving the Gchat buddy list to the right will probably make your life more difficult.
• Forgotten Attachment Detector – This just seems like a good idea.  Though I have yet to forget to add an attachment and be saved by this feature, the one time I do this feature will have already paid off.
• Text Messaging (SMS) in Chat – This is another simple idea, if somebody signs off of GChat your message just gets sent to them on their phone as a text message.  The downside to this is that to use it effectively you have to store all your contacts phone numbers in your Gmail contact list.  Giving Google that much information about other people creeps me out a bit so I don’t actually use this that often.
• Undo Send — This feature has a pay-off similar to the forgotten attachment detector:  I haven’t had to use it yet, but the one time I do, it will probably make me very happy.

There are also some features to allow for previews of web images and videos inline which could be pretty nice.  I’ll probably try them out when I get back to the US and have an internet connection that can actually handle loading image and video files.

If you use Gmail, which Labs features do you have activated?  Any suggestions on other ways to improve the email experience?