Yes, IMO it's best free email. Nice interface, generally fast loading web interface with sober ads with option to use free pop/smtp (I use it a lot).
I like it because it's fast to load, and saved your unsent/unfinished email on draft if you got dc or when your computer crashes
I'll add that the searching, labeling, 'star' function, etc are all MUCH better than other free email services. Gmail now supports IMAP, too. So, you can use a desktop email client and have the same functionality, AND the convenience of web-based interface if you are away from home. Worried about privacy? use fireox and FireGPG or Thunderbird and enigmail for encryption. DON'T FORGET, you can also sign up for free 'Apps for your domain' account at google, and have Gmail (and all of these nifty features) for your domain name. Great for personal or small business. All for the low, discounted price of: FREE Geez, I sound like a commercial!
I'm one of those who don't like the interface on Gmail , ( i use Gmail to send confirmations emails on my site ) but for this reason ( the interface ) i like hotmail more , work good for me
I prefer gmail to others and actually use it to re-root some of my biz emails through as it has a superb spam filter. Not much good if you like having things tidy in folders, but with google search built in its easy to find old stuff. Would recommend.
1) Gmail's spam filter is far, far better than Yahoo's. 2) Its huge storage capacity makes it a great place to archive backup data offsite from your computer. When I travel I want to be sure that a hard copy(ies) of my data will be there at my destination. Of course I carry a hard copy. But in the unlikely event that I lose the backpack that I'm carrying with me, at my destination I can simply access gmail and download the archived hard copy.